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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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325
Customer Review: Great mouse alternative for graphic designers experiencing 'mouse arm'
Summary: 5 Stars
I'd been having issues with my arm, fingers, and hand becoming very sore/numb after just a small time of working with a mouse at work (it wasn't carpal tunnel, it was my ulnar nerve at my elbow). At home I have a Wacom tablet which is great, but it's a bit expensive and I wanted to find a cheaper alternative for work. I tested a couple different alternatives, including the: Logitech TrackMan (didn't like the thumb control--my thumb would just get sore after awhile; the options didn't allow you to adjust acceleration, so the trackball wasn't very precise if you wanted to be able to be able to move the pointer quickly; product seemed geared more towards those who didn't need precise mouse control like a graphic designer does) and the Logisys Optical Finger Mouse (was great at first, but the strap used to hold your finger to the mouse was kind of clunky and annoying, and my finger would start to get numb at the tip b/c you needed to attach the mouse fairly tightly to get good use out of it. It was also a huge pain to have to take it on and off. You could type a little with it on, but not a lot). In the end, this Kensington Expert Mouse was the best. Here's why:
1) Awesome option controls. Many, many speed, acceleration, and button options. It can be precise yet move quickly across your screen if you need it to. There are basically 6 programmable button options, because you have 1-4, and then you program an action for when you press 1 and 2 together and 3 and 4 together.
2) Comfortable. I like it with the included wrist rest, which is made of nice, uncheap feeling material. My 'mouse arm' symptoms decreased almost immediately, and now rarely become a problem. The ball is huge and you can adjust how you use it if you start to get fatigued.
3) The scroll wheel. It's awesome, very intuitive.
It's expensive, but totally worth it. It wasn't as big as I thought, which is nice. And it's a really nice looking unit. I've had it for about a month, and haven't had any problems whatsoever with it. Love it!
Customer Review: No More Mouse, This Is So Much Better
Summary: 5 Stars
The headline describes my feeling. I have used mice from Apple, Microsoft, Logitech, Kensington, MacAlly, and other firms. This tops them all. Most people use mice because that's what comes with their PC or Mac. There is something better. It's called an Expert Mouse. And it's a trackball from Kensington. It's much better for your wrist, your arm, and your hand than a conventional mouse.
Where the Expert Mouse Trackball really shines is its quality, its ability to customize the buttons, and the size of its ball. I'm running the Kensington software (called MouseWorks) on a Mac running Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.1) and the ability to customize the trackball is outstanding. The scroll wheel surrounding the ball shines. It sure beats a scroll wheel on a mouse.
I'm convinced that thousands of folks would eventually purchase this or another fine trackball if they were given the chance. But many folks stick with mice because they don't know any better. I have used mice (using both Macs and PCs) all my life and have recently converted to Kensington's Expert Mouse Trackball. Is there bit of a learning curve? Yes. Does it take a little bit of time to learn how to customize the unit? Yes.
But your hands, wrist and arms will thank you. I find that I'm more productive, the slight pain in my wrist after many hours of using a mouse is gone, and this is the best input device I've ever connected to a computer. What is truly amazing (after talking to many folks and reading Amazon.com reviews) is that once folks begin using a trackball, they rarely go back to a mouse. When I'm forced to use a mouse on someone's computer (as I work as a computer consultant), it's as if I've gone back in time.
I finally switched after a friend was good enough to loan me her Expert Mouse Trackball for a week. (This is also a common occurrence among folks discovering trackballs for the first time). It just felt better. If ever there was a winner, this is it. I do believe I'm a convert. No more mice.
Customer Review: You'll Never Go Back to a Mouse
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone who works at a desktop machine will appreciate the speed, screen coverage and comfort of a trackball versus mouse. And the Kensington Expert Mouse Trackball is the best of those I've used over the past ten years. With a fraction of an inch movement of a fingertip, you can move a cursor from one corner of a screen to another at lightening speed, minimal finger movement and zero wrist movement. It's a joy to use.
At the same time, when you need exacting precision in cursor movement, it is literally, at your fingertip. This is thanks to speed settings you can control. The software allows to set the speed of your broad, cross-screen cursor movement, as well as, slow movement for very precise cursor placement. It's quick and easy to set your speed settings so the ball is customized to just the fast/slow cursor speeds you like. Don't be afraid to use the software to try some different settings. You'll be amazed, and you'll be moving the cursor with more speed and precision than you ever thought possible.
Oh . . . and the the scroll ring . . . ever need to view a long document or web page? Well, just place your cursor on the up/down slide bar at the right of a long page, then, again, with the movement of a fingertip, the scroll ring controls the slide bar for fast, easy up/down page viewing. No more depressing a mouse button and dragging.
No more mouse pads, no more picking up the mouse to put it back in the target area, no more desk space devoted to mice and pads . . . and the padded, wrist rest which comes with the Expert Mouse provides a comfortable, place to actually rest your wrist while you're guiding the ball with a fingertip.
The ball moves so easily, when you guide it, it feels as though the ball is floating on air. There is no better way to take 98% of the hand work out of "mousing."
Once you've used one, you too will wonder why everyone isn't using a Kensington Expert Mouse Optical Trackball.
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.