How to Use a Large Trackball Mouse on a Computer
- 1). Plug your large trackball into the appropriate place on your computer if you are using a wired trackball. Install any software that came with the large trackball mouse, though most are plug-and-play.
- 2). Rest your hand on the trackball mouse. If you are using a center-ball trackball mouse, your index and middle fingers will automatically fall on the trackball, your thumb will be on the left-click button, and your ring and pinkie fingers will be on the right-click button.
- 3). Do not move the trackball mouse itself. It is designed to sit still while you manipulate the ball. Don't be afraid to move it if you have to--nothing will happen. There's no sensor on the underside. Just don't tip it over too far, because on many models the ball is not attached and it will fall out and roll away.
- 4). Move your cursor by using you index and/or middle finger to roll the ball in its cradle. Rotate it toward you and the cursor will move down; move it away from you and the cursor will move up. Roll it to the left or right to make the cursor move left or right.
- 5). Highlight for cutting, copying and pasting by moving the cursor to the beginning of the text you want to manipulate. Press down on the left-click button with your thumb and roll the trackball to the right with your fingers. When you have highlighted the text you want, lift your thumb. The text will stay highlighted unless you click the left button again.
- 6). Press the right-click button with your ring or pinkie finger to get the drop-down box with the context-sensitive menu in it. This will change according to what page is on your computer screen, so you will have to play with the trackball mouse--or read the instructions that came with it--to get comfortable with that button.
- 7). Clean your trackball once a month or so by removing the ball and wiping it with a soft cloth, moist towelette or alcohol-soaked pad. Clean the connectors with a cotton swap dipped in rubbing alcohol and shaken until almost dry. Large trackball mice need less cleaning than mobile mice, because they sit still, but they occasionally need to be cleaned.
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