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CodeSplice · 05-27-2004, 05:09 PM

I plugged in the trackball on my USB port, and it worked fine, just like a basic three-button mouse. Unfortunately, the more advanced features of the Marble Mouse (like scrolling) weren't immediately put into action. I struggled a bit with getting everything to work fine, but it works beautifully now.

The trick is to use the Logitech-supplied USB-to-PS/2 adapter and plug the Marble Mouse in to your computer's PS/2 port. Then, make the following settings in your /etc/X11/XF86Config file:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Name" "AutoDetected"
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "Protocol" "MouseManPlusPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "50"
EndSection

Restart X by logging out and log back in... it works beautifully. The two smaller buttons serve as a sort of scrollwheel, so clicking those scrolls pages up and down a little bit.

A bit tricky to get it working right, but I'm in love with my new Marble Mouse.

Joey.Dale · 06-27-2004, 10:46 PM

I pluged it in (usb) and slackware seen it as a three button mouse. I just left it like that and use the small left button for paste. The small right button does nothing.

-Joey

Nighthawk4 · 01-30-2005, 05:12 AM

I also use the USB to PS/2 adaptor.

This has auto-detected and worked fine on every distribution I have tried (FC3, Mandrake, SuSE, Debian, Knoppix, etc.).

The only minor problem I have is that I am left-handed, so I use the buttons reversed. Most of the 'live' CDs I have tried do not allow me to reverse the buttons. The only one which did allow this was Knoppix, iirc.

Some of the installed distributions had the same problem, although this can be fixed with a little editing. Gnome seems better for this than KDE, for some reason.

I have not bothered with trying to get the other buttons to work - it is just setup as a 3-button mouse. I rarely use the extra functions in Windows either.

I think this cost about GBP30, but that was some time ago.

sporks · 08-09-2005, 10:12 PM

Plugged in using the USB connection. Worked off the bat as another poster suggested but the buttons were screwy.

I did get the small scroll buttons working by modifying my xorg.conf file as such:

Code:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier  "Mouse0"
Driver      "mouse"
Option      "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option      "Device" "/dev/mouse"
Option      "Buttons" "7"
Option      "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
EndSection

The action doesn't match the arrow on the button, the right scrolls down and the left up, but somehow that makes more sense to me anyway.

Nice trackball device.

Only gave 9 out of 10 because the scroll buttons don't continuously scroll when held down. Only a few lines at a time.

seth_has_errors · 03-09-2006, 11:12 AM

After quite a fair amount of fiddleing with the xorg settings, i managed to get it to: scroll using the ball on both the x and y axis, tho i had issues useing the x axis with firefox, so its disable in this config.
heres the Xorg.conf section:

Code:

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "Configured Mouse"
        Driver          "mouse"
        Option          "CorePointer"
      #Option          "Vender"                "Sysp"
      #Option          "Name"                "AutoDetected"
        Option          "Buttons"               "5"
      #Option          "ButtonMapping"         "1 2 3 4"
        Option          "Device"              "/dev/psaux"
       Option          "Protocol"        "MouseManPlusPS/2"
      #Option          "Emulate3Buttons"       "true"
        Option          "EmulateWheel"          "true"
      #Option          "EmulateWheelTimeout"   "200"
        Option          "EmulateWheelButton"    "2"
        Option          "YAxisMapping"          "4 5"
      #Option          "XAxisMapping"          "6 7"
      #Option          "ZAxisMapping"          "6 7"
EndSection

...nazgoul... · 01-16-2007, 04:35 AM

Very nice trackball, work good for now over 3 months over USB.
And here my Config (found it on some sit) with the upper-left button working as scroll-button.

Code:

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "Configured Mouse"
        Driver          "mouse"
        Option          "CorePointer"
      #Option          "Vender"                "Sysp"
      #Option          "Name"                "AutoDetected"
        Option          "Buttons"               "5"
      #Option          "ButtonMapping"         "1 2 3 4"
        Option          "Device"              "/dev/input/mice"
       Option          "Protocol"        "MouseManPlusPS/2"
      #Option          "Emulate3Buttons"       "true"
        Option          "EmulateWheel"          "true"
      #Option          "EmulateWheelTimeout"   "200"
        Option          "EmulateWheelButton"    "2"
        Option          "YAxisMapping"          "4 5"
      #Option          "XAxisMapping"          "6 7"
      #Option          "ZAxisMapping"          "6 7"

manifoldronin · 08-12-2007, 10:52 PM

My xorg.conf:
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Marble Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Buttons" "9"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "EmulateWheel" "true"
Option "EmulateWheelTimeout" "300"
Option "EmulateWheelButton" "8"
Option "YAxisMapping" "4 5"
#Option "XAxisMapping" "6 7"
EndSection

The XAxisMapping would have been cool, as it combined with YAxisMapping allows free scroll. But it had to be disabled because it causes firefox to go back and forth in page hisotry, and it's next impossible to do a _perfect_ vertical scroll (i.e. Y Axis only) with the ball.

Also my ~/.Xmodmap:
pointer = 1 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 2

The .Xmodmap pointer remapping makes the right small button act as the middle button on a regular mouse.

Also note .Xmodmap is ubuntu specific.

Tricon · 10-26-2007, 07:35 AM

Kudos and +2000 points to this entire thread! You saved me a bunch of time, and this mouse now works great in Linux. Also, the YAxis mapping is stellar. Thank you all so much.

Trauma · 03-29-2008, 05:35 PM

I love this mouse (in WindowZzz) and can't wait till I get it configured for use in Fedora Opera 9.5beta.

The forward / backward functions are brilliant. And, helps RSI a bit as it immobilises wrist action quite a bit.

overbomb · 09-01-2008, 10:42 AM

Greetings; I am new to Linux. I am preparing to install Fedora, and wanted to check the compatibility of my peripherals before doing so. This thread has been quite helpful to me, but I'm curious. I have grown to love my marble mouse trackball in the years I've had it, but I've always preferred to use the small left button for double-clicking and the small right button for pasting. Is there a way to configure it to do this?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Hyakutake · 10-31-2010, 01:20 PM

Really good mouse for general work and RTS games.
Just needs some tweaks to fully work.
I've got this working on Slackware 13.1 as follows:

/etc/X11/xorg.conf (mouse section)
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
Option "Emulate3Buttons"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "50"
Option "ChordMiddle"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
EndSection

add to .xinitrc
xmodmap -e "pointer = 1 2 3 9 8 6 7 5 4 10"

Regards,
Hyakutake

Bruce from Canada · 04-29-2012, 10:56 PM

Shape: Excellent for right handed users. Connection: I would prefer a USB Type B Female connector recessed into the body so that users can choose their own cord/length and replace the cord if it got damaged or lost. Durability: The plastic actuators for the buttons could be more durable. They can break more easily than the microswitch inside that they actuate. Speed control: Inadequate. I can slow down the ball speed in Win XP but not adequately in Fedora. This forces me to use XP more than I would prefer, especially in apps such as CAD, Libre Office draw, Inkscape, Gimp, etc. All Feature support (Linux): As seen this is less than ideal. Full GUI mouse behaviour adjustability would be a big help, especially for users who have physical coodrination difficulty, such as "small motor coordination". Equivalent US price is very approximate, due to multiple reasons. VAT and other consumption taxes excluded. Also convenience of purchase makes a large difference in price. Rating is given in terms of generic satisfaction with what I believe a trackball should really be, not simply compared with other trackballs.