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Why have I never tried a track ball?
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Because you don't think they are better. I've used them for ages - maybe thirty years - and wouldn't go back to a mouse. They never fall off the edge of the mousepad, you can click them without the mouse moving, and they really feel natural once you are used to them. That takes a while - you can get some pain for a couple of days because you aren't used to moving your thumb so much.
I've lost count of how many I've got though, and my current one is about ten or fifteen years old.
Logitech Trackman Wheel: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories[^] - sadly, you can't get them any more ... it's wireless now: M570 Wireless Trackball - Logitech[^]
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I think I'm ordering one today. This is pure genius. I remember a roommate had one in college 20 years ago and I wasn't sure I could get used to it so I never tried. Really never paid more attention to it till today. But with my hands the way they are, I should have 
Do they make them so I can use my middle and ring finger to move the ball? Clicking seems more natural with my thumb/index finger and rolling with the others. I seem to remember my roommates' being that way.
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Sweet. I will most likely be trying them both. Thanks!
- Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.
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I use a variant of the marble track ball. Like the other guy said, it's my go-to and I've been buying replacements for years.
vuolsi così colà dove si puote
ciò che si vuole, e più non dimandare
--The answer to Minos and any question of "Why are we doing it this way?"
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It is interesting to me that very few people use them. They have a lot of advantages and relieve a lot of stress on your hand. You can set your hand up so it is level and then use very little movement and be more precise with a trackball than a mouse a lot of times.
Here's the one I really like and it's only $22.99
Amazon.com: Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse, Four-Button, Programmable, Dark Gray: Electronics[^]
EDIT
By the way, I bought two of these back in '96 or so and I'm still using the one I've used for work all those years. Amazing. The other one got a sticky button, but it lasted 15 years or something. 
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I second the Microsoft Natural keyboard. Takes a few days getting used to, but I used to suffer from carpal tunnel and using this keyboard, all problems went away, within days.
That said, I've been using the Logitech illuminated Keyboard without any issues for a few years now. I think part of the issue is/was the amount of force required to press a key - this keyboard has a very light touch, very nice.
Marc
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Nah, you want one of these: Datamancer Seafarer[^]
Ok, you won't be able to type on it, but at 12lb of solid brass you won't lose it either!
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They don't ship to Israel 
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.
--Winston Churchill
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Bingo! Thank you, I ordered the model with the hand crank..
I was going with the Ergodox but this one looks better. Glad I had your CC number. 
Arguing with a woman is like reading the Software License Agreement. In the end, you ignore everything and click "I agree".
Anonymous
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Awesome! I want one.
12lbs of solid brass comes in handy for those times where you need a blunt weapon to beat pesky whiners in the face with.
The comments section on that keyboard is hilarious!
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Years ago when I worked in my first own company and the safety guy came to tell the workers the important things to know... he asked me to go to the meeting with all the mechanical guys, the electricians... and I remember exactly what I told him:
What do you think can happen to me? the keyboard could fall onto my feet? even that it wouldn't be an important injury.
It's clear I was not correctly informed. 
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Thank you for sending me down the rabbit hole on that one. The reviews on that are fantastic and I discovered that you can buy uranium ore on Amazon! I have a can ordered and expect to have my super powers by the end of the month.
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You're going to need the right spider as well - I suggest your local Zoo may be able to help with that one.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Good thinking. I was just going to use one out of my basement, but I think those are mutated already. Mixing a mutation from a mutation might not give me the desired results.
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Finally. A Keyboard that makes my laptop feel lighter 
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I had Carpal tunnel problems and was able to correct it by using the Logitech Wave and the Microsoft Natural keyboards. I found the Microsoft Natural keyboard is more reliable/problem free than the Logitech Wave keyboard. I cannot say if these keyboards will provide relief for arthritis. Given their relatively low price, it might be worthwhile buying one just to try - my recommendation would be the Microsoft Natural keyboard.
Good luck,
Ian
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I had a Wave too, wireless. I don't know why but it would buffer about 15 to 30 keystrokes then spit them all out at once from time to time. It was real irritating. I have since switch over to a good-ole wired natural ergonomic from microsoft.
if (Object.DividedByZero == true) { Universe.Implode(); }
Meus ratio ex fortis machina. Simplicitatis de formae ac munus. -Foothill, 2016
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I don't have any particular recommendation beyond "as long as it's curved, it'll be an improvement". I've had ergonomic keyboards since Microsoft first came out with theirs in 1995. I had my doubts about carpal tunnel claims before then, but I can attest first-hand (see what did there?) that it makes a huge difference if you do any serious typing.
Now, if only I could find a decent chair...
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Someone mention chair?[^]
Jack of all trades, master of none, though often times better than master of one.
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Genuinely curious. What defines a "gaming chair"...and is that useful for a developer?
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Thanks to all. If the past is any indicator, I will now procrastinate for a few days and then buy the wrong thing.
Thanks again.
Arguing with a woman is like reading the Software License Agreement. In the end, you ignore everything and click "I agree".
Anonymous
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Unfortunately no longer made but I have had the same Microsoft Natural Pro for at least the last 16 or 17 years and yes it is dirty, (somewhere in between the first two pictures in the link) but it has been really reliable although I did have to take the space key mechanism apart when it started jamming as I continually use the left hand side (clean patch) but a few minutes work soon saw that working well again
Apart from the fact that I am a slob you can even deduce languages that aren't used by looking at how dirty the []{} keys are
Microsoft Blog[^]
Before I started using this keyboard my wrists used to ache and putting my hand in my trouser pockets was particularly uncomfortable (helped stop me getting the wallet out though  )
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