Why are trackballs better than mice?
A. We hesitate to use the word “better”. Trackballs and mice are different. It’s really more a matter of personal choice. Since all modern personal computers include a mouse many computer users are not even aware that the trackball alternative is available. However, studies have shown that a trackball is in many cases as good or better than a mouse as a general purpose input device. The original “Handbook of Human Computer Interaction” published by Elsevier Press rated six graphical input devices (mouse, trackball, joystick, graphics tablet, light pen, and touch screen) for effectiveness in a variety of user input pointing tasks with a graphical user interface. In overall ratings the graphics tablet ranked first and the trackball ranked a close second; mice finished third.
