Are you a mouse killer too?
Written: Oct 20 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great for a basketball player and concert pianist
Cons: Physical specifications and design are seriously flawed
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| krashlite2's Full Review: Microsoft Intelli Explorer (B75-00001) Mouse |
Hello my name is Joe and I'm a mouse killer. During the past seven years, I've owned two different computers and about ten different regular mousing devices. Why am I a mouse killer? Honestly I don't know. Maybe it is that I press down on them too hard or perhaps I jerk them around too much or overuse it (I am online 15 hours a week after all). Regardless of cause however, the fact remains that it breaks within a six months to a year of use and I finally got tired of it. Three weeks ago, I had a revelation and thought to myself, why am I buying a mouse for $10 that is junk when I could go out there and get myself a trackball, pay extra but own the same mouse for life or at least for a while? So, I actually did it.
I purchased the Microsoft Intellimouse Trackball because the cover looked good and well, regardless of its stock price fluctuations these days, it IS Microsoft after all. My out of pocket expense was $50. However, unfortunately that was not my only expense. I can assure you that the heartbreak its caused me since has left me longing for the days when I could murder mousing devices at will and simply go out the next day and buy another.
My first disappointment was its size. I haven't measured the size of Bill Gate's hands yet (I don't think I want to either) but my hands are about average and yet I cannot comfortably hold the mouse securely and move it around. I'm curious as to why they designed it as big as they did. Is it because only those users whose hands were too big to use a mouse would use a trackball? That's not a good marketing plan certainly in my opinion.
Next, the trackball itself (which sits where a right handed person's index finger should lie) is too large and bulky to use in comfort. This may sound like a lame excuse (pun intended) but if I'm paying triple price for a mouse, I don't need to develop my Abductor pollicis brevis and Flexor pollicis brevis muscles simply to be able to use a mouse.
Third, the presence of the click buttons are located on the left side of the mouse. In other words, you have to click with your thumb. If you are interested in "right-clicking", that button is immediately above the "left clicker" so it takes quite a while of getting used to. In fact, after three weeks of continuous use, I still haven't gotten used to it. Thus, I've suffered the indignity of right-clicking when I should be left-clicking on numerous occasions.
Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, does Microsoft design different trackballs for us "second-class citizens" who are left handed users? Please feel free to leave a comment and enlighten me if that is the case. Luckily for me, I'm ambidextrous but if I was completely left handed, left and right clicking with the trackball using my pinky finger would be an impossibility unless I was an expert concert pianist. I can imagine using the trackball being difficult too.
Any positives you might ask? Well, for the sake of bias, if you are a right handed individual with large hands and well developed thenar muscles of the hand and fingers, I highly recommend the trackball. Regardless of the problems with the physical symmetry of the device, I've had no problems with functionality. The Microsoft Intellimouse Trackball is accurate to the touch and is also very sensitive and in my three weeks of use does not appear prone to breakage like conventional mousing devices. The scrolling device is the only item that saves this device from receiving the dreaded "one-star" in my books. It is conveniently located right next to the tracking ball unlike conventional mousing devices and can be easily operated with your middle finger.
So, are there any alternatives out there for those of us willing to try out a trackball but aren't interested in developing new muscles to use them? Well, I like the look and the feel of the Kensington Orbit USB Trackball ($30). Its bi-symmetrical look that is non-discriminatory towards both left and right handed users is a big plus, and it also seems smaller than my Microsoft Intellimouse Trackball. I will definitely be taking advantage of my 30-day money back guarantee to get my hands on the Kensington Trackball.
Until then, happy surfing and remember that high price+microsoft does not a good product make.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
krashlite2
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Location: Tampa, FL
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 64 members
About Me:
Opinions are best served when put into actual practice.
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