Microsoft D67-00001 Trackball Optical Mouse

Trackball Optical mouse delivers optical precision and easy, ergonomic comfort. Expect top performance, with thumb-controlled accuracy, customizable buttons, an easy-to-use scroll wheel, and Internet navigation buttonsall at an affordable price.

Microsoft Optical Technology
The fastest, most accurate mouse on the market delivers the best of optical technology: excellent tracking speed translates into precise cursor movement.
PC- and Mac-compatible
The rectangular Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug connects to a Windows-based or Macintosh computer. The included IntelliType Pro keyboard software comes in a Windows and Mac OS versions (Mac OS 10.1 to 10.1.3).
Scroll wheel
Simply roll the wheel to move around in documents and Web pagesno more clicking the on-screen scroll bar.
Precise finger control
Experience accurate, finger-operated control and effortless navigation.
PS/2 or USB connectivity
Take advantage of total flexibility with two connection options: Use. You can use either a round PS/2 port or a rectangular Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for plug-and-play convenience.

Unlike the mechanical-trackball "mice of yore" that skip, stick, and need to be cleaned, the Microsoft TrackBall Optical introduces an entirely new trackball featuring optical sensor technology. Reading through dirt, dust, and fingerprints, the optical sensor tracks the movement of the ball 1,500 times per second, giving you smooth, precise control. The Trackball Optical comes with two additional buttons located on the side of the device--for a total of five buttons--to quickly move forward and back in your browser, or you can program them. It also features a wheel for efficient scrolling and zooming and is ergonomically designed to support the natural position of your hand as you use your thumb to control the trackball.

1 Microsoft no longer supports this. Good if it doesn't go bad
A month and a half ago, I purchased a Trackball Optical through Amazon. When it arrived, the installation and all went quite smoothly (on a Mac), and it operated as advertized. As another review mentioned, the forward/back buttons are a wee bit narrow, but I can get used to that. Out of the box, the product was great.

The smoothness of the ball's rolling degraded quickly. At first, giving it a little push would send the ball spinning for a while. Now it travels at most a quarter inch before friction stops it. Since the degraded smoothness is not uniform (it seems to stick in inconsistant patches, so I'm guessing it's more the rollers than the ball) it is hard to get it to track without sporadic jerks.

A week ago, it ceased tracking position at all. The buttons still work, the scroll wheel still works (tested by using my old mouse to point and the trackball to click/scroll) but the pointer doesn't move a single pixel anymore.

I see no way (short of snapping plastic) to get inside and make sure the lenses are clean, and when I called Microsoft tech support (for a product with 90 days of free support) I was informed that they no longer support this product, and I should look at online helpfiles.

So, when it worked, it was great. Five stars. Mine, alas, degraded quickly, which was less than great... but still perhaps worth three stars. Then it up and stopped doing one of its primary functions, which counts for no stars in my book, and the manufacturer drops support for a product that was purchased less than two months prior, another no star. (5+3+0+0)=8 stars distributed over 4 situations, so 2 stars.

2 I Should've Listened to the Reviews
I needed to use something that required a small space so I debated on whether to get this product or the Trackman Wheel optical mouse from Logitech. Finally I decided to try the Microsoft mouse. I bought two, one for the PC and one for my notebook. When I first tried them out, both worked fine; one ball turned more smoothly than the other, but both were good so I thought those people who wrote the negative reviews must have gotten a lemon. After a few days I noticed that the cursor was often unresponsive when I turned the ball. Not only that but the ball itself was sometimes sticky and hard to turn. I would have to use two fingers to make the ball move and then half the time the mouse wouldn't respond properly. That was enough for me so I packed them back up and am returning them. I also ordered the Logitech Trackman optical so when those arrive and I've tried them out for a little while I'll write a review on them. Meanwhile, this Microsoft mouse is not recommended as its performance is too inconsistent and leads to user frustration! At the present time until the Logitechs arrive I have gone back to my old regular Microsoft optical mouse which works beautifully.

3 Save your thumb...
I've used a trackball for over a dozen years, and when this came out I bought one and was very happy with it. After +/- five years, it became jumpy, so I decided to replace it. After searching and trying, I ended up with another of the same... or so I thought.
The replacement had a ball that would barely move. After cleaning and trying it (to see if the plastic might 'loosen up'), I returned it for a replacement. After using the replacement Trackball Optical for 6 weeks (after the return policy expired), I've given up. The ball movement has continuously deteriorated, to the point where if it's used for 30 minutes your thumb won't work. It sure looks to me like this is a closeout, given the price drop, and it's not worth any amount - don't let them PAY YOU to take it, you'll thank yourself by getting something else.
Another Microsoft hardware product that couldn't make it.

