display-switch VS trackball

I’ve been using display-switch[0] for this for a while now. No problems whatsoever. Works on windows/mac/linux.

[0] https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch

Now it just need to be combined with something like https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch to do a DDC/CI monitor input switch as the USB activity moves around.

With a device like this you'd be missing the on_usb_connect event, but presumably you could do something (a special HID device button, an extra device id appearing, who knows) to make it work.

The best option I've found is to hook both computers up to a USB-only KVM, and plug them in via separate video cables to the monitor. Then set up the computers to tell the monitor to change inputs (via DDC commands, which most but not all monitors support) when you change devices on the KVM

There's software to help do this automatically (https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch)

Cynical footnote: PC users can continue to enjoy https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch while Mac users need to buy a 300 USD device. That's the Mac experience for you :D

There's a workaround in https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch now for M1 Macs. In general, you made your bed by buying a Mac, sleep in it.

Oops I missed that https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch

Then we will run https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch to have the monitors switch inputs when you use the USB switch.

For an even more configurable mouse, check out the Ploopy mouse and trackballs: https://ploopy.co/

Fully open source, the mouse (that I own) uses QMK for its firmware. Which means I can use key binding layers rather than single buttons. In other words, one button acts like a shift button that modifies the action of the other buttons. So I have easy access to page up/down, mission control (what was exposé in macOS), paste plain (shift+option+cmd+v), etc etc. I don't have anything Emacs specific on the mouse, but my keyboard (Keychron Q10) has several macro keys that I have meta-x and ctrl-g bound to.

If you truly want a mouse built to last, look into a Ploopy (https://ploopy.co/). You can get trackball ones, or a classic style mouse. It's fully open source and uses 3D printed parts, so not only can you easily get it repaired, you can also modify it to your hearts content. Also possible to remap the buttons or even program the microcontroller with custom code to do specific tasks if you wish.

I have no affiliation with https://ploopy.co, but as an enjoyer of their products, I'd urge you to take a look at their mouse & trackball if you want a proper custom mouse/trackball made for keyboard enthusiasts. 10/10 stuff.

Check out the Ploopy options. https://ploopy.co/

You might be interested in the very unfortunately named ploopy.

Print this to be as loud as possible.

I haven’t gotten around to trying anything from fingerpunch yet (I think their faux fox series is probably their most popular) but I don’t imagine any of their cases meant for trackballs is all that hard to work with (and if you just want a trackball, Ploopy seems to be the go to)