Does size matter? Trackball...

[Tarkade]

My first post!  

I have been a lurker on this site for nearly a year, and have found a ton of excellent advice.  After attempting to find this in previous posts, I decided I needed to offer an important (to me) question.  

The planning for my control panel wasn't thought out as much as possible.  I only left enough room to mount a 2 1/4" trackball.  I am hoping to get an idea of the size of this trackball.  

a)  Is this the size in a missle command machine?
b)  Centipede?
c)  Most improtantly - opinion of Ultimarc trackball for those that use it

Thaks All - awesome boards!

[Carsten Carlos]

Missile Command -not sure, but I guess it has a 3" as in Milipede.

Centipede has a 2 1/4". When I was a kid, I liked the trackball very much, but now I had one of these Ultimarc/Suzo ones, and I just think its to small for my needs.

Guess I've grown in size since those days!

Also it doesn't spin as nice as a Happ 3" does - I decided to go "unauthentic" this time and use the 3" for my Centipede cab!

[MinerAl]

Missile Command had a 4.5" tracball
Centipede had a 3" (I thought.  It seems to be 2.25"  Maybe I was thinking of Millipede.)
The 2.25" is the pool ball size, and is on a lot of conversions and home machines, not to mention the popular Kensington brand series of PC track balls.  It has the nice balance between real arcade feel and a minimum of CP real-estate.

I've played with Ultimarc's (Suzo?)  2.25" interfaced through an Opti-PAC, and it's a very nice smooth machine.

My 4.5" Missile Command unit, also interfaced through an Opti-PAC is a lovely experience

I can recommend both first hand, but I haven't ever heard of unresolvable difficulties with Happs' track balls either.

Good luck, and welcome!

[mahuti]

I have an Ultimarc trackball. I love it.

[Wade]

Actually, Missile Command is 4.5" and Centipede is 2.25".

Wade

[Stingray]

Sounds like you don't get a choice. If that's all you have room for that's all you have room for. I think I'd rather have a 3 inch TB, but due to similar space problems I may end up with a 2.25 inch as well.

-S

[Xiaou2]

 The smaller trackballs actually spin and controll much better than the larger ones.  

  The larger tballs have thier bearings placed more twords the edges of the ball - which creates more friction.  Ive also heard that they are prone to come up off the bearing if you spin too hard - thus you lose some control.

  Store bought tballs have poor quality bearings - i do not recomend them for gameplay.

 I recomend the 2 1/2" happs trackball.  IMOP - you get what you pay for with these.  Excellent quality, great bearings, fast & long spin times.

[Carsten Carlos]

The smaller trackballs actually spin and controll much better than the larger ones.  

Definitely not when comparing the Suzo 2 1/4" against the Happ 3" (Golden tea). But maybe this was only as the Suzo/Ultimarc was still brandnew, don't know.

Anyway, I think I'll be happy with the 3" Happs.

[crashwg]

the Happ 3" (Golden tea).

Is that anything like a golden shower?   I'm sorry I just had to...

[Carsten Carlos]

Hehe   No, only a "boring" golf simulation game where my trackball was formerly build in.

[Carsten Carlos]

Ooops, just noticed the games name is "Golden Tee". I really thought that it was Golden Tea, well, I just don't play sport simulations.