4 I guess I got a good one...
I'm reading all the reviews of this trackball and am quite confused as to why there are any complaints...
I got this mouse about a year or so ago, but the story of it predates my purchase. I was shopping with my father and wanted a new trackball. I knew Logitech made good trackballs, and so I got a Logitech; my dad got this trackball.
The Logitech trackball was non-optical, very small and cramped (could only use two fingers, despite the scroll wheel), and my thumb ached after a few hours of using it. I had to clean the ball regularly, but not too often.
I visited my dad for a bit, played around with his computer and fell in love with the Microsoft trackball.
After a few months of dealing with thumb cramps from the Logitech trackball, I got the Microsoft.
If it weren't for the size of it, I'd take it with me everywhere. I use it for my laptop, mostly.

The design perfetly fits a two-finger user. I have very slim and long fingers, and so can manage three fingers on the device, which is a very big plus, to me. The ball is placed perfetly to reduce cramping/aching. It rarely needs cleaning (maybe once a week with heavy use).
I have had only ocassional, if any, issues with the ball or any of its movement. This trackball works wonderfully for me.
I would highly suggest this to anyone who is in need of a trackball, and encourage non- First-Person Shooter gamers to grab it, as well (I find conventional mice to work better for FPS games).

5 Sticky operation...
Well, like so many others, the ball on my mouse is jerky and sticky. I went to a computer store today and got a Logitech Marble mouse. While shopping, I was able to test another Microsoft Trackball mouse and had worse results. The demo mouse ball was stuck hard. The choice of material for the ball and other material lends to the sticky motion. So sad since this could have been a fantastic mouse.

6 Productivity is up
I thought I made a huge mistake....I purchased this trackball first (through another retailer), then I decided to read some reviews on it here. Needless to say my expectations were not too high. Fast forward to now, this trackball has performed admirably in pretty tough conditions in our shipping dept.'s warehouse. It's never sticky and never needs cleaning. I'll probably never use a mouse again.

7 Constantly skips and sticks
While the ergonomic layout is great (it really feels natural in your hand) the buttons are too close together and by FAR the WORST problem with this mouse is that it sticks, and get stuck even when the ball and the socket and bearings are clean! Horrible, horrible...I'm throwing this crap away, and will get a logitech like I had before.

8 Wonderful, but inconsistent.
I'll keep this short and sweet. I bought one of these when I upgraded my last computer, and it's beautiful. The thing still works like a dream 2 years later. When I got my new comp, I couldn't find them at retail anymore.

Now this model really appealed to me, for several reasons - smoothness of motion, ease of use, you don't have to clean it, fully customizable five-button versatility, and it's safe for your wrist, unlike any non-trackball mouse out there (I also found that it surprisingly effective in FPS games, great precision aiming) - so I wasn't about to give up. I went online and purchased it directly from Microsoft (bad idea, they charge waaay too much for everything. If I'd even thought about amazon...).

I got it, and was incredibly disappointed. The motion was horrible. There was a manufacturing defect in both the one I ordered and in the replacement Microsoft sent. One of the bearings that supports the trackball's motion was set too far back, so that the TB didn't rotate freely. Instead, it scraped along the socket and was extremely difficult to use.

I'm glad I was tenacious and eventually gave it one last try. I ordered from Amazon and got a good one. So now I have two beautifully functional models in my house. 2 out of 4? Inconsistent quality, but if you get one that works properly, there's no other mouse I'd recommend more highly.

9 More of what Microsoft does best
Just as with it's software, Microsoft has copied someone else's design (in this case, Logitec's Trackman) only to create an inferior product. The construction and plastic are cheap and toy-like. Right out of the box, the ball movement feels sticky and makes an annoying scraping sound. Others have complained about it collecting gunk too quickly, but I frankkly wonder if some good greasy gunk might actually make it smoother. Total waste of money in my opinion.

10 waste of money, bad engineering, won't move smoothly
I browsed to this review using my new Logitech Trackman Wheel. I wish I could have used the Microsoft Trackball Mouse that I purchased a couple of weeks ago but that has been deposed to the junk bin. It's sticky and no amount of cleaning, chemicals or modifications will make it move smoothly. It seems that the ball is composed of a plastic that gets slightly soft and the steel bearings in the carrier tend to drag into it.

I've used thumbwheel trackballs for years and I think a lot of the positive reviews for this product are based on the layout alone. Unfortunately the mechanism is screwed up and will have to be redesigned if it is to work adequately.

[...] The Microsoft Trackball Optical Mouse is crap.

11 the best (or unusable)
Most people I know dislike, or simply cannot use, one of these. I love it. If you have the manual dexterity to use one, then this is the best input device around. I wish they would come out with a mini bluetooth version for laptops.

12 Just not smooth.
Count me along with those that don't like this trackball. I made the switch from the conventional mouse when I started to notice my wrist aching. The thumb control seemed like a good idea.

