I have three computers on my desk with three trackballs side by side and the keyboard on a KVM switch. Well really just a "K" switch. Works pretty well for me. I use classic wired trackballs instead of your marble. I'm not happy that they're long discontinued but I stockpiled quite a few when production ended. I hate the idea of wireless, last thing I need in my life is one more thing to worry about charging to replacing batteries.

Trackballs are much faster. Given that I might switch from keyboard to trackball thousands of times per day, saving just one second by knowing where the trackball is, saves quite a bit of time. I also find it faster and more accurate for selection work to use my thumb instead of the much larger muscles used for mice.

I don't do much gui work other than clicking links in a web browser but when I do I find the trackball to be superior.

> Also have a mech at home, and seriously thinking about buying one out of my own cash for work (no way they're going to pay £100 for a keyboard...).

Work should pay £100 for a keyboard, if it's necessary for you to work healthily and safely. They spend more — often much more — than that on (for example) disabled toilets, lifts, ramps, chairs, manual handling training, first aid training, ...

See http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/faq-dse.htm

> "My wrist aches when I use my mouse. How can I prevent this?" > ... "try a different size or shape of mouse. Your employer should help by providing a range of such equipment."

(Also, subtract VAT and it's only £80 anyway.)

Like Jobs' "software hobbyists" the Apple was originally built for, I suppose their keyboards are truly designed for the "typing hobbyist".

I disagree. I've used all sorts of ergonomic keyboards, but always keep coming back to the quiet low-travel scissor-switch keyboards. I even went so far as to get an Apple wired keyboard for use with my Windows machine at work.

Can you explain why? It would be beneficial to understand.