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Kensington Orbit Optical Trackball Mouse

Kensington Orbit Optical Trackball Mouse

List Price: $44.95
Your Price: $27.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Item has not shipped after 7 weeks!
Review: Even though the site said "Usually Ships in 1-2 Business Days", the item has not shipped after 7 weeks! No one in the customer service department can explain why. This company is obviously having some big problems!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A detail...
Review: I don't own this product, I am shopping around. I have used a Kensington Turbomouse (now called Expert Mouse) for years. It is the larger, large ball, 4 button model... 5 stars! But I need a smaller less expensive model for an off site job.

You may find it helpful to know that according to the Kensington website, when operated on OS 9 this model will only offer one button, not two. You need OSX to use both buttons. I didn't see that detail anywhere here and thought it might be helpful to some.

I have to choose a star-rating in order to post this, I am choosing 4 stars as from what I have read it sounds like a great choice, minus one start for not having full OS9 compatibility.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A letdown for a loyal Kensington customer
Review: I have been using an Expert mouse for 7 years (and a Turbo Mouse on my Mac before that), but finally the left click button has expired. I decided to give this trackball a try since it was an optical.

It is well made, and has a nice heft. However, I am disappointed for several reasons. First is the ergonomics. The ball is significantly smaller than the Expert Mouse's, which is makes precise control more difficult. But more significantly, the relationship between the trackball and the buttons is poorly done. When I positioned my hand for optimal trackball control, I found it difficult to double-click quickly and would have to move my hand again. The buttons need to be more towards the user's wrists.

But the biggest complaint is the stalling, reported in a previous review. I don't think it's dirt--I think it's the pattern on the trackball. There is a cool pattern of silver and black swirls, except at one spot. This spot is black, patternless area about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) in diameter, and I think the optical sensor has difficulty in picking up movement in that area. Every time it stalls, I look at the ball and note that this area is over the sensor. Microsoft optical trackballs are completely covered with a dense pattern.

Yes, it is only 1/3 the cost of the Expert Mouse. But all these complaints aren't a reflection of its lower price, but rather, design flaws.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A letdown for a loyal Kensington customer
Review: I have been using an Expert mouse for 7 years (and a Turbo Mouse on my Mac before that), but finally the left click button has expired. I decided to give this trackball a try since it was an optical.

It is well made, and has a nice heft. However, I am disappointed for several reasons. First is the ergonomics. The ball is significantly smaller than the Expert Mouse's, which is makes precise control more difficult. But more significantly, the relationship between the trackball and the buttons is poorly done. When I positioned my hand for optimal trackball control, I found it difficult to double-click quickly and would have to move my hand again. The buttons need to be more towards the user's wrists.

But the biggest complaint is the stalling, reported in a previous review. I don't think it's dirt--I think it's the pattern on the trackball. There is a cool pattern of silver and black swirls, except at one spot. This spot is black, patternless area about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) in diameter, and I think the optical sensor has difficulty in picking up movement in that area. Every time it stalls, I look at the ball and note that this area is over the sensor. Microsoft optical trackballs are completely covered with a dense pattern.

Yes, it is only 1/3 the cost of the Expert Mouse. But all these complaints aren't a reflection of its lower price, but rather, design flaws.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Trackball Yet
Review: I used to have a Kensington Orbit PS/2 for about 5 years. Spilled some soda on it so the buttons began to stick. Well decided to move an optical setup as they require less maintenance. This product is great. The trackball is smooth and basically maintenance free. I would recommend it to anyone who wants less stress on the wrists or wants to reduce the space allocated to a mouse device.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not bad...
Review: I've been a trackball user for over 5 years now. The last one I had was Kensington's one with the big clear blue ball. It lasted a good 4 years before the lil rubber rollers gave out. So I decided to replace it with an optical trackball. I chose this one because it had the same layout and left/right click capabilities as my previous one. I am pretty pleased with it. I am amazed at how little I have to work to move the ball... I never realized how much effort I needed to move the old non-optical one. There are only a few design issues I wish I could fix.

