[massey]

what are people's thoughts on this expensive trackball...I'm in the market for a good trackball and am considering this one....any opinions reviews etc. been looking for a photo of the part that connects to the usb port, just wondering how big it is.....

[Bwa]

Originally posted by massey:
<STRONG>what are people's thoughts on this expensive trackball...I'm in the market for a good trackball and am considering this one....any opinions reviews etc. been looking for a photo of the part that connects to the usb port, just wondering how big it is.....</STRONG>

I don't understand the point of a wireless trackball, myself...

But I have had a Kensington ADB 4 button trackball for 4 years now. I bought it originally because excessive mousing for over a decade day in and day out was starting to kill my shoulder very badly. After about six months of using the trackball my shoulder pain had disappeared and is still gone, despite using mice on several other computers for as many hours per day as I use the trackball.

I believe the newer models such as this one do have a scrollwheel which is a nice plus over the older model that I have. I don't regret my purchase of the older model.

Hope that helps.

[Mr. Blur]

I have the "wired" version - Kensington Turbo Mouse Pro and I love it...it's super comfortable to use (took only a day or two to adjust to it...) and Kensignton's software and support is excellent.

As mentioned above, I don't really see the need for wireless trackball - why spend money on batteries? doesn't everyone use their mouse/trackball sitting at the computer anyway? Unless you keep your CPU a large distance from where you sit, I'd save the money and get the wired version.

[chris v]

Originally posted by Mr. Blur:
<STRONG>I have the "wired" version - Kensington Turbo Mouse Pro and I love it...it's super comfortable to use (took only a day or two to adjust to it...) and Kensignton's software and support is excellent.

As mentioned above, I don't really see the need for wireless trackball - why spend money on batteries? doesn't everyone use their mouse/trackball sitting at the computer anyway? Unless you keep your CPU a large distance from where you sit, I'd save the money and get the wired version.</STRONG>

Blur--
coupla questions- How does yr. trackball work under OS X? (if it does at all) Also, do you know if the wireless model has a USB input on the back for a regular mouse? I share my tower at work with my staff artist, who refuses to even try a trackball, but I prefer them. On my old Power Center 150, I had a trackball with a mouse plugged into it, so we could both happily use the machine without plugging/unplugging all the time. Maybe that's moot, though, as I've got spare USB ports on my adapter. Just curious, and I'm thinking about ordering one.

What's battery life like on the wireless? Do they take double a's?

1 reason for wireless-- left-handed and right-handed people sharing the same machine.

CV

[Mr. Blur]

Originally posted by chris v:
<STRONG>

Blur--
coupla questions- How does yr. trackball work under OS X? (if it does at all) Also, do you know if the wireless model has a USB input on the back for a regular mouse? I share my tower at work with my staff artist, who refuses to even try a trackball, but I prefer them. On my old Power Center 150, I had a trackball with a mouse plugged into it, so we could both happily use the machine without plugging/unplugging all the time. Maybe that's moot, though, as I've got spare USB ports on my adapter. Just curious, and I'm thinking about ordering one.

What's battery life like on the wireless? Do they take double a's?

1 reason for wireless-- left-handed and right-handed people sharing the same machine.

CV</STRONG>

1 - Yes, Kensington's software does work under X (although not all of the functions of the 9.x software are available yet, like application sets). But for the main stuff, acceleration, button programming etc it works just great.

2 - There is no extra usb port on my wired model so I would assume there isn't on the wireless either.

3 - I am not sure about the battery life....I've heard that on the Logitech mice it's about 3 months.

4 - I suppose, yes. Swapping for left/right hands is a good case for wireless....but the apple pro kybd has a usb port on both sides so that might negate the need somewhat.

[chris v]

Originally posted by Mr. Blur:
<STRONG>

1 - Yes, Kensington's software does work under X (although not all of the functions of the 9.x software are available yet, like application sets). But for the main stuff, acceleration, button programming etc it works just great.

2 - There is no extra usb port on my wired model so I would assume there isn't on the wireless either.

3 - I am not sure about the battery life....I've heard that on the Logitech mice it's about 3 months.

4 - I suppose, yes. Swapping for left/right hands is a good case for wireless....but the apple pro kybd has a usb port on both sides so that might negate the need somewhat.</STRONG>

I'm thinking in order to be unobtrusive when sharing a machine with someone who preffers a mouse, then the wireless would be the way to go. You could leave the mouse plugged in, and just set the trackball aside when you were surrendering the machine. 3 months battery life doesn't seem too bad. Really kind of negligible cost-wise.

Thanks,

CV