trackball use

[spacemarine]

please quote for context. quoting the entire message makes reading
posts more difficult because of the dozens of lines of non-related
quoted material. quote for context.

using the trackball. Have you removed the ball to inspect the
rubberized contacts on the roller pins and check for debris around the
shutter through which the LED passes? In other words, have you tried
cleaning it?

yes. as a non-newb, cleaning the trackball was the first thing i did.
my MS trackball doesnt use rubber, but uses metal pins on which the
ball sets. i cant tell, but they may even be micro ball bearings. im
interested in the ExpertMouse because im curious if large ball
bearings work any better.

id heard from so many that this MS Trackball Explorer was the best,
but its inherent sticking at small movements is disappointing. an
optical mouse (no ball) is able to perform precise movements this
cannot. im starting to believe that is always going to be the case --
making two devices necessary. (unlike photoshop, there are some apps
that do not offer a zoom mode. Visual Studio's form designer, for one.
since the trackball is too imprecise, i have to position elements via
X-Y coordinate text-entry via the keyboard. or use a secondary optical
mouse.


sm

 

[spacemarine]

re: kensington ExpertMouse trackball

getting information from their indian-outsourced customer service
department is like pulling teeth. i had a simple question: does the
latest model use ball-bearings to hold the ball?

several back & forths later, i have an answer: "It uses optical ball
bearings." uh. yeah.

i can only infer that they mean it doesnt use rollers to track
movement, but uses optics. but still no idea what the ball rests on.


sm

 

[spacemarine]

id heard from so many that this MS Trackball Explorer was the best,
but its inherent sticking at small movements is disappointing. an
optical mouse (no ball) is able to perform precise movements this
cannot. im starting to believe that is always going to be the case --

i should point out that this stickiness (was "jerkiness") is apparent
& obvious even at non-single-pixel movement. in my development work i
have to click on a lot of application icons, and making the small
movements to roll over each icon is a chore -- not due to dexterity
control, but due to trackball friction/sticking.

in looking closing at the MS Trackball Explorer, i see it has 6 points
of contact -- 3 metal pins inside the trackball cavity, 3 plastic ones
on the upper lip (keeping the ball in place & not popping out). the 3
plastic ones seem to offer the most resistance. since im not mousing
in zero gravity, im going to perform surgery on it and remove them.

will report in post op.

sm

 

[kony]

please quote for context. quoting the entire message makes reading
posts more difficult because of the dozens of lines of non-related
quoted material. quote for context.



yes. as a non-newb, cleaning the trackball was the first thing i did.
my MS trackball doesnt use rubber, but uses metal pins on which the
ball sets. i cant tell, but they may even be micro ball bearings. im
interested in the ExpertMouse because im curious if large ball
bearings work any better.

Just to clarify, this is definitely a problem with the
mechanical spinning of the ball, not the representation of
the cursor on-screen that is jerky?

If so, does the ball have any irregularities on it's
surface, such as mold marks, seams, pits, grooves, etc?

How about the ball cavity, besides the protruding bearings
so there anything else that might have been part of a poor
manufacturing process like plastic flash that is creating
addt'l friction?

Have you tried taking an eraser (/etc, or other moderately
firm tool, but one that doesn't leave behind significant
particles during this brief contact) and (firmly if there is
significant bearing protrusion or only lightly if bearing is
barely protruding) pushing in on the bearings, spraying it
liberally with a silicone lubricant, and before the carrier
has evaporated (so it's still thinner and less viscous),
again pushing in and rotating the bearing with the eraser
such that you work a lot of the silicone lube down into the
bearingway?

I might have overlooked prior mention of it, but how old is
this trackball and/or did it work better when new(er)?
If it is possible there is a manufacturing error and it's
still under warranty you might be able to get MS to replace
it. They have a reasonably good return policy, in many
cases not even requiring return of the defective product.

I would consider this product defective if not worn out,
damaged or excessively dirty (unless you are overstating the
degree, significance of the jerkiness). However it doesn't
exclude the possiblity that a replacement of same might
still exhibit the same problem later if not sooner and so I
suggested the above lubing attempt prior to seeking
replacement... as lubing it will make it work better even if
in ideal working order, though it might accelerate dirt
pickup and require more frequent cleaning and periodic
relube, and I am assuming you would also gently wipe away
excess lube from the rest of the cavity with a non-abrasive
cloth so as to not scratch up the optical sensor window.