1) My old one you could turn the whole thing upside down and the ball wouldn't fall out. On this model the ball has no locking-in device. I use this with my laptop and have to search for the ball at the bottom of my bag every single time.

2) The lil indent the optical lense is sitting in is a prime place for dust and crap to settle, disrupting the performance. They should cover it up and make it flush with the rest of the interior.

3) I wish the buttons were moved a lil more towards the front. It's the fine for clicking with your thumb... but a lil too far back to click on the otherside with your pinky or ring finger.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not bad...
Review: I've been a trackball user for over 5 years now. The last one I had was Kensington's one with the big clear blue ball. It lasted a good 4 years before the lil rubber rollers gave out. So I decided to replace it with an optical trackball. I chose this one because it had the same layout and left/right click capabilities as my previous one. I am pretty pleased with it. I am amazed at how little I have to work to move the ball... I never realized how much effort I needed to move the old non-optical one. There are only a few design issues I wish I could fix.

1) My old one you could turn the whole thing upside down and the ball wouldn't fall out. On this model the ball has no locking-in device. I use this with my laptop and have to search for the ball at the bottom of my bag every single time.

2) The lil indent the optical lense is sitting in is a prime place for dust and crap to settle, disrupting the performance. They should cover it up and make it flush with the rest of the interior.

3) I wish the buttons were moved a lil more towards the front. It's the fine for clicking with your thumb... but a lil too far back to click on the otherside with your pinky or ring finger.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: No more RSI with this trackball
Review: I've been using the Kensington Orbit Optical for several months, and find it very comfortable and responsive. Had to clean the inside only once since I bought it. This trackball has right/left symmetry, making it ambidextrous: I can use it with either right or left hand. I switch occasionally, to avoid repetitive stress injury (carpal tunnel syndrome in this case).

If it had a scroll wheel, the Orbit Optical would get five stars.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: No more RSI with this trackball
Review: I've been using the Kensington Orbit Optical for several months, and find it very comfortable and responsive. Had to clean the inside only once since I bought it. This trackball has right/left symmetry, making it ambidextrous: I can use it with either right or left hand. I switch occasionally, to avoid repetitive stress injury (carpal tunnel syndrome in this case).

If it had a scroll wheel, the Orbit Optical would get five stars.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Dirt problems with the optical sensor design
Review: I've owned a couple of Kensington trackballs, the one with the big white cue-ball. Greatest trackball ever, except for the necessary regular cleanings. Still, I was a big Kensington fan because of this product. Eventually I went optical with a Logitech marble mouse (optical trackball good for lefty/righties) and this has been my primary input for 6+ years, and has been flawless.

I had been waiting for Kensington to come out with something optical and decided to buy their new Orbit optical trackball, the black/silver one, which is also good for lefties(me).

During the first day I noticed the mouse cursor slightly stalling or skipping, and discovered it was due to a strand of fiber lodged in front of the 'diamond-eye'. I quickly blew it clean, no problem. But over the course of the next week this happened again frequently. I have no idea where the lint or fiber comes from, as my desk and hands are usually pretty clean, presumably it's the invisible stuff we all get from touching clothing, towels, etc. but never notice on our hands.

Upon closer inspection I see that the Orbit's Diamond-Eye is recessed in a little hole, rather than just a flat lens found in Logitech's version. Because of this, lint that would normally not be caught in front of the Logitech's eye gets caught in the Kensington's little optical hole. This is a bummer, because I find I have to blow the Kensington optics clean with some frequency.

If Kensington would make a minor modification and cover the hole with a clear plastic lens to keep out the lint, I'm sure this product would be perfect. Otherwise it only gets 3 stars due to the skipping and stalling. It is otherwise an excellent and comfortable trackball, especially for the price.

I was planning to buy their new pricier and larger optical trackball with scroll-ring for my other computer, but now I might not if the diamond-eye is similarly designed.


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