I like the ergonomics of this trackball. The buttons are well placed and the scroll wheel works great. But this device fails miserably in the most important area - the trackball itself. Quite simply, it is not smooth. The motion is jerky, making it difficult to get teh cursor on words when editing type. I do a lot of word processing and cut and paste throughout the day. This is a nightmare with this unit.

Gunk quickly gets caught up inside the ball cradle, which must be cleaned daily. And I thought the opticals would be maintenance free. I am always taking out the ball and wiping it down to try to make it spin smoother. It works for a bit and then I am back to the jerky motion.

My best advice, which I will follow from now on, it try it before you buy. Not recommended.

13 Great product
Like another review, I have multiples of this trackball. Great design, hand-hugging curve, 5 buttons. Only wireless would make it better.

14 Help! Where can I buy an old Trackman Marble+?
I've used Logitech 'thumballs' for CAD work for over 15 years. I've bought at least a dozen including every Logitech model except the most recent. The curent Logitech trackballs (thumballs) are too small for a normal sized hand! I can't imagine what kind of computer user they based their size on. Their previous model, the Logitech Marble is what I've used for the past ~6 years, is almost large enough; not quite, but it works. But when a button started getting flakey, I had to find a new one. As I said, I believe the current Logitech models are too small, so, against my better judgement, I bought this Microsoft trackball. It is large enough for my hand. The extra buttons are useful, but would take some getting used to. But all of that is irrelevent. The ball simply does not move smoothly. It sticks and is generally 'heavy'. The ball on my 6 year old Logitech feels better. Some other reviewers mention the ball riding on plastic 'nubs', however this may be a newer model as the ball definately rests on three metal posts. That is just like the support on my old Logitech ball, but there it works; the Microsoft trackball doesn't. An associate bought one at the same time and it feels the same way. Along with the other reviews mentioning the same problem, I would have to conclude that the sticky ball is endemic to the Microsoft trackball, and could not recommend it under any circumstances.

15 I Tried To Like It - But Productivity Plummeted
I really wanted this mouse to work. It was really awkward at first, but I stuck with it. At first it look me twice as long to do everything because it was so hard to get my cursor where I wanted it. But I stuck with it for two long weeks. Eventually, I was able to get pretty good with my thumb, to the point where it felt almost as natural as a regular mouse. But I could only do so much, it was this mouse that didn't cooperate. The worst part of this product, besides the learning curve, is that the roller ball does not roll smoothly enough. Sometimes I tried to roll it and it would just stick. Others it would roll in the general direction I wanted it to go, but it was very imprecise. I don't think that this is just my unit. It seems that this is just how it's made. I even tried greasing it up with a little lotion - and it actually worked really good! For a while. Then the lotion is absorbed into your skin and you have to lotion it up again. Not worth the trouble. I never write product reviews but I thought everyone should know that this is not a very good product.

16 Nice Junk
Bought this on clearance it still was 23.00 it's really awkward using your thumb I used to have a finger trackball which is the only way to go because you have more control. Microsoft doesn't know what they are doing and this was brainstomed up by some college kid.

17 Useless trackball
This trackball is virtually useless. The ball's friction is so bad that it is impossible to control the cursor accurately and smoothly. Also, the software that came with the device did not enable the advertized features (using Windows XP). So, although the concept is good (the extra 2 buttons, for forward and back, are a great idea), the implementation is so bad that it defeats the utility. The Logitech trackball is orders of magnitude better.

18 Bad Configuration, Bad Construction
The construction of this trackball is just dismal. The buttons rattle like crazy as you click on them, and the ball itself sticks as you try to move it. (i.e. it has a lot of static friction) This seems to be caused by the fact that the ball just sits in a plastic socket, as opposed to other brands where the ball rests on hard "ruby" contacts (logitech) or on steel rollers (some of the kensingtons).

Your thumb is not nearly as dexterous as your forefingers, since it has evolved primarly for clamping purposes. I would recommend any finger operated trackball over any thumb operated model.

In any case, don't buy this unless you are going to rip it apart and use the parts for a project.

19 Doesn't quite live up to its promise.
First off, I do like the features. Using the extra two buttons to go back and forth between web pages is a great timesaver. Having used trackballs in the past, the action in this one is a letdown. While there are mini-rollers to help the ball move, the bulk of the weight rests against plastic nubs which cause the ball to stick frequently. Also, the inertia to overcome in getting it to start rolling makes fine movements a chore. Sometimes my thumb can slide over the ball and it won't move, it may be too slippery. Will probably look to replace with a freer moving mechanical trackball.

20 New versions of this trackball are defective
I've been using the item for years, but the new ones we've bought for work are obviously defective. The ball performance rapidly degrades, it appears everyone has them on sale. Microsoft should recall this product because of poor manufacturing.

