Bring Back the Track Wheel! - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community

ajpangborn · **Bring Back the Track Wheel! -** 05-11-2009, 01:44 PM

I have been a proud BB user for over 5 years. I am now utilizing the Curve. I truly appreciate the mouse for navigation but at the same time, I miss the navigation efficiency of the thumb wheel. I would like to see BB integrate both navigation tools on an upcoming model. Any backers?

dc/dc · **OS:** 4.6.0.266

No. I'm firmly against that.

I'm looking forward to the optical pad.

Baggarly · 05-11-2009, 01:47 PM

No way....I hated the track wheel. The track ball gave me new intrest in playing brickbreaker.

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

Welcome to the forums.

I prefer the trackball. It's possible they may be moving away from both in the future and going with a touch display. What do you mean navigation efficiency? You can change the trackball sensitivity in Options > Screen/Keyboard.

aiharkness · **OS:** 4.5.0.139

Wirelessly posted (8820)

I liked the track wheel in its day. But there's too much now that would require two-handed operation. I'm used to the ball and wouldn't want to go back. And ball and wheel doesn't make sense to me. But that's me. If there's a customer base for it, more power to you.

CanuckBB · **OS:** 4.5.0.131

External mouse

akosnitzky · **OS:** 5.0.0.230

What will be next? I am okay with the trackball.

dc/dc · **OS:** 4.6.0.266

Quote:

Originally Posted by akosnitzky

What will be next? I am okay with the trackball.

Optical trackpad.

CO_BBTechie · 05-11-2009, 03:41 PM

Trackball fan here! I would also entertain the introduction of an etch-a-sketch model with a stylus

mriff · **OS:** 4.7.1.40

Trackball >>>>> Trackwheel

Trackwheel was fine back in the day. But I like the trackball now.

david9962000 · **OS:** 4.6.1.231

I'm use to it now.

SteveO86 · **OS:** 5.0.0.320

I find the trackball very convenient right there in the middle of the BB easy to use..

This optical trackball sounds pretty cool.. of course this is probably just like going from a ball mouse to an optical mouse.. another step forward.

Hopefully it will be rather bug free

Godzilla07 · **OS:** 4.6.1.206

The 8700 is hard to operate with my left hand. But I can easily operate my previous 8320 and my 8900 with my left or right hand. So I'll take the trackball, especially with the one on the 8900.l

CoDudette · **OS:** 4.6.0.282

i used the trackwheel on an old hand-me-down bb, and liked it, but i do prefer the trackball now. it's super convenient, and i'm definitely looking forward to seeing what the optical trackpad is going to be like!

Dawg · **OS:** 4.5.0.138

took me a while to get used to the ball but i love it now

SpectreBlofeld · 05-12-2009, 04:58 PM

I'm with you OP... I'd like it in addition to the trackball, for ease in scrolling up/down in websites. It's better than having the volume buttons that serve no purpose unless you're in a call.

CO_BBTechie · 05-12-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpectreBlofeld

[...]It's better than having the volume buttons that serve no purpose unless you're in a call.

I would miss the volume buttons very much... I use them often when not in a call, primarily with the media player.

ArgonNJ · 11:17 PM

I think its safe to say the thumbwheel is never coming back. I think the optical track ball is moving in the right direction.

dankarlinski · 05-13-2009, 08:46 PM

Wirelessly posted (My Bold)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArgonNJ

I think its safe to say the thumbwheel is never coming back. I think the optical track ball is moving in the right direction.

Agreed. Love the trackball

WillWeb · **OS:** 4.5.0.77

My 8830 was trashed by a bit of water which splashed through the trackball hole in the keyboard membrane of the Ottercase. I'd rather have a sealed joystick.

SteveO86 · **OS:** 5.0.0.320

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillWeb

My 8830 was trashed by a bit of water which splashed through the trackball hole in the keyboard membrane of the Ottercase. I'd rather have a sealed joystick.

The optical trackball should be sealed all the way around.

LI2A · **Bring back the track wheel -** 06-11-2009, 08:25 AM

I have an 8703e, the best bb left that still has a track wheel. Im stuck with it forever now because I cant find a better one w/ track wheel. I love my track wheel and will never use the ball. I'm with you buddy.. bring back the track wheel!!!

pillsbury · 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LI2A

I have an 8703e, the best bb left that still has a track wheel. Im stuck with it forever now because I cant find a better one w/ track wheel. I love my track wheel and will never use the ball. I'm with you buddy.. bring back the track wheel!!!

yes i couldn't agree more! i have had almost every blackberry (since i have had both att and sprint) for the last 6 years and nothing comes close to the 8703e... its perfect. everything i have gets compared to the 8703e and loses. the trackwheel is perfect for onehanded navigation especially if driving and the keyboard was brilliant; and with sending/replying to at sometimes 100 emails a day some of which being over 500 characters it is by far the best phone. i dont care about media, apps or other crap, just email, texting, phoning and a easy to use platform that lets me do all of the above while multi-tasking.
currently im using the tour and hate it! keys are too small and the ball is crap, its just like the curve.
ive begged and pleaded for blackberry to try a trackwheel again on one of the beta phones they are going to be creating and testing so if you like the trackwheel keep your fingers crossed!!

