Orbit Wireless Trackball Mouse with Touch Scroll Ring (K72352US),Black

Update, 3/28/2014: Nothing major in the review below has changed -- still really love this trackball. But I have noticed that my comment about my "grip" on it is no longer correct. I use exactly the same grip as I did on my Logitech Mouseball. It just took a little usage time to get the feel of the different shape. So -- I suppose you could say it took me several weeks to fully adjust. But I never really noticed it. In the end, you can bump my review to the even "better" side a bit. Updated, 3/12/2014: I'm updating earlier than expected because this trackball is better than I had anticipated. Consider my rating a 5+. I agree with the advise to download the custom software -- it could fix any concerns you have. What I found shortly after my original post was that at times the cursor would unexpectedly jump several lines shifting my point of view in the document. Irritating but not severe. But I eliminated that behavior by customizing. Specifically, I attempted to cancel any action from the right-side scroll pad. Since that, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM AT ALL with the cursor jumping or the file changing perspective. I left the left scroll pad active, but I never really use it. (But it does work.) The other custom fix eliminated my only other "nuisance" issue. I slightly reduced the speed of the ball tracking to the cursor. This makes it almost identical to the Logitech Mouseball action despite the smaller ball. For those who want scrolling, you can set the software to adjust the speed across a wide range from Slow (default) to Fast. There is also an option call Inertial Scroll which I don't even know what it is. BTW, it IS possible to set a "chord" action using the software. Chording is pressing both buttons at the same time. There are 14 different options (example: invoke your browser) plus the default "disable" or "no action". Also, I use the power slider on the bottom to turn the trackball off overnight to extend battery life (and because I sometimes just use my tablet for days instead of the laptop). Other than this, because I have no wire to interfere with my movement, I constantly find myself in a small celebration mode. Just pick the trackball up and get started or quit whichever is right (and think about how great this trackball is). Original post follows: Dimensions: 4 3/8" long, 3 1/2" widest part, 1 1/2" high Ok, I have to admit that I've only had this mouse installed for about 5 minutes, but the only way you'll get it away from me now is to pry it from my cold, dead fingers. I just don't get any of the negative reviews. I'll come back with an update after I've been using it for a few weeks, but here's why I like it so much so quickly. First of all, the toughest thing about starting to use it was getting it unpacked. Not that it was so bad (although the batteries were REALLY held strongly in place). The packaging is great and quite protective. But none of that sealed plastic pack that takes a knife and physically dangerous slicing to get open. All it takes is to break the seals (yes, two), open the top, remove the plastic underlid to free the base, remove the tape and padding, take out the thumbnail transmitter, fight a little with the batteries, insert them, plug in the usb thumb, turn the trackball switch on and you're up and running. (Oh, yeah -- be sure your computer is on.) No, I haven't downloaded the driver -- not sure I know why I want to. But I'll get around to trying it and add that report to my later update. Meantime, I'm functioning BETTER than normal and EXTREMELY happy with this trackball. My configuration is a new (about three weeks old) Lenovo Flex laptop with Win 8.1 configured to my liking (minimal -- mostly just installed my software). For many years (since they came out) I've been using a wired Logitech Mouseball which I think is the best computer trackball made. (I own and have tried the Logitech wireless Mouseball but, while ok, it just doesn't fit me properly and I don't consider that "extra" unit to be "wireless". (I gave one of these things away. Now they are rather scarce and selling for a couple hundred. Go figure!) When I started the Kensington Orbit Wireless Trackball, it took me about 10 seconds to figure it out and adapt. I have NONE of the complaints of others about not having a place to rest my palm or wrist or any need to "clench" the buttons or incorrectly sliding onto the touch scroll pads. (In fact, without the downloaded driver, the scroll pads don't appear to be active.) In other words, as is, out of the box, without the custom driver, this is a basic, precisely functioning trackball. Now the differences -- understand that I'm right-handed. It IS a different shape and slightly shorter than the Logitech Mouseball. Consequently, while my palm rests on the body of the Kensington (K) similarly to the Logitech (L), the base of my hand rests sort of behind it and, frankly, stabilizes it. I have a medium sized hand, so small or large hands may rest differently. With my palm in that position, the tips of my index and middle fingers control the K trackball in exactly the same way as they did the L. The biggest adjustment for me (at least 5 of the 10 seconds) was that the smaller ball makes the cursor track more quickly. But there is no problem with control (and I'm 66 and not as coordinated as I used to be). The second major adjustment (the other 5 seconds) has to do with my grip on the K vs the L. On the L, I used basically a 4 finger grip -- thumb on the left button and 4th (or ring) on the right button. On the K, it is probably going to be more of a 5 finger, with the index and middle still controlling the ball with the ring just "there" and my little finger on the right mouse button. That's working well for me. (This is what changed per the 3/28 update -- same grip.) Mostly the way I operated on the L was to have my palm on the base and my index/middle on the ball and bring the button fingers into play as needed -- a very loose grip around the mouseball. That is exactly how I operate with the K. Ok, I just went to several other applications to see if the scroll pads would operate differently -- they did. Or rather, I figured out how they are supposed to work. (So I guess this means it takes longer than 10 seconds to adjust to the K.) When I read the complaints about the scroll pads doing strange things, I got the impression that they were left/right scroll controls. <shrug> But no, each does the same thing -- scroll the screen or window up and down (get it -- "scrolling"). It doesn't matter which pad you use (right or left) they both cause scrolling up and down. Now how anyone can say that they accidently keep scrolling off into some unknown area of their doc, I have yet to discover. But, hey, maybe it's just me again. I find that the scroll pads are a tad stiff to invoke the scrolling. Something you would want in order to avoid scrolling off into limbo "accidentally". (Now if you were gripping with a tight "clench", maybe something else would happen, but I've never used a trackball that way and don't think I'll start now. Or maybe if you press your fingers all over the base including the scroll pads, you could move or scroll inadvertently. I still don't see how I could "accidentally" touch the scroll pads while rolling the trackball with my index/middle fingers. I control the ball on the top maybe inch of surface maximum -- not the sides of it.) One of the apps I require a trackball for (other than just vastly preferring it to a mouse) is Sketchup -- the former Google now Trimble product for cad/cam-like function. That was one of the apps I used to check out the Kensington. Also, MS Word and a very complex set of spreadsheets in Excel. No problems -- love this trackball. It also does not interfere with the standard touchscreen capabilities of Win8. Not sure what else I can add right now. I am wireless with an excellent trackball. I can use it on the arm of my chair, on a desktop, on my lap and even on the wrist rest of my laptop with no problems. And that d--- cord doesn't get in my way or cause me to pull the trackball off when I forget it. :<)

