I am a degenerate lover of gadgets but that loyalty extends only until I find something that I like better. Why stick with something when something else that comes along which is better?


I used to laugh at an ad for Pan Am a number of years ago that bragged that they were the first airline to cross the Atlantic. Who cares who was first, I thought, tell me who does it best NOW! That’s the way I feel about all these gadgets that came along as offshoots of the PC.


I’ve become a convert to optical eye mice with the advent of the Microsoft IntelliMouse and later the better and much less expensive Logitech Wheel Mouse.


I’d never used a trackball mouse other than briefly and frankly, didn’t like them. But them Microsoft came out with the TrackBall Optical mouse and this was enough to get me to test my loyalty to “traditional” but “ball-less” optical mice. One thing I was curious about is why there was a need for an optical eye sensor on a trackball mouse to begin with.


In the typical mouse with a mouse ball it would tend to skip and clog after awhile, necessitating frequent cleaning. The ball would rotate up inside the body of the mouse and bring lint, dust and dirt along with it. The optical eye mice eliminated this problem but the trackball mice never had this problem as it was stationary while the ball was on top, easily accessible to your thumb. Not totally, in all honesty, as there is still dirt which can get inside but when it does it doesn't have the same negative impact on useage.


Well, the other reason for the optical eye sensor to more precisely track your movements. In this case, the MS TrackBall Optical tracks the ball movement 2,000 times a second to give extremely precise control of the cursor. Thus, devices with optical eyes feel more naturally like an extension of your hand. Mice with mouse balls can have slight but noticeable delays – and the placement of the cursor is not always as precise.


I never liked trackballs as they didn’t feel as natural as physically moving the mouse around instead of just rotating the trackball on the stationary base. But this was my first chance to try one with an optical eye.


The first thing I didn’t like was the way it fit in my hand. I think that Microsoft needs to spend more time on the ergonomics of their mice. The less expensive Logitech line of mice feels much more comfortable. I’m sure that Microsoft would beg to disagree as they brag about the natural feel of this.


The question I needed to answer was whether I could overcome my distaste for stationary mice. Very simply……no. By the end of my first week with this my thumb ached …….sort of like a carpal tunnel or ligament strain kind of ache. Either you like these or you don’t I guess.


I won’t condemn this because of my personal preference. Just because I prefer mobile mice doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with this. It just didn’t do enough for me to turn me into a convert.


The MS TrackBall Optical comes with the necessary software to program the buttons to allow you to control the button functions to suit your particular needs.


One thing I don’t like is the ease with which the buttons depress. I inadvertently clicked the buttons numerous times. They are simply too sensitive. I have the same issue with my MS IntelliMouse Explorer. The degree of sensitivity on the Logitech line of mice make more sense to me as it eliminates accidental clicks.


If you are a dedicated trackball user you may like this – but I don’t think that the addition of the optical eye sensor is enough reason for you to rush out and buy this if you are happy with what you’re currently using.










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