manky's Full Review: Microsoft Explorer (D68-00002) Trackball
I admit, I have the worst set up for my home computer's mouse and keyboard area. They are too high, semi-off center, at a really bad angle, etc. After leaving a job that gave me horrid tendonitis, luckily not the Carpal Tunnel some girls got, I had to do something about my home situation as well. Since I spend the good majority of my time in front of this computer set-up, I might as well make it the best I can.
While I can take the keyboard off of the desk and use it on my lap, I can't say the same for my mouse. Even though it was a Logitech ergonomical, with all the bells and whistles a girl could want, my wrist and arm would inevitably ache after a few hours. Off I went into the world of office and tech stores to look into these fab looking trackball things someone invented. Either that, or a cordless mouse/keyboards combo was what I was looking for.
Needless to say, I came home with this new fancy-schmancy Microsoft TrackBall Explorer. Since my mobility problems started out with over use of both my thumb and pinky fingers (think a strange positioning of a ten-key,) I opted for this model (with the trackball on top, movable by the index, middle, or ring fingers) rather than many others (placing the trackball on the side, for movement from the thumb.) Plus, I was too used to double-clicking in one easy stroke with my thumb from my previously luxurious mouse. At first I was somewhat intimidated by all the buttons included on this model (lower-side, scroll wheel/button on the side, upper-side, trackball on top, first top button, and the far [right] top button,) but the software included gave great ideas for what to use each button or wheel for.
Set up:
Once I got home, set up was pretty simple for a computer savvy woman such as myself. It plugs in to either a USB port, or your usual mouse port (with an included adapter.) Software is included as well, yet may not be necessary (depending on how new, or what kind, of a computer you already have at home.) You do want to make sure you choose, know, and maybe play around with, what each button, wheel, etc of the device does. Personally, (going from left to right) my lower-side button is the regular, run of the mill left click button (but it does hold down, [sort of a click-and drag mode] if held for a certain amount of time, easing highlighting and editing features of some programs); my scroll wheel acts as any should, scrolling through text and other web pages, and if you click it you can run the wheel to do the scrolling rather than your thumb over and over again; the upper-side button is my double-click maneuver, in one small click I can open programs; next comes the actual trackball itself, this acts in the reverse manner of a mouse, you move the ball, the device stays immobile; after that you'll find the top-left button that I've deemed as the right-click; and finally the top-right button minimizes for me, instead of having to click on everything, I can click this button until I get to what I want, or even my main desktop!
Maintenance:
Since this isn't moved around at all (except maybe to place on my leg, when doing lots of surfing with out much writing) you don't really need a mousepad. Plus you don't need no be constantly worried about a crumby, or dusty surface that the mouse might be running over (leading you to have to delicately take the mouse apart for cleaning attempts.) Here the ball included is easily removable. You can either turn the device absolutely upside down, causing it to maybe fall out (I say maybe because sometimes it won't exactly fallout on it's own... other times it does and rolls around on the floor.) Other wise you can lift up the device, poke your finger through the hole at the bottom and the ball will easily pop out for you (this is what I'd recommend, hands down!)
With the rub of a clean (not fuzzy) shirt, you can make sure the ball itself is clean (perhaps after sticky fingers, or a trip around your floor.) Looking inside the "bowl" the ball calls home, you'll see three ball-point like detectors and one more small ovally shaped crevice further down. If your trackball has been lazy lately, or some like to call it sticky, your problem may easily be the same as mine: hairs accumulated around these small ball-point detectors (I have cats who believe they have as much right to prance around the computer table as I do!) Simply wipe a clean finger over them, removing the small disc of hair that's wound it's self around them, and you'll feel like the owner of a brand new trackball again as it flies across your screen once again. I've found the simple quick blows (from the mouth) into the bowl do no harm and rid it of any extras as well!
The Low-Down:
While the price may seem a bit lofty for a simple mouse-like device, if you've ever experienced the pain I have with an uncomfortable set-up you may want to give this a second thought. After you get used to it you may never want to go back. However, if you share your computer with many, it should be a joint decision. I've had family members of friends come over to do something, and they're simply baffled and frustrated as to how to get it to do what they want. With a couple days under your wings, you should be flying easy!
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