Register FAQ Live Post Spy Mark Forums Read

MacTalk Forums > Mac Stuff > Peripherals
Peripherals Hardware that goes with your Mac, like external HDDs, TV tuners, HTPCs, monitors and other accessories. Includes AppleTV, AirPort and Time Capsule.


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 06:20 PM
Antonino Giglio's Avatar  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 911
Send a message via AIM to Antonino Giglio Send a message via MSN to Antonino Giglio
Default Does a Bluetooth Trackball exist? Or alternatives?
Hum... I've been searching for a trackball that works via bluetooth.
But it seems there is nothing aoround so far, weird...
Why no trackballs with bluetooth? Is it a too small market?
__________________
“Passion and enthusiasm are fed by the Dream of bringing Green back into our cities to make them finally livable, collaborating and not fighting with Nature” http://vision4ourcities.com/
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 06:30 PM
leon's Avatar
That TAM guy
  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,829
Default
Pretty much the last time I saw a trackball in-store was 1995. They have fallen out of favour with users as they are quite cumbersome to use compared to a good mouse or trackpad.

There is a Kensington one on Amazon. Appears most of the wireless trackballs use RF and not BT though.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 07:14 PM
Antonino Giglio's Avatar  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 911
Send a message via AIM to Antonino Giglio Send a message via MSN to Antonino Giglio
Default
What solution would you suggest then if i wish to use a mouse from the sofa?

Quote:
Originally Posted by leon View Post
Pretty much the last time I saw a trackball in-store was 1995. They have fallen out of favour with users as they are quite cumbersome to use compared to a good mouse or trackpad.

There is a Kensington one on Amazon. Appears most of the wireless trackballs use RF and not BT though.
__________________
“Passion and enthusiasm are fed by the Dream of bringing Green back into our cities to make them finally livable, collaborating and not fighting with Nature” http://vision4ourcities.com/
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 07:42 PM
leon's Avatar
That TAM guy
  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,829
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by Antonino Giglio View Post
What solution would you suggest then if i wish to use a mouse from the sofa?
Wiimote.

Use the Wii Remote (Wiimote) on your Mac - MacTips

How To: Control your Mac with a Wii Remote | MacApper

Using Nintendo Wiimote with the Mac Unofficial Technology
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 09:33 PM
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 215
Default
There's the Kensington Slimblade Trackball Mouse, which is bluetooth. It's kind of like a mighty mouse, in that it is a mouse that has a ball for 360 deg scrolling - but you can click a mode button and the ball becomes a trackball instead. I'm trying one out at the moment to control my macbook HTPC.
__________________
MBP 2.8 17", MBP 2.2 15", PBook G4, Wife's MacPro (all 10.5)
Medicentre MacBook C2D with ElGato Diversity.
Successful trades: Noisypoppy, Daz.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 09:58 PM
Antonino Giglio's Avatar  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 911
Send a message via AIM to Antonino Giglio Send a message via MSN to Antonino Giglio
Default
A wiimote? But I wanna use bluetooth keyboard and mous on the sofa to navigate, open emails and so on. I don't think I can do all these things with a wii remote control...
__________________
“Passion and enthusiasm are fed by the Dream of bringing Green back into our cities to make them finally livable, collaborating and not fighting with Nature” http://vision4ourcities.com/
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 10:00 PM
Antonino Giglio's Avatar  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 911
Send a message via AIM to Antonino Giglio Send a message via MSN to Antonino Giglio
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_G View Post
There's the Kensington Slimblade Trackball Mouse, which is bluetooth. It's kind of like a mighty mouse, in that it is a mouse that has a ball for 360 deg scrolling - but you can click a mode button and the ball becomes a trackball instead. I'm trying one out at the moment to control my macbook HTPC.
Ohhh... ok! Can you please let me know of your opinion after you have ended the "trial" period! I didn't hear before of Kensington is a good brand for mice?
Sorry but what is a macbook HTPC???
__________________
“Passion and enthusiasm are fed by the Dream of bringing Green back into our cities to make them finally livable, collaborating and not fighting with Nature” http://vision4ourcities.com/
Last edited by Antonino Giglio; 4th May 2009 at 10:07 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 10:12 PM
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 215
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by Antonino Giglio View Post
Ohhh... ok! Can you please let me know of your opinion after you have ended the "trial" period! I didn't hear before of Kensington is a good brand for mice?
Sorry but what is a macbook HTPC???
Sure, no probs. And a HTPC stands for Home Theatre PC - which in my case is a Macbook, but most mac versions use Mac Minis. I have an Elgato Diversity TV tuner plugged into the Macbook, which operates in clamshell mode with the TV as its screen. There's a forum for HTPC in the MacTalk forums: Projects: Audio, Graphics, Video, HTPC and Programming - MacTalk Forums
__________________
MBP 2.8 17", MBP 2.2 15", PBook G4, Wife's MacPro (all 10.5)
Medicentre MacBook C2D with ElGato Diversity.
Successful trades: Noisypoppy, Daz.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 4th May 2009, 10:45 PM
Donnie Darko's Avatar
Come get some!
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SYD
Posts: 1,781
Send a message via Skype™ to Donnie Darko
View Donnie Darko's Twitter Page View Donnie Darko's Flickr Page
Default
Darko has the answer...

