Trackball Decision - U-Trak vs. Electric Ice-T - Opinions Wanted

[cmoses]

I am just about ready to purchase my trackball and have come down to this decision.  I am not sure if I should go with the U-Trak or the Electric Ice-T.  I will be placing them in a small control panel so I need something that is not going to require a mounting plate.  I have read up on both, and they seem very similar so it is a very difficult decision.  I am looking for some advice from people that have used one or both and their opinions.  Here is what I have found so far.

U-Trak: Seems to have a slightly smaller footprint.  Is designed to mount in a wooden control panel without a mounting plate.  Panel thickness can be up to 3/4".  Has optional LED light kit to be able to control trackball color.  Optional USB interface.   Optional trim bezel for mounting. 

U-Trak - Pearl Trackball w/ USB2 + Cable    $103.00
U-Trak LED Illumination Kit                        $  29.00
Trim Bezel                                                 $  5.00
Total                                                        $137.00


Electric Ice-T: Slightly larger footprint.  Comes with the LED light kit.  Comes with Trackball Booster Kit.  USB standard.  Can be mounted in 3/4" control panel without mounting plate with the Super High Trackball Mounting Kit.  Requires a plunge router to mount.

Electric Ice-T Trackball - Pearl Trackball w USB and LED Kit     $116.95
Super High Trackball Mounting Kit                                         $   5.95
Total                                                                                     $122.90

So very similar when compared.  Here are some issues that I am still unsure about on these two items.  I have not seen any pictures of the U-Trak lit up with the Illumination Kit.  They only show a pearl ball with blue illumination on the web page and it is kind of hard to tell how well it lights up.  Electric Ice-T is shown in many colors on their web page.  Seems like the U-Trak is a little easier to mount, only need a hole saw no router needed.  U-Trak seems to be a more standard height when mounted.  Not sure how much the Electric Ice-T sits up with the Super High Trackball Mounting Kit.

In searching on here, the Electric Ice-T seems to be used in more projects but it has been out longer.  Also almost all of those projects seem to have used the mounting plate and not the highball kit. 

I would really like to see some pictures of the U-Trak lit up in different colors similar to what is shown on the Electric Ice-T page.  Can anyone that has this setup post some pictures showing the trackball with different colors?  Is their Trackball Booster Kit that comes with the Electric Ice-T make that much of a difference?  Will the U-Trak be less sensitive?  How much higher does the highball mounting kit make the trackball over a regular one.  How easy is each one to mount?

Thanks for any information provided.

 

[Turnarcades]

Not tested it lit yet (waiting to purchase the kit for my new machine) but the U-trak is great. I wouldn't bother with the trim bezel though as you get a more flush finish without it.

[Axe]

Just ordered a U-trac last night...  Main consideration was compatibility with all my other arcade hardware, and ease of ordering... since everything else is coming or has come from Ultimarc, it made sense to pop the trackball on that order.  I was going to do some neato lighting effects, but decided to just leave it as-is instead.  maybe NEXT time i will do the whole lighted cp thing, for now, a cp i like and getting the Computer running up to snuff is enough for me.

[gamepimp]

Did anyone else happen to have any feedback/opinions regarding U-Trak vs. Electric ICE trackballs? They both seem like decent products. It would be nice to hear pros/cons to decide between the two.

[ids]

My $0.02

I got some Betson Imperials from a box o' crap at surplus place (active surplus) - the Betson is the same as the GGG offering - but I cannot account for the history of the ones I picked up.  I added the GGG lighting kit, bearing upgrades, encoder wheel upgrade.  One of my base trackballs was a bit off kilter and didn't always react well to the high res encoder wheels, but putting all that GGG stuff in another one...happy does not suffice to express how much I love this thing.  It's smooth, it's glowing nicely, it feels really nice, ....  I'll often just look for trackball games in Mame (of which I own the licences of course) just because I love this thing.  Games getting more play these days are missile command, centipede, etc.  This is obviously just a personal obsession, but deciding between a trackball game and....others....it's a tough call.

How does this compare to anything else in this thread?  I really have no idea, hence opening with "my $0.02"  To get a real objective comparison of the two would be rare and/or difficult.

Good luck

[RandyT]

...the Betson is the same as the GGG offering...

Just an update...this is no longer the case.  Betson had a shortage of parts that went on for months a while back, and became difficult to deal with, so we moved on.  The EI trackball is now using the HAPP-style housings, but the bearings, high-res encoder wheels, ball and lighting that you are enjoying are just as smooth in the new housing.

Glad to hear the parts are working well for you!

RandyT

[ids]

Hey Randy, didn't know about the change.   Anyway, as mentioned, I started with some questionable bases, they worked .... fine.  They were not quite satisfactory with a mouse-hack.  The standard "yymv" applies here.  As for current conditions, with the GGG upgrades and wired to a GGG encoder.....near perfection.  Now, how about a u-trac?  No idea.  But I'll tell ya, if its significantly better than the heaven I'm in now....I'll pay anything.  My guess, given the generalities in the way these are made, the u-trac is probably in the same ballpark.  I realize I just have a love for trackballs...although a fickle one, as a poorly performing one would illicit much hate.  I also have (not mounted or in use really) the 2.25' offering from Paradise.  While a useable and affordable trackball, and not a target of hate, it's just not....heaven.  To each their own and all that.  I guess all of these threadsover 'what's better' never end with a conclusive answer.

[AndyWarne]

Note that in a week or so we will have a new version of the U-Trak RGB illumination kit. The new board has MOSFET drivers for each color so each of the color pairs of LEDs are driven at the full current these high-output LEDs are rated at. It will plug directly into the PacLED64 controller for full RGB color control and can be used with other controllers.

Andy

[taylormadelv]

I take my trackballs pretty seriously and the U-Track has passed the latest tests with flying colors. Very nice construction, no problems with smooth rolling action right out of the box and it mounts so pretty in a wood cp without plates and bolts all over the place! Great work, Andy!
Andy, is that 3rd roller at the bottom side of the trackball a custom made roller for the U-Track?

[AndyWarne]

I take my trackballs pretty seriously and the U-Track has passed the latest tests with flying colors. Very nice construction, no problems with smooth rolling action right out of the box and it mounts so pretty in a wood cp without plates and bolts all over the place! Great work, Andy!
Andy, is that 3rd roller at the bottom side of the trackball a custom made roller for the U-Track?

Well... the entire trackball is custom made. We own the molds and tooling data etc.

Andy

[rapomstage3]

+1 for the utrack

[Cynicaster]

U-trak rules.  Easy install on a wood/MDF panel, and great performance.  A short break-in period is required before it really shines, but no big deal.