I wanted to use something besides the touchpad on my laptop for a pointing device. I'd tried a mouse but it doesn't work so good if you are sitting in a recliner, so I decided to try the Logitech Optical Marble Mouse
So far I like it fine (after about 10 minutes of use). It was easy to install and it feels comfortable in my hand. It weighs a little under a pound and isn't as huge and bulky as a full size trackballs. It's probably a little too big if you are traveling with your laptop - and I'm not sure how that exposed ball would fare getting bounced around inside a briefcase or shoulder bag. You manipulate the trackball with your finger(s) rather than your thumb as in some of the full-sized trackballs. The Logitech marble mouse trackball is about 20 dollars.