The Best Trackball Mouse – Summer 2023: Mice Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best Mouse
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Best Mid-Range
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Best Budget
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Best Gaming
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Jun 14, 2023 at 10:39 am
By Gregory Vodden
Although they’re often called ‘trackball mice,’ trackballs aren’t technically mice. A conventional mouse has an optical sensor on the bottom that tracks your movements across a surface, while a trackball stays put on your desk, and you use your thumb or fingers to spin a ball while a sensor inside tracks the movement of that ball. Trackballs are a great option if you have limited desk space, and they can be a more ergonomic option because they don’t rely on movements from your wrist or arm.
When shopping for the best trackball mouse for your needs, finding an option that will be comfortable for your hand size is important. You’ll also want to consider what features are important for you. For productivity tasks, you’ll want a good scroll wheel for navigating documents or timelines, while for gaming, you’ll need to make sure your mouse has lower click latency and a high polling rate.
We’ve tested over 290 mice, and below are our top picks for the best trackball mice. For other recommendations, see our picks for the best ergonomic mice, the best wired mice, or the best wireless mice.
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Best Trackball Mouse
Logitech MX ERGO
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Work
6.9
Video Games (FPS)
5.9
Video Games (MMO)
7.3
Raw Performance
5.
7Ambidextrous
No
Connectivity
Wireless
See all our test results
The best trackball we’ve tested is the Logitech MX ERGO. It has a comfortable right-handed shape and a thumb trackball design suitable for all hand sizes. While using it, your hand posture is between a handshake and a more traditional palm-down position. It also features a metal plate attachment that lets you choose between a 0-degree or 20-degree tilt position. You can connect this mouse wirelessly using its Logitech Unifying USB receiver or Bluetooth and pair up to two devices simultaneously. It feels well-built and sturdy, and the materials and finish are high quality. Some users also report that the rubber coating is prone to wear out after extended use.
The scroll wheel has tilt buttons for horizontal scrolling but doesn’t unlock for a quicker free-scrolling mode like some high-end productivity mice. Also, while it has companion software to program buttons and adjust sensitivity settings, you can’t increase the polling rate.
It won’t concern most people, but the polling rate isn’t high enough to produce smooth cursor movements for gaming or if you use a 4k monitor. Alternatively, you can check out the Logitech ERGO M575, a similar model typically available for less. However, it doesn’t include a tilt base, doesn’t support multi-device connectivity, and feels cheaper overall.See our review
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Best Mid-Range Trackball Mouse
ELECOM HUGE M-HT1DRBK
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Office/Multimedia
7.9
Video Games (FPS)
4.0
Video Games (MMO)
6.8
Ambidextrous
No
Connectivity
Wireless
See all our test results
At a mid-range price point, we recommend the ELECOM HUGE M-HT1DRBK.
It’s a versatile finger-operated trackball with a right-handed shape. It has a conventional scroll wheel with left and right tilt buttons and a total of ten programmable inputs. It also has an integrated leatherette wrist rest which, true to its name, makes it fairly large and bulky. However, it’s still a good fit for all but small-sized hands. It connects wirelessly with a USB receiver and uses a pair of AA batteries for power. You can use the companion software for remapping buttons and adjusting CPI settings.However, only three sensitivity presets are available, and the highest setting is only 1200 CPI, which may not feel sensitive enough if you use a very high-resolution display. Unfortunately, this trackball doesn’t have Bluetooth support like our best pick on this list, the Logitech MX ERGO. Also, like nearly all trackball mice, it has a very low fixed polling rate, making it unsuitable for gaming. It’s an affordable option with plenty of customizable controls for productivity or everyday use.
See our review
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Best Budget Trackball Mouse
Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring
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Office/Multimedia
7.7
Video Games (FPS)
4.1
Video Games (MMO)
4.9
Ambidextrous
Yes
Connectivity
Wireless
See all our test results
We recommend the Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring as a budget option. It has a truly ambidextrous design with a center-mounted, finger-operated trackball. It also has a ring-style scroll wheel and two main buttons that serve as left- and right-click buttons on either side.
There’s an included palm rest that you can detach, making it much more compact. Overall, it feels very well-built and connects wirelessly with its USB receiver. It uses two AA batteries for power.Unfortunately, this mouse doesn’t have as many programmable inputs as our mid-range recommendation, the ELECOM HUGE M-HT1DRBK. Additionally, if you aren’t already familiar with the somewhat unconventional ring-style scroll wheel, getting used to it may take a little. Also, like most trackball options, this mouse has a very low, fixed polling rate and a low maximum CPI setting, which means it isn’t suitable for gaming or if you have a very high-resolution display. It’s an affordable wireless option for anyone looking for a no-fuss trackball for work or everyday browsing.
See our review
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Best Gaming Trackball Mouse
GameBall Mouse
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Work
6.
0Video Games (FPS)
5.1
Video Games (MMO)
5.5
Raw Performance
6.9
Ambidextrous
True Ambidextrous
Connectivity
Wired
See all our test results
For gamers, we recommend the GameBall Mouse. Unlike other trackball options, this mouse has a maximum polling rate of 1000Hz, the current standard among gaming mice. This higher polling rate produces much smoother, more consistent cursor movements in-game. It has a true ambidextrous shape that’s comfortable whether you’re right- or left-handed. It also features a sloping palm rest long enough to accommodate your entire palm. There are three buttons on either side and a tactile scroll ring around the trackball.
