Trackball worn out?

D

Don Phillipson

Has anyone experienced a trackball wearing out . . . ?
This Logitech TrackMan Marble model CH11 must be 15 years
old, possibly 20, connected PS/2, running under Win98SE.
Erratic cursor behavior began suddenly this month:
1. Slow travel across the screen, I'd say half its former
speed or slower. The unit is used intensively, e.g. for
TurboCAD, Magix Audio Cleaner (software with next to
no hotkeys.)
2. Sudden lateral jumps from one window to another.

The ball, optical sensor and support bearings (three
metal pinheads) are clean and free from dust. The
ball looks different from that of the newer Marble
Mouse: the dots are blacker and appear more
distinct on the younger ball. (The balls are of
different sizes thus not interchangeable.)
 
M

Malke

Don said:
Has anyone experienced a trackball wearing out . . . ?
This Logitech TrackMan Marble model CH11 must be 15 years
old, possibly 20, connected PS/2, running under Win98SE.
Erratic cursor behavior began suddenly this month:
1. Slow travel across the screen, I'd say half its former
speed or slower. The unit is used intensively, e.g. for
TurboCAD, Magix Audio Cleaner (software with next to
no hotkeys.)
2. Sudden lateral jumps from one window to another.
Click to expand...

(snip)

Good gracious! You have an ancient mouse and you want to know if they ever
wear out?!! Of course they do! Break down and buy a new one.

Malke
 
T

Tom Willett

:
: Good gracious! You have an ancient mouse and you want to know if they ever
: wear out?!! Of course they do! Break down and buy a new one.
:
: Malke
: --
: MS-MVP
: Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
: http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Wonder if he/she can afford the $4.95?
 
A

Antares 531

:
: Good gracious! You have an ancient mouse and you want to know if they ever
: wear out?!! Of course they do! Break down and buy a new one.
:
: Malke
: --
: MS-MVP
: Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
: http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Wonder if he/she can afford the $4.95?
Click to expand...
There may be a bit more to it than your post implies. I also have one
of those old Trackballs and I like it very much. It fits my hand (very
large) and it is easy to use. I also have one of the newer Logitech
Trackballs but can't adapt to it. It is so small that my large hand
just doesn't fit into proper position, then, as if this weren't bad
enough, the click buttons are so sensitive that I often do a click
when I had no intentions of doing so.

My old Trackball failed because the little plastic hinge on the left
click button broke. I took it apart and glued on some fiberglass
fibers to repair the broken hinge and it now works as well as ever.

My assessment of the current Trackball is that, even if they paid me
$4.95 to take one and use it, I'd decline, and not too respectfully,
either. Those things must have been designed by a female Asian with
itty-bitty hands and a complete disregard for men with large hands.

Gordon
 
D

Don Phillipson

Nearest replacement seems the Trackman Wheel (Logitech
904353-0403) at about $40.
There may be a bit more to it than your post implies. I also have one
of those old Trackballs and I like it very much. It fits my hand (very
large) and it is easy to use. I also have one of the newer Logitech
Trackballs but can't adapt to it. It is so small that my large hand
just doesn't fit into proper position, then, as if this weren't bad
enough, the click buttons are so sensitive that I often do a click
when I had no intentions of doing so.

My old Trackball failed because the little plastic hinge on the left
click button broke. I took it apart and glued on some fiberglass
fibers to repair the broken hinge and it now works as well as ever.

My assessment of the current Trackball is that, even if they paid me
$4.95 to take one and use it, I'd decline, and not too respectfully,
either. Those things must have been designed by a female Asian with
itty-bitty hands and a complete disregard for men with large hands.
Click to expand...

Thanks for helpful comments.
1. Pattern of erratic action suggests the trouble is either the
trackball surface or the optical sensor that reads it.
2. The old unit has max. dimension (top to bottom) just
6 inches. No dimensions for the new one appear at
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/166&cl=ca,en
If you have one, does it measure much less than 6 inches overall?
 
I

Ian D

Don Phillipson said:
Nearest replacement seems the Trackman Wheel (Logitech
904353-0403) at about $40.


Thanks for helpful comments.
1. Pattern of erratic action suggests the trouble is either the
trackball surface or the optical sensor that reads it.
2. The old unit has max. dimension (top to bottom) just
6 inches. No dimensions for the new one appear at
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/166&cl=ca,en
If you have one, does it measure much less than 6 inches overall?
Click to expand...

Don,

You're a few months too late. I had a Marble FX that I gave
away a few months ago to a non-profit community workshop
that refurbs PC's for low income people. It was in excellent
shape but I replaced it with a Microsoft Trackball Explorer
a few years ago, which I found to be a lot more comfortable
to use, very ergonomic. In fact, I bought a second one for
my laptop. If you can find a Trackball Explorer, buy it.

Ian D
Kitchener ON
 
A

Antares 531

Has anyone experienced a trackball wearing out . . . ?
This Logitech TrackMan Marble model CH11 must be 15 years
old, possibly 20, connected PS/2, running under Win98SE.
Erratic cursor behavior began suddenly this month:
1. Slow travel across the screen, I'd say half its former
speed or slower. The unit is used intensively, e.g. for
TurboCAD, Magix Audio Cleaner (software with next to
no hotkeys.)
2. Sudden lateral jumps from one window to another.

The ball, optical sensor and support bearings (three
metal pinheads) are clean and free from dust. The
ball looks different from that of the newer Marble
Mouse: the dots are blacker and appear more
distinct on the younger ball. (The balls are of
different sizes thus not interchangeable.)
Click to expand...
My new Logitech mouse measures about 6 inches long by 3 inches wide.
It is designed for either left or right handed use, and that is one of
the problems. That is, it is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis,
and shaped to fit either moderately well, but won't fit my right hand
very well.

My old Trackman Marble FX measures about 7.5 inches in length and
about 3 inches in width, but it is curved such as to fit my right
hand. The longer structure lets me put the heel of my hand on the end
of the structure and get a tactile sense of position relative to the
ball and click buttons. I don't have to take my eyes off the computer
screen to see where my hand needs to be to operate the mouse.

Something you might try...use a small artist's paint brush to dislodge
any lint or dust that has collected on the IR screen. This can become
clouded and cause the track ball readings to be erratic. I clean mine
with a lens cleaner cloth from time to time.

Gordon
 
S

Shenan Stanley

<snipped>

Antares said:
There may be a bit more to it than your post implies. I also have
one of those old Trackballs and I like it very much. It fits my
hand (very large) and it is easy to use. I also have one of the
newer Logitech Trackballs but can't adapt to it. It is so small
that my large hand just doesn't fit into proper position, then, as
if this weren't bad enough, the click buttons are so sensitive that
I often do a click when I had no intentions of doing so.

My old Trackball failed because the little plastic hinge on the left
click button broke. I took it apart and glued on some fiberglass
fibers to repair the broken hinge and it now works as well as ever.

My assessment of the current Trackball is that, even if they paid me
$4.95 to take one and use it, I'd decline, and not too respectfully,
either. Those things must have been designed by a female Asian with
itty-bitty hands and a complete disregard for men with large hands.
Click to expand...

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