21 Diabolically close...
Getting straight to the point, this trackball is one big collection of 'almost's.

First off, it *almost* fits my hand... no matter what I do, I can't seem to comfortably wrap my hand around the thing. It overfills my hand, and I'm a male with fairly good-sized hands. There seems to be too much size and too little curvature - for example, the rear portion of the housing would be quite comfortable if it were just scalloped out more deeply for one's hand to wrap around.

Which brings us to the next almost... the plethora of almost-comfortable positions mean one's hand doesn't fall reliably over the right buttons all the time. I found the housing most comfortable at a slight angle to my hand, but this placed my finger precisely where the right button and web-forward button overlap. This is compounded by the lack of any sort of locating recesses in the left and right buttons, like Logitech has. I'm no stranger to trackballs - I've used a Logitech Trackman (optical, with wheel) for over three years and love the thing. I'd take the Logitech's perfect fit over Microsoft's two extra buttons any day.

If you want an extremely comfortable, highly effective trackball, go for the Logitech Trackman. I gambled on the Microsoft trackball because I wanted one for work and (local store) didn't have the Logitech, and will be returning the Microsoft just as soon as I get my hands on another Trackman. The Microsoft trackball seems to function all right fresh out of the box and is more comfortable than a regular mouse, but there are better options out there.

22 Wonderful TrackBall
Well, my first thought on the TrackBall was hmm, wonder if i can get used to using it. Well i must say it was very easy to do, the mouse moves very nicely no "jumps". I'm Not sure why i have read that most people have a problem with hand oils and dirt getting into the mouse (unless they have never ever washed their hands) i dont sit at the computer eating potato chips and then grab for the TrackBall so this isnt a problem for me. Its a perfect device, no problems with it jumping around and moving slowly. buy it and try it, its cheap enough and well worth the money, (yes the ball comes out "if" you need to clean it)

23 Trackball doesn't track!
I used the MS trackball optical for about a month. I just put it back in the box. My thumb hurts because the curser/pointer is moved only by your thumb. Even worse---the ball moves the pointer very sporatically. Sometimes, I'll roll the ball up or down and nothing happens. Save your money and buy a logitech "Marble Mouse" (I use it on my other computer). It cost about the same, doesn't hurt you hand, and actually moves the pointer where you want it to!

24 Inaccurate and Clunky
Bought this mouse and was very unhappy with it. Right out of the box, the trackball gets stuck more than 50% of the time. This got annoying after 2 days. I was also unhappy with how inaccurate it felt. I tinkered with the mouse control panel without any luck.

I use my mouse for illustrations on the computer... so the thumb position for the trackball really doesn't work well unless you're double jointed.

Even if you're not drawing anything, the fact that the trackball gets stuck so often makes basic window navigation aggravating. I don't usually return products, but this is one of them.

25 Action of the ball sticks on slower movements
The trackball perfectly fits in my hand, but I found that the ball did not track properly when trying to move the pointer slowly. I recommend the Logitech Trackman Wheel instead of this product.

26 Ball rolls in sand.
Great at first, then becomes harder and harder to "roll" ball; finally gets to feel as if rolling in sand.

Ball appears to roll on 3 tiny shiny metalic dots;
Unlike real (good) trackballs which have spring loaded rollers, this design is cheap and short lived.

27 On paper it's perfect, but...
I just recently got my second one (actually third, because I couldn't return my second one so I had to exchange it for the same product). My first MS Trackball Optical served me relatively okay, though it seemed to lack the better feel of the old Logitech white Trackman. The reason I got it was for the extra buttons for a single press double-click, and a ctrl with the right little button to hold down while left clicking on various items.

The problem with these MS ones are, they seem to wear down faster than the Logitech, despite the extra buttons so that I don't click the main left button as often. My first MS one now has a malfunctioning main left button, and the second one which I had to return, had a ball that started to grind after two days of use. No there wasn't any dirt on the rollers or anything (I swapped in the ball from my first just to check). Also, the balls on these things seem to be tougher to move around when my thumb is either dry or sweaty. Not so with the Logitech.

Positives (over the current Logitech Trackman):
-2 extra buttons.
-Conforms to the normal spread of my fingers when my middle finger constantly stays on the wheel.

Negatives:
-Isn't curved enough compared to my hand and fingers in a resting position. Makes for an unintentional click once in a while.
-Ball and rollers vastly inferior to Logitech's. Needs cleaning more often.
-Flimsy build quality.