Perfect replacement! Works great!!!

ADDED: After some time with this product, I like it a lot. I got used to the button placement fairly readily. The scroll wheel is awful, but other than that, I'm very pleased to have been able to replace my wired trackball with a wireless one. Basic Info/Setup: * I'm using this with a Macbook Pro, running OSX 10.7 (Lion.) * I use a Magic Trackpad at my desktop for most of my primary work. * I'm a longtime trackball user (never use a conventional mouse.) * Still need a trackball because some work - specifically mapping with Google maps - is very unfriendly to the Apple trackpad (zooming, clicking, none work the way I'd expect.) * I won't be using the device portably. * I've been using the cheap - and extremely reliable - Logitech Trackman marble. * I'm left-handed, so I need an "agnostic" trackball. * I've owned this new Kensington device for a couple of days. My impressions my change, and I'll update if they do. I was really excited to see this product, since my desk is cluttered with wires, and I've been trying to do something about that. I'd like it if the device were Bluetooth, so it didn't require a dongle, but that's a bit trivial. The size of the dongle is a double-edged sword. I like how tiny it is (it literally extends just a quarter inch from your USB port) but I'd be afraid of losing it if I were traveling. The product's name, Wireless Orbit Mouse, is somewhat telling. Many trackball users describe such products as "upside-down mice," and this is really the case here. While most trackballs are much bigger - the ball on my Logitech is about thirty percent larger in diameter, and the standard, massive Kensington trackballs are even larger, this one is comparatively small. That has so far made the device less precise, but I think I can get used to that. The whole device is closer to standard mouse size and shape - about twenty percent bigger, I'd guess. I suppose the smallishness of the product is related to its positioning as a portable product (or maybe Kensington didn't want to compete with its larger trackballs.) Same deal for the seemingly-oddly placed buttons, which sit on the sides of the unit, perpendicular to the desktop. Standard trackballs place their buttons much closer to the ball on the device's top face. I expect to become accustomed to this, but the hand position is rather odd: you grip the Wireless Orbit in a claw-like way, rather than resting your palm at the base and using just your fingers on tradition trackballs. You're enlisting more of your hand with this product, and that may not be good. The ball has a scroll wheel. At standard settings, it is pretty jerky. I haven't messed with it, because the Apple Trackpad so excels at scrolling that I don't need it. (The pad sits directly to the left of my keyboard; the Kensington sits to the left of that.) Though you don't need the Kensington software if you're just using standard button functions, I highly recommend using it, since that allows you further customization of the ball's tracking speed, as well as the button configuration. Here's a bug, at least in the Mac version of the Trackballworks software, which installs as a system preference and requires a restart. If you've got your standard mouse preferences set as left-handers normally do - with the "Primary Mouse Button" set to left, then that overrides the trackball settings. In the Trackball works prefs panel, if you've got the regular mouse button assigned to primary right, making the traditional right click button the left button - which is the way lefties generally want it - the Trackball Works inverts things: assigning the primary trackpad button to the right doesn't work; the secondary mouse button remains on the right, the opposite of what you've set in the mouse preferences. So, you need to go back to mouse preferences and assign the primary button to the left (backwards for lefties.) This makes the Trackball work lefty-style - right button primary, left button secondary. A pain. (Step-by-Step) 1) Assign standard mouse prefs to primary left. 2) Trackball Works automatically assigned primary to right. 3) You can then assign Trackball Works for secondary (listed as "right click") left. This is easy to work around - but if you've got a traditional mouse, too, you won't be pleased, since that mouse will now be reversed to traditional right-hand style. I don't use a traditional mouse, and the settings snafu doesn't seem to affect the Apple trackpads. The good news is that if you can get used to this stuff, the product works. It is a decent trackball, smooth-scrolling, and it functions the way a trackball should. I'd slow the pointer acceleration a bit. To address one of the other criticisms here, I don't find the product too light; it stays in place on my desk when I use it. Maybe that's a function of different desk surfaces. Will I get used to it? I'm guessing that I will; back in the day, I had no problem with my old tiny-trackball equipped Powerbook. But a week or so will see, and I'll report back. PROS: * A good trackball. * Small size might be nice for some. * Seems to have OK build quality. * Scrolling is smooth. CONS (many of which users may become accustomed to.) * Buttons on side. * Weird interaction with Mac mouse system prefs. * Cuts wire clutter. * Ball is smaller than many trackball users are familiar with; smaller ball equals different acceleration characteristics. Adjustments may help. * You have to remember to switch the device off, or you'll eat up batteries. As far as I can tell, there's no indication of a sleep mode. BOTTOM LINE: If you want to try a wireless trackball, go ahead, especially since Amazon has such generous return policies.