This is a wired model, unlike the other options on this list. While this doesn’t make a big difference since the mouse stays put during use, it does mean one more cable to manage on your desktop setup.Unfortunately, in terms of performance, its click latency is high compared to most conventional gaming mice. While it’s well-suited for various game genres, it isn’t ideal for competitive FPS or other fast-paced, reaction-based games and may not feel as snappy and responsive as most conventional gaming mice. It also lacks dedicated software for programming buttons or adjusting sensor options. Note that the GameBall is only available directly from the manufacturer’s website.
See our review
7
It won’t concern most people, but the polling rate isn’t high enough to produce smooth cursor movements for gaming or if you use a 4k monitor. Alternatively, you can check out the Logitech ERGO M575, a similar model typically available for less. However, it doesn’t include a tilt base, doesn’t support multi-device connectivity, and feels cheaper overall.
It’s a versatile finger-operated trackball with a right-handed shape. It has a conventional scroll wheel with left and right tilt buttons and a total of ten programmable inputs. It also has an integrated leatherette wrist rest which, true to its name, makes it fairly large and bulky. However, it’s still a good fit for all but small-sized hands. It connects wirelessly with a USB receiver and uses a pair of AA batteries for power. You can use the companion software for remapping buttons and adjusting CPI settings.
There’s an included palm rest that you can detach, making it much more compact. Overall, it feels very well-built and connects wirelessly with its USB receiver. It uses two AA batteries for power.
0
This is a wired model, unlike the other options on this list. While this doesn’t make a big difference since the mouse stays put during use, it does mean one more cable to manage on your desktop setup.Recent Updates
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Jun 14, 2023:
We’ve reviewed all our picks for this article and made some minor changes to the text for clarity. However, we haven’t changed our recommendations, as all picks remain the best models for each category.
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Apr 17, 2023:
We’ve reviewed this article and confirmed the availability and pricing of our picks but haven’t made any changes to our lineup. -
Feb 16, 2023:
We’ve refreshed some of the text in several entries, but we haven’t made any changes to our recommendations after verifying that all our picks remain in stock and are the best choices for their respective categories. -
Dec 20, 2022:
We’ve refreshed some of the text in this article and verified that all picks continue to represent the best products currently available. -
Oct 21, 2022:
We’ve reviewed this article and made several small changes for clarity, but have chosen not to change our current lineup of recommendations as they still represent the best choices for their respective categories. However, we’ve removed the Logitech M750 from our list of Notable Mentions as it’s no longer a more affordable option compared to the newer, upgraded Logitech M575.
However, we’ve removed the Logitech M750 from our list of Notable Mentions as it’s no longer a more affordable option compared to the newer, upgraded Logitech M575.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best trackball mice for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper mouse wins over a pricier one if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no mice that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our mice reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no mouse is perfect for every use, most mice are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Logitech MX ERGO Review – RTINGS.com
Tested using
Methodology v1.4
Reviewed Sep 21, 2020 at 08:33 am
Latest change: Test bench update Dec 09, 2022 at 01:07 pm
By Kelsey Linhares, Nicholas Di Giovanni, and Olivier Gariepy
5.
9
Video Games (FPS)
7.3
Video Games (MMO)
5.7
Raw Performance
overview
test results
deals
discussions
Type
Trackball
Ambidextrous
No
Default Weight
261.9 g
Connectivity
Wireless
The Logitech MX ERGO is an ergonomic trackball mouse in Logitech’s office-oriented MX Series lineup. It’s very well-made and feels extremely comfortable when used with a palm grip. Its design may take some time getting used to, but luckily, the trackball is easy to move around. It comes with a metal tilt plate that tilts the mouse upwards, aimed at relieving stress in the wrist, but this isn’t something we test for. There are a good amount of buttons you can program, and you can connect with up to two devices at once, which is great for multitasking.
Sadly, it’s not a versatile mouse outside of office use because it’s limited on gaming features, and the polling rate is set at 125Hz.
Our Verdict
6.9
Work
The Logitech MX ERGO is excellent for office use. It’s an ergonomic trackball mouse that feels extremely comfortable if you’re using a palm grip. It’s very well-made, and there’s a good amount of buttons you can reprogram, which helps with your workflow. Also, it connects with up to two devices at once, and you can switch between them easily with the press of a button.
Pros
-
Extremely comfortable.
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Very well-made.
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Good amount of programmable buttons.
5.9
Video Games (FPS)
This mouse is okay for FPS gaming. The Logitech MX ERGO isn’t specifically designed for gaming, and the trackball isn’t for everyone. It has a fairly wide CPI range, low error, and low click latency, but you can’t set its polling rate above 125Hz. It’s a heavy mouse, but this won’t make a difference when gaming because you rotate the trackball instead of moving the entire mouse.
See our Video Games (FPS) Recommendations
7.3
Video Games (MMO)
The mouse is good for MMO gaming. Although not designed for this use, the Logitech MX ERGO offers a good amount of programmable inputs, including three ways to program the scroll wheel, but there’s only one side button.
It has low click latency, fairly wide CPI range, and minimal error, but you can’t adjust its polling rate higher than 125Hz.
Pros
-
Extremely comfortable.
-
Very well-made.
-
Good amount of programmable buttons.
See our Video Games (MMO) Recommendations
5.7
Raw Performance
-
6.9
Work
-
5.
