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Starting with the Curve 8520, RIM has started installing an optical trackpad on all new BlackBerry devices. The new technology should allow for easier browsing and scrolling. But for those of us who have older BlackBerry models, and plan to stick with them, we still face the issue of a trackball. Introduced in 2006 with the BlackBerry Pearl, the trackball made it onto every subsequent BlackBerry model. One thing we haven’t covered on BBGeeks is how to change the trackball sensitivity. So, just before it goes out of style, here it is.

To change the trackball sensitivity settings, go to Options, Screen/Keyboard. Near the bottom you’ll see three settings for your trackball: horizontal sensitivity, vertical sensitivity, and audible roll.

The sensitivity settings go from 20 to 100, with 20 being a slug’s pace, and 100 being Usain Bolt on amphetamines. Vertical is the more critical of the two, as there is plenty of vertical scrolling in menus and on webpages. If you do a lot of scrolling, you might want to change the setting to 80. You can try 90, but it’s tough to get precision on that level. Same goes for 100. But you’ll scroll really, really fast.

The other setting is something I’ll ask you do, out of courtesy for those around you. Please, please turn the audible roll to mute. It doesn’t serve much of a purpose, and the trackball has an audible click while scrolling anyway. Just a personal thing, and if you really like the audible roll and can’t live without it, I mean, it’s your call. I just find it a bit irritating to hear someone scrolling through Perez Hilton on the train.

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