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Trackball, Trackpad or Optical Mouse?

I have to say I’ve been addicted to StarCraft 2 for the past couple of weeks and spending around 8 hours a day on the game. It’s a productivity killer really but I think it’s just a phase I have to get through and hopefully, soon enough. On a related note, was wondering which type of pointing device people prefer with their computers.

I’ve got 3 main choices you can pick from — a regular optical mouse, a trackball and a trackpad.

I personally find the trackball the most convenient and more comfortable to use. There’s no need for a mousepad for that one and you don’t frequently move your wrist around a lot.

The optical mouse, especially the laser one, is better for accuracy especially in graphics design and gaming. The trackpad, on the other hand, allows for multi-touch functions.

Reminds me, a couple months ago, I also asked people if they put a premium on the mouse and it looks like the crowd is split on the amount they budget for a mouse.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

39 Responses

  1. Avatar for online mouse pad online mouse pad says:

    Hello! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room
    mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article
    to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

  2. Avatar for Outlet Moncler Outlet Moncler says:

    I do enjoy the way you have framed this particular situation and it really does present me a lot of fodder for consideration. On the other hand, from what I have witnessed, I simply just hope as other reviews stack on that individuals remain on issue and not embark on a soap box regarding the news of the day. Still, thank you for this superb piece and though I can not really concur with it in totality, I regard your standpoint.

  3. Avatar for arfarf arfarf says:

    The best is still the old fashion mouse.. It’s more comfortable to use in Photoshop and graphic designs

  4. Avatar for Mr. Lee Mr. Lee says:

    Trackball !!! Best in small spaces.

  5. Avatar for love sayings love sayings says:

    I am so done of arriving at a site to comment and noticing unusual comments. Cant they discover anything more educated to do with their time? What about a comment pertaining to Philippines, Technology News & Reviews This view is definitely something Id care to consider more of.

  6. Avatar for Jason Jason says:

    Apple’s Multitouch trackpad :)

  7. Avatar for Jay A Jay A says:

    Why didn’t you include the tablet and pen? Awkward at first but when you get the hang of it, it’ll be faster and almost as flexible as a trackpad and more acxurate than a mouse, even for gaming

    -Sent via YugaTech Mobile App

  8. Avatar for Benchmark Benchmark says:

    Have you heard about the 3D Connexion?

    Well I haven’t tried…but I want One! Hehehehe

  9. Avatar for max max says:

    TrackPoint when lying comfortably anywhere and my laptop is on my lap. A touchpad is unusable because the lower portion of the laptop is touching my tummy in that position. And I NEVER accidentally move the cursor while typing.

    If I have a table, wireless mouse with extra buttons and mouse gestures enabled. Parang multi-touch na rin sa dami ng magagawa.

  10. Avatar for jacqui jacqui says:

    laser mouse > optical mouse

  11. Avatar for Micks Micks says:

    TrackPOINT. I prefer the ThinkPad nipple. Less carpal tunnel strain than trackpads.

  12. Avatar for Mac Tolentino Mac Tolentino says:

    definitely the logitech trackball. You can quickly move the ball with your fingers or palm.

  13. Avatar for sylv3rblade sylv3rblade says:

    @blankPixels
    Trackballs are simply more pleasing to use :) Too bad there’s nothing in the market that’s “new” for trackballs.

  14. Avatar for Biggs Biggs says:

    Microsoft Trackball Explorer /end

  15. Avatar for Harley Harley says:

    i use both optical mice and trackpad! enjoy!

  16. Avatar for Iyan Sommerset Iyan Sommerset says:

    Mouse with programmable buttons. Anything else is a pain to use for RTS and (especially) FPS gaming.

  17. Avatar for gringo gringo says:

    optical (gaming) mouse…. :)

  18. Avatar for RJCA RJCA says:

    @iHateStupid – It’s a blog, nothing wrong with a post stimulating reader responses.

  19. Avatar for blankPixels blankPixels says:

    Wow. I’m shocked by the responses here. I didn’t know there are a lot of trackball users.