ArgonNJ · 07-27-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pillsbury

ive begged and pleaded for blackberry to try a trackwheel again on one of the beta phones they are going to be creating and testing so if you like the trackwheel keep your fingers crossed!!

I find that hard to believe. Looks like the track pad will be RIM's pointing device on their next wave of devices. The thumb wheel is just too limiting compared to other options.

pillsbury · 07-28-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArgonNJ

I find that hard to believe. Looks like the track pad will be RIM's pointing device on their next wave of devices. The thumb wheel is just too limiting compared to other options.

it is in some aspects i suppose, however one really cool thing about it is that you know that every click from the wheel takes you to the next link or line. this is priceless for navigating and the overall operation of your phone especially without having to look at it. i can receive an email, open it reply and send it without ever having to look at my blackberry. i can also open any application on the device without looking at the screen since ive memorized where said applications are

akosnitzky · **OS:** 5.0.0.230

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArgonNJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by pillsbury

ive begged and pleaded for blackberry to try a trackwheel again on one of the beta phones they are going to be creating and testing so if you like the trackwheel keep your fingers crossed!!

I find that hard to believe. Looks like the track pad will be RIM's pointing device on their next wave of devices. The thumb wheel is just too limiting compared to other options.

If the trackpad can prove durable, it will be the standard.

SteveO86 · **OS:** 5.0.0.320

Yep, I wonder how long it will take us CDMA users to get a track pad lol.. Took this long for Wifi.

nyczwillz · 08-12-2009, 04:18 PM

trackball FTW

NJBlackBerry · 08-12-2009, 04:22 PM

You are ALMOST at your 10 posts.

SteveO86 · **OS:** 5.0.0.320

He made to 13 and still registered

ifonline · **OS:** 4.6.0.303

Quote:

Originally Posted by LI2A

I love my track wheel and will never use the ball

Resist change much? Let's try these on for size:

I will never use anything but a cassette tape. CDs are stupid.
I will never use anything but eight-track. Cassette tapes are stupid.
Long live betamax!
Cars? Who needs cars? As long as my horse has a heartbeat, I'll be fine.
Oog og, ma goo gogg eee. (That's caveman for "I'll never use fire because sleeping inside a freshly disemboweled mammoth is just fine. All you freaks with your fire need to move on and leave me be.")

ArgonNJ · 08-12-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifonline

Resist change much? Let's try these on for size:

I will never use anything but a cassette tape. CDs are stupid.
I will never use anything but eight-track. Cassette tapes are stupid.
Long live betamax!
Cars? Who needs cars? As long as my horse has a heartbeat, I'll be fine.
Oog og, ma goo gogg eee. (That's caveman for "I'll never use fire because sleeping inside a freshly disemboweled mammoth is just fine. All you freaks with your fire need to move on and leave me be.")

especially for the caveman quote

Q2Mone · **Bring back the trackball wheel -** Yesterday, 01:32 PM

Definitely bring back the wheel! You can not give me an IPhone or Blackberry with mouse trackwheel to use for free. I would take the trackball wheel blackberry over any other phone. It is absolutely meant for easy use.

(I suspect the majority of the people having accidents while texting and driving were using the mouse trackball type phone. It would be an iteresting statistic to generate. I am not recommending texting while driving, merely observing the trackball wheel was made for easy human use, the mouse trackball on phones.... for... I don't know. Not a fan at all and when I wont' be able to find a phone with a trackball wheel anymore I will no longer own a blackberry.)

I don't know how many times I've wondered who was the "genius" who decided to no longer manufacture phones with the trackball wheel. I hope he is happy.

penguin3107 · 01:59 PM

^^

"trackball wheel"

I love my 9700 because it sports the trackball wheel pad.

ifonline · **OS:** 4.6.0.303

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q2Mone

I suspect the majority of the people having accidents while texting and driving were using the mouse trackball type phone.

...and I suspect you have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and conclude that the majority of people having accidents while texting and driving had those accidents because, well... they were texting while driving. I know, I know... it's a long shot. But that's the conclusion I'm going with.