Several of these exist but none say they work with Linux (Slackware and Xubunu).
Any of you used such a device with Linux?

John Culleton (age 85)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

wexfordpress wrote:

Several of these exist but none say they work with Linux (Slackware and Xubunu). Any of you used such a device with Linux?

I've had no problems with rollerball mice or laser mice under Linux
(Slackware, and Kubuntu).

However, I have no experience with trackball mice, which I suspect is what
you call a "roller ball mouse". My guess is that, because a trackball is essentially an inverted roller ball mouse, Linux should have no problem recognizing it.


--
Lew Pitcher
"In Skills, We Trust"
PGP public key available upon request

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 17 Sep 2017 08:12:32 -0700, wexfordpress wrote:

Several of these exist but none say they work with Linux (Slackware and Xubunu). Any of you used such a device with Linux?

John Culleton (age 85)

Many years ago (probably about Slackware 9.1) I used a Kensington
trackball together with Slackware. If I remember right there was no need
for any partikular settings for it to work.

Some less years ago (probably about Slackware 13.1) I used different
kinds of 3DConnexion spacemouse. Those are different beasts compared to trackballs, but did require some extra rows in
/etc/udev/rules.d/90-local.rules

-8<----------------------------------
# For spacemouse to work
KERNEL=="event*", MODE="0666"
# But protect the keyboard from reading
ENV{ID_CLASS}=="kbd", MODE="0640"
-8<----------------------------------

But maybe I did the settings above only to allow userspace programs run
by ordinary users to access the device. Those spacemouse devices were not
used to control the curson in X but to control other programs.

regards Henrik
--
The address in the header is only to prevent spam. My real address is: hc351(at)poolhem.se Examples of addresses which go to spammers:
root@localhost postmaster@localhost

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 09/17/2017 08:12 AM, wexfordpress wrote:

Several of these exist but none say they work with Linux (Slackware and Xubunu).
Any of you used such a device with Linux?

John Culleton (age 85)

Comments here are a few years old, but encouraging. <https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/trackball-4175460225-print/>

Your reference to Parkinsons reminded me of this trackball, called the
HUGE. I guess it's actually huge, which may be a benefit. It recently
received high praise in rec.crafts.metalworking group. <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0735584RM/?tag=xahh-20>

The HUGE allegedly does work with Linux, according to <http://xahlee.info/kbd/elecom_huge_trackball.html>
"Work in Linux?
Yes. 5 standard buttons work. Except the 3 function buttons on top of
the trackball."

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

wexfordpress <john@wexfordpress.com> writes:

Several of these exist but none say they work with Linux (Slackware
and Xubunu). Any of you used such a device with Linux?

John Culleton (age 85)

I’ve been using https://www.kensington.com/us/us/4493/k64325/expert-mouse-wired-trackball
for many years, it works fine with Linux. I’d expect most USB mice and trackballs to work perfectly well too.

--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 2017-09-17 17:29, Lew Pitcher wrote:

wexfordpress wrote:

Several of these exist but none say they work with Linux (Slackware and
Xubunu). Any of you used such a device with Linux?

I've had no problems with rollerball mice or laser mice under Linux (Slackware, and Kubuntu).

However, I have no experience with trackball mice, which I suspect is what you call a "roller ball mouse". My guess is that, because a trackball is essentially an inverted roller ball mouse, Linux should have no problem recognizing it.

I use a Logitech Track Ball Marble +, and I never had a problem with it.
Works out of the box, no configuration needed.

Generally, all mice simply work in Linux. Maybe if they have fancy
features, like extra buttons there may be a problem.

There may be differences, however, when comparing with the Windows
driver, specially for touchpads.


--
Cheers, Carlos.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

In comp.os.linux.hardware on Fri, 13 Oct 2017 03:31:44 +0200
Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

On 2017-09-17 17:29, Lew Pitcher wrote:

wexfordpress wrote:

Several of these exist but none say they work with Linux (Slackware and
Xubunu). Any of you used such a device with Linux?

I've had no problems with rollerball mice or laser mice under Linux
(Slackware, and Kubuntu).

However, I have no experience with trackball mice, which I suspect is what >> you call a "roller ball mouse". My guess is that, because a trackball is
essentially an inverted roller ball mouse, Linux should have no problem
recognizing it.

I use a Logitech Track Ball Marble +, and I never had a problem with it. Works out of the box, no configuration needed.

Kensington trackball - one big central ball, 4 buttons - does need a
bit of tweaking in udev if you want to program the buttons but
otherwise it works.

Zebee

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)