9Video Games (FPS)
-
7.3
Video Games (MMO)
-
5.7
Raw Performance
9+ Create your own
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Updated Dec 09, 2022:
We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1.4. This update modifies our Hand Size Recommendation test, adding a more granular hand size recommendation chart. We’ve moved several minor tests into different test groups, removed the Travel usage, and added a new Raw Performance usage. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
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Updated Sep 16, 2022:
We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. This update adds a new Sensor Latency test and makes minor changes to several of our existing tests, resulting in test result changes in several sections. For more information, you can check out our full changelog here. -
Updated Aug 17, 2022:
We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update simplifies our Weight test and expands on our CPI test from Test Bench 1.1, resulting in changes to test results in both sections. For more details, you can see our complete changelog here. -
Updated Aug 16, 2022:
We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1. 1. This update revamps our Click Latency test and results in changes to test results. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
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Updated Nov 02, 2020:
Converted to Test Bench 1.0. -
Updated Sep 21, 2020:
Review published. -
Updated Sep 02, 2020:
Early access published.
We’ve moved several minor tests into different test groups, removed the Travel usage, and added a new Raw Performance usage. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
1. This update revamps our Click Latency test and results in changes to test results. For more details, you can see our full changelog here.
Check Price
Black
MX ERGO
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MX ERGO
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MX ERGO
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MX ERGO
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SEE CURRENT DEALS AND PRICE TREND
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Logitech MX ERGO, and there’s a Best Buy-exclusive variant called the Logitech MX ERGO Plus.
The only difference is that the MX ERGO Plus is sold with an extra rubber plate that can help raise the metal tilt plate by an additional 10 degrees, for a total of a 30-degree tilt. Besides comfort, we expect our results to be valid for both variants.
If you have a Logitech MX ERGO that’s different from ours, let us know and we’ll update the review.
Compared To Other Mice
The Logitech MX ERGO is an excellent office mouse with a unique design. It has a lot of the same features as most other Logitech MX mice, like the Logitech MX Master 3, with multiple programmable inputs and multi-device pairing. Choosing this over other Logitech mice comes down to personal preference and whether or not you’ll feel comfortable using a trackball. We haven’t tested many trackball mice, but its design is much more comfortable than the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball. Also, make sure to check out our recommendations for the best ergonomic mice, the best wireless mice, and the best Logitech mice.
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The Logitech MX Master 3 is slightly better overall than the Logitech MX ERGO, but they have different designs. The Master 3 is a traditional mouse with a sensor. It also has a thumb rest, a wider CPI range, a more precisely adjustable CPI, and has a horizontal scroll wheel. On the other hand, the ERGO is a trackball mouse with a pinky rest.
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The Logitech MX ERGO is better than the Logitech MX Vertical, but they’re two differently-designed mice. The ERGO is a trackball mouse that’s better-built and a lot more comfortable. It also has lower click latency, a vertical wheel tilt, and more programmable buttons. However, the Vertical is much lighter, making it easier to carry around, and it has a wider CPI range. The vertical shape of this mouse may be comfortable for more people.
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The Logitech MX ERGO is a better ergonomic trackball mouse for office use than the Logitech ERGO M575.
The MX ERGO feels better-built and has a rechargeable battery. It also has more programmable inputs, a scroll wheel with L/R tilt buttons, and better click latency when using Bluetooth. On the other hand, the ERGO M575 is heavier and uses an AA battery. Both mice are very well-suited for palm grip, but those with small hands may not be able to reach all buttons using a claw grip with the M575.
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The Logitech MX ERGO and the Logitech Lift are both wireless, ergonomic gaming mice with very different designs. The MX ERGO has a trackball design and uses a micro-USB cable to recharge. It has two additional programmable buttons, and its scroll wheel has L/R tilt inputs. It also includes a tilting base plate. On the other hand, the Logitech Lift has a vertical shape. It has a better sensor in which you can more precisely set your CPI in a slightly wider range, and it uses a single AA battery for power. Its scroll wheel also has a free-scrolling mode.
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The Logitech MX ERGO and the Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball with Scroll Ring are both wireless trackball mice designed for office and productivity tasks, but the Logitech performs better overall.
It has a right-handed ergonomic design with the trackball on the left side under the thumb rather than mounted in the middle. It has more programmable inputs, feels better built, and has significantly better click latency. On the other hand, the Kensington has an ambidextrous design, comes with a detachable wrist rest for extra ergonomic support, and uses a ring around the trackball rather than a typical mouse wheel for scrolling.
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The Logitech MX ERGO is slightly better than the Logitech MX Master 2S. The ERGO is a trackball mouse with an extra programmable button, lower click latency, and a more comfortable design. On the other side, the Master 2S is a traditional mouse with a wider CPI range, lower increment steps, infinite vertical scrolling, and a horizontal scroll wheel.
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The Logitech MX ERGO is much better than the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball. The Logitech is better-built, and it has a more comfortable design.
It also has much lower click latency, more programmable buttons, and you can adjust its CPI by increments of 100. However, the Kensington comes with a wrist rest, which is a nice touch.
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The Logitech MX ERGO is an updated version of the Logitech M570. It has a plate you can use to tilt the mouse up to 20°, a rechargeable battery, and four additional buttons. It also has an adjustable CPI and companion software compatible with Windows and macOS. Comparatively, the M570 only connects with its USB receiver and uses an AA battery. It also has a compartment for its USB receiver when not in use. Both mice are well-suited for a palm or claw grip for nearly all hand sizes.
