Rating: 
Summary: good technology from microsoft
Review: In general, this is a decent Mouse from Microsoft. I bought this one because I got really sick and tired of moving the mouse on the pad all the time. The software that come with the mouse is excleelnt with lot of features. I think you need at least one week to get use to the mouse. At the beginning, you will problably find it difficult to aim the pointer in the correct position. I had this mouse for three weeks now and I have no difficulty at all using it (The first week was difficult to use it). The mosue itself is big but comfort to your hand. I think microsoft needs to relocate the two side bottoms somewhere else but you will get use to it. The trackball runs more smooth after you take it out and put it again. After use it for a while, the ball gets more stiff. With the price you pay for this mouse, you are getting an excellent deal from Microsoft
Rating: 
Summary: Extremely difficult to aim the pointer accuaretly.
Review: I'm taking this back pronto, because it fails miserably in its first task, making it easy to get the pointer on whatever it is you're trying to target. While the whole unit fits comfortably in the hand, matching curvature well, the task of rolling the ball is left to the thumb, which is not the easiest digit to move around. (Think about it, if you play a music instrument. All the real work and ornamentation is usually left to middle fingers and the pinky, and thumbs may only hold an instrument up. There's a REASON why the expression is "all thumbs." Clumsiness is for the thumb.) Consequently, working with this item is a very slow and agonizing process. I find myself just getting the cursor into a field, and then clicking using the keyboard to right position. I enjoyed my Kensington Expert Mouse, and standard mice, far more than this. This is pure work.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Mouse
Review: If you have developed any wrist or forearm pain and/or soreness from using a regular mouse over time, this trackball will be a godsend for you. Once you get used to it, the trackball is even easier to control than a regular mouse. With both a ps/2 adaptor and usb connector, installation is easy. This mouse fits easily and comfortably and now that I've discovered this trackball mouse, I won't ever go back to a conventional mouse. I have 2 computers and this trackball on both. Get this trackball, it will save your wrist!
Rating:
Summary: Best trackball I've owned
Review: MS has produced a strong trackball superior to many others I have tried. The ergo's are great and your hand relaxes naturally around the design. In fact others in my office have used it with nothing but positive feedback. The 4 button design and wheel fit my hand perfectly. I do have a medium size hand but others with larger fingers haven't had a problem. I have noticed in the 5 months of daily use that the ball does on rare ocassion tend to stick moving vertically. Maybe twice for 30 seconds in a 5 day workweek. I just move the mouse horizontally to loosen it a little and continue to work. The source of the problem is always gunk attached to the 3 metal numbs on the inside of the depression. A quick cleaning by my finger instantly corrects the situation. I clean perhaps once a month at most. The plastic post inside is not the problem. This trackball is packed with features. They really increase the value of the product and produce less handstrain. The ClickLock feature is the best followed by the Autowheel. I recommend this trackball to everyone, but think it is especially necessary for those of you who spend a great deal of time using a mouse/trackball. Your hand will just feel better and the end of the day.
