Touchpads? Argh, only if there definitely is no mouse available. I even carry the mouse with me when I carry my laptop around at my work (to meetings, lab etc.). I just can't stand using touchpads for longer periods of time.

As for trackballs... for gaming too? Do they work as well for games (e.g. RTS or FPS) as a mouse? I already asked that earlier when I was thinking about a setup to use a laptop from a couch with an external keyboard and mouse (and possibly connected to TV). I was specifically asking about trackballs, as I presume they'd work better in cases where there is no flat surface like table.

The consensus seemed to be that trackballs are still much inferior to mice in gaming. Too bad I can't test it myself as trackballs have premium price.

Also, I see trackballs where the ball is where your thumb would be. Do you feel they are good too (for gaming), as compared to your Marble Mouse where the trackball is in the middle?

I agree with the this being the consensus, I just don't see any mechanical or ergonomic reason for it to be right. One should be able to pull off nearly any maneuver with a sensitive trackball one can do with a mouse.

I tried to play Bad Company 2 with Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman ...Id say FPS:s would take "awhile" to get used to... Single player was somehow playable, multi was plain disaster. I am not even going to try FPS's again with trackball.

I think I could play RTS's with trackman, but if you want to play at the speed of korean SC -pro, well good luck practicing :)

Track ball + cat = misery.
They won't attack it or anything but I'm convinced cat hair was specifically designed to interfere with track ball 'receptors'. If you don't have a cat, or you don't mind removing the ball and cleaning out the mouse every 45 min then kindly ignore this post.

Speaking of mice and this isn't exactly for this thread but it's close enough. My memory isn't so good and I'm trying to remember if those older FPS were designed with a mouse in mind. Thanks to GOG I've been buying up all the old 3D titles and while 'auto-aim' feels like cheating, using the mouse to aim feels clunky unlike it does with the newer titles like COD, MOH, or FarCry. Any thoughts?

Well you could sit an a lazy boy recliner using a wireless mouse - very comfortable indeed!!

I used to compete using a thumb ball (microsoft optical trackball iirc) and I scored well.. my average score has dropped since moving back to mice tbh.

I liked the pencil eraser nubbins on laptops better than the touchpads wish they still made them or maybe that mine had both

edit- derf. I mean

I've got one of those old wireless logitech ones with a big reciever like a flashdrive that was about $25 about 5 years ago. I like the shape of it and its held up so far...so try looking at logitechs. They've got much smaller connectors now just a little chip thing on a usb plug

Now I feel vindicated in my suspicions!

Okay, is that the Mourninglight logo from TSW as your new avatar?

Nipples! That's what I call them. They're mainly on IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads. Far superior to a touchpad imo but I have never seen them on anything else so I think they may have the patent (same as the useful little LED light in the lid which can be used to light up the keyboard for night typing.)

:P Yup it's the morning light.. before that it was orochi.. and for a long time the dragons... next will likely be phoenecians

My Logitech Performance MX is very comfortable, extra buttons, wireless with a very good battery life... however the wheel is hypersensitive, especially on Mac, and Logitech has no intention of doing anything about it.

I adore my Logitech G5 which they don't make anymore, but the 500 seems comparable. They are designed specifically for gaming so I'm guessing they stress test them like in that old luggage commercial with the gorilla (jesus im old). I beat the hell out this thing and she never lets up. Plus she has a sensitivity control right on the mouse so you can change it mid-game. Another bonus is the removable weight tray with collection of little removable weights. Mind you, that is TOTALLY USELESS as far as the mouse goes, but the weights make perfect slingshot ammo.

Drawbacks: the M5, 500, 400 aren't cheap and honestly they might be overkill for someone who actually has a life and doesn't do this all day. This aspect, of course, makes them the IDEAL mouse for yours truly.

Over 35€ here. :( Oh well, maybe I'll ask one from Santa Claus. I wouldn't mind the price if I just knew I'll be fairly happy with it, but for a paperweight, a bit too much. I'd rather use the money on GOG games.

About the wireless mice/trackballs: do they need the extra vendor drivers' installation for the receiver etc., or do they work just plug'n'play (in Win7, Win8, Linux, maybe even WinXP)?