A user-configurable computer and pointing device combination and method are disclosed. The user establishes a relationship between a direction of rotation of the ball and direction of movement of the cursor on the screen. This relationship is stored by the computer to maintain a consistency between the direction of rotation of the ball and the direction of movement of the cursor on the screen. Accordingly, the user is able to establish the relationship between the screen coordinate system and his hand coordinate system. Advantageously, a left-handed user may establish a coordinate system based on left-handed use while a right-handed user may re-establish the coordinate system based on right-handed use.