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The Logitech MX ERGO and the Kensington Orbit Fusion Wireless Trackball are wireless trackball mice with similar shapes. They’re both intended for office and productivity work, but the Logitech has better performance overall. The Logitech feels much better built and has a more consistent sensor.
You can also adjust the set CPI by steps of 100 within a narrow range, while the Kensington only has three CPI presets. On the other hand, the Kensington has more side buttons and a top-mounted trackball, which may be more comfortable for some.
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The Logitech MX ERGO and the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball are stationary trackball mice designed for office use. However, the Logitech performs much better overall. It features a more common mouse shape that feels much better built and more comfortable to use. Instead of a central trackball, it’s on the left side where the thumb rests. It’s wireless and connects via Bluetooth or its USB receiver. On the other hand, the Kensington has an ambidextrous design. Although both mice have software fully compatible with both Windows and macOS, the Logitech offers more customization.
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Test Results
Sort Category───────────RATINGSWorkVideo Games (FPS)Video Games (MMO)Raw Performance
Category AllDesignControlOperating System And Software
Design
Type
Trackball
Coating
Matte
Lighting Color
No Lighting
The Logitech MX ERGO mouse is professional-looking and ergonomic with a slanted body.
Its body is matte gray, and the trackball is glossy. The metal tilt plate (not pictured) and the scroll wheel’s sides are both stainless steel. Being office-oriented, there’s no RGB lighting.
Length
5.2″ (133 mm)
Width
3.9″ (100 mm)
Height
2.4″ (60 mm)
Grip Width
62 mm
Ambidextrous
No
Left-Handed Friendly
No
Finger Rest
Pinky
Box Volume
48.70 in³ (798 cm³)
Receiver Storing
No
The Logitech MX ERGO Trackball is heavy and may be difficult to carry around. Luckily, it’s much smaller than the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball, so you can still place it in a bag if you need to.
It has excellent build quality.
The plastic body is really solid and there aren’t any obvious issues. The mouse rattles a bit when you shake it, but that’s because of the trackball. The trackball rotates well and feels smooth to move around. There’s rubber on the backside and underneath the metal plate, which helps keep the mouse in place.
Lowest Weight
261.9 g
Default Weight
261.9 g
Weight Distribution
Centered
Extra Weights
No
This mouse is very heavy, but it doesn’t make much of a difference because, thanks to its trackball, you don’t need to move it around. You can remove the metal tilt plate if you want to make it lighter to carry around.
Palm Grip Hand Recommendation
Claw Grip Hand Recommendation
Fingertip Grip Hand Recommendation
The Logitech MX ERGO wireless is extremely comfortable.
It’s an ergonomic mouse with a slant for right-handed people. It comes with a tilt plate that can tilt up to 20°, which is designed to relieve stress on the wrist, but this isn’t something we test for. It’s made for a palm grip and there’s rubber along the backside where your palm rests. The buttons are well-placed and easy-to-reach. If you’re interested in an earlier version of this mouse without a tilt plate, check out the Logitech M570. For a trackball mouse with a top-mounted trackball and a scroll ring instead of a scroll wheel, check out the Kensington Orbit Fusion Wireless Trackball. Alternatively, if you’re looking for an ambidextrous trackball mouse, check out the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball.
Maximum Of Paired Devices
2
Bluetooth
Yes
Receiver
Yes
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Use When Charging
Yes
On/Off Activation
Auto Off And On/Off Switch
Receiver Extender
No
Battery Indicator
Yes
You can connect the Logitech MX ERGO to your computer either via Bluetooth or its proprietary receiver, and it can connect to two devices at once.
It has a cable for charging, but you still need to connect it wirelessly to your computer while it’s charging. Logitech advertises a battery life of up to four months, but this isn’t something we test.
Connectivity
Wireless
Cable Length
4.2 ft (1.3 m)
Cable Type
Rubber
Permanent Kink
No
Port Type: Mouse End
Micro USB
Port Type: PC End
USB
The Logitech MX ERGO comes with a decent rubber cable. It feels well-made, but it’s also stiff and not very flexible. It’s a charge-only cable and data isn’t sent through it.
Gliding Experience
Stationary
Material
Plastic
Extra Included
No
- Logitech MX ERGO Wireless Trackball Mouse
- USB receiver
- Micro-USB cable
- Tilt plate
- User manual
Control
Total Number Of Buttons
9
Number Of Side Buttons
1
Number Of Programmable Inputs
6
Profile Switching Button
No
Gesture Support
N/A
There are a good amount of buttons that you can customize.
You can reprogram every button except the left and right click, and the device switch button underneath the scroll wheel. You can reprogram the scroll wheel click and the left and right wheel tilt buttons.
Expected Connection
12.8 ms
Wired
N/A
Receiver
12.8 ms
Bluetooth
18.0 ms
This mouse has a similarly low click latency whether you’re using it via Bluetooth or its proprietary receiver, which is great.
SRAV @ 1600 CPI
N/A
SRAV @ 800 CPI
1.19%
SRAV @ 400 CPI
6.10%
SRAV @ Fixed CPI
N/A
Precision Error Between Speeds
1.84%
Precision Error Between CPI
1.
28%
Worst Tracking Error
11.30%
Minimum CPI
50 CPI
Maximum CPI
1,150 CPI
CPI Adjustment Steps
100 CPI
Delay To Start Of Movement
N/A
Delay At Half Movement
N/A
Delay To End Of Movement
N/A
Sensor Technology
Optical (LED)
Sensor Model
Not Specified
Works On Glass
Yes
Minimum Lift Off Distance
N/A
Maximum Polling Rate
125 Hz
The sensor is located underneath the trackball. The trackball is easy to remove in case you need to clean the sensor.
