Microsoft Trackball Explorer

Manufacturer:	Microsoft
List price:	~~$54.95~~
Our price:	that is 100% off!

Microsoft Trackball Explorer

Average rating: Stars

Good, but not great.

I just threw away this trackball after around 3 years of use. More on that later.

Ergonomically, this trackball is not as good as the discontinued Logitech Trackman Marble FX, but what trackball is? The Trackball Explorer places your hand in a more horizontal position than the Logitech's more natural/neutral position.

The buttons are placed somewhat poorly. Any time you have to click both mouse buttons, you have to move your thumb forward into an awkward position, and I often hit the scroll wheel while trying to click on the right or left mouse button. The thumb simply should not be asked to do that much, it's not dexterous enough (and I have a lot of training in piano, my thumb is plenty dexterous).

The fourth and fifth buttons are placed well for your fourth and fifth fingers, and the trackball itself is within easy reach of your index and middle fingers.

I know it sounds like I'm ragging on the design a lot, but that's only because I'm comparing this to my previous trackball, the aforementioned Logitech. Compared to most other trackballs, the Trackball Explorer is quite good.

Like most optical trackballs, you still needed to clean it occasionally for smooth scrolling, but the process is quick and easy.

My biggest gripe with this product is that the left mouse button broke after only 3 years of use, which is why it is currently sitting in my trash and my old Logitech is back on my desktop (I abandoned it strictly for not having a scroll wheel, its only flaw).

The left mouse button is attached to the housing by two long plastic tines. One of the tines broke so that getting a click to register became difficult and any clicking inevitably engaged the scroll wheel (either clicking it or scrolling things up and down). This resulted in all kinds of odd behavior from the trackball until I took it apart and figured out what went wrong.

Of all the modern trackballs that have not been discontinued, are not wireless (what the heck is the point of a wireless trackball?) and has a scroll wheel, this is my favorite, but I'm not sure I want to buy another one since the mouse button broke after only 3 years. I've never had a mouse button break before.

*sigh*

Microsoft Trackball Explorer - Microsoft

After 6 months of use...

I have been using the trackball explorer for about 6 months and I have to admit, it is good. I am an avid gamer, and I was very reluctant to switch to a trackball, but my regular mouse was killing my shoulder so I had to do something. After buying the new mouse I got used to the whole trackball thing in only a few days, and after a few weeks I was good enough to even play some first person shooters. (Btw, by now I can play any game just fine with this mouse. In fact, I recently beat Delta Force Black Hawk Down using this mouse, and I can hold my own in multiplayer.) Also my sholder stopped hurting. Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of this mouse as I see them:

Pros:
1 Ergonomic (ie. will help with a RSI and/or similar)
2 Very smooth movement, once it breaks in.
3 Good buttons
4 Scroll wheel
5 Good software, easy to use and lets you do a lot of stuff (like re-assigning the buttons, or changing the speed...)
6 Accuracy. If you slow down the movement, this mouse can be ridiculously accurate. When I first bought the mouse I couldn't believe it!
7 The ball. It is very tough; I've used the mouse for 6 months and there isn't even a single scratch on the ball. Also, its pretty big, but not too heavy.

Cons:
1 Sweaty. Maybe I just have weird hands, but the long plastic part were you rest your palm makes my hand sweaty and uncomfortable.
2 You have to clean it. When I bought it, they made it sound like you literally never have to clean it at all because its opticle. Not true. I have to clean it like once day to keep the motion smooth. (But I must admit, it only takes like 10 second. all I do is pop the ball out and use my finger to wipe the dust off the 3 metal contacts.)
3 Hard to hold down both the left and right mouse buttons at once. (but it is do-able, you just have to scoot your hand forward about 1 inch.)
4 Not ambidextrous. I like to switch hands every once in a while and this mouse is pretty annoying to use left handed.

Finally, this mouse looks cool.

Microsoft - Microsoft Trackball Explorer

Another glowing review with a recommendation on software

I agree with the positive reviews above--this is THE BEST trackball I've ever used.

A "heads up" to users--find and use Microsoft's Intellipoint 4 software instead of the newer v5 as the v4 allows programming the buttons for Forward and Back movements when used with a browser--a WONDERFUL feature.

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