weramouse ergonomic mouse gets the mouse off the desktop and into your hands on [technabob]

Click the image to open in full size.

Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 5th May 2009, 04:15 PM
Brains's Avatar
Still stuck in 1984
  
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Inside your head
Posts: 4,499
Default
Nah -- here's something even better than that. Enter the Logitech Cordless Mediaboard Pro, a keyboard designed originally for the Sony Playstation 3 but works perfectly via Bluetooth with Windows and Macs (you just have to relabel - or put up with - a couple of odd symbols on some modifier keys). These can be bought for about A$100 or so.

Click the image to open in full size.

If you really want something Mac-oriented, Adesso make an RF-based (not BT, but stil wireless) keyboard with a centred (laptop-stylin') trackpad. A bit hard to find here, and when you do they're around the $200 mark.

Click the image to open in full size.

If money is no object and you just have to have the best, then the Logitech diNovo Edge Mac Edition is a gorgeously slick bit o' BT kit. $400 and change, though.

Click the image to open in full size.
__________________
Tune into Psymbiensis, 24/7 chill music streaming straight to your desktop.
Cornell University says, "Watching TV shows makes you stupid." Break the addiction, visit White Dot today.
Wi-fi is a health risk, please use sparingly and with caution.
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 6th May 2009, 02:34 PM
Antonino Giglio's Avatar  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 911
Send a message via AIM to Antonino Giglio Send a message via MSN to Antonino Giglio
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_G View Post
Sure, no probs. And a HTPC stands for Home Theatre PC - which in my case is a Macbook, but most mac versions use Mac Minis. I have an Elgato Diversity TV tuner plugged into the Macbook, which operates in clamshell mode with the TV as its screen. There's a forum for HTPC in the MacTalk forums: Projects: Audio, Graphics, Video, HTPC and Programming - MacTalk Forums
Thanks Paul!
__________________
“Passion and enthusiasm are fed by the Dream of bringing Green back into our cities to make them finally livable, collaborating and not fighting with Nature” http://vision4ourcities.com/
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 6th May 2009, 02:36 PM
Antonino Giglio's Avatar  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 911
Send a message via AIM to Antonino Giglio Send a message via MSN to Antonino Giglio
Default
Wooow, guys, so many ideas! Ha ha ha...
I really like the Logitech diNovo Edge Mac Edition!!!
__________________
“Passion and enthusiasm are fed by the Dream of bringing Green back into our cities to make them finally livable, collaborating and not fighting with Nature” http://vision4ourcities.com/
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
alternatives, bluetooth, exist, trackball


« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On