If you’re interested in a trackball mouse with a 1000Hz polling rate, and gaming sensor, check out the GameBall Mouse.
Scroll Wheel
Notched Wheel
Scroll Wheel Steps
24 Steps
Scroll Wheel Tilt
Yes
Thumb Wheel
No
Thumb Wheel Steps
No Thumb Wheel
The Logitech MX ERGO has an incremented scroll wheel with a wheel tilt. Sadly, you can’t unlock it for infinite scrolling.
Click Noise
Quiet
Operating System And Software
Software Name
Logitech Options
Software Windows Compatibility
Yes
Software macOS Compatibility
Yes
On-Board Memory
No
CPI (DPI) Adjustment
Yes
Polling Rate Adjustment
No
Profile Configuration
Yes
Profile Auto-Switching
Yes
RGB On/Off
No RGB
The Logitech G HUB software offers great customization options.
You can create a profile for different programs on your computer, but you can only create one profile per program. The mouse doesn’t have onboard memory, but if you create an account, you can use your settings on another computer with the software downloaded.
Windows Compatibility
Fully
macOS Compatibility
Fully
This mouse is fully compatible with both Windows and macOS.
A spinning ball: the history of a trackball / Sudo Null IT News
Before the arcade bowling machines borrowed something from the trackball, the inventors of the trackball appeared to borrow something from the real bowling alley. In particular, from its Canadian variety called 5-pin bowling (“five-pin bowling”).
Unlike the huge boulders commonly thrown in American bowling alleys, five-pin bowling uses a ball about 13 centimeters in diameter—larger than a 7.5 cm skee-ball and about the size of a duckpin bowling ball. However, 5-pin bowling is played with five pins, not ten (hence the name).
This is a rather interesting fact about an object developed in the 1950s that has inspired many other devices. This device was thoroughly Canadian – its project was developed by Ferranti Canada on behalf of the Canadian Navy as part of a much larger project – a military information system called Digital Automated Tracking and Resolving (DATAR).
The five-pin bowling pitch gained a second life as the first trackball.
DATAR was one of the most ambitious projects in Canada’s nascent computer industry at the time. It was a complex machine that allowed ships to exchange radar and sonar data with each other. The machine was conceived by Navy researcher Jim Belea, who took advantage of an unfortunate meeting between Ferranti and the Navy to present his idea. Article 1994 years at the IEEE, Ferranti was extremely impressed with Belea’s idea.
“It seemed to our group that Belea came up with a very worthwhile thing. This was the first step towards the implementation of the concept of “button war”.
Lieutenant Belea was 15 years ahead of his time, and Sir Vincent de Ferranti, as well as other members of the group, were on the same wavelength with him, ”said Kenyon Taylor, an employee of the company.
Given the time of production and its scale, DATAR was a very complex system, integrating many modern technologies into one machine. According to site History of Computers Georgy Dalakov, 30,000 electron tubes were used in the prototype device, and thanks to the memory on magnetic drums, it could store up to 500 objects.
Early prototype of the first trackball. Pay attention to the stripes on the ball. (From Engineering Technology and History Wiki)
This machine had a radar screen, and the screen was controlled by a five-pin bowling ball. The device was invented by Tom Cranston and Fred Longstaff based on the air bearing system invented by Taylor. The system worked like this: the operator using the terminal scanned space, indicating the desired area on the radar screen with a trackball, and then pressing a switch to save the information on the screen, and this information was transmitted to other ships.
This idea, although ambitious, was later abandoned in favor of the system used by the US Armed Forces, not because it was not good, but because the Canadian Navy wanted to be able to exchange data through the same system as his closest ally. In addition, the US Navy’s Naval Tactical Data System was also able to enter data automatically in cases where manual entry of the DATAR was required. (In addition, as it turned out, installing thousands of vacuum tubes on a ship turned out to be quite a technical task.)
But not everything was completely lost. Ferranti used most of the technology in its mainframes, including those produced after the merger with Packard Electric in 1958. The company was ahead of its time in other areas – the FP-6000 computer, created from the remnants of DATAR, supported multitasking.
Ironically, however, the most important legacy of one of Canada’s first major computer projects was the trackball. The only drawback was that since DATAR was a secret government project, Ferranti could not patent their invention.
“Think about the state of the computer world in 1952. There are only a dozen operating systems in the world. Almost all of them are unreliable. There is no common software development language… the pulse frequency has reached only 50-100 kHz. Under such conditions, the idea of using a ball to control the cursor, interfering with the execution of the program, arose ahead of progress by millions of miles.
So said one of the inventors of the trackball, Tom Cranston, in a 2001 interview with the now defunct British magazine Personal Computer World about the importance of his invention for that time. Although devices with a ball have been used before, according to the magazine, the innovation was that it directly affected what was displayed on a computer screen. Cranston added that the device was a generation ahead of what other inventors were working on at the time. In fact, the trackball appeared 16 years before the German company Telefunken invented the ball mouse (1968) and a dozen years before Douglas Engelbart created his variation of the mouse, which did not use the ball.
2012, Air Traffic Controller First Class Justin Brown supervising the landing of an aircraft from the control tower of the aircraft carrier USS George W. Bush. Brown uses a trackball.
