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| Expert Mouse - Review by Jonathan Trevisani  An epic battle at the onset of the computer age split the masses early on for PC users. These two camps are passionate and unrelenting in their preference and shun the other side with equal fervor. On one side, there is the typical mouse users; by far the majority and catered to by a multitude of companies and products. The other side consists of the small, but loyal group of trackball users. Kensington has released what they call the "ultimate trackball" in the Expert Mouse. Aside from the confusing title, this trackball includes several features that compare nicely with current generation mice.The Expert Mouse is the epitome of trackball design and brings users up to speed with a bevy of good features. Although it looks like a throwback to the bygone era of joysticks and dials, the trackball excels with accurate scrolling and a new approach to standard mousing. The large trackball in the center gives an added feeling of comfort and quality to the design as your hand can rest on the device and still access all of the options. The ball itself can be taken out of the unit with ease and can be compared to a small billiard ball in regards to its smooth, strong exterior. There is an optical sensor in the unit for enhanced accuracy and provides an ease of movement unmatched by previous trackballs. Slight movements are registered and translate into smooth scrolling across the screen. This also prevents the need to constantly clean the device although since dust and may eventually gather on the trackball itself, the socket should be maintained on a regular basis. Surrounding the trackball socket is the scroll ring. This ring feels natural as clockwise movement scrolls down the page and vice versa. It is a comfortable design as it can be easily accessed while your hand is on the unit. The ring isn't as smooth as it should be since there is some noticeable jump with the scrolling. This doesn't ruin the scrolling operation, but it doesn't seem to fit with the super-smooth movement of the trackball. Beyond the scroll ring are the four programmable buttons for the trackball. These buttons can be set up with the provided software, but have good default settings. The left click is the bottom-left button and is mostly managed by the thumb while the right click is the bottom right button. The top two buttons default as an auto-scroll on the left and a back button for web browsers on the right. This placement became very comfortable as the hand straddles the unit and can access each button with slight finger pushing. The buttons are large and have a crisp click response for ease of use. More buttons would have been welcome for added game support. The Expert Mouse has a USB connection along with a 6 foot cord. It also includes a comfortable wrist rest that can be attached to the unit. The software allows users to access more control options and is easy to use. Users can change sensitivity settings along with button applications in a simple interface. Overall, the design of the Expert Mouse broadcasts an ease of use that is tough to compete with. For standard mouse users, this trackball will probably fall short of replacing the beloved PC component, but it still does well for itself. This model definitely breaks the stigma of trackballs and provides an extra level of customization and comfort for all who use it. Aside from a fairly large base and the stiff scroll ring, users that don't have the desk space or inclination for a standard mouse can look no further. The Expert Mouse is the product of the trackball evolution and proves that the they are still capable of providing a great alternative to the standard mouse. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Computing News :: home page |