Go-to brands for peripherals such as keyboard and mouse

For a long time, my go-to brands for peripherals such as mouse or keyboard have been Microsoft Hardware and Logitech.  I have been using a MS brand mouse for so long, I still remember the soap-bar mouse.  The introduction of the optical mouse was just sensational.  The first Natural Keyboard was just another icing on the cake.  Logitech is another company that I had a long history with since high school.  I always loved their sometimes off beat and somewhat radical designs.  My keyboard and mice/trackball combinations have almost always been one of theirs for decades.  So, it's no surprise that when I first looking to replace my old Natural Ergo 4K or now my Trackball Explorer, I looked at what MS or Logitech had first.  However, I have heard mechanical keyboards calling me this time and I began to explore other options.  I don't mind taking a look at other vendors, hence I have been testing and trying out various kinds of mechanical keyboards.  Looks like I will do the same with mouse this round.  My first priority is to find a good left-handed or ambidextrous mouse for my work machine.  I will likely limp along with the Trackball Explorer until it finally gives up functioning or until I cannot stand the random scrolling anymore, which ever is sooner....  Then, I will be looking for a right handed ergonomic mouse.

So, left-handed mouse....  The current crop of Logitech and MS mice are fine.  I was tempted again by MS' sculpted ergonomic mouse since its keyboard counterpart is rather impressive.  But, I am looking for a left-handed mouse right now.  Doh!  Again, same deal with Logitech.  I would love to try out the MX Master or its predecessor.  However, again, left-handed mouse.  I will make a note of it when I look for a right handed mouse, but not yet.  So, now the possibility are endless.  Let's try amazon.com and put in left-handed mouse and see what I get.  Here we go.....

Getting off topic for a moment…. Mechanical keyboard are cool, anything interesting in the mouse front?

After more than a decade of faithful service, my dear Microsoft Trackball Explorer (MS TE) is exhibiting signs of old age and functional deterioration just like its buddy, the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000.  I have been using a trackball device for a long time.  Before the MS Trackball Explorer was the Logitech Trackman FX, which also lasted a long time before the left click button finally stopped working.  The scroll wheel on the MS Trackball Explorer is now scrolling screens at random at neck breaking velocity.  Some extensive cleaning sessions helped, but only temporarily restore its sanity.

So, now, I am on a quest for a replacement trackball or mouse as well after settling down on mechanical keyboards.  I am thinking about switching back to a mouse.  I have no problem using a mouse at all.  I just like trackballs more.  So far none of trackball designs jump out at me because I prefer the off center design.  I am also definitely more of the fingers guy rather than a thumb guy when it comes to trackballs.  The MS TE design is just about perfect for someone like me.  However, there's no design like that in the market today.  I guess trackballs are not popular and thus MS let go of such fabulous design and stop making more of them long before this one’s expiration date.  Their latest mouse driver software won’t support it anymore.  I had to revert to an older version to get it to work with Windows 8.1.  Signs of times, but I cling to this until finally, it’s time to err… Let it go I guess.  Sigh...