I've been using a trackball (thumb kind) for a good decade. Doesn't need a pad and can carry the thing anywhere. I use different laptops and one is just a movie library; makes using it from the couch better than a remote.

I switched over to a trackball. I recommend them. None of the drag of a mouse, as long as you keep the ball and its contact points clean of dust. I'm using a Logitech M570, which has the design defect that the left mouse button starts to double-click after about 1-2 years of use. That's what happened to mine. But there's an easy work around. All you do is use the Logitech software to invert the left and right mouse buttons. That gives you an almost brand new button for your "left" clicks. It takes a few days to get used to the inverted position of the buttons, but its cheaper than buying a new trackball, or a new mouse. The new M575s are supposed to have better switches, but I decided to go the el cheap-o route.