Trackball vs Mouse

Trackball Advantage

• Easier to use than mouse. More ergonomic for hand.
• No need to lift as with mouse.
• More stable pointer. The pointer won't move by accident.

Mouse Advantage

• Mouse is better for fast linear movement with precision, as in first person shooter games.
• Mouse is easier for drag and drop.
• Mouse is easier to draw pictures than trackball. For example, try to write your name. (Drawing Tablet is best here)

Why Trackball Can't Beat Mouse for Fast Shooter Games

Mouse excels at fast straight line position to position. (because, you simply push it, and this naturally can be done very fast, and naturally results in straight line movement.)

So, if the task is fast straight line jump to n points, mouse beats trackball, pen, trackpad, trackpoint.

For playing First Person Shooter games, the demand for the pointer control is exactly that, fast jump to n points, meaning, straight line movements of the mouse.

Trackball Require Cleaning and Ball Static Friction (stiction) Problem

Tracball usually require cleaning. Every few weeks. Otherwise it has more friction, due to the dust collected at the contact points with the ball.

Also, tracball generally have this problem called static friction. When you want to move point just a few pixels, trackball often have a problem doing that. Mouse does not.

Who Prefer Trackball?

• Many 3D Modeling software users prefer trackball over mouse. Because the rotation of objects corresponds well with rotation of a ball.
• Disabled or persons with Repetitive Strain Injury, prefer trackball.

Note, some gamers prefer trackball, but very rare.