Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325
by Kensington
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List Price: Our Price: $68.53 You Save: $59.42 (46%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $35.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325
Customer Review: Intel Mac Users do not despair! Download Kensington V. 3.0
Summary: 5 Stars
Take all the good reviews about this product, and I agree with all the positives. I even like the Kensington Expert Trackball Mouse BETTER than my Microsoft Trackball Explorer (SHAMEFULLY discontinued by Microsoft) in some respects! But I have to admit that my Explorer mouse is a bit more comfortable for long periods of constant use.
I don't think the product description on Amazon mentions that you can assign SIX different functions at a time to this mouse! That's because not only can you assign a different function to each button (there are 4 buttons), but you can ALSO assign a function that works when you press both top buttons together, and another function that works when you press both bottom buttons together! I chose to assign "click", "right click", "cut", & "paste" to the single buttons, and chose "back" and "forward" for the simultaneous buttons. And just in case you don't want any or all of the buttons to do anything when they are pushed, you can assign them to "do nothing" as well. This might be useful for people who keep accidentally pushing a button because of their particular hand shape or hand position.
I've also found that the "fluid" vs. "space down" motion of the scroll wheel depends on the application that is running, and not a big deal to me. If you always want a fluid scrolling motion you can always choose one of your buttons to "drag" the screen fluidly up or down using the trackball.
I mostly decided to write this review to let all you Mac OS X w/ Intel chip and Leopard OS users know that you can get ALL the buttons programmed after downloading "Kensington MouseWorks® for Mac OS X Version 3.0" software from the Kensington website [...]. Never mind that it says it was last updated on 5/30/06 - once you download that version to your Intel Mac (do not click on "search for latest update" when the box comes up so you only download THAT particular version) you can then program ALL the buttons (I own a new 2008 MacBook Pro and it worked for me). At least we can use the available Version 3.0 until they create a newer updated Mouseworks Software Version that fixes the Intel Mac problem.
I LOVE the "keystrokes" option to add custom button settings (i.e. if you want a button to be "Back", first type the Apple "Command" button followed by the "[" key in the top box, and then label it "Back" in the bottom box; I've found that you must label/name it last so that the "OK" button lights up and you can click on it. Likewise, if you wanted another button to be "Paste", choose the "Keystrokes" option, then type the Apple "Command" button followed by "V" in the top box, and then label it "Paste" below and "OK" (save) it. It's so easy to assign practically anything to a button (even opening up an assigned URL or application)...very cool.
And if you aren't able to set some of the parameters for how the trackball mouse responds through the "Mouseworks" application settings, try tweaking the standard mouse application settings.
To think I almost returned this product! Thank goodness for internet searches!
Customer Review: Too big to be usable... for me
Summary: 2 Stars
After having used a mouse for hours a day for 10+ years, a bit of RSI/carpel tunnel (I don't know which) had started to kick in. So I tried several other mice, and finally switched to a Logitech trackball (Trackman Wheel Optical) and that helped to reduce some of the stiffness and pain I was feeling, but it did not eliminate it. Plus, the vein just to the left of my thumb has enlarged significantly, probably due to all the thumb movement from moving the trackball around. So, I once again went looking for alternatives.
I had been waiting to get one of these Kensington trackballs for awhile, but their software (Mouseworks) was not fully compatible with Vista or Win7 64-bit. So when I heard that they had released new software (Trackballworks) for 64-bit, I went ahead and pulled the trigger. I had a chance to try out both Mouseworks and Trackball works, and am sad to report that, although the Trackball works supports customizing all buttons (as of May/June 2010), it's not quite as feature-rich as the older Mouseworks software. (For example, you can no longer customize the buttons on a per-app basis, though they may add this capability back in at a future date.) However, for those who know what AutoHotkey is, this isn't a huge problem, but does require you to get your hands a bit dirty with some scripting.