28 Could be worse, but expected better
I own two of these trackballs, and have experienced the sticking problem once in a while. I also owned a couple of Logitech trackballs which did work a little smoother, while they worked. The first Logitech had a Lifetime Warranty, which Logitech told me only applied as long as they made the same model that fails. In other words, my two year old trackball had less than a two year warranty, not lifetime as stated on the box. After I had a fit about the worthless warranty, they offered to sell me a new model for a discount, which turned out to be more than it normally cost at the local stores. Logitechs warranty is worthless! I will never purchase another Logitech product again. So, the Microsoft trackball is one decent alternative. I have had them for a couple of years now, and other than having to clean dust out of them once in a while, the little sticking problem is the only real problem I have had. Hopefully, Microsoft will come up with a more friction free design someday.

29 The Worst Trackball I Have Ever Used
I have used a Logitech TrackBall for years, and have been very happy with it. However, I saw a this Microsoft Trackball in a local store for $25 and decided to give it a try - I mean, Microsoft wouldn't put their name on junk hardware would they(rhetorical)?

Well, I got it out of the box and it worked fine for about an hour. After that it would bind, stick and would be impossible to control with any precision. After cleaning it would improve, but it would start binding again in no time. Needless to say, this mouse is collecting dust in my closet and I am back to my Logitech mouse.

The problem with this mouse is that the plastic mouse ball rides in a plastic socket. The mouse is held into position with plastic "nubs". Now, everyone has rubbed plastic against plastic before (I assume) - there isn't exactly a low coefficient of friction there. I look at the inside of my Logitech mouse and its trackball rides on metal ball bearings. The difference is night and day.

My advice - if you are in the market for a trackball mouse, go with another product. This mouse looks cool - but unfortunatly for it, a mouse needs to do more than look good.

30 TERRIBLE! Do not buy it! Don't listen to others!
What a piece of garbage. The ball sticks and binds and there are no solutions. I have tried various lubricants and filing down the plastic bumps that hold the ball in and other things...nothing works. Daily or hourly cleaning makes it manageable, but that is ridiculous, I cleaned my other mice monthly. This thing is just poorly designed. If you need any level of precision whatsoever, like being able to highlight a word or a paragraph or an entire page of text, this thing is too clumsy to get the job done. Screwed again by Microsoft. I should have known.

31 I swear by this thing!
I've been using this trackball for over 5 years (same one!), and it works wonderfully. It is so much better than Logitech's similar thumb-wheel!
My only issue is that it tends to get dirty inside the ball housing, and sometimes gets sticky enough to need some WD-40. Other than that, me and my MS trackball are in love. The only MS product I actually use, in fact! ;-)

32 the trackball binds
When I recieved this mouse, by the look of it, it was exactly what I needed - it's size was bigger than in the pictures (about 6" long), which makes for a comfortable fit, and it had the 5 buttons that I'd gotten so used to on my Microsoft Intellemouse.

As other people are saying, the one thing which kills this product is the trackball binds to the "rollers". Since this is an optical mouse, there aren't any moving parts, but the ball does glide on three stationary metal balls, and two stationary plastic retainers which keep the ball inside its socket.

Depending on where your thumb is at any given moment, there might be pressure squeezing the ball down onto the plastic retainers. Since the ball and the retainers are made from plastic that's similar in density, they bind to one another - sometimes requiring quite a bit of force to unbind them.

This being my first foray into trackballs, I figured that I'd return it, and get the wireless logitech that everyone's howling about. Shame :(

33 Don't listen to the "hype"!
Based on the other reviews, I purchased two of these items (one for each of my computers) and have been using them for a couple of weeks. Yes, they work great at first. But afterwards they do "skip, stick, and need to be cleaned" often. If you do any precision work on your computer, or you need to move your mouse quickly from one side of the screen to a specific spot on the other side of the screen while playing a game (e.g. Age of Mythology), I'd suggest keeping your old mouse.

I would have given it a lower rating, but the trackball does work. And, with the software installed, you can easily program the two extra buttons and the wheel to fit your needs. At first, I just plugged the darn thing in and it worked! Couldn't use the extra buttons, but everything else worked fine. Just not too thrilled about the Optical TrackBall.

34 Why Does Anyone Use a Mouse?
I am about to purchase my third Microsoft Optical Trackball. I have been using one for around three years. I purchased a second for my computer at work and now number three is going on a second computer at home.

It works great, although it does occasionally have to be cleaned. I hate using a mouse because of having to pick up the mouse to reposition it. The trackball never needs to be moved. An added benefit is it keeps those that do not know how to use a trackball from using your computer. :-)

35 Save your money...
I purchased this trackball over a week ago, (not at Amazon) when my old Logitech Trackman "gave up the ghost" after 5 years of heavy use. I'm not a computer "whiz," nor am I a heavy game player, but I do use the internet a lot during the day for work, so I was looking for a good, solid, cheap, trackball as a replacement. I was not necessarily looking for another Logitech, just a replacement. I bought this particular trackball for 3 reaons: 1. it was priced right, 2. It was from a reputable company, and 3. it was a trackball.

