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Re: [tlug] Trackball [Re: Happy hacking keyboard]



Kensington Expert Mouse - I use this type of device since the mid 1990s; currently still on my XP machine. But I want to set up my Thinkpad x240 with Linux Antergos or Linux Mint Debian.

How can I get my Kensington Expert Mouse running under Linux?

I hope I place this question correct. I am newbie here.
I case of mistake I appologize in advance and appreciate help on how to do it better.

Thanks in advance.

On 2014-08-08 22:36, Daniel A. Ramaley wrote:
Years ago (1990s) i had a Kensington Expert Mouse. Best pointing device
i've ever used. If i needed to make the pointer travel a long distance
on the screen i could just give the ball a little push and let it go--
inertia would do the rest. I got rid of it when the connection between
the device and its cable started behaving erratically. I didn't buy a
new one because my finances as a student were rather limited, and since
then haven't bought one because i've gotten used to a certain model of
Logitech optical mice (which ceased production years ago, but the things
are reliable enough that i've not needed to throw any away).

On 2014-08-06 at 14:45:57 Nicolas Limare wrote:
Since we're talking keyboards[1], it's probably the good moment for
questions about other input devices too.

I've been using a trackball (Logitech Cordless Optical) for 5 years
now. It took me a few days at the beginning to adapt, get a good
feeling of where the vertical/horizontal are, and grow some muscles on
the back of the hand, but now I really prefer that than a mouse
because:
* I can operate it with my wrist resting on the desk and only moving
   the fingers; this puts less stress on my wrist and hand than a
   mouse
* always at the exact same place on my desk, my hand finds it
   instantly, and it needs no free space around
* very precise for small pointer movements, and it can do large and
   fast movements as well by pushing the ball in one direction, letting
it roll, and stopping it at the destination.

But my trackball is damaged and I want to buy a new one, so here are
my questions. Do you TLUGers have some experience or advice with these
devices? Which position do you prefer, ball under the thumb or
forefinger? Did you try a scroll ring? Which brand is crap, which is
not?

Thanks

[1] Mine is a Typematrix and I like it so much I bring it with me when
I go abroad for work. No I can't help feeling that any other
keyboard, without a straight typematrix-like layout, is very, very
uncomfortable.
__
Daniel A. Ramaley  |  Network Engineer 2
Drake Technology Services (DTS) | Drake University

T: +1 515 271-4540
F: +1 515 271-1938
E: daniel.ramaley@example.com





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