Rating:
Summary: This product fails to impress
Review: I bought the Optical trackball on the assumption that since it was a Microsoft product, then it would work well. I was wrong. I cannot understand how a company such as Microsoft can fail to properly conduct quality testing on a product intended for general use. The problem with this trackball is the ball. It stops and stutters which tranlates to very imprecise cursor movement. There needed to be a reason, so I removed the ball from the socket and inspected the inside. I found that the source of this stop and start movement was a tiny plastic bump which evidently was designed to hold the ball in place. However, it also prevents the ball from rolling smoothly which is the reason behind the stop and start affair. This design flaw is inexcusable on Microsoft's part. This is one of the worst examples of an inadequately tested product being released I have encountered. Shame on you Microsoft.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Tool for Those Seeking a Trackball
Review: Reviewing input devices is about as subjective and hit or miss as the school of ergonomics and design itself. What's good for me may be poor for you. That said, Microsoft's Trackball Optical is a solid performer both operationally and in it's feature set. Supporting both USB and PS/2, Trackball Optical is a complete package for those seeking an alternative to traditional mice. I've had no problems with the unit and installation of both the Trackball Optical and it's accompanying Intellipoint software was both simple and straight forward on my system running an Intel processor with Windows ME. The area with the most controversy is no doubt the trackball placement at the user's thumb. I found it fairly intuitive, but some may find it cumbersome or obtrusive. The two smaller clicking buttons on either side of the Trackball Optical are also somewhat tricky to access, and will probably not find a use for some users as a result. The scroll wheel is a nice inclusion and it's clicky feedback and spinning mechanism have the right feeling for me. The footprint of the unit is rather large, which may be a disadvantage for some, but the cord is fairly long which is helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Don't buy it
Review: I have two,this one and Logitech "Trackman Marbel Wheel".I would rate this one with 5 stars
Rating:
Summary: An amateurs opinion
Review: I don't know much about computers, or their accessories. I complained to my son in law that I was tired moving the mouse around. He suggested the track ball. I ordered it, he hooked it up, and I haven't let him near it since. I'm like an amatuer with a pros equipment. I've been so busy using it I havent really found out all its capabilities. As the old saying goes, You rest your hand on it and your thumb does ALL the walking.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Recommend
Review: When our last trackball finally lived up its usefulness, we wanted to replace it with something that wouldn't require so much cleaning, would be accurate, and last awhile. The Trackball Optical by Microsoft was a BAD choice. Although your initial experience will be very nice, you'll soon run into some nasty problems. Namely: A.) The ball will not roll in smaller increments. It "catches", causing the cursor to jerk on the screen, as if the rollers are dirty. This problem gets so bad, that it becomes _Very_ diffacult to even move between icons on a typical Windows toolbar (example: back, forward, stop, refresh, etc. buttons across the top of your web browser). B.) There is nothing holding the ball in. If you look at the picture you'll see that the thumb-ball is on the side. Well, that's it. It's just sitting in there. There are three small plastic.. "bumps" on the inside, that I suppose are supposed to keep it in. However, if you turn the trackball side ways the ball will fall right out. This probably is even worse for an optical trackball, since you're not supposed to look at the light. And I'm not sure what one is supposed to do if the ball cracks. Of course, this makes it very easy to clean the the three metal ball bearingings on the inside. So I know there's nothing preventing the roll of the ball. My best guess is that dirt got _behind_ the ball bearings, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to clean this without taking the trackball completely apart. Talk about your maintanence! The red around the ball is a simple red plastic ring. This is purely for looks and to make the trackball look "cool". When you move the ball, the beam on the inside lights up, causing the red plastic to "glow". Microsoft does a a real good job at making their product _look_ nice, but unfortunately they seemed to been focusing more on the asthetic design more so then making it actually _work_. The trackball hurts our wrist, we never use the smaller buttons for web browser "back" and "forward" command, and I just can _not_ recommend this to anybody who's thinking about getting an optical trackball. Your experience may differ, but if you're trying to decide between optical trackballs, get Logitech's product. My brother bought Logitech's after our problems with Microsoft Optical, and while it's no where as "cool looking" as Microsoft's, it sure works great. Smooth rolling, the ball is secure, and even though the rolling may feel stiff when the ball bearings get really dirty the accuracy doesn't drop and it's pretty simple to take out the ball and clean them off.
Rating:
Summary: Best Trackball ever!!!
Review: I did a lot of research before I decided on this trackball. I checked the Microsoft web site. I checked with CNET. I checked different magazine reviews and I also read every personal review I could find. I liked what was written about this trackball. The other products that I checked out did not meet the standards that I was looking for. I am using Windows ME and found it hard to find any trackballs or mice which state that they work with Windows ME. I finally had to call Microsoft to find out which trackballs and mice work with ME. It took me a few days to get used to turning the ball with my thumb but now I would not want to have to use anything else. I love it. This trackball must be used with your right hand only.
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