What's happening to the trackball mouse?  

It took me a bit to get used to it, but after that I feel much more comfortable and I am more precise with my thumb for some reason.
I know what you mean regarding the optical ones, but I don't have many reflective surfaces - I did have a bit of a problem when I connected it to my laptop and was using it on top of a glossy magazine, but I just covered it with a notebook and it worked :)
I do have to clean the ball sometimes - mostly when I forget and touch it when I've been eating - my bad :)

I have a cordless in the desktop. It's also a trackball hehehehehehe
So I have the best of both worlds :)
I know what you mean about the length. When I had my other desk I had that problem too. That's why we got the cordless.
I am using the old trackball with the laptop because I'm using the laptop more lately.
In any case, I don't care if it has a cord or not, as long as it's a trackball

Yes, it is always a matter of what we are used to. And I got used to the trackball ones LOL
I actually like the fact that it is much more comfortable for me. No pain in wrist or arm.Plus I feel more control when I'm doing small things. Some people don't like to use them for graphics but I really feel I have better control with my mouse.

I actually am in love with the mouse i currently have, and the best part about it? I didn't pay a thing for it! lol

I got it free after signing up online at "rheumatoidarthritis.com" (i don't know if the offer is still there or not). I love my online freebie sites. This mouse is an optical mouse, with the scroll wheel, but what makes it awesome is it's design. The back part of the mouse, where you rest the palm of your hand, has a large rounded gel-filled ball, so it just fits inside your hand so comfortable. No cramping in your hand or wrist after using it for long periods of time.

the one you describe seems to be extremely comfortable in the hand. And it being free even better LOL

Yes, it's really a matter of what one is used to. When people feel comfortable with something they prefer not to change.
I know people that tell me they were never able to get used to my kind of mouse, and I understand that.
In my case I can use both, but really prefer the one I have:)

My graphics table is corded and so is my mouse. I even take the big one and use it in the laptop LOL. I am sure that there are very good cordless mice for sale, but so far I haven't been completely satisfied with any of the ones I got. They're ok for regular stuff, like surfing the web or click on things here and there, but when I need precision it hasn't worked well.
Wich graphics pad do you have?

Wacom Intuos III. It is nice but the one I'm using now takes up too much room and is slower than my little one, which is at our other place. Bummer.

I have the bamboo fun. The other ones were a bit more expensive.
I had a bit of a problem adapting to the small area at the beginning ( and I got the medium LOL ) . But all in all I love it :)

Yes, not everyone like the same thing. People like what they are used to mostly :)

Yes the cord is really annoying specially when we have so many cords behind the desk already. But I find that while the wireless ones are ok just for regular stuff, when I want to play with my graphics or play a game sometimes they are not as good.

Yes, that's exactly why I like my trackball. It works better for me when I draw.
I was still able to find one at tiger direct and I'll keep it as reserve LOL

Oh so you draw too? Well, what kind of drawings do you make?

I have been keeping my trackball mouse too. It's hard to get one these days. It was also given to me by my brother who is an architect and from him is where I got the idea of using a trackball mouse.

I found them still at tiger direct and got one as reserve hehe
Of course I can get used to the other ones again, but while I still have my trackball I'll be happy :)

It sure is comfortable for me. Some people might not like it. It probably depends on the size of the hands as well.
It's very easy to clean too and I found it much more durable that the regular old ones. I used to have to get a new mouse often since I have this one, about 5 years ago, I have not yet had the need to get a new one.