But the real question is, how does it feel? The ball comes out spinning kind of rough out of the box, but if you've read many reviews of this trackball, you'll know that the 'oils' on your fingers will smooth it out pretty quickly, and that's what happened with mine. However, I found the unit to be too big, as my hand has to do gymnastics to be able to use the ball and hit all the buttons, and it basically transferred the pain from my hand to my wrist. (Trying with and without the included wrist rest didn't make much difference.) I tried changing which buttons did what, but it didn't really help. Plus, it was taking me twice as long as with my Logitech trackball to do complex operations, such as selecting text while using the scroll ring to scroll the page. And trying to speed things up would put too much strain on my hand.
However, other folks would tell you that this trackball (and it's cousin, the Slimblade) is like the second coming, thus it's really hard to gauge how the unit will fit in your hand, because hands come in different sizes, and these things are very subjective. (My hands are of average size for a male). What feels great to one person will be very uncomfortable to another. The best advice I can give you is to try to find one locally and see how it feels in your hand. Barring that, I suppose you could always order one and return it if it doesn't feel 'right' to you.
In the meantime, I am going back to my Logitech trackball, and maybe find another mouse or trackball that I can switch out every few hours. Unless somebody has any better ideas? (I make a living on my PC, so 'just using the computer less' isn't really an option, unless I don't want to eat.)
Customer Review: Remarkably average mouse
Summary: 2 Stars
I used this trackball on a Mac running 10.4 and it performs its basic functions as advertised. You can mouse around the screen and the four click-buttons are large and easy to configure. The optical trackball works.
However, the true disappointment comes when trying to use the scrolling capabilities. As you have read from the product description, the scroll wheel takes the form of a dial surrounding the trackball. This dial suffers from two inhumane issues:
1) The feel of the dial is atrocious. I would have hoped for a slick ball-bearing or smooth-as-silk (SAS) movement. Instead, Kensington delivered an unflattering plastic-on-plastic (POP) feel. Just as you think your fingers have applied sufficient force to overcome the static friction of the dial, some inconsistency in the formation of the POP causes the dial to falter. This leads to the second issue.
2) When you use the scroll dial, your fingers have little choice but to move the trackball. Take a look at the picture and try to imagine this: Suppose you want to make two full revolutions. Your scrolling finger must remain perfectly perpendicular to the dial. In order to make a complete trek around the trackball, you have to crimp your hand. In the event you cannot keep your finger perpendicular, it will naturally swipe against the trackball and move your cursor. What harm does that do? After each scrolling session you must stop to relocate your cursor. In certain applications, this may cause unintended actions.
Lastly, when Kensington moved from their last Turbo Mouse design, they eliminated their quick-launch buttons. Those buttons allowed you to perform virtually anything you wanted with a mere flick of your finger. They are henceforth gone.
At $100 (+/-), this mouse is horrifically overpriced. It's depressing how overpriced this is. I feel pity towards anybody who looks at this mouse online and opts to buy it based on Kensington's description. At a minimum, you should run to your local tech store and try it out in person before you buy it, because then, and only then, will you realize that it's not worth it. This mouse makes me sad.
Nonetheless, I must confess that the 5-year warranty has served me well. My old Turbo Mouse died on me eight times. Yes, eight times. Each time it died I just called up and they sent me a new one. I can only hope that the quality of this mouse has improved over the previous generations. Also, I'd be remiss in my reviewing-obligations if I neglect to mention that the software has never been an issue on my Macintosh systems. It's always been easy to install and configure. I'm not sure if that's a testament to Kensington or Apple, but there you have it. Lastly, the two stars are for it's ability to perform it's core functions.
I'd highly recommend this mouse to anyone who likes overpriced garbage.
Customer Review: Remarkably average mouse
Summary: 2 Stars
I used this trackball on a Mac running 10.4 and it performs its basic functions as advertised. You can mouse around the screen and the four click-buttons are large and easy to configure. The optical trackball works.
However, the true disappointment comes when trying to use the scrolling capabilities. As you have read from the product description, the scroll wheel takes the form of a dial surrounding the trackball. This dial suffers from two inhumane issues:
1) The feel of the dial is atrocious. I would have hoped for a slick ball-bearing or smooth-as-silk (SAS) movement. Instead, Kensington delivered an unflattering plastic-on-plastic (POP) feel. Just as you think your fingers have applied sufficient force to overcome the static friction of the dial, some inconsistency in the formation of the POP causes the dial to falter. This leads to the second issue.
