Microsoft Trackball Optical Mouse Offers More Than Meets The Eye
The Microsoft Trackball Optical Mouse has been ergonomically designed with an arch shape to support your hand comfortably and naturally, be it a large or small hand. The natural balance of your hand while the mouse is in use creates much less stress on not only your whole hand, but your arm all the way up to your shoulders. This reduction of stress translates to a reduction in fatigue and more workable hours.
Because this mouse is optical, there are no rollers or gears to get dirty. It is responsive, the IntelliEye optical sensor scans 1,500 times per second, giving you precision with a minimum of movement. The movements across your screen will be smooth and fluid, not jumpy or jittery as in the old style mouse. You can move backwards and forwards in your internet browser without movement, just the click of a button on your mouse.
If you would rather the two buttons have other functions (such as cutting and pasting) you can reassign them to those tasks, in fact, with IntelliPoint software that is included with the mouse, you can reassign any function you wish, including the main function. You have five buttons and the trackball available for assigning; this mouse is capable of being totally optimized to your particular needs and conditions.
What about left handers?
I have used this trackball for many years now I wish I had got a dozen of them when I got it as I now have more computers I use I have to take the one I got with everywhere I go I would not ever use a mouse again & I cant find another trackball to match it
i totally agree with you Gary, there isn’t a trackball on the market to match this. I personally have a small army of them but got very peeved when i tried to replace one and found MS stopped making them.
i have nor found a better functioning trackball anywhere. Un fortunately I will have to revert to a wireless mouse since one of my MS trackballs quit and they have chosen to discontinue a winner.
It’s sad that MS would discontinue making this trackball since it is the best I have used … had mine for about ten years and the left click is failing now. I just looked online to see if I could replace it with another and people are selling used ones for about $150.00 and new ones go for about $500.00!! That’s just too ridiculous, especially since I paid $70.00 for mine back in the day, if I had known I would have bought 2 ….
To Microsoft: can you please bring this model back. the design is perfect for many of us users and if you use the same materials they can last up to ten years.
I live in New Zealand and we have a local Trade site here called Trade Me. I’m very very glad I stored a search for the Optical a few years ago, as I have been able to purchase three second hand ones over that time and stash them.
I did it back then because I was so hooked on them and second hand was obviously cheaper than new, not at all because I didn’t think you could still get them. I’ve had two I’d bought new for a good 7 or 8 years. One was the primary and got thrashed. The outside right button totally died 18 months ago, so it was replaced as a main unit and relegated to the laptop. Now the main left button is finally giving up after a year of coaxing back to life.
So when I went looking today to see if I could actually source a brand new one wow was I surprised to find not only no you can’t, but will you look at what people want for them world wide second hand – yikes!
The only upside seems to be that there is a thriving service industry for them and they seem to know the workings inside and out. So I suggest if yours is dead or dying it may well be able to be fully resurrected back into life. Seems I may be doing just that. Also seems that even a dead shell is going to be worth some quite serious money to someone just for parts – so bear that in mind too.
Lord knows its probably the most resilient hardware I’ve ever bought as well as being the best. And that’s perhaps what killed it – the niche market and the fact they just made them too damn well lol.
I’m 40 and I still have 4 serviceable mice. I reckon if I’m careful I can make 70 before I have to give this model up – and trust me I will be grasping the final dying buttons in my frail old shrivelled hand before I finally say the word goodbye