I got it home and installed it. It was a very easy installation. However, I noticed that the trackball had a tendency to "stick" and hang while moving it. It was almost impossible to make minute movements with the cursor/pointer. The cursor would also tend to move of its own accord, even though my hand was nowhere near it. I found the ball hard to move as well. I then tried adjusting the sensitivity of the ball and cursor movement. Over the course of 8 days and many different sensitivity settings, I just could not get the trackball to respond in a manner that I felt comfortable with. Just moving the ball around was a rather laborious process.
During the middle of the week, I ordered Logitech's similarly priced model from Amazon, and it arrived today. There was a marked difference between the two. The Logitech's movements were much more fluid, it didn't hang or stick, and it stayed put when I let it go. Overall, I have had a better experience with the Logitech than the MS equivalent. Even though it has only been one day.
I readily admit that I am no computer expert, but I have been tinkering with them for 10 years now, and I have to say that this is the worst mouse/trackball that I have ever had the displeasure of using. This is not meant as an indictment of Microsoft, as I believe that they are a decent company, nor is this meant to be an endorsement of Logitech. However, I cannot in good conscience recommend that anyone buy this trackball.

36 One of the best trackballs out there
A review from a gamer:

Pros:
- Five buttons (including the scroll button)
- Button configuration is ideal (for two or three fingered clicking)
- Easy to clean (easy to remove the ball, and contacts are easily accessible)
- Fits hand perfectly
- Wired (a pro because of the lag caused by wireless products)

Cons:
- "Sticky" fine movement

Overall:
For those of you who haven't tried/had the patience to try a trackball mouse, they add comfort and ease of movement to your computing life. This trackball is the best five-button, thumb-controlled one out there. The only place it is lacking is its "sticky" fine movement, but sensitivity configuration can solve that problem. This Microsoft trackball has proven to be useful because of its easily accessible five buttons, and ease of cleaning. If you do not want to take advantage of a five-button trackball, I suggest buying any logitech trackball, which offer three-buttons with ease of movement. Although, without proper cleaning, the Logitechs movement will become stickier than that found in this trackball.

37 Not as Bad as some people would like to make it out to be.
A few things are REALLY starting to bug me about reviews of this trackball.

#1. People. There is SOFTWARE to help you adjust the settings of the trackball. If you don't INSTALL and USE this software, well, hell, your mileage probably won't be as good as most people's who use this very decent (though NOT flawless) unit.

PLEASE. Do us ALL a BIG favour and don't start ranting about stuff you can fix yourself, because most of the orientation, sensitivity, etc, problems can ALL be adjusted well assuming of course, the unit is NOT defective, which also can happen in a few cases.

You could TRY to be reasonable - though I know it's LOT to ask from some people. Some people expect total perfection to just pop out of every item and box they buy and then get all miffed when that doesn't happen.

#2. The next significant complaint revolves around the ball itself (not soft enough, pops out, isn't stable enough).

It's true that Logitech trackballs do outscore MS in this respect. They tend to be anchored and positioned better, and the physical makeup (the material) of the balls themselves seem to be less prone to sticking.

I've almost ALWAYS been able to work around this by setting the software to increase/decrease the sensitivity, but everyone knows that you can pop the ball out, clean it, and also do some cleaning of the contact points inside.

This is the SAME with the Logitech trackball, so you WON'T be able to escape it completely.

As to the light/heat issue, I haven't had problems with it. This may be an up and down thing depending on the batch of trackballs made - so I can't say for sure.

Personally, I like it. When the optical sensor picks up movement, clean movement, the light lights up, allowing you to check to see if things are working properly, and whether or not you need to clean it. End of story.

#3. It's not just about the trackball anymore.

I didn't buy this unit because it was a trackball.

I was actually looking for a DECENT regular optical wired mouse that would fit my hand. I used to use a Logitech MouseMan+, one of the original two-button with scroll mice used about 4-5 years ago.

That unit fit my hand PERFECTLY. However, the only one that was reasonably similar in shape was the Wireless MS Intellimouse Explorer, and I was looked for a WIRED version, which didn't have the nice contouring effect on both the MS AND Logitech mice, like say, the MX 300 or 500.

However, even the MX series do not possess a long or smooth enough curve for my hand to fit as perfectly as before.

Even the Logitech Click(!)s are rather pathetic, they do not fit the natural contours of the hand very well. They are just cheap knockoffs.

The MS optical Trackball is the only NEW unit that felt REALLY comfortable in my hand, and I can live with very minor quibbles about the trackball so long as my hand doesn't suffer.

I'm REALLY surprised that Logitech's equivalent units (trackballs included) couldn't sway me from this. My past experience with Logitech units, both Mice AND Trackballs has been excellent, until now.