How the “pivoting ball” shaped the position of air traffic controller
Over the years of use, the trackball has reached the consumer market and has become available to the general public. But before that happened, it carved out an important niche that developed in parallel with the air travel industry – the field of air traffic control (ATC).
ATC needs to keep track of what is happening in the sky so that the flight moves on a free path, and this requires 360-degree movement, and in particular the ability to change angles on the fly. The emergence of the concept of slewing, or rotation along one axis (in the case of an aircraft, usually Z), was an important result, and the trackball made it easier to control.
An example of a “turning ball” from the 1960s.
(Photo from IFATCA Journal of Air Traffic Control)
Therefore, in the world of air traffic control, it was not called a trackball, but a swivel ball (“slew ball”) – this term was first used in 1967 in a publication of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations. The word “trackball” only came into use in the 1970s and 1980s.
Philadelphia Inquirer article from 1981, published around the time Ronald Reagan fired thousands of striking air traffic controllers, explains how a “pivoting ball” was used as an aircraft approached an airport.
“Your plane is one of 70-100 small lights on the screen. The controller types in the desired code on the illuminated green and orange keypad, and a number appears next to the light that is your aircraft.
After the controller takes control, the computer automatically enters his code book after this number, and he starts to rotate his rotary ball.
The Turnball is a smooth glass ball very similar to those used in arcade e-football.
Then he “captures” you.
He presses the “target interception” button. Your plane’s altitude starts to flicker on the screen, and the computers in its cockpit connect to the computers in the radar station.”
The dispatcher rotates it with his hand. It moves the marker across the radar screen and aligns it with your aircraft’s light. In many ways, the pivoting ball was the only thing separating people from the mission-critical system, and it served that role effectively.
When mice became popular and air traffic controllers were taught how to use them, there was resistance from some because trackballs were already widely used.
“The main tool for interactivity was the mouse, but many people were not familiar with the mouse. For those not used to it, the training seemed too short. Controllers complained of being unfamiliar with the mouse and preferred the trackball that was already in use in the ATC system,” a 1989 report from NASA’s Ames Research Center reported.
This is a surprising situation that has probably been repeated often in the past – a niche technology has taken over one sector so strongly that its more popular alternative seemed alien.
One of the first Logitech Trackman advertisements.
Five major stages in the evolution of the trackball
- A 1973 article in the Evening Herald Shenandoah, Pennsylvania is the first mention of the trackball in the US press that I found. In this article, it seemed more important to the reporter that the key element of the computer used to control the electrical system was the television monitor.
- In the 1970s built-in trackballs began to be used in the arcades, and this marked a turning point for these input devices. The Atari Football arcade game (1978) more closely resembled the quarterback game scheme than Madden . Shortly thereafter, Atari released two classic arcade trackball games, Missile Command and Centipede .
- Although the Atari 5200 was a commercial failure, was withdrawn from the market less than two years after its release at 1982 had a trackball controller which was quite good, especially compared to the 5200 joystick which was infamous for its handle that didn’t want to center. A clip on the Wired-Up Retro YouTube channel explains that, unlike many other trackballs made for similar consoles, this one uses analog controls, making it much smoother in games like the Centipede and Missile Command .
- In the home computer market trackballs have been around in one form or another since about 1983. Along with trackballs for video game consoles, trackballs were also produced for computers, comparable in quality to devices for arcade machines. But the real turning point came in 1989, when the Swiss accessory manufacturer Logitech created the ergonomic Trackman, which had buttons on one side and a trackball on the other. Although the device was not completely unique to the market, it became one of the company’s long-lived hits.
- The 1989 release of the Apple Macintosh Portable was one of the first attempts to integrate a cursor into a portable computer, and because the mouse took up a lot of space, the trackball was the preferred alternative. Yes, the computer was not very good, but the trackball survived in many of Apple’s early Powerbooks. (In the late 90s, the trackpad gradually began to replace it.)
Although the device was not completely unique to the market, it became one of the company’s long-lived hits.
1992
Nintendo released Kirby’s Dream Land 9 this year0013 is a Game Boy game that was the first of the popular Kirby series. Earlier that year, game developer Masahiro Sakurai revealed that he programmed the game with a Famicom-based visual programming tool that had no physical keyboard, only an on-screen keyboard controlled by a trackball. According to a translation of his post in Source Gaming , Sakurai, who was new to the gaming industry at the time, did not question the development process and successfully created the game with such a limited tool.
In a historical perspective, one can reflect on the question: Is the trackball just an overrated mouse? Or is it a separate device with its own advantages, design solutions and applications?
Yes indeed it is used in a similar way to a mouse or a trackpad and it has a big fan following like this youtuber. But at the same time, it has its own history, ahead of other input devices and giving us a cultural context that is not related to its upside-down colleague. (Bowling balls were not used when creating the mouse.)
Centipede arcade machine. The trackball in this machine is about the size of a regular billiard ball.
Even if the differences are analyzed, the functionality of both devices is quite similar, although, as trackball fans will tell you, precise cursor control is much easier with a plastic ball at hand. And just like the Mario Paint wouldn’t be itself without a mouse, the Centipede just feels better with a trackball.
Admittedly, the trackball isn’t as popular as its rodent relative or the trackpad, which quickly took the place of the trackball in laptops (mainly due to fewer moving parts). And the fan arguments in favor of trackballs, which were important in the Windows era, now seem a little dated, given how much of our computing work we do on touchscreen devices.
However, although the trackball has never been the choice of the mass user, it has never completely lost its appeal. For example, last month Logitech continued to release models of its Ergo trackball.
