Mouse, Trackball, or Touchpad

A simple thread, but which control device do you prefer for a laptop? Do you usually use the onboard controller or plug in an external device?

I've seen machines with everything from a nub mouse in the keyboard, or front touchpad, to an inbuilt trackball in a little depression at the front, or one from Hong Kong with a mini bluetooth mouse in it's own housing at the side (quaintly called the mouse-hole). I find I get on well with the little touchpads, but the other alternatives have me plugging in a exterior mouse. The ones in the middle of the keyboard are just a nuisance if I'm typing because it is so easy to nudge them.

So what input device do you prefer, or do you go for an external add-on?

 

I prefer using a usb mouse than touchpad. Even so, I do run out of usb ports. My other usb accessories have higher priority over the usb mouse. I know Hong Kong electronic mini shops do have quite a variety of computer accessories, but I didn't know about mouse-hole. Is there a link you could share?

Depending on what laptop model, some touchpads are located in a better spot. I haven't accidentally touched the touchpad while I'm typing this post. Mine is a little more left-center. So I should've been touching it with my left hand. But that hasn't happened yet.

 

I prefer a USB mouse. That's the normal way of using a computer. I think the built-in device in laptops is just for portability. For comfort, though, a USB mouse is still the best for me.

 

I prefer the traditional mouse. I haven't tried a trackball yet but it doesn't seem as if I'm missing out. The touchbad can be handy only when I don't have a mouse.

 

I absolutely prefer a traditional wireless mouse. For performance, I would always prefer wired, but I only use my laptop for work. Having wireless mouse provides a ton of flexibility and allows me to stay mobile without having another wire involved in the process. I also prefer wireless headphones for the same reason.

 

It took me some getting used to going from a traditional mouse on my desktop to using the touchpad that was built in on my laptop. Once I was used to the touchpad on my laptop, which I prefer it to in the center, I love it. I didn't want anything extra and want to keep my laptop, well, on my laps since I have to stretch out my legs to avoid numbness.

 

For me it's a mouse that's silent. I love to have the little mouse on the side for gliding up and down the page and to right click or left click as needed.

 

A traditional mouse, USB or Bluetooth all the way before using a track pad. A track pad is only useful if you are using OSX and you are very used to all the mission control gestures, this is the only circumstance that I can think off where a track pad actually adds something of value and it is something more than a poor substitution to a mouse. You can also do the gestures using the Magic Mouse but that mouse is just terrible, I think that all the hate it gets is very well deserved.

 

I have never used a trackball. I have experience with touchpad and mouse only. Between touchpad and mouse, I will always touch touch pad. It is easy to use.

 

I have a corded mouse in my laptop bag. It is part and parcel of my laptop because I had never felt comfortable with the trackball or touchpad, whatever it is. That's also the reason why I am not at home with the tablet because of the virtual keyboard that is annoying to me. With a corded mouse, I can work conveniently on my laptop as if I'm using a desktop. By the way, I used to be a desktop user until the office gave me an official laptop some 2 years ago.