Trackball feedback (want your opinion)

[Donkbaca]

In the midst of building my CP, I will post photos of the build when I am a bit further along.  However I wanted to get the community's opinion on something:

Currently I am not putting a Track Ball on my CP, because i don't want to take up the real estate on my CP, and I want to keep my CP pretty clean and uncluttered and I am not a huge fan of trackball games.  However, the more I think about it, the more I am thinking that maybe I might want to add a trackball later, so I got to thinking.  I am planning on having a hinged cubby area between my CP and coin door instead of a keyboard drawer as a place to stow lightguns and wireless 360 controllers for console emulation. I remember X-Arcade made a trackball controller, but I don't think they make it anymore.  here is a picture of it:

http://www.amazon.com/X-Arcade-Trackball/dp/B000CD53RA

I could maybe make one.  It would basically it would be a USB trackball in a box buttons on the side.  I could pull this out from my storage area and rest it on my CP  between the 1p and 2p controlls where a trackball would go.controllers. Any ideas on what the dimensions should be?  Should I just nix the idea?  I am pretty against installing a trackball on the CP itself...

Thanks!

[dfmaverick]

I'd say if you are set against putting a trackball on your CP, then just complete your project since a decision on an exterior trackball won't change that.

Play for a bit. If you decide that you have enough need for your "trackball in a box", then you can always do it later.

Size of the box would probably depend upon the trackball you select.

[severdhed]

i say, if you dont think you want a trackball, then don't bother.   i didn't have a trackball in my panel for a long time, until a friend showed me centipede after we built his panel..then i had to have one.  so i added it later.  my point is, that unless you are really awesome, you will probably not make your panel perfect the first time.  i have had so many revisions to my control panel, that i lost count.  make the panel the way you want, and try it for a while.  you can always make a new one later....or even a second cabinet.  i had a 2 player setup with two u360s and a trackball, now i have two cabinets... a 4player panel with only 8way joysticks and buttons, and a second cabinet with a vertical monitor, tracbkall and 4 way stick.

[mark shaker]

Perhaps a smaller trackball, that won't take over your control panel?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380280049513&hlp=false&rvr_id=156177149011&crlp=1_263602_304652&UA=WXI8&GUID=37ec6b161190a0aad2d32fe3fff54099&itemid=380280049513&ff4=263602_304652

http://cgi.ebay.com/Heavy-duty-38mm-Console-Mount-Stand-Alone-Trackball-/390245281323?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item5adc6e6e2b

   - Mark