what I don't get is why people are complaining about this. On a standard mouse the scroll wheel makes quite a bit of noise, and it doesn't bother me or most people, so why is this any different?
Interestingly I am using that mouse on a daily basis. Unfortunately the noise did not dissapear over time but I kind of get use to it. When I complained to Kensington I was only offered a refund and not a replacement, which I declined. Glad to know there are some "silent" ones :-)
Bottom line is the device's been working four years now.
I recently started using one of these, but the first one I bought had to be sent back because the scroll ring only worked in one direction. It also made the scraping noise the one in the video makes. The replacement works perfectly and smoothly, with no scraping so I guess your one is one of the duff ones. As an input device, the Expert Mouse beats a mouse mouse any day.
If a Suzo-Happ arcade trackball that was never even meant to be used with Windows has a USB interface that looks like a standard mouse why does a trackball that was actually *designed* to work with Windows need drivers in order to work? Bad design, that's why.
Not just a noise problem, but a "couldn't care less" (i.e. "fuck you, customer") problem to boot. NO Vista or Windows 7 driver or controller utility app for 3 years so your trackball is just a paperweight unless you downgrade to XP, impossible on Vista only USB cards. I think it's time to start calling Kensington tech support, scream & swear loudly at whichever hapless employee answers the phone. I don't normally advocate this, but there is no other way to communicate with these useless fuckers.
Just bought one of these .. mine is not nearly that noisy. It does "grind" a tiny bit at one point of its full rotation but it still does the job so I'll just let it grind and wear down, 5 year warranty means if it breaks I'll get a new one anyway ;)
Noise is also reduced over time (and maybe you get use to it too).
The fact I'm still using it probably means that mouse functionality is good enough to overcome the initial complaint. Still not happy with a mouse that expensive.
I'm waiting for the manufacturer to contact me with a "new and improved" version. (One can dream, can't I?).
You can get the ball easily out of this one (beware if you turn it upside down as it will fell off). I reckon this one is slightly smaller than a regular pool ball.
I'm still using it so I guess it was not a waste of money.
Sounds like it has sad or grit in the wheel. What a drag. I've also read that they still don't have vista drivers for it yet. So only basic functionality is available on the unit. I'd love one to at $3.99
I was just at Kensington's website; they apparently plan to release Vista / Win7 drivers in 2010 Q2, allowing custom button assignments and some sort of pointer tweaks.
I'm currently using the smaller Kensington Orbit optical trackball, and it is very smooth and precise compared with their earlier, non-optical Orbit. The only thing I wish that they had done was to put a transparent or translucent ball on the optical version that would light up with the LED under it. On the old trackball, the ball was blue and I added a white LED under it to light it up, but the new one has a silvery ball. I'd love to find a replacement ball that was translucent red.
It's not loud once you break it in. I think it took a day of heavy usage to break in the ball, and like a week to break in the scroll ring. For most people I think that would be a week and a month, respectively.
There is, scroll up and read my posts that I just posted. They have all the details of this model AND the one that it replaced (sigh....I loved that model).
YES! You can scroll TWO other different ways by pulling up the Kensington Software and reprogramming one of the buttons or two buttons together and selecting the "Auto Scroll" option OR the "Scroll with Mouse Ball"(manual)option, and you don't use the scrioll ring that way. So it's kind of a saving grace if you will, but the scroll ring itself is terribly cheap feeling. And for a $125.00 mouse that is currently on sale for $100.00, it should be perfect.
I have owned Kensington Trackballs for 10 years now, I have been very happy with them, and I have 4 of them now. Three of them are the original Kensington "Expert Mouse Pro" which is STILL the best trackball they ever made or ever will make evidently, lol.
It is a much more usable model similar to the new one only it has SIX "favorite web site" launch buttons across the top of the unit (very handy), and a scroll "wheel" at 12 o'clock and is capable of THREE different types of scrolling. It has "Auto Scroll" where you simply use the trackball and point the curser in the direction you want it to automatically scroll in at several different speeds (Very nice!).
It also has the "Use Mouse Ball to scroll" (manual)option where you simply roll the trackball in the direction you want to scroll in manually. And finally you can just roll the scroll wheel itself in the direction you want to scroll in manually. But the first two options will scroll in ALL 4 directions:
up/down, and left/right sideways!! The 4 buttons can be programmed to do over 25 different things EACH, including automatically filling out forms!
