Trackball--Happs vs. Ultimarc (Is Happs worth triple price?)

[rackoon]

Hey, is there anyone out there in cyberworld that can tell me why there is such a drastic price difference between the Happs and Ultimarc trackballs. $93---- $35 What's the deal?

Are the Ultimarc trackballs crap?

Are the Happs trackballs over priced?

Is the Earth a genetically seeded planet?

Are Nerf products made from ground up people?  (Wait, think about it)

Hey, don't think at me like that!!{ You know you are a freak.}

[dabone]

I like my happs more than I like my Ultimarc (Suzo).


this one on ebay is 74.99 but already comes with a usb interface.

http://tinyurl.com/b8coy


Or a 3" one for 84.99

http://tinyurl.com/dmklc

These are just plug and play with the pc.

I've bought one from this guy, and they are brand new trackballs.

Later,
dabone

[Tiger-Heli]

Been asked a lot -  use the search function.

[armax]

Or let's be polite to the newcomer, answer his question and suggest the use of the search function in the future.

To answer your question, I've heard quality differences as well as smoothness differences between the two (Everyone usually ranks Happs tops between the two).  But preferences vary (ie...like spinners).  I have a Happs and love it to death.  Whether or not it's worth it, I reckon would depend on how often you play games involving trackballs.

[KevSteele]

Happs are much smoother spinners than the Suzo/Wico trackballs.

I haven't tested their accuracy yet, but it feels about the same between them.

The Happs definitely feel higher-quality overall, but it's hard to say if it's worth the price differential. It all depends on how much of a "trackball connesieur" you are.

I personally like my Happs trackball quite a bit, and it's performed like a champ. It'd be my pick.

Kevin

[Matt Berry]

Happ trackball is worth the higher price. I own both and can easily make a comparison. The happ has a better feel and spins smoother. It is also better constructed and can be rebuilt rather easily. The suzo (ultimarc) isn't as smooth, can't be rebuilt easily and isn't as well constructed. You won't regret buying the happ, you can get them cheaper from ebay.

[markrvp]

I believe PONYBOY over in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum has Happ 3" trackballs for $64.95.  This is the model that requires either a mouse hack or an Ultimarc Optipac to interface to your computer.  He also sells a USB/PS2 Happ 3" trackball for $80 that does not require anything else to interface to your computer.  I would highly recommend PONYBOY for your trackball purchase.

I personally own a Happ 3" trackball and an Imperial 3" trackball and I can say that the Happ is absolutely superior to the Imperial.  I would assume it would also feel superior to the Ultimarc based on others' comments.

[AlanS17]

I've only owned Imperial 3" trackballs. I get them for the built-in PS2 interface. I've never had an issue with them. I like they way Happs feel, but I don't know if it's worth the price difference IMO. When it comes down to it, it's only the feel that's different. Apparently both perform the same. The only difference is that the Happ has better continual spin. The Imperial gets to where it's going and stops soon afterwards. I can't speak for Suzos, but lots of people seem to put Suzos and Imperials together.

[markrvp]

I've only owned Imperial 3" trackballs. I get them for the built-in PS2 interface. I've never had an issue with them. I like they way Happs feel, but I don't know if it's worth the price difference IMO. When it comes down to it, it's only the feel that's different. Apparently both perform the same. The only difference is that the Happ has better continual spin. The Imperial gets to where it's going and stops soon afterwards. I can't speak for Suzos, but lots of people seem to put Suzos and Imperials together.

I didn't want that to come off as putting down the Imperial.  It does move the cursor from place to place as well as the Happ, but for games like Golden Tee, my personal preference is the Happ feel.  Having said that, it is my understanding that at least some of the Golden Tee games use Imperial trackballs, so it all boils down to personal preference.  And to be completely fair, I got my Happ trackball brand new and the Imperial used (although I cleaned it up real nice and put GGG encoder wheels on it).

Bottom line, I play Golden Tee better with the Happ than I do the Imperial, but I'm sure there are others who are just the opposite.

[AlanS17]

Well I've never played Golden Tee on anything other than a Happ TB, and given the choice I'd pick the Happ any day of the week. Unfortunately, I'm a cheapskate and the Imperial is good enough. 

