Two Pointing Devices

[allardjd 1,853]

I've found a nifty freeware utility, non-FS specific, that has solved a problem for me and I thought I'd pass it on.
 
I normally use a trackball instead of a mouse and I prefer it for about 99% of what I do.  Once in a while, however, a mouse is a better option, but not worth the bother of unplugging one device and plugging in another.  I would normally just gut it out and make do with the non-optimal trackball when I encounter one of those situations.
 
Now, however, I've found a freeware utility called EitherMouse. Among other things, their site says, "Freeware! no ads, no nags, free software, suggestions appreciated!"

 

It's available here...
 
http://www.eithermouse.com/
 
It's good for everything from XP through Win 8.1 - no mention of Win 10 on their site.
 
It installs with an exe installer and shows up in the system tray.  
 
You can have one mouse pointer, or two.  You can set separate properties (speed, click speed, scroll wheel lines, etc.) for each pointing device.  If you're only using one the other can just sit idle and causes no problems.  They also recommend it for a PC shared by two people, one of whom is left-handed.  One mouse can be set up with reversed buttons in that case.
 
I've been using it for less than 24 hours so can't give an unconditional testimonial, but so far, so good.  It does what it says and seems to be pretty trouble free.
 
John

[Quickmarch 488]

I'm curious why anyone would use a mouse instead of a trackball. Keeping the cat amused?

 

I'm sitting in my nice comfy armchair with the laptop on my lap (where else?) and my trackball on the chair arm.

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

I'm curious why anyone would use a mouse instead of a trackball. Keeping the cat amused?

 

I'm sitting in my nice comfy armchair with the laptop on my lap (where else?) and my trackball on the chair arm.

 

I hate trackballs. Keeping my arm motionless ends up causing me arm and shoulder pain...it might have something to do with the arthritis in my neck and shoulders....but ya...I call them TrapBalls, cuz they trap my hand in place.

 

I can def. see how an Armchair situation would be ideal for a Trapball...your arm is kind of trapped in limited space already in that case.

[J G 927]

I exclusive use trackballs. Unlike John, I have yet to find an instance where a mouse is better.

[allardjd 1,853]

Some games, where moving the mouse pointer far and fast is required, benefit from using the mouse - that's the only situation I have encountered where that's the case - give me my Logitech M 570 every time for everything else.  

 

I think the most useful situation for this utility is probably on a PC shared by more than one user, with different preferences, and particularly if one is a lefty.

 

John

[J G 927]

I use the Kensington  K72337EU It has the advantage of being ambidextrous and has a wheel as well.

 

[bilirubin 50]

Trackball at work as I sit behind a desk all day and a mouse at home. I would probably go for a Trackball at home but my PC is for general use not just flying and the "senior stewardess" prefers a mouse.

 

Mike

[allardjd 1,853]

The Logitech is pretty ergonomic - very comfortable to use, but not ambidextrous - that would be lost on me.  The thumb operates the ball and the index and middle fingers are on the left and right buttons, with the scroll wheel between them.  It also has a couple of programmable buttons to the left of the index finger.  

 

http://www.logitech.com/assets/32954/4/logitech-wireless-trackball-m570.png

 

John

[wain 879]

never even realised what a trackball was, I like the gaming mouse I have, does using a trackball mean you move the ball to move the on screen cursor? I hate those things you get on a laptop where your finger acts like the mouse, drives me mad.......

Wayne

[allardjd 1,853]

Yes, the trackball chassis sits stationary on the desk and the ball controls the mouse pointer. It takes about ten minutes to get used to it and after that it's pretty natural.

 

I agree, the laptop touch-pads are difficult for me too.

 

I did use an IBM Think-Pad (I think) once, a long time ago. It was a laptop sized device and in the middle of the keyboard, at about the junction of the Y, U, H and J keys (or maybe one row lower), a little red rubber nub stuck up. It was like a tiny joystick and you could move the mouse pointer with that without lifting either hand off the keyboard. It was a low enough profile that it didn't interfere with normal typing. It wasn't too bad and I liked that better than the current laptop touch-pads, but of course had no mouse buttons built into it - can't remember what you did for that. Never saw one again after that, though I guess you can buy tiny joysticks that plug into a USB port and can be operated with one fingertip.

 

John

[Quickmarch 488]

I use the M570 as well. It is a replacement for the one I used for years in the CAD environment (another sit-at-the-desk-all-day job). I forget what the manufacturer was for that one, it was a cream colour with a red trackball. I used that brand from the early eighties to my retirement in 2000.

 

I'm on my third M570 now - they do wear out, buttons mostly. They're so rare that I have a brand-new spare sitting in the wings. One annoying thing about them is the fact that the wireless feature will only "Pair" with the wee USB plug that it came with. I ran into this issue on the boat where I needed one for my laptop and one for the ship's computer because the ship's computer is not easy to access (to remove the little USB plug and switch over). I do like the wireless feature, though. The Kensington unit, mentioned above, looks good but has a tail.

 

For FSX, the extra buttons on the LHS are the cat's pyjamas - I assign the <shift> function to the topmost. This means I can get <shift>+trackball with one hand for camera (or view) functions.

[allardjd 1,853]

Then there's this - the Nostromo Speedpad n52. I have one but don't keep it plugged in and don't use it regularly. It's a gamer device intended for the left hand with lots of capability to be custom programmed. It has three "modes" so you can have it programmed for three different setups and switch between them with the touch of a button.

My left hand dexterity is pretty poor and I only have half of a left thumb so it's not all that useful for me, but it is a pretty impressive device.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F8GFPC100-Nostromo-Speedpad-n52/dp/B0000DC643
 

[wain 879]

I may look into one of these and see how I get on....I am left handed but can not use a mouse with my left... it feels so alien to me....

Wayne

[J G 927]

I am right handed and have some problems with my thumbs joint. I can dislocate it at will, I neat trick but it feels tender if I have to use my thumb for anything more than a minute or more.

 

I use this:

 

All my right thumb has to do is to use the left button which I can cope with. My little finger covers the right hand button, and the rest are free to use the ball. The collar is a mouse wheel which I can control with my right hand ring finger.

 

Its very comfortable and very accurate. 

[allardjd 1,853]

I guess since we're discussing odd peripherals, this link might be interesting.  It's one of those click-bait things, harmless and usually not quite what you think you're going to get when you get there, but in this case it's worth a look to see how far we've come - or have we?

 

It's aptly titled this time, as...

It's So Bad: The 9 Worst Video Game Peripherals  

A short history of console add-ons that nobody needed.

 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g2207/worst-video-game-peripherals/

[wain 879]

Interesting reading there John, thankfully I had none of them, as a manufacture you have to create a market where everyone thinks they need one and rushes out to buy, only to find they are useless or over complicated to use... I imagine there are things out now that look good but after 1 or 2 trial runs they end up back in the box, I had a mat and 2 drumsticks once that connected to my PC, was absolutely useless...

Wayne