Sorry Logitech, MS has beaten you out this time by sticking with the basics (if you'll pardon the very horrible pun). If MS improves on the ball then they will own this market segment very soon.

38 The Best! for Carpal Tunnel Sufferers
This is absolutely the BEST input device I have ever used in my 20+ years of computing. I have severe carpal tunnel syndrome and this is the first mouse/trackball that has not caused me wrist pain after using it for hours. For anyone who is stuck in the pattern of index finger for left click and middle finger for right click, the thumb activated trackball makes the shift from using a traditional mouse an easy one.

The trackball is also great for those who have to do a lot of "mousing" in a small space. It gets tiresome after awhile to keep picking up the mouse and moving back in order to get more scroll room. (Although I think Microsoft's Intellimouse Explorers are also the best for CTS sufferers if you can't get used to the trackball).

The only negative about this item as far as I'm concerned is that I haven't been able to find a wireless version. I hope Microsoft is not going to leave us CTS folks behind.

39 Wonder Ball!
This fantastic mouse, is the best and most creative I have ever used. The rollerball is great, no need for anymore grimy mousepads. The mouse fits your hand perfectly. It features a scroll knob to scroll up and down pages without having to move the arrow to the side bar on the screen. It has buttons to tab webpages back and forward without having to move to the back and forward buttons on the browser. The time saving buttons and features are amazing. I have a tough time going back to a regular mouse after this luxery mouse.

40 Really nice product
We have had this trackball for about 18 months. Everyone in my family loves it. It's very precise and easy to use even for the kids. It has programmable buttons and the scrolling feature is great. We would never have thought about replacing it (except for a cordless trackball) EXCEPT our toddler is now at an age where she can do things and play her games and she is a LEFTIE. This trackball is user friendly ONLY to right handed people. Poor thing can barely use it but she is trying to use her right hand and I don't want to force her to do something uncomfortable. So we are going to replace this with a new trackball that allows use for EVERYONE in the family, both lefties and righties.

41 CALLUSES!!!
I bought this mouse a while back, and I love it. It's great for gaming once you get the sensitivity worked out because you dont have to pick up your mouse over and over. I found only a few flaws with it. In order to get it to be precise you must set the cursor to move very slow, this will cause you to have to move the ball a lot to get it across the screen. The seccond problem is Calluses. I have a callus on my right thumb and forefinger, along with less feeling in both.

If you intend to use this for short amounts of time and are in a confined area, go for it, this is a great mouse. Although remember to keep it clean, sometimes some dust will get in that little hole and you have to blow it out every once in a while, or dirt will get around those little metal balls that hold the Trackball in.

It's got 4 buttons plus the scroll. I use them all, I think they're ingenious and wouldn't ever go back to a mouse that doesn't have them.

42 Great Mouse, but Super-Sized
I loved everything about this mouse except for the fact that it's way too big for my hand. I had to return it and get the smaller Logitech. A lot of the reviews here talked about how great the larger size was -- I'm assuming they have really big hands. For all people who are more petite, this mouse may seem like you're using a basketball for a mouse.

43 what a trackball should be
It's comfortable, a comfortably subdued color, and featureful (in a good way). With a trackball that fits my hand so well, good optical technology so that I don't need to worry about dust and stray hair getting into the works, a scroll wheel, and programmable buttons, I'm addicted. It's even relatively sturdy. The only way they could make it better is to make it cordless without needing batteries. I'm still waiting for a cordless trackball with a recharging cradle.

44 A Much More Natural Feeling Trackball Mouse
The first time you use it, you'll think you'll never get used to navigating using your thumb, instead of index finger. After using it a week, you'll wonder how you ever did it any other way. It feels odd for a few days, but you'll eventually find you can move quickly and more accurately using your thumb. Trust me.

I've got limited desk space, and got tired of picking up and putting down my optical mouse. With this mouse, you never need to slide across a mouse pad again -- a real asset for those of us with cluttered desks. The shape fits naturally in almost any sized hand (one reviewer noted that it fit his large hand well; I have a smaller hand, and it fits mine just as comfortably).

The side buttons make it possible to scroll back and forth between web pages much more easily, but, to be honest, after stumbling around on them the first few days (I would mis-click the smaller buttons instead of the left button), I hardly remember they're there and still find myself using the back buttons in the browser instead. If you're a furious surfer, though, you may find it really useful. It wasn't anything I based my buying decision on.

The ball itself moves smoothly and with a good deal of accuracy. It tends to get dirty over time, and you may sometimes find yourself giving it a rapid spin in frustration --but the ball pops out easily enough, so with a good wipe and quick blast of air at the cup, you'll be on your way again with no problems.

