Microsoft Trackball Explorer: Digital-Camera-Near.com

Microsoft Trackball Explorer

Microsoft Trackball Explorer
by Microsoft

Our Price: $498.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $199.99 (click here)
Category: CE
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Customers in the UK, Buy this product at amazon.co.uk for British Pounds

Digital Photo Product Details

Manufacturer: Microsoft
Platform: Mac OS 9 and below
Model: D68-00007
Product features:

Index-finger-controlled precision trackball design
IntelliEye optical technology
5 buttons--including 2 programmable buttons
Wheel for scrolling and zooming
Designed for use with the right hand

Accessories:

Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft Trackball Explorer

Customer Review: Nice idea poorly applied
Summary: 2 Stars

While this is most certainly an impressive looking trackball, pretty sure to gather some attention, it is most certainly not as impressive as it looks. I've been using a Logitech TrackMan Marble trackball for over a decade (as well as a Kensington Orbit Optical Trackball) for fairly intensive data entry as part of my full time job; so this review is regarding that level of use and the requirements of such work in comparison to these two trackballs. The only thing this Microsoft trackball has over the Logitech is the scroll wheel, which is a big plus for navigating spreadsheets. Both this Microsoft trackball and the Logitech TrackMan allow you to `reassign' the buttons allowing you to tailor them to your specific task and preferences. This is where the similarity ends. The Microsoft unit, while appearing to be more `ergonomically' designed, it is actually too big for most hands requiring you to use the mid-figure to move the trackball instead of the finger tips. If you adjust your hand back to use your finger tips, your other fingers can't work the two side buttons on the right side. The side buttons on both sides are poorly placed and have a very `limp' trigger response often not triggering if hit even slightly off angle (something neither the Logitech nor Kensington units suffer from). The scroll wheel just plan sucks, the worst response from a scroll wheel I've ever encountered even on a generic mouse (it quite simply will not work more than half the time). But the most disappointing aspect of this Microsoft trackball is what Microsoft itself claims as its best feature, the trackball itself. Microsoft claims that their tracking system, larger ball, and lack of mechanical elements, makes this unit more responsive and accurate. Not true; compared to the Logitech and Kensington units, this unit's precision is horribly subpar. This Microsoft unit regularly ignores subtle and small movements of the trackball as well as having a seemingly random under and/or over exaggeration of finger movements making it not only frustrating in the extreme while attempting any `delicate' moves, it's constantly over or under shooting target objects on the desktop. If that were not bad enough, the effective smoothness of this unit's physical trackball movement compared to the Logitech and Kensington unit is stiff and often `sticks' in position requiring extra effort to get it to move almost always resulting in over shooting your target. I wouldn't pay half of what I've paid for the Logitech unit (usually around thirty dollars) for this Microsoft device, but after using it now for extensive data entry for over a month now, I simply can't believe anyone would spend ten bucks on it . . . the fact that this unit sells for around five hundred dollars on Amazon just makes my head spin. Bottom line, it's not worth dealing with this units short comings (compared to the Logitech and Kensington units) just to get a scroll wheel (especially since it doesn't work half the time), but it is simply not worth 1/100th of the asking price regardless. Save your time, save your money, and save your sanity (and hair if prone to pulling it out) and buy the Logitech TrackMan, it's the best unit on the market for the money.

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Description of Microsoft Trackball Explorer

MODEL- D68-00007 VENDOR- MICROSOFT CORPORATION FEATURES- TrackBall Explorer- PS/2 & USB The TrackBall Explorer sets a new standard in trackballs by combining an IntelliEye optical sensor and an advanced ball design. The IntelliEye optical sensor tracks the movement of the ball 1500 times per second to give you unbelievably smooth precise control. * IntelliEye optical technology for more precise and better control than an old-fashioned mouse with a ball. * Browse easily with the programmable forward and back buttons. Scroll efficiently with the wheel. * The shape supports your hand in a natural posture. The ball is positioned for fingertip control and easy navigation. * The IntelliEye sensor has no moving parts to clean so your trackball stays smooth and precise. REQUIRES- 29MB of available hard-disk space CD-ROM drive Round mouse port (PS/2 compatible) or USB port (USB requires Windows 98 or 2000) Windows 95/98/Me/NT Workstation 4.0 with Service Pack 3 or later or Windows 2000. IntelliPoint software (included). MANUFACTURER WARRANTY: 3 YEARS

Unlike the mechanical-trackball "mice of yore" that skip, stick, and need to be cleaned, the Microsoft D68-00007 TrackBall Explorer introduces an entirely new trackball featuring optical sensor technology. Reading through dirt, dust, and fingerprints, the optical sensor tracks the movement of the ball 1,500 times per second, giving you smooth, precise control. The Trackball Explorer comes with two additional buttons located on the side of the device--for a total of five buttons--for moving forward and back quickly in your browser, or you can program them. It also features a wheel for efficient scrolling and zooming and is ergonomically designed to support the natural position of your hand as you use your index finger to control the trackball.

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