Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325
by Kensington
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325
Customer Review: Great Trackball
Summary: 5 Stars
Years ago I had an older Kensington trackball, and am very happy with this one. I have had the track ball for a few weeks now, and haven't had any problems. A lot of the reviews that I read prior to ordering stated that the track ball itself didn't move well, and the wheel around the track ball was noisy and sticky. I didn't have any problems, and if you had used an older version of the track ball, you'll be happy with this one.
The ball movement isn't as smooth as with steel rollers, but its comfortable, and I have very precise control over the pointer. I haven't had any problems nudging the pointer, and have found the track ball to be very responsive.
If you've previously been using a mouse, the positioning of the 4 buttons might feel a little odd at first. I personally find it very easy to transition from a mouse to a track ball, but I had used an older version of this trackball years ago.
I highly recommend this trackball. I don't care for the smaller track balls, as I find them more difficult to maneuver. With a larger ball, I find it easier to move (and its fun to spin the track ball to the side to move the mouse out of the way). I normally spin the track ball to move the pointer to the side of the screen, then put my finger back down to stop the track pointer - I also use multiple monitors so I have a lot of screen to cover.
I also really like the scroll wheel around the trackball itself. I have found it very easy to scroll up and down web pages and other documents. I haven't found it to be sticky or difficult to move. It does 'click' as you move it, but it has to have some type of roller or something. Even if I press very hard on the scroll wheel, it still moves easily and I have never had it stick.
I have not installed the kensington software, and I'm using the drivers that were native in XP-Pro. I haven't felt the need to install their drivers as everything is working as I like.
Customer Review: Fantastic, comfortable pointing device
Summary: 5 Stars
I would like to take this opportunity to address two of the primary misconceptions about this trackball:
First is the issue of movement. I have read a couple reviews where people state the movement is not smooth, the trackball is difficult to move, etc. This is true -- but only when the unit is completely clean and new. What I think people don't realize is that this trackball uses the natural oils in your skin to lubricate itself. If, for example, you always wear gloves while using it you will find it jerky and annoying. Every time you clean the ball it will get a little stiff. Use it for 10 minutes or so and it will warm up again, or just roll it around in your hands for a bit (it's fun to play with).
Second is the issue of positioning. The trackball is not at a weird angle, so long as you don't a) rest your hand on the table while using it or b) attach the useless "ergonomic" wrist pad they throw in the box. You will feel less strain and discomfort while using any pointing device if you have the good sense to keep your wrist off the table. This allows blood to flow freely and lets your entire arm participate in moving the device, rather than putting all the strain on your wrist and hand. While using this mouse, I keep my hand and arm in line with one another, and very lightly put the base of my fingers on the top of the ball. I then find that my thumb and fingers fall naturally on the device's buttons. This is the most ergonomic working position I have found with any pointing device, including standard mice, trackpads, graphics tablets, and even the 3M Ergonomic Mouse.
The large, supple ball, precise control, high build quality, reliability, and amazing scroll wheel make this easily the best pointing device you can buy. And if you suffer any kind of RSI, I can't recommend it enough. I work as a software engineer, and I could not get through my day without it. Throw your regular mouse away.
Customer Review: Best Trackball mouse I've used!
Summary: 5 Stars
After developing some pain in my wrist and forearm, I began to re-explore using a trackball. I was an avid trackball fan, but when my last trackball (an old MS trackball, since discontinued) gave up the ghost I went back to standard mice, using primarily MS Explorer Mouse.
I checked out the MS Intellipoint trackball, but did not like the layout or the cheap look to it. I did end up purchasing the Logitech Trackman wheel mouse, but after a few days just couldn't get comfortable using a thumb based trackball. So I took the plunge and purchased the Kensington Expert Optical Trackball. It was love at first use!
The trackball is a very decent size, just about the size of a billiard ball. The action of the ball is smooth as silk and easy to control with just the finger tips. Four buttons are on the unit and the right and left click buttons are conveniently assigned to the lower 2 buttons, making a mouse click a thumb press away (although the Kensington software will let you re-assign the buttons to your own preference).