It may not look as cool as some of the others, and it may lack some of the bells and whistles, but if you're looking to replace your existing mouse with a hassle-free, nonsliding, get-the-job-done model, you can't beat this one. Take it for a spin and see.

45 I love it
Ever since I had Logitech's "Marble Laser", I started liking track ball mice better. Takes some getting used to, but you don't have to pick up the mouse off the desk ever again.

It's got great response for games, and works well for programs like "Adobe Photoshop".

I used to get sore wrists from using a mouse to play games all day long. Be it from holding it the wrong way or gripping it too tightly. Ever since I've used this kind of mouse I've never had that problem. Don't believe anyone that says this isn't as good as a regular mouse. They just haven't really used it that long. I've used trackball mice now for 8 years.

46 Microsoft optical trackball
I have ALWAYS prefered a trackball over a traditional mouse. Somehow trying to keep the movements of the mouse on that tiny pad always eluded me. The trackball had problems of it's own though...gunk was always getting onto the rubber wheels and messing up the preformance.
Now comes the optical trackball! It is a GREAT product. Whoever came up with the notion that it was cleaning-free though made a grave mistake. Dirt and gunk still collect in the areas around the "eyes" and after sometime the ball seems to feel "glued" in place. After a cleaning sometimes the ball is still hard to move around until it gathers enough natural oils from your hand. I think they need to come up with a more slick ball-to-mouse contact point for more effortless use.
Don't get me wrong...I love this newest trend. It's the best so far. That's why I gave it four stars. Until they come out with a trackball that doesn't require so much cleaning though, four stars is as high as I can go.

47 Terrible decision!
First of all, my trackball came in damaged. The infrared ball is not working at all; only work the center and the two other buttoms. What happened? I really don't know.

48 Your wrist will thank you
I am a former user of the Intellimouse Optical, which in my opinion, is probably one of the best mouses (by the way, the plural of 'mouse' when referring to a computer mouse [not the animal], is 'mouses'... now you can be all grammatically correct and impress your coworkers with your incredible wealth of knowledge and sophistication. You should have no problem getting dates and scoring big at the office after busting out with that little bit of grammar trivia. It's virtually guaranteed) on the market. The optical laser tracking is of course fantastic.. mooth accurate, no mouse pad required, and you don't have to pull those little hair/dust/black-junk caterpillars of the mouse ball wheels ever few weeks. Plus, the addition of two extra buttons allowing for back/forward quick browsing on the net, or any application, in addition to the great scroll wheel technology, including the `press down' option that allots you dditional scrolling options was fantastic. I liked it slightly better than the Intellimouse Explorer, only because it's size it my hand better, and it could be used by either hand, unlike the right-hand designed IM Explorer.
ANYWAY, my wrist started to get sore and I suspected the mouse was the culprit. I decided to try to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and try a trackball. All I knew about trackballs was that every time I tried one, they were a real pain to use, but that everyone who had one said they were the greatest thing since they canceled The XFL. Upon arrival at my local gigantor computer/music/video/tv/appliance store, I was mad there were only a few trackballs to choose from, as opposed to the six million mouses to pick from. I decided to go with the Trackball Optical, because it was the closest to the mouse I'd been using, and I've always had good experiences with Microsoft pointing devices.
This trackball is exceptional. It's design is sleek and low profile. It fits your hand like a glove, with just enough grip to keep your hand from sliding around, without being to abrasive. I have pretty good size hands (I'm 6'4") and have had no problems with the buttons.. they're just the right size. My 4'10 roommate likes it too, she says it fits her hand better than her mouse. The ball itself is really nice, and has that red-glow coming from around it that we all got used to from the bottom of the optical mouses. It's also good sized, and allows for easier movement with your thumb. Plus it comes with all the great features that I mentioned above from the Intellimouse Optical. You will NOT be sorry if you buy this product. It's a cinch to set up, and my mouse-to-trackball-proficiency time period was much shorter than I expected. I've tried many other people's trackballs since, and this one is definitely the best. If it were my prize pig, it'd bring home a blue ribbon from the 4-H fair every time.

49 Not perfect, but quite good
As a Mac user, I've used mice since 1985 and trackballs since 1981 (with Missile Command). Gone through a lot of them looking for the perfect device. This isn't it, but I haven't found anything closer. The closest point of comparison was the Logitech Trackman Marble. But that didn't have as many buttons and the ball was smaller, which made it harder to manipulate. Finger-operated trackballs need more hand movement and make click-drag functions more difficult. With this, it's easy to click and hold while moving the ball with your thumb.

I really like having five buttons. It makes websurfing very easy when I can have buttons for click, back, open in new window, switch windows and autoscroll without having to reach for the keyboard. A scroll wheel is, of course, invaluable nowadays. One thing I can't do without is application sets, which allow button assignments to change with each application. Logitech's