Kensington Orbit Optical Trackball user reviews

Pros Fits my hand well. Loaded perfectly under Win7.

Cons Ball would not roll smoothly consistently; sometimes it would "catch" on a micro imperfection on the ball, and I would have to physically jar it lose. Not durable, the left click key is wearing out in less than 18 months use.

Summary Not bad for the money, but the durability is a problem.

Pros ball rolls smoothly, scroll works good

Cons buttons not long enough for easy thumb access, too hard to reach with index finger and pinky simultaneously.

Summary I've had trackballs almost exclusively since I began computing 20(?) years ago. Started with Microtech. Eventually went with Logitech and now the Kensington.

There is no trackball out there that is perfect. Few are even adequate. The Marble Mouse and the Orbit are both pretty good. A blending of the best features of both would come close to idea.

The Orbit is too wide...I want to control the ball with my two middle finger and left click with my index finger and right click with my pinky. It is difficult and I am always reaching with the index finger. I could probably switch to a left click with the thumb but buttons don't extend to the rear enough to make them easily accessible. fix those issues and add lazer tracking and this trackball would be terrific.

The Marble Mouse has good button positioning but the buttons don't like being activated everywhere. I have worn out two, grey on grey (newer), four button Marble Mice by clicking with my index finger at the extreme forward end of the left button. It's cheap construction--I have an old (white MM) and it is still working great. The lack of a scroll ring--it could be placed under the buttons--it a big drawback.

Have also tried the very expensive LazerTrac. Not my cuppa...very awkward to use.

Bottom line is that the Orbit is the best of the best at this point in time.

Pros Rests your wrist vs. a mouse, easy to clean, optical accuracy

Cons Takes a little getting used to

Summary Doesn't require special drivers, plug and play with Windows 7

Pros Haven't found one pro yet.

Cons A waste of money. Kensington's downloaded software will not work with Windows 7 (Home) although they say it will. It won't load; program keeps stopping half way through the installation. Windows insists on using its software so that half of the features (

Summary I suppose shooting the management of a company which puts garbage like this out to an unsuspecting public it a little extreme. But people with a gun who have robbed a bank for less money than the inoperable trackball cost me have spend a lot of time behind bars. I have nothing worth keeping and nothing worth returning.

If you enjoy wasting your money, by all means buy one of Kensington's tackballs (mine was an orbit with a scroll ring). On the other hand, I suspect there are some good trackball manufacturers out there; Kensington is not however one of them.