Even then, it might not be enough to suit your needs. In
general it is easier to make precise movements when using a
mouse and having the extension and mobility of an entire arm
such that the ratio of large:small movements is higher than
possible when only manipulating a little ball with a finger
or stationary palm.

id heard from so many that this MS Trackball Explorer was the best,
but its inherent sticking at small movements is disappointing. an
optical mouse (no ball) is able to perform precise movements this
cannot. im starting to believe that is always going to be the case --
making two devices necessary. (unlike photoshop, there are some apps
that do not offer a zoom mode. Visual Studio's form designer, for one.
since the trackball is too imprecise, i have to position elements via
X-Y coordinate text-entry via the keyboard. or use a secondary optical
mouse.

Yes, in general people do find a mouse to be the evolved
pointing device of choice for good reasons, though there are
always a few people who have different needs causing
deviation.

 

[Ken Maltby]

i should point out that this stickiness (was "jerkiness") is apparent
& obvious even at non-single-pixel movement. in my development work i
have to click on a lot of application icons, and making the small
movements to roll over each icon is a chore -- not due to dexterity
control, but due to trackball friction/sticking.

in looking closing at the MS Trackball Explorer, i see it has 6 points
of contact -- 3 metal pins inside the trackball cavity, 3 plastic ones
on the upper lip (keeping the ball in place & not popping out). the 3
plastic ones seem to offer the most resistance. since im not mousing
in zero gravity, im going to perform surgery on it and remove them.

will report in post op.

sm

You don't have to remove them. If you want to, or need
to loosen things up that way, instead of the way I mentioned,
try a fine emery cloth and remove just a little of the plastic,
from each plastic bump.

As I mentioned twice before all it took was a solid rap on
the ball to set the steel posts down enough to free things up.

Luck;
Ken

 

[spacemarine]

Just to clarify, this is definitely a problem with the
mechanical spinning of the ball, not the representation of
the cursor on-screen that is jerky?

yes. this is the physical ball "sticking" during miniscule movements
(like moving from one word icon to the next). larger movements do not
incur the sticking since there is more power behind the movement.

If so, does the ball have any irregularities on it's
surface, such as mold marks, seams, pits, grooves, etc?

no. it looks fine.

How about the ball cavity, besides the protruding bearings
so there anything else that might have been part of a poor
manufacturing process like plastic flash that is creating
addt'l friction?

i believe the plastic nubs on the top that prevent the ball from
popping out may be contributing to the friction. im going to remove
them.

barely protruding) pushing in on the bearings, spraying it
liberally with a silicone lubricant, and before the carrier

havent tried. the "bearings" on this unit are not large -- im not even
sure if they are bearings at all, or just small points of metal. they
may not even rotate, too small too tell.

I might have overlooked prior mention of it, but how old is
this trackball and/or did it work better when new(er)?

it is used, not sure how old, or how it compares to brand new.

general it is easier to make precise movements when using a
mouse and having the extension and mobility of an entire arm
such that the ratio of large:small movements is higher than
possible when only manipulating a little ball with a finger

well, manual dexterity isnt an issue for me -- i feel i am capable of
making the small, controlled movements...but that the ball is not. as
you said, it may be defective.

or use a secondary optical mouse.

Yes, in general people do find a mouse to be the evolved
pointing device of choice for good reasons, though there are
always a few people who have different needs causing
deviation.

mice are definitely the cheapest & most popular to device to produce,
for sure, not sure if i would say theyve evolved that way due to best
human-interface merit. pesky carpal tunnel involved w/ rubbing the
wrist's nerve clusters to death . some for this reason feel strongly
about trackballs being preferred for anything other than casual use.


thanks!
sm

 

[spacemarine]

[quoting for context is always better than quoting entire posts/
threads. think readability]

try a fine emery cloth and remove just a little of the plastic,
from each plastic bump.

ill try that.

As I mentioned twice before all it took was a solid rap on
the ball to set the steel posts down enough to free things up.

yes, but had that worked for me i wouldnt be posting 20 times on this
group...


sm