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are you a mouse?
Dec. 7th, 2014 09:07 pmMy computer mouse is getting annoying. Actually, it's a trackball, which is basically a mouse flipped upside down where you can manipulate the ball directly instead of swearing at it as it refuses to move properly over the mousepad. I much prefer trackballs; I don't like traditional mice and I really, really dislike touchpads.
That part works fine. It's the button that's the problem. The left button has gone wonky. I click it once and the computer thinks I've double-clicked. This causes all sorts of unwanted things to happen. Toggle switches flash and then return to their original position. Buttons clicked that close instructional windows activate whatever was directly behind them. I can't place the cursor on a word, but only highlight it. It's almost impossible to drag anything instead of opening it.
I went to the control panel and changed the response time from Andante to Lento, which helps a little but not much. I could switch the left-button command with the right-button one, as there's nothing wrong with the right button, but that would also require rewiring my brain.
I downloaded Logitech's SetPoint program, which allows you to program the little buttons set up against the big ones. Unfortunately there's no manual included, so the command options are all cryptic ("Back" and "Forward" what?), but there's one thing that it's clear it won't do, which is allow you to set the little button to do what the big button does.
What I suppose I need to do is buy a new trackball. I hope they still sell the wired ones. I don't trust wireless computing, and the cord makes it very easy to retrieve the trackball when it gets accidentally knocked off the desk.
That part works fine. It's the button that's the problem. The left button has gone wonky. I click it once and the computer thinks I've double-clicked. This causes all sorts of unwanted things to happen. Toggle switches flash and then return to their original position. Buttons clicked that close instructional windows activate whatever was directly behind them. I can't place the cursor on a word, but only highlight it. It's almost impossible to drag anything instead of opening it.
I went to the control panel and changed the response time from Andante to Lento, which helps a little but not much. I could switch the left-button command with the right-button one, as there's nothing wrong with the right button, but that would also require rewiring my brain.
I downloaded Logitech's SetPoint program, which allows you to program the little buttons set up against the big ones. Unfortunately there's no manual included, so the command options are all cryptic ("Back" and "Forward" what?), but there's one thing that it's clear it won't do, which is allow you to set the little button to do what the big button does.
What I suppose I need to do is buy a new trackball. I hope they still sell the wired ones. I don't trust wireless computing, and the cord makes it very easy to retrieve the trackball when it gets accidentally knocked off the desk.
