Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site topaz.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!topaz!STEINER@RUTGERS.ARPA From: STEINER@RUTGERS.ARPA Newsgroups: net.works Subject: Re: Mac Turbo Touch / Speed Key vs. Mice Message-ID: <175@topaz.ARPA> Date: Mon, 7-Jan-85 02:49:50 EST Article-I.D.: topaz.175 Posted: Mon Jan 7 02:49:50 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 9-Jan-85 02:25:43 EST Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 23 From: Piersol.pasa@XEROX.ARPA I have noted a major problem when trying to use a trackball for precision cursor placement. The problem seems to be that my hand is not a perfectly flat surface. Thus, the trackball tends to roll in certain directions depending on which part of my hand is in contact with the ball. I personally find this very inconvenient when I'm trying to move the cursor rapidly, since I get a lot of overshoot and undershoot. (For a very graphic demonstration of how hard this can be, try the video game Quantum!). Further, when I have rolled the cursor to the correct location, the interrrupt button telling the machine I am pointing is either inconvenient for the hand on the ball, or requires that another hand be used. Another hand is almost required when making a 'dragging' selection. In my opinion, this makes a trackball at best a marginal cursor steering device for most Mac style applications. ( I'd really like to see at least a two button mouse on Mac, though. Much nicer to have pop-ups available without having to move so far!) Kurt