The trackball might not be for everyone, but it might be for you. Perhaps you have something in common with air traffic controllers from the 80s.
The Tale of Trackballs / Habr
There are various non-standard input devices in my area of interest. And after all, they seem to have come up with a keyboard and a mouse, but they calmed down on this, but this is not enough for me. Parallel to the world of the mouse, there is the world of amazing input devices like the trackball.
We are all used to the mouse and know how to use it, so if you put an ordinary person at the trackball and make the ball rotate, his brain breaks. And it’s cool when you use something that’s not quite what everyone else is. And not everyone can use your tool, let alone work on your computer.
So I want to tell you about my many years of experience with trackballs, why it’s cool and at the same time what medical problems it causes. Go!
What is a trackball?
The trackball, in ancient times, was called an inverted mouse. Previously, mice were ball, opto-mechanical, so the trackball was supposedly the reverse version of the mouse, where the ball was rotated by the fingers. Those who found these types of mice remember the problems of dirt on the rollers of the optical-mechanical system. With trackballs of that time, this problem was especially acute, since the fat from the fingers collected on the rollers and hardened there. As a result, trackballs were significantly more frequently cleaned than classic ball mice.
Before we go to sort out the entire zoo of trackballs that have passed through my hands, I will tell you about the main types of trackballs.
There are, of course, typical and obvious differences between trackballs, for example, in the way the movement of the ball is read: it is an optical-mechanical system and either only an optical one; according to the method of connecting to a computer: USB interface, ps / 2, COM port, etc. However, in reality, these are not significant differences, since there will not be much difference when using trackballs with different interfaces. Moreover, modern trackballs have only a USB interface and they are all, without exception, optical. The main constructive difference is how we rotate the ball (hussars, be silent): with one thumb, or with the index, ring and middle fingers at the same time.
My favorite thumb trackball; in my opinion, they are more comfortable and the hand rests better on them. And in the market, these models have received significant distribution.
Unfortunately, for medical reasons, I had to stop using these models. You will soon find out why.
Why are trackballs so good and why do I love them? Trackballs are convenient for programmers, writers and draftsmen, as they have less distraction to use the manipulator. The trackball does not require space, does not damage the table surface and can be easily used even on the knee. I like to use the trackball during software development to minimize distractions from the keyboard. In general, as for me, the ideal trackball built into the keyboard in the very center, like on laptops of ancient times. In general, a trackball keyboard is the ultimate in my dreams.
My first trackball
My acquaintance with trackballs began with the manipulator “The Microsoft Ballpoint mouse” (its photo is presented on KDPV). Its peculiarity is that it was attached with a special clip to the keyboard or laptop, and made it very comfortable to work with it with the left or right hand.
For these purposes, on this model, the buttons were duplicated on both sides.
Trackball box picture.
I got it brand new, in a box, with wires. It came with a thick book with an instruction manual, a wire for the COM port and ps / 2, a keyboard mount and the trackball itself. By the way, the trackball was easily unfastened from the mount and could be used simply in the hand, which at that time was very cool, but what can I say, even today I really miss such a manipulator!
This model instilled in me a love for input devices of this type. The ball was rotated by the thumb, and it was very comfortable and heavy, even now I remember that feeling of cold soft rubber. Many of my friends asked me to give this device for use and were very delighted with its operation. We even took it with us to computer clubs and played various shooting games, it was so much more convenient than a mouse.
But not everything was so rosy, every medal has two sides. The lack of a trackball of this design was one: it was opto-mechanical, and this ruined it.
Eventually the rotation bearing grease dried up and the trackball stopped working. Unfortunately, at that time I did not have enough experience or the ability to restore it.
Today, for an article, I was looking for photos of this trackball, and it turned out to be a very rare beast, photos were found with great difficulty. Especially if you don’t remember the model name. Specifically, this model appeared in the pre-Internet era. The photos in the article are taken from the Microsoft website.
Notebook trackball
My second trackball was the manipulator built into the Compaq Contura 410C laptop. This laptop, surprisingly, is still alive, except that its power supply has been lost somewhere in the years.
Trackball in Compaq Contura 410C.
The trackball is designed in such a way that the input is carried out by the index and middle fingers. As it turned out, this solution was very convenient, and I played the first civilization on this device for a long time, even with a more advanced computer.
In general, today I look towards keyboards with a similar arrangement of the trackball, but so far I have not seen successful models.
The main disadvantages of this input device include not the best location of the keys, as well as the size of the ball and its absolutely smooth surface. Still, the larger the ball, the more convenient it is to work.
My main workhorse
When working on a standard PC, I used a mouse. And as a rule, this was not enough for me, since everyone had a mouse, but I wanted something of that kind, unusual, so that it was as convenient as possible. And then I met him, the trackball of my dreams! And this laid the foundation for my passion for trackballs, and this lineup has been with me for more than ten years, in different and more advanced versions. Meet “Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical” .
Logitech TrackMan Wheel Optical.
This was my first optical trackball. That is, now the position of the ball was read in the same way as in modern mice: using a camera.
The ball was illuminated by an IR diode, so that the light did not interfere or distract in any way.
This device was a total bomb and completely revolutionized my trackball practice. Big ball, comfortable design, as if it was specially molded for my hefty paw. After washing, the ball had to be rolled a little between the palms so that it was a little smeared, and then it rotated delightfully.