These are the kinds of features I expect on a $125.00 mouse IMHO, right? It is really a much nicer trackball, but it has been discontinued....OUCH. The only thing is you have to keep it really clean for a nice smooth roll. I clean mine every day. It is not quite as smooth as the optical one, but it's very close.
I really like my new optical one too, Don't get me wrong, it's smoother than a baby's butt. But they really did scrimp on the options this time, and that's dissapointing to me. Now the 4 buttons still can be programmed to do ALL the same things as the older ones I have, so that's a good thing.
It took them a while but now I've got an answer from Kensington customer support. They've brought to my attention that I can either get my unit replaced or I can return it for a full refund.
I told them I hope they will use my feedback to improve the product as I think the current scroll ring is a poor implementation of a good idea.
what I don't get is why people are complaining about this. On a standard mouse the scroll wheel makes quite a bit of noise, and it doesn't bother me or most people, so why is this any different?
videoproducer100 3 weeks ago
Interestingly I am using that mouse on a daily basis. Unfortunately the noise did not dissapear over time but I kind of get use to it. When I complained to Kensington I was only offered a refund and not a replacement, which I declined. Glad to know there are some "silent" ones :-)
Bottom line is the device's been working four years now.
misan2006 1 month ago
I recently started using one of these, but the first one I bought had to be sent back because the scroll ring only worked in one direction. It also made the scraping noise the one in the video makes. The replacement works perfectly and smoothly, with no scraping so I guess your one is one of the duff ones. As an input device, the Expert Mouse beats a mouse mouse any day.
TiWolfFilms 1 month ago
If a Suzo-Happ arcade trackball that was never even meant to be used with Windows has a USB interface that looks like a standard mouse why does a trackball that was actually *designed* to work with Windows need drivers in order to work? Bad design, that's why.
Atomicskull 8 months ago
GO GET A TRACKMAN!
SchwinSuthisuvann 11 months ago
kensington are garbage I bought one and after a year it stopped working.
MrTabby5000 1 year ago
The dial sounds stiff. Bloody expensive trackball.
voon100 1 year ago
I'm using it. The four buttons are fine. The wheel sucks.
mirandansa 1 year ago
Not just a noise problem, but a "couldn't care less" (i.e. "fuck you, customer") problem to boot. NO Vista or Windows 7 driver or controller utility app for 3 years so your trackball is just a paperweight unless you downgrade to XP, impossible on Vista only USB cards. I think it's time to start calling Kensington tech support, scream & swear loudly at whichever hapless employee answers the phone. I don't normally advocate this, but there is no other way to communicate with these useless fuckers.
mensskintightlowrise 1 year ago 5
I agree. scroll ring really has a problem . this is not normal for such an expensive device .
marc7018 1 year ago
Just bought one of these .. mine is not nearly that noisy. It does "grind" a tiny bit at one point of its full rotation but it still does the job so I'll just let it grind and wear down, 5 year warranty means if it breaks I'll get a new one anyway ;)
numindast 1 year ago
If you use two fingers, it's not so noisy...
I ask myself if the new and more expensive trackball from kensington has the same problem...
I will do some day a video review for the Expert Mouse, it deserve it ^_^
SuperPostman 2 years ago
That is correct, two fingers cause less noise.
Noise is also reduced over time (and maybe you get use to it too).
The fact I'm still using it probably means that mouse functionality is good enough to overcome the initial complaint. Still not happy with a mouse that expensive.
I'm waiting for the manufacturer to contact me with a "new and improved" version. (One can dream, can't I?).
Pablosan94 2 years ago
In fact the new model exist... Slimblade trackball.
Better but more expensive... Ô_ô
Came on the market when I was buying the Expert Mouse.... Dohhhh....
SuperPostman 2 years ago
nice
RAMOSHAD 2 years ago
You gotta try the old ones. You can actually take the trackball out of them and replace it with a standard pool/billiards ball (2 1/4 inches).
clank787 2 years ago
You can get the ball easily out of this one (beware if you turn it upside down as it will fell off). I reckon this one is slightly smaller than a regular pool ball.