The scroll wheell around the trackball is just brilliant. The wheel seems to have slight detents when scrolled, it think leading the "scratchy" comments that have been made. However, the slight resistance of the scroll wheel isn't that bad and I've found has led to slightly more precise scrolling - instead of encountering a free spinning wheel that's difficult to be accurate with. Concerning some of the comments that you can't turn the scroll wheel without moving the mouse, I've yet to encounter that. I tend to use the scroll wheel from the side so I've not experienced moving the mouse while scrolling.
As for the comments that the unit appears "cheaply" made, well all I can say is my unit has a very solid and satifying appearance, with all buttons working perfectly.
All said, this is probably one of the finest trackball mice I've used and well worth the money.
Customer Review: Continuing a Tradition of Greatness
Summary: 5 Stars
Kensingtion long ago established itself as the premier supplier of flexible, high performance, ergonomic pointing devices for personal computers. The current Expert Mouse Optical Trackball raises the bar for the followers, again.
Although I've not yet had mine long enough to be sure, I suspect that the new optical system will eliminate the need to clean dust, lint, and pet hairs out of the little wheels inside the base every few years. The MouseWorks driver retains its unassailed position as the Lexus of pointing device software. You want lots of ways to "click" with special, customizable meanings for each way? MouseWorks in combination with any pointing device will charm you. Combine MouseWorks with this four-button trackball, and you'll wonder why you ever considered any other pointing device.
One caveat: If you install on a MacBook (and perhaps other Apple laptops), MouseWorks seems unable to distinguish the high performance trackball from an ordinary two-button mouse on the WinDoze side if you run both MacOS and WinDoze XP on your MacBook. The regular Kensingtion "read the script" tech support folks won't even understand the problem (e.g., they'll tell you to "disconnect the track pad built into your lap top as though it were an external device you can unplug.) Possibly, if you get your concern escalated often enough, you'll eventually reach a point where a person who's empowered to think can offer useful help. Since I do not use the WinDoze side of my computer very often, this minor disappointment is not a high priority for me.
If using the trackball with full capability on both sides of a dual-OS MacBook matters to you, knock a star off this review. This product is outstanding enough to justify the extra effort to get help with proper installation on BOTH sides of your MacBook. I'll get it done some day (especially, if I ever REALLY need the WinDoze side of my MacBook).
Customer Review: scrolling on gravel bearings
Summary: 2 Stars
I've been a fan of Kensington trackballs for well over ten years. They've always been miles above all the others.
But the construction of this one has driven me away. Most of it is the usual Kensington quality. The scroll ring is a great concept -- it's well placed and solves the problem of where to put the scroll wheel on a trackball.
But like others, I've found that the scroll wheel bearings seem to be made of gravel. The first one I bought, I actually returned to the retail store as defective because of the horrible scratching sound and feel when I turned the scroll wheel. The replacement was just as bad. I called Kensington, who said it should smooth out with use. It didn't. I called again and they sent me a replacement. Same problem. That was two years ago and it's just as rough as on day one. (I moved it to a computer that I don't use much.) I finally gave up, since Kensington apparently no longer cared that the product I bought from them didn't work. Ten years ago they seemed to care.
I guess that Kensington hasn't heard of ball bearings. Strange situation for a trackball. Honestly, though the scroll ring feels like it's running on gravel, my guess is that it just doesn't have bearings at all.
This is totally inexcusable for a $100 product, and really brings Kensington's reputation into question. It's a great trackball if you don't use a scroll wheel/ring, but most people do, and for the price you should be able to use it
The only other currently made trackball that I consider usable is the Logitech Cordless Trackman -- the one with the trackball in the right place, not the older corded one with the absurd thumb-operated trackball. But I don't want wireless, and so I'm reluctantly going back to a regular mouse. And ironically, it will probably be a Kensington model.
Edward
-- I see the brevity of truth. --