    Well, I’m one of them now. I just bought my first Trackball – Logitech Trackball Wheel mouse (my thumb’s the one on the trackball). Had to ’cause of the pains on my right wrist. Now, the pain is gone! And, I don’t want to use the regular mouse anymore! I already got used to using my trackball even on my graphics design and photo editing. I LOVE IT!

  20. Avatar for rick rick says:

    Trackball. There’s only one good brand left. Been hoarding these trackball made by LOGITECH. They’re very expensive, but in the LONG LONG run, its worth it.

    Less energy is being used for trackball since you only use your (trigger) index finger.

  21. Avatar for lolipown lolipown says:

    ^
    It’s a blog. Welcome to the internet

  22. Avatar for iHateStupid iHateStupid says:

    this is a stupid article! yuga mukhang wala na tayong masulat a!

  23. Avatar for sylv3rblade sylv3rblade says:

    productivity wise, it’s the trackball for me.

  24. Avatar for deuts deuts says:

    I’m usually on a laptop, and in order to really get the hang of it, I do away with the usb mouse. Because a laptop is designed for portability–in instances that you leave behind the mouse or you have nowhere to use/put your mouse (as you are mobile, right?), you can’t get things done.

    I have always loved the trackball. Why? Because I only use the mouse/trackball/trackpad to move the pointer, left-click and right click. Nothing more. I don’t need those pinching things and all. Most of the time they cause trouble than help–especially for products that are manufactured by not so worth mentioning brands–i.e.,crappy. Because most of the times they do what you don’t want them to do, like getting in the way when typing, and even moving things.

    So for me–A TRACKBALL! Just like my long gone IBM Thinkpads, may they rest in peace. LOL!

  25. Avatar for mr.bogus mr.bogus says:

    mouse….

  26. Avatar for manny manny says:

    depends on whats required… multi touch trackpad on browsing, scrolling and other shortcut actions, optical mouse if working or gaming.

  27. Avatar for Dan Emmanuel Ventura Dan Emmanuel Ventura says:

    Trackball user here!

    Logitech Trackman Marble

  28. Avatar for RJCA RJCA says:

    Mouse, laser or optical. :>

    Used a trackball before though and there’s nothing bad I can say about it. :)

  29. Avatar for Val Val says:

    trackball. For the reasons stated by the author.

  30. Avatar for Val Val says:

    trackball. For the reasons stated by the author.
    although I would use a gaming mouse.

  31. Avatar for Num Lock Num Lock says:

    Wacom tablet and pen heheheh

  32. Avatar for E E says:

    optical mouse.. (wireless)

  33. Avatar for Dante Dante says:

    Optical Mouse! I haven’t use trackball and even heard that kind for mice :)

  34. Avatar for Leo Leo says:

    mouse…. haven’t used a trackball before, is it still available in stores? how much is it?

  35. Avatar for wha wha says:

    optical mouse!

  36. Avatar for LagaoLugaw LagaoLugaw says:

    optical mouse! whether gaming typing or anything!

  37. Avatar for mcast mcast says:

    my first pointing device was a trackball. it was a keyboard with a trackball on the right side. yes, a trackball was definitely very easy to use. plus, at that time, optical mice were nonexistent. the wheel mouse was not very accurate, mouse pads were necessary, and that mouse ball required constant cleaning.

    but now, even better than optical mice are the laser mice. accurate, can be used on most surfaces, and simple – they just work. i don’t think i can ever go back to a trackball.

    multitouch touchpads are nice but only my netbook has that “feature” – my 3-y.o. laptop doesn’t. multitouch on a touchpad makes netbooks really easy to use, despite the usual lack of area or size of a typical netbook touchpad.

  38. Avatar for tipler tipler says:

    track ball at work, mouse at home.

  39. Avatar for arthur francisco arthur francisco says:

    for me mouse still rocks… affordable, easy to use, convenient in many ways, precise motion and execution, graphic design friendly… and a lot more… :p

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