I'm still using it so I guess it was not a waste of money.
misan2006 2 years ago
Comment removed
manipulationmusic 2 years ago
Sounds like it has sad or grit in the wheel. What a drag. I've also read that they still don't have vista drivers for it yet. So only basic functionality is available on the unit. I'd love one to at $3.99
DesertRidgeline 3 years ago
I was just at Kensington's website; they apparently plan to release Vista / Win7 drivers in 2010 Q2, allowing custom button assignments and some sort of pointer tweaks.
numindast 1 year ago
i bought one for $3.99 hahahaha i love it too
BluePaintedChair 3 years ago
Where can get them at that price?
misan2006 3 years ago
i bought it at a GoodWill Store. i think i'll make a short video about it.
BluePaintedChair 3 years ago
I'm currently using the smaller Kensington Orbit optical trackball, and it is very smooth and precise compared with their earlier, non-optical Orbit. The only thing I wish that they had done was to put a transparent or translucent ball on the optical version that would light up with the LED under it. On the old trackball, the ball was blue and I added a white LED under it to light it up, but the new one has a silvery ball. I'd love to find a replacement ball that was translucent red.
Audinos 3 years ago
It's not loud once you break it in. I think it took a day of heavy usage to break in the ball, and like a week to break in the scroll ring. For most people I think that would be a week and a month, respectively.
Akin42 3 years ago
It would be nice to see a few more time the usage of the trakball. How does the clik sound?
BodyKnight 4 years ago
Click sound and feeling is similar to any regular mouse. Nothing special to complain or rave about. I mean I think it is ok.
misan2006 4 years ago
Can it scroll by any means other than a scroll ring?
asretene 4 years ago
sure. like a mouse without a scroll wheel you can click on the scroll bar of the window.
misan2006 4 years ago
thanks for the reply, I thought there was a scroll lock button or something that we just click and then just scroll the ball instead of the ring.
asretene 4 years ago
There is, scroll up and read my posts that I just posted. They have all the details of this model AND the one that it replaced (sigh....I loved that model).
SKYNETRP 4 years ago
YES! You can scroll TWO other different ways by pulling up the Kensington Software and reprogramming one of the buttons or two buttons together and selecting the "Auto Scroll" option OR the "Scroll with Mouse Ball"(manual)option, and you don't use the scrioll ring that way. So it's kind of a saving grace if you will, but the scroll ring itself is terribly cheap feeling. And for a $125.00 mouse that is currently on sale for $100.00, it should be perfect.
SKYNETRP 4 years ago
I have owned Kensington Trackballs for 10 years now, I have been very happy with them, and I have 4 of them now. Three of them are the original Kensington "Expert Mouse Pro" which is STILL the best trackball they ever made or ever will make evidently, lol.
SKYNETRP 4 years ago
It is a much more usable model similar to the new one only it has SIX "favorite web site" launch buttons across the top of the unit (very handy), and a scroll "wheel" at 12 o'clock and is capable of THREE different types of scrolling. It has "Auto Scroll" where you simply use the trackball and point the curser in the direction you want it to automatically scroll in at several different speeds (Very nice!).
SKYNETRP 4 years ago
It also has the "Use Mouse Ball to scroll" (manual)option where you simply roll the trackball in the direction you want to scroll in manually. And finally you can just roll the scroll wheel itself in the direction you want to scroll in manually. But the first two options will scroll in ALL 4 directions:
up/down, and left/right sideways!! The 4 buttons can be programmed to do over 25 different things EACH, including automatically filling out forms!
SKYNETRP 4 years ago
These are the kinds of features I expect on a $125.00 mouse IMHO, right? It is really a much nicer trackball, but it has been discontinued....OUCH. The only thing is you have to keep it really clean for a nice smooth roll. I clean mine every day. It is not quite as smooth as the optical one, but it's very close.
SKYNETRP 4 years ago
I really like my new optical one too, Don't get me wrong, it's smoother than a baby's butt. But they really did scrimp on the options this time, and that's dissapointing to me. Now the 4 buttons still can be programmed to do ALL the same things as the older ones I have, so that's a good thing.
SKYNETRP 4 years ago
Yes, another Kensington Expert Mouse here and I get the *exact* same noise from the scroll-ring.
It's a bummer for sure, but hey, at least you get used to it after a while...
misled 4 years ago
Hi there,
I might have not bought it if I knew it in advance, as it seems manufacturer does not care.
Great trackball though :-)
misan2006 4 years ago
It took them a while but now I've got an answer from Kensington customer support. They've brought to my attention that I can either get my unit replaced or I can return it for a full refund.
I told them I hope they will use my feedback to improve the product as I think the current scroll ring is a poor implementation of a good idea.
misan2006 4 years ago