From: rpaiz@husc8.harvard.edu (Rodolfo Paiz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Portable mice or trackballs
Date: 2 Oct 92 15:37:54 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc8.rpaiz.718040274

v106padf@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (MICHAEL CARGIAN) writes:


>I am looking at buying a mouse for my notebook.  I've seen the 
>tracman portable and the ballpoint for $100-$130 and the 
>thumbelina (sp?)  for $60.  Does anyone have any comments on whether 
>one is a lot better than the other?  The ballpoint looks a little
>big just to throw in the computer case and carry around but the
>thumbelina looks hard to use.  Thanks for your help.

Don't know much about the TrackMan portable.  On second thought,
never seen one!

The Microsoft Ballpoint is quite a good product, with nice tracking
and a fairly comfortable feel.
	*** Main advantages:  clips onto the side of the notebook, 
making it easy to use on your lap or on VERY restricted surfaces like 
airplane tables.  Also has very competent software, and easy setup
and adjustment.  Good, precise tracking.  Comfortable buttons, well
arranged, with a second set of buttons should you care to orient the
Ballpoint on the left side or the front of the case.
	*** Main disadvantages:  the clip onto the computer's frame
worried the hell out of me, because I could easily imagine putting
some weight on the Ballpoint by mistake and cracking the plastic on
the side of my notebook's case.  Also, the notebook will not latch
closed with the Ballpoint clipped on, which allowed me to break the
hinge on the back of my Compaq by applying force to what I THOUGHT
was an open machine (and was actually only latched on one side).
Mind you, that was the first time anything at all had happened to
my computer for four years.
	My hand got very tired after a while of using this thing on
a desk.  I'd say it works very nicely when you have no surface to run
a mouse on; however, given any desk space at all, I'd hook up my old
(and favorite) Microsoft 2-button mouse.  It's just much more comfor-
table than the trackball.
	General opinion:  excellent for travel.  OK for desk, but a 
real mouse is better then.

As for the Thumbelina... (background noises of someone being violently
sick to their stomach), I hated it.

This is a personal opinion with not a whole lot to back it up (while
I've used a Microsoft mouse for three years and a Ballpoint for 1.5,
I only used the Thumbelina for a month).  But it was awful.

The ball is so damn tiny that tracking is difficult.  As an extreme
example, playing Minesweeper was... ugly.  Editing graphics in Adobe
Illustrator was no joke, either.  It's small and easy to carry around,
but I for one was simply not comfortable with it.  With anything
about it.  I think in this case the difference between $60 and $130
is real, and significant.  But again, this is my opinion.  Listen to
somebody else, too.

If you use the thing on the road a lot, get the Ballpoint.  If you only
go from home to the office and back, or maybe do a little moving around,
I'd say carry the darn mouse and pad with you.  I've sold my Ballpoint
and bought another mouse.

Hope this helps...

Rodolfo J. Paiz
Black Diamond Technology, Inc.
One Davis Square, Suite 211
Somerville, MA  02144
Tel. 617-776-7020
E-mail at:  rpaiz@husc8.harvard.edu