Why isn't a trackball instead of a touchpad used in notebooks?

[b11_]

Why isn't a trackball instead of a touchpad used in notebooks?

 

[Dustin Harper]

User preference throughout the market. More users prefer the touchpad than
the trackball.

 

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello b11_,

Talked to the vendor's ,THEY are responsible, not a Microsoft newsgroup.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
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[Bob F.]

Why isn't a trackball instead of a touchpad used in notebooks?

1. It's what you are used to.
2. It's what came with it.
3. tradition.
4. Cost.
5. No moving parts.
6. Space.

 

[the wharf rat]

User preference throughout the market. More users prefer the touchpad than
the trackball.

Even simpler than that. Touchpads are dirt cheap but trackballs
are expensive and prone to failure being mechanical.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

1. It's what you are used to.
2. It's what came with it.
3. tradition.
4. Cost.
5. No moving parts.
6. Space.

Apple brought out the first trackpad in 1994, but it took a little while for
them to become common. Before that laptops all used trackballs or
trackpoints.

So many laptops had trackballs in the 90's, so what you said is not really
right.

ss.

 

[Quaoar]

Apple brought out the first trackpad in 1994, but it took a little while for
them to become common. Before that laptops all used trackballs or
trackpoints.

So many laptops had trackballs in the 90's, so what you said is not really
right.

ss.

Trackballs suffered the same problems as roller-ball mice: both picked
up dirt, sweat, and detritus, making them fail. Solid-state devices are
far more failure resistant than are mechanical devices using balls.

Q

 

[Lang Murphy]

Why isn't a trackball instead of a touchpad used in notebooks?

I personally prefer the IBM track stick, or whatever the heck it was called,
as the onboard mouse. Hate touchpads... and trackballs. LOL.

I disable the touchpad and use a wireless mouse with my laptops.

Lang

 

[vanilla]

While all that you said is true, I have always hated mice and have always
used trackballs. Spin 'em fast and stop on a dime. OK, pixel. But my
touchpad picks up dirt and sweat from my Girl Scout Cookie-encrusted finger
.... I have to shutdown to clean it. With my trackball, I just pop out the
ball, rub it down with the tail of my t-shirt, give the case a good blast of
wind, pop the ball back in, and keep on twirlin'.

I saw the handwriting on the wall many years ago and bought extra Kensington
TurboBalls. They sat on the shelf in my closet, just waiting for the day
they would be needed. I am now on my last TurboBall. I clean it real regular
like. When it goes, I will probably poke out my bottom lip and be
inconsolable.

My laptop has a touchpad, and my docking station has a silly mouse, which I
detest, and I will certainly adapt and survive, but I won't be happy ...
vanilla

Q said:

Trackballs suffered the same problems as roller-ball mice: both picked
up dirt, sweat, and detritus, making them fail. Solid-state devices are
far more failure resistant than are mechanical devices using balls.

Q

 

[occam]

Why isn't a trackball instead of a touchpad used in notebooks?

Moving parts (with wear and tear of ball, dust & fluff collection ) vs.
touchpads' more rugged surface. No brainer.