I found that it ultimately ends up saving deskspace (since the device doesn't need space to move around). I found the device's size to be more comfortable for my hands than the small Logitech bluetooth mouse I was using.
I've got a Logitech Ergo M575, and an Elecom Relacon handheld trackball that I toss in my bag for when I'm working from outside the house.
I like the Relacon as a travel device vs. a larger trackball or small mouse because I can move my arm, hand, and wrist more, and more naturally, and still have the same control. I often find myself holding it across my chest or waist, and I can even type (not quickly, but still) while holding and using it. The buttons feel like the shoulder buttons on a Switch joycon, so there wasn't that much of a learning curve.
Did you do the mod to replace the bearings with ceramic? I bought a Huge after seeing praise for it and was kinda underwhelmed with the experience out of box on the ruby bearings (they were sticky), but after doing the (trivial) mod to replace them with ceramics I really fell in love.
I haven't replaced the ruby bearings with the ceramic bearings yet.
But, I agree that the out of the box experience, moving only a small distance is very 'sticky'. (Whereas, precisely moving to something isn't difficult).
I used an external trackpad for a while before going to a vertical mouse, then trackballs. I liked the external trackpad better than the fixed position of a laptop but that's the best thing I can say about it — it didn't alleviate wrist pain and it didn't add much flexibility to how or where I work.
When I absolutely need gestures, the laptop's trackpad is still there.
As for accuracy, after using a Logitech trackball for about 6 months, I'd replaced my gaming mouse with it for FPS games. The only thing that had a significant learning curve was precise placement of click-and-drag operations, and that was mostly training myself to let my thumb off the ball before releasing the click.
> Do you prefer large trackball over large trackpad?
I've never used an external trackpad. I have used the excellent Macbook trackpads.
I'd think e.g. "hold button + drag" is slightly more difficult on a trackpad than a mouse or a trackball.
Rather, I'd say that a trackball feels just as intuitive as a mouse does, whereas a trackpad doesn't feel the same as a mouse.
> How is accuracy?
As one of the replies to my comment points out, the particular model I got isn't very good at small movement. (Many people say they swap out the ball bearings & this helps a lot).
Practically, I found I was able to play games with it without affecting how well I did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_N_XB5XeDA
(I haven't tried gaming on a trackpad; my impression is mouse/trackball are better suited).
I found that it ultimately ends up saving deskspace (since the device doesn't need space to move around). I found the device's size to be more comfortable for my hands than the small Logitech bluetooth mouse I was using.