Where Have All the Trackballs Gone?

Unless you have particularly large hands, the TrackMan (on the right) will likely be slightly more comfortable. If you do a lot of tasks that require fine control and could use the extra buttons for added shortcuts, like picture editing, then the Microsoft (on the left) gets the nod. If you are gaming, the extra buttons get in the way more than anything.

Hand size and personal preference aside, the decision can be made as follows. If you tend to think about what and where you are clicking, like when laying out graphics, you can avoid accidentally hitting the MS Trackball’s extra buttons, and might get some use out of them. The larger ball also helps when you are trying to get the pointer to exactly the right spot.

If you tend to click quickly, by second nature, perhaps using your peripheral vision, like one would when gaming or browsing the web, then the TrackMan is the man for the job. The fit and simplicity of the device make it hard to miss click and a joy to use for extended periods.

Trackball balls pick up dirt and oils from your thumb (you dirty person) and have to be cleaned. Before you moan about how optical mice never need cleaning, think about how often you clean, or at least brush something off, your mouse pad or whatever you use as such. You can keep a trackball clean in the time it takes for a large webpage to load.

For both of the trackballs we discussed above, the procedure is similar. The bottom of the trackball has a small hole (blue square in picture at right). Use your little finger, or a pen (if your little finger isn’t so little), to push the ball out. Make sure it doesn’t go flying and roll off when it pops out (see next section). Don’t let it get scratched; give it a wipe with a clean, dry, lint free cloth. I find a microfiber cloth for cleaning glasses is best, but a handful of t-shirt you’re wearing will do in a pinch.

Put the ball where it won’t roll off and your pets won’t get a hold of it, and take a look inside the cavity it came from. There are 4 places where dirt will gather. Three small bearings (yellow square, pic at left) that hold the ball while allowing it to spin, and the window for the optical sensor (in red). Use a Q-tip (or finger) to wipe gunk away from the three bearings. Use a Q-tip or cloth to give the window a wipe. Be very careful with the MS Trackball, since the window has a hole in it. If something gets in there, it can sit right in front of the sensor. You can solve that problem if you have a tiny screwdriver and a lot of patience. Best to avoid it altogether.

Give the cavity a last wipe and blow in it to get rid of anything you knocked loose but didn’t remove, put the ball back in, and you are done. You can moisten your cloth or cotton swab a very tiny bit with warm water, and, in the case of the bearings (not the window or ball) alcohol. Personally I have never had to go further than a dry cotton swab.

When you go to replace the ball in the cavity, you may not find it, or find it has been misplaced. Michele McDonough’s cats love to hide them. Then you need to replace it. Another reason you might find yourself looking for new balls is that they can perform pretty poorly if they get scratched or dented. This support forum user’s dogs love to chew on them.

How many times do I have to tell you people: when it comes to pets and computers, just get your pet their own PC so they won’t mess with yours. Anyway, getting the new ball may not be that fast, so you may want to start by buying a whole new trackball and get the shipping on that going. As pet victims can tell you though, if it happened once it will likely happen again, so get going on ordering a replacement ball as well.

The only source I found for optical trackball replacement balls was to contact Logitech or Microsoft’s Parts Departments themselves. Logitech is at 800-231-7717 (USA/Canada) and Microsoft (800) 360-7561 (USA) or (800) 933-4750 (CAN).