2) When you use the scroll dial, your fingers have little choice but to move the trackball. Take a look at the picture and try to imagine this: Suppose you want to make two full revolutions. Your scrolling finger must remain perfectly perpendicular to the dial. In order to make a complete trek around the trackball, you have to crimp your hand. In the event you cannot keep your finger perpendicular, it will naturally swipe against the trackball and move your cursor. What harm does that do? After each scrolling session you must stop to relocate your cursor. In certain applications, this may cause unintended actions.
Lastly, when Kensington moved from their last Turbo Mouse design, they eliminated their quick-launch buttons. Those buttons allowed you to perform virtually anything you wanted with a mere flick of your finger. They are henceforth gone.
At $100 (+/-), this mouse is horrifically overpriced. It's depressing how overpriced this is. I feel pity towards anybody who looks at this mouse online and opts to buy it based on Kensington's description. At a minimum, you should run to your local tech store and try it out in person before you buy it, because then, and only then, will you realize that it's not worth it. This mouse makes me sad.
Nonetheless, I must confess that the 5-year warranty has served me well. My old Turbo Mouse died on me eight times. Yes, eight times. Each time it died I just called up and they sent me a new one. I can only hope that the quality of this mouse has improved over the previous generations. Also, I'd be remiss in my reviewing-obligations if I neglect to mention that the software has never been an issue on my Macintosh systems. It's always been easy to install and configure. I'm not sure if that's a testament to Kensington or Apple, but there you have it. Lastly, the two stars are for it's ability to perform it's core functions.
I'd highly recommend this mouse to anyone who likes overpriced garbage.
Customer Review: Way better than expected
Summary: 5 Stars
I know, there are now a gazillion reviews of this device, but this becomes a current update of sorts of another reaction, to what may or may not have changed over the last couple of years, about the nature of the fluidity of the scroll ring & trackball, among other impressions.
Well I had the Kensington Expert Pro Mouse for 5+ years, and got great service from it. Loved the LARGE trackball and surrounding buttons configuration. Did not love the dinky little scroll WHEEL, and no real use for the 6 other buttons slightly beyond comfortable reach from the comfortable hand position I held above the trackball.
Well finally one of the four buttons lost it's click. The unit did not survive the disassembly. So I looked for the only other trackball that had the same great top features this one had, and lo and behold, the only one out there that I could find was the refined down Kensington Expert Mouse Optical Trackball. But the REVIEWS! I didn't want sandy, gritty, draggy stuff. My only hope was that in the time since '04 (?) creation, that somehow something would finally be made better to resolve the ever severe criticisms.
Today the trackball arrived. Plugged it in, still had the most current driver from the last one, and set the feel and buttons up the same way. I must say that I was thrilled with the scroll ring, waaaaaaay better than the previous scroll wheel, and at least on this unit that I received, the ring is as fluid as I need, love it, no complaints, very nice action. <<< !! Oh !!, I should mention that one reason the scroll ring is so fluid is that I use a third party app called Smart Scroll, and this actually is what makes the scroll ring fluid and wonderful, download and try it, think it's Mac only.
The track ball itself is a little funny, set up to move briskly between two large screens, it will exhibit initial sluggishness and then whiz fine, and stay fine for the duration of use, only becoming sluggish again for a moment if I don't use it for a long period. I don't know if this will improve after some break in time, but the past unit was w/o problem (short of the common pebbles in the rollers complications) w/o the optical tracking.
Positioning of hand on the wrist support and reach over the trackball is just as nice and comfortable as before, I have large hands. And nothing like new clicking buttons, they feel very nice and clicky snappy.
Even with the little funnyness w/ the trackball inconsistency, I just love Kensington's trackballs, and this one is a real upgrade for me, so five stars it is...
[ADDED AFTER POSTING: Only hours after posting this review, the trackball is totally on cue and silky smooth; and really - the scroll ring - people are having problems w/ this? Mine is a pleasure (mostly because it's used in conjunction w/ 3rd party app Smart Scroll)].