Follow-up on mech keyboard, trackball mouse 7/16/21

Follow-up on mech keyboard, trackball mouse 7/16/21
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This is a follow-up on a previous post[1], about a new cheap
mechanical keyboard, and a trackball mouse. I've been using both for
about a month, so it's probably time to give my observations.

I like the keyboard more than I expected I would. I figured the noise
would get annoying, to myself and others. For my part, I don't mind it
at all. I've asked people in the house if they can hear it when my
office door is open, and they say that they can't hear it much (and
seem to be confused that I would ask such a question.) I've used it
while on phone calls, and during Zoom meetings, and I've also asked
people if it sounds loud in those settings. No complaints, though one
person confirmed that they could hear it. I'm still eager to try the
browns out eventually.

The feel of the keyboard has only gotten better as I've gotten used to
it. My only complaint is that at times the keys feel a bit too
sensitive, especially keys that my palm might accidentally brush, such
as ctrl, shift, and super at times. Just means I have to avoid being
lazy.

On the mouse: I read online that you need to use a trackball for a
week to get used to it. For me, it was probably two weeks or more. I
had to write a little script to set the speed, which looks like this:

<code>
#!/bin/bash
# Set trackball speed (kensington eagle)
# necessary because the prop (id#) changes
devid=$(xinput --list-props "Primax Kensington Eagle Trackball" | grep -i "accel speed (" | sed 's/.*($.*$).*/\1/')
xinput set-prop "Primax Kensington Eagle Trackball" $devid -0.9
echo "Trackball speed set for property $devid"
xinput --list-props "Primax Kensington Eagle Trackball" | grep -i $devid
</code>

I'm not sure why the prop number changes in xinput, but it does for
me. This takes care of that, and sets the speed where I want it...

Getting back: it took at least two weeks to get used to the trackball,
to feel like it wasn't a burden to use it vs. a mouse. However, having
reached that point, here's what I'm finding:

- Far less strain on my hand. The position of the hand while
using this is much better than a mouse. Maybe a larger, ergonomic
mouse would be good too, I'm comparing this to a fairly small
logitech wireless mouse. Much less strain.
- Rapid to get from once place to another on screen. Swipe
the ball, and you're there. You get used to the swipe that is
needful.
- Works better than expected in gimp. I was really worried
that the trackball would be an impediment in gimp, but I'm not
finding that to be the case. I'm not a heavy graphics guy, but I do
use it (and inkscape, and others) regularly. The trackball is
invisible to me at this point, and in some use cases, possibly
better.
- Love the spinner scroll, but it's a little too sensitive.
I tend to bump it more than I like when I'm only trying to use the
ball.
- I absolutely love that the trackball stays in one place.
Don't have to constantly adjust or make room.
- I miss having a third mouse button. Yes, I can do the
emulated press 1+2=3, but that's not the same by a long shot.
- The ergonomics on this cheaper trackball aren't that
great. Less strain on the hand, but the wrist rest needs some work.

And there you have it. All in all, I still like both. I'm still using
both, full-time. The logitech wireless keyboard/mouse will remain in
storage it seems. I should have also mentioned, I strongly prefer
wired for this desktop setup (what a pain to worry about reception and
batteries).

[1] gopher://zaibatsu.circumlunar.space:70/0/~tfurrows/phlog/2021-06-14_mechanicalKeyboard.txt