When HN users recommended it
3 HN users recommended this between 2012 and 2019, in 3 comments.
20072026
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
3 HN users recommended this between 2012 and 2019, in 3 comments.
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
I have a Thinkpad E420 which is my main computer. Occasionally I'll work at my kitchen table, but usually I work at my "command center" desk. I have a 25" LCD monitor that helps supplement the horrible 1366x768 screen on my laptop.
For peripherals, I have a basic Dell optical mouse [1] and an ancient Microsoft Trackball Explorer [2]. I use a Logitech Ultrathin keyboard [3] as my main keyboard, but also utilize the laptop's keys too since they are very nice.
Basically, by having two sets of each peripheral, I can swap between them to keep from feeling sore. If my hand starts to get cramped from the mouse, switch over to the trackball for a while. If my wrists are getting tired with one keyboard, close the tray and switch to the laptop itself.
[1] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VBZWZ6/ref=as_li_tf_tl?...
[2] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005853Z/ref=as_li_tf_tl?...
[3] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F51G16/ref=as_li_tf_tl?...
Microsoft once made an awesome trackball and then discontinued it, leaving the remaining supply to be auctioned at high prices on eBay. If you're lucky, you can now find one of these extinct $50 MSRP rarities for the low price of $550 on Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explorer...
Why they won't bring this trackball back to the market is a mystery.
Some of us have been waiting for this trackball. Not just any trackball, this particular and exacting design of trackball. Twenty years ago Microsoft came out with a $35 trackball called the Microsoft Trackball Explorer. The single most awesome input device ever designed. Then for some reason they stopped selling them. The price for used ones and lost inventory has been increasing ever since. Just check out the amazon page for it. Read some of the reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-00007-Trackball-Explore...
Over those twenty years I've acquired three of them for parts. Two of the people I've gotten them from asked to buy them back once they spent time without them. The design is simply that amazing and to think it came from Microsoft and was originally $35, often a combo buy with their 'web' keyboard. So it will be interesting to see how much this reverse engineered version will feel like the original.