Forums | MacLife

unshavenyak · 2009-01-09 12:20 pm

I'm looking for a Trackball mouse to replace my Logitech Trackman Optical. I was thinking of giving a non-thumb operated one a try.

Anyone have any recommendations or favourites? Let's all agree to avoid the Microsoft Trackball Explorer as it's no longer in production and obscenely expensive on eBay.

ukimalefu · 2009-01-09 1:11 pm

Kensington Expert Mouse

http://us.kensington.com/html/2200.html

They have a new one, The SlimBlade, looks good

http://us.kensington.com/html/16632.html

Former Windork · 2009-01-09 3:58 pm

Is this too expensive for the MS one?

http://www.pcpartscollection.com/mitrexopmo.html

arkayn · 2009-01-09 5:42 pm

I love my M$ Trackball Optical, of course it is no longer in production either. I use a Logitech Trackman Wheel on the PC.

I only like thumb operated one though.

sturner · 2009-01-09 5:50 pm

The Kensington Expert Mouse.

Susie · 2009-01-09 5:59 pm

i played around with the Kensington SlimBlade trackball at Macworld and was pretty impressed. It's well-made, and I dug how you can twist it to scroll the window or roll it to move the cursor. It's also got two buttons above the trackball that let you enter Music mode (trackball then controls iTunes playback) or a mode that lets you zoom in and out on photos. The only problem is the buttons aren't otherwise customizable (as they are on the Expert Mouse), so trackball power users might not like it.

knobtwirler · 2009-01-09 8:03 pm

Former Windork wrote:
Is this too expensive for the MS one?

http://www.pcpartscollection.com/mitrexopmo.html

I've had this one for years, now after falling down a breaking a bit I would buy another one it's so good, ergonomic, functional.

smilr · 2009-01-10 12:47 am

My favorite - though a bit older:

http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Wirele … B00006B8NW

I use the wired rather than wireless version of this trackball and have sworn by it for years. The tracking mechanism is mechanical (steel bearings) rather than optical - so I do have to clean the rollers every once in a while. I find it's action to just plain feel better than that of optical trackballs.

The 6 buttons along the top can be programmed for pretty much anything, though kensington sets them up for application / website shortcuts out of the box.

unshavenyak · 2009-01-10 9:54 am

Former Windork wrote:
Is this too expensive for the MS one?

http://www.pcpartscollection.com/mitrexopmo.html

I'd love to have one of those Former, but unfortunately Microsoft has discontinued making them. That trackballis perhaps the best and most comfortable of all time. It goes for over $200 on eBay sad .

The slimblade looks really interesting as I wouldn't need to have both a mouse and trackball for FPS'er gaming, but the ball looks to be really small which may be uncomfortable. It's also wireless and I'm not really fond of batteries, but it's definately something I'm interested in.

As it stands, I'm likely leaning towards getting the Kensington Expert Mouse. I really wish retailers still carried trackballs in store so I could actually test them.

pottymouth · 2009-01-11 11:25 am

ukimalefu wrote:
Kensington Expert Mouse

There really is no better option. I've been using one version or another for the last ten years and now I just can't work efficiently without it.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2009-01-09 12:20 pm

Your favourite Track Ball?

#2 2009-01-09 1:11 pm

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

#3 2009-01-09 3:58 pm

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

#4 2009-01-09 5:42 pm

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

#5 2009-01-09 5:50 pm

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

#6 2009-01-09 5:59 pm

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

#7 2009-01-09 8:03 pm

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

Former Windork wrote:

#8 2009-01-10 12:47 am

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

#9 2009-01-10 9:54 am

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

Former Windork wrote:

#10 2009-01-11 11:25 am

Re: Your favourite Track Ball?

ukimalefu wrote:

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