optical mice

Had I read nicho1as's review and taken it seriously, I could have saved myself a trip back to Fry's returns line.
I am using the 'old' Kensington expert mouse (i.e. Kensington's classic opto-mechnical, four-button trackball, that is built like a tank) for over 6 years, the non-optical tracking system gets annoying once in a while when is starts losing tracking, and needs some cleaning to get back to working order. After also using traditional optical mouse and learning to appreciate it's merits over old ball mouse I though the optical trackball would be a real improvement over the opto-mechanical trackball circa 1997... - BIG mistake!

It could be, in theory, sure - but Kensignton have tried to save few bucks on their manufacturing costs, and, it's really easy to tell. Gone are the massive, smooth, steel bearings, instead you'll find cheap red miniature plastic balls that support the "diamond eye" trackball. The result is an unpleasant movement feel, perhaps folks using trackball for the first time aren't aware of it, but the older version trackball clearly had a superior feel, and higher quality plastics as well.

I can easily say that this optical trackball, taken out of the box, feels about the same as the mechanical trackball when it gets dirty after months of use, and the old trackball is not such a pain to clean.

Returning it was as easy decision - I did not even have to connect it to the PC to make the decision. I guess I will be using the mechanical trackball for another six years unless Kensington decide to design a professional quality optical trackball before.

I own the original Kensington Expert Mouse (2-button), the TurboMouse wireless (with the internet quick launch buttons), and now the Expert Mouse 7.0.

I have to say.. the original was VERY good. The wireless Turbo was a dud given that the scroller was unusable. This one takes an ingenious design of putting the scroller in a VERY usable place. It really perfects the design. 4-buttons are nice since they are programmable, but the scroller is the key to it all. I can't imagine using a trackball without now (and honestly I had wondered if it was possible to have a scroller given a trackball design.. but Kensington has done it!).

I will admit however, that my original 2-button ExpertMouse is somewhat superior in terms of total control and feel of the ball. I had actually replaced my ball with a billiards 9-ball which adsd more weight, and an even better feeling of control. The newer Expert 7.0 is optical and thus probably better for anti-skipping, but is a bit light in feel. However the scroller makes it worth it.

Overall I have to say this is the ultimate trackball. I also own a Kensington TurboBall and I have to tell you that trackball downright stinks.

The Expert is expensive but definitely worth it. My original Expert has lasted me some 8 years now without a hitch. They are built to last.

Now I just wish I could afford to have 4 of them, for my laptop, desktop, and other work PC.

Nobody makes a better trackball than Kensington -- absolutely no one! It took them a while to get on the optical bandwagon so I had to get by with Microsoft & Logitech products until the wired optical trackball came out. The wired version is perfect except that I keep running out of cord or I'm always tipping something over. The wireless model goes through batteries every couple of days and it's response time is slower and jerkier than the wired one. Hopefully, with time they'll make a wireless one that responds like a Microsoft or Logitech while keeping that sweet Kensington "feel". When that happens I'll be the first in line to purchase one