[AlanS17]

I like my happs more than I like my Ultimarc (Suzo).


this one on ebay is 74.99 but already comes with a usb interface.

http://tinyurl.com/b8coy


Or a 3" one for 84.99

http://tinyurl.com/dmklc

These are just plug and play with the pc.

I've bought one from this guy, and they are brand new trackballs.

Later,
dabone

I wish I'd never seen those 2 1/4" USB trackballs. Now I might be spending an extra $200 to outfit my next cocktail project. (2 TB's plus mounting plates plus shipping)

[rackoon]

Yea, I hear ya bro. The price of two trackballs is what I paid for my computer. (almost) BUT, ya gotta have em.

I to am building a 27" cocktail cab based on the whamocade.

[JODY]

Shop around...double price is more like it.

[dabone]

I have a happ 2.5" , happ 3", happ high lip 3", and a imperial 3", and a ultimarc 2.5"

For the arcade feel that I remember for centipede, marble madness, etc, the happs 2.5" is best.
The happs design is based off the original wico trackballs in the original games.

You can get the ultimarc feeling better by soaking the bearings in wd40 for a day or 2 then adding 3in1 oil back. (The suzo and imperial trackball bearings are alot less free spinning, I guess it's the type of grease they pack in them)

Imperial bearings fit into happs (3" to 3") and make the happs feel as sluggish as the imperial.

For golden tee, happs is the way to go.

315 max drive for the imperial,

337 max drive for the happs.

(3" both).


 

[Kremmit]

Imperial bearings fit into happs (3" to 3") and make the happs feel as sluggish as the imperial.

Now that's interesting- I wonder if Happ bearings would make an Imperial roll as freely as a Happ, then.

[Timstuff]

I am using a used Imperial Golden Tee Gold 3" ball that I got off of ebay. It was only $17 including shipping ($10 for the unit, $7 shipping). I hacked a mouse PCB myself and have used it multiple times on the PC I'm going to use for my cab, and it works fine.

[Matt Berry]

Just be carefull when buying used trackballs from ebay. They have been used and you should fully expect it to be dirty, not roll properly, have worn rollers and rusted / bad bearings. Look at how much it costs to refurbish all of those componets before you dive into the cheap used ebay trackballs.

[specfire]

Hello dabone,

How does the Happs 3" High Lip TB play as compared to the regular 3"?  Does it offer better control?  I am less interested in true authenticity to the classics such as centipede etc and more interested in having one trackball to perform the best in all games, old and new. 

Thanks, specfire

[Tailgunner]

The happs design is based off the original wico trackballs in the original games.

Actually Happs' trackballs are built using the original Atari design.

[Timstuff]

I may eventually replace my trackball with a new one someday if it should fail me. But in the short run it will be just fine I think.

[u_rebelscum]

How does the Happs 3" High Lip TB play as compared to the regular 3"?  Does it offer better control?

Happs regular and high hip differ only in one piece*, the top half of the case.  The amount of ball above the lip is the same.  They should play the same; it's only mounting that's different.  (I "have both" and they play exactly the same, but I just bought one + the other's top, so besides that top, they really are the same trackball.) 

FWIW, happs high ball only differs in that same piece also, but it changes the amount of ball above the lip.  IMO, it's too much ball, as I keep nocking it off the roller, the way I play.  I prefer the regular/highlip way more than the high ball.  However, I know others like the high ball; they must play differently than me.


* Note, the old TBs have different sensor PCBs than the new ones, and the high lips changed earlier than the regulars, AFAIK.

[markrvp]

I went to an Arcade tonight that has a Golden Tee 2004 machine with an Imperial trackball and a PGA Tour Championship III machine with a Happ trackball. 

THE HAPP IS MUCH, MUCH NICER.  Although I have a Happ and an Imperial myself, I wanted to test another set to make sure there wasn't something different or wrong with mine.

The Happ ball is really easy to roll straight.  I shot a 62, 62, & 63 on the PGA machine with the Happ ball.  Out of 4 rounds on Golden Tee with the Imperial ball I only shot one round under par.

The Imperial trackball tends to veer left or right very easily.  It makes me have to 3 putt a lot.  This experience was enough to solidify my desire to only have/use HAPP trackballs in the future.