I never parted with this trackball, it was always with me, except that I didn’t go to bed with it. In the end, I decided that I would also play with a trackball. In general, let’s be honest, the response speed and data accuracy of the input device is much worse than that of a standard mouse. But I made a strong-willed decision to hone my reaction speed and accuracy to the level of mouse rivals, and having managed to do this, for a long time I was in the top three leaders on our Quake III servers in terms of hit accuracy.
Screenshot of the end of the duel in CTF on the q3ctf4 map (E+ mod, madsod config), statistics are highlighted in red, In a real battle, on the madsod config, 30% of the rails – this was a very good indicator, taking into account the insane dynamics of the game.
Alas, after this config, all other games seem like turtle races to me and I can’t play them.
Of course, with such intensive use, I had to periodically repair it. First of all, the plastic was worn off, which presses / transmits force from the key to the button. As a result, I made a lining from an aluminum can there. During the disassembly and repair, I took pictures of my beauty, so that we can look inside.
This photo clearly shows the spikes holding the PTFE ball, as well as the window of the optical sensor. The device of the optical sensor is curious, it is more cunning and more complicated than that of an optical mouse.
I have had 4 versions of this type of trackball, wireless version, laser version. Unfortunately, I have not preserved photos of all versions of these devices.
Another new trackball.
With each new version there were nice changes: different scrolling, better sensitivity, nicer ball that glides better and much more. Also, the ball wears out during long-term operation and rotates worse.
due to the furrows formed on it. Unless the wireless ones pleased me less than the wired ones, as problems with charging and batteries surfaced. Plus station search. I do not remember the exact name of all models, but there were four types.
The last trackball of this form factor was the chic “Logitech M570” . He was perfect.
Logitech M570.
Wireless, laser reader, soft ball, ideal weight to stand firmly on a table. In general, it was fine, but I only managed to use it for about a month, because I got an occupational disease from trackballs …
Disease of fanatical trackball players
One day, I suddenly felt unpleasant pain in the joints of my thumb with fine motor skills of the rotation of the trackball ball. At first, I did not attach any importance to it, but the pain grew steadily every day and eventually became unbearable.
Places of pain.
Realizing that it would not go away on its own, I went to see a surgeon in the district clinic.
After going through 13 circles of hell, he was sent for an X-ray and the diagnosis was disappointing.
Conclusion (underlined): pronounced signs of arthrosis.
Then injections, ointments and other procedures and trackballs for the thumb of the right hand had to be forgotten. Forget forever. Now, even after so many years, if I sit down at this type of trackball, after literally ten minutes of work, my joints begin to ache. Yes, even messages on the phone now I type only with my left hand.
So everything wears out, including our joints. Computer games, training in the clan for 5 hours a day, all this too quickly wore out the joints of the thumb, which accounted for all the load. And this led to sad, irreparable consequences.
But if you think my trackball story is over, no.
Other trackball models I have used
There are other models of trackballs that I have used for quite a long time, but they have not sunk into my soul so strongly.
The first fancy trackball was “A4 Tech Wintrack PC XT” trackball, COM port.
Despite the fact that it was opto-mechanical, and even on the COM port, it was a three-button one. And if now it would have a scroll wheel, then I would still use it, because I find it very convenient and interesting.
A4 Tech Wintrack PC XT.
The device is really hefty, but very cool, especially the huge keys deliver. Unfortunately, it didn’t take root with me, since you won’t find a COM port in modern computers today with fire, and an adapter is such a method, since additional drivers and other problems are needed. I even became curious, but can modern Windows 10 work with COM port mice?
Another model that I have had in use for a while is the “Logitech TrackMan Marble Silver” .
Logitech TrackMan Marble Silver.
I can say about him that the model is very unusual. In general, I liked the device. The main disadvantages include the lack of a scroll wheel, which puts an end to its comfortable use. I used this model for a while after I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, as it involves other fingers.
But still, she did not take root with me, and went on hand by hand. Somehow no one stayed long.
The ultimate trackball, and the most unusual one I’ve used recently, was the “Logitech Cordless TrackMan Optical Trackball” . I bought this model very profitably on one Internet site a few months ago.
Logitech Cordless TrackMan Optical Trackball.
It turned out to be a very unusual device, even for me. The main oddity was the completely unusual layout of the keys: the usual left mouse button is under the thumb, and the right mouse button is behind the ball.
The big key on the side is LMB.
Due to joint problems in my thumb, I can’t use the thumb button. Therefore, this was the reason for my refusal to use this model. In principle, it is possible to reprogram the buttons of this trackball using the supplied software. But in fact, it turned out that reprogramming is carried out at the level of the operating system to which the trackball is connected, and not at the level of the controller of the manipulator itself.
The big key on the side is LMB.
Therefore, the manipulator went further from hand to hand.
In general, we have a friendly community of trackball lovers, and we exchange models of various devices with each other. That allows you to feel different solutions and understand what you need most.
What is the result?
To my great regret, due to an injury, I can no longer use trackballs under the thumb under the right hand. Yes, and as my acquaintances, trackball lovers who have been using them for about 5-10 years, say that they also have signs of arthrosis (the joints of the thumb ache). So at the moment I’m using a mouse type manipulator. But, nevertheless, I look at interesting models. An example of such models is a thumb trackball for the left hand “ELECOM M-XT4DRBK” .
ELECOM M-XT4DRBK
Or another model that haunts me with its beauty is “Microsoft Explorer 1.0” .
Microsoft Explorer 1.0
Of course, this model also has buttons under the thumb, but the model itself looks just cosmic.