Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: GAtekwriter on April 29, 2007, 03:50:23 pm

Title: Trackball comparison question
Post by: GAtekwriter on April 29, 2007, 03:50:23 pm

Okay, I did a search and didn't find what I was looking for, so here's my latest question:

Tornado Terry sells a HAPP lit trackball for 83.99.  The comparable item directly from HAPP appears to be $161.00.

Am I missing something?  Are these NOT the same item?  Why such a big difference in price?

Thanks, all.

Jim

Title: Re: Trackball comparison question
Post by: superbigjay on April 29, 2007, 04:56:57 pm

Hello jim,

for my uroMAMEstyx project,
I've ordered most of my parts from Terry.
All the transactions were smooth and shipped rapidly.
I can only recommend him!!! 

I have a yellow translucent trackball (USB/PS2) which support up to 3 mouse buttons.
You just plug it in and you have a working mouse.  It's as simple as that!  you don't need an optical interface of keyboard encoder with trackball support.

As for your questions:

Quote from: GAtekwriter on April 29, 2007, 03:50:23 pm

Are these NOT the same item?  Why such a big difference in price?

Seems to be exactly the same thing  :)
It has the happ sticker on it.

Quote from: GAtekwriter on April 29, 2007, 03:50:23 pm

Why such a big difference in price?

I don't know why such a big difference, but you can rephrase your question :
"why pay more?"  ;D

If you want to see the pic of the unlit trackball, you can go to my project thread uroMAMEstyx in my signature.

PS:
if your keyboard encoder already support a trackball, you can go with a regular trackball (no usb) which are easy to get in the 60-65$ range...  In my case, I bought the GGG Keywiz and got the usb trackball.

Have fun with your project!
Jay

Title: Re: Trackball comparison question
Post by: GAtekwriter on April 29, 2007, 05:03:51 pm

Thanks for the response, Jay.

Believe me, I'm well aware of your project :) and have been following it.  I always appreciate people who document well.

Jim

Title: Re: Trackball comparison question
Post by: TOK on April 29, 2007, 10:01:18 pm

Happ is messed up in that resellers always have better prices than directly from them.
I've purchased a few things from Tornado Terry, including a 3" translucent trackball. It is indeed the exact item you'd get through Happ for double the price.

He's a good vendor and fast shipper.

Title: Re: Trackball comparison question
Post by: GAtekwriter on April 29, 2007, 10:09:33 pm

TOK,

Happ's price is DOUBLE!  I guess the lesson is it does pay to shop around :)

Thanks for the recommendation - I went ahead and placed my order for a green lit trackball from Terry just now...

Jim