This wireless trackball mouse works very well. Glad I bought it

リピートです。 この機種からBluetooth対応と２．４㎓の両方で接続できるようになりました。 海外や出張には欠かせないトラックボールです。 良いものはいつまでたっても良いです。

Exactly as advertised.

Kensington makes a good trackball. This isn't Kensington's top notch product so I had some reservations about buying it. I read some bad things about the touch scroll wheel but decided to buy one anyways. My first trackball was the thumb-centric Logitech M570 and I've been using it long enough that I wanted to try out a traditional style trackball. Having used the M570, I can safely say that the Orbit Mobile is a great product. The configuration software is essential; you probably won't be satisfied with its default performance. Personally, I like to crank up sensitivity. Once all the tweaking was done (really, a couple minutes of fine-tuning) I was happy with the feel of the trackball. It feels smooth. The touch scroll wheel works flawlessly for me whether I'm scrolling a page or making short movements. I might even like it more than a standard mouse scroll wheel but it's a bit early to say. It has the essentials: on/off switch, easily removable trackball, and receiver holder in the battery compartment. The mouse itself doesn't have a premium feel but it doesn't necessarily feel cheap either (by comparison the M570 feels like a cheap plastic shell with a ball on it). As far as my gripes go . . . The surface is a dust magnet. Straight out of the package it has a lot of micro-scratches all over the surface. It leaves the mouse with a cheap aesthetic up close but these imperfections aren't noticeable at arms-length. There are two buttons opposing each other on either side of the mouse that function as left and right click. I find it a little awkward to click them because you are using your thumb and ring finger. It might just take some getting used to. That's all I have to say. I'm surprised this product isn't mentioned more often. It is a solid trackball for those just starting out with trackballs or looking for something small. In my opinion, trackballs are much better than traditional computer mice. They feel much more precise and don't require any wrist movement. After using one for a while, you won't go back. --- Update [2018/06/17]: After using this trackball for a year I decided to go back to the M570. The Orbit really is a great trackball but it has its flaws. The touch sensitive pads are easy to touch accidentally. The ball is not as accurate as the M570. It's close, but not quite there for precision work. The built-in software helps remedy this by hotkeying an accurate movement mode (usually to the ALT button). The M570 doesn't need this. It is accurate enough on its own with its slightly larger ball. But the main reason that I decided to switch back was the over-reliance on the index finger for movements. Using the ball and the touch pads are most comfortable with the index finger. When you factor in heavy typing as well this can result in strain over time.

This is the usual Kensington good quality, and hope it will last a long time. It has a slightly smaller ball than my other track ball, but as this was the travel with it is the perfect size and the scrolling function is great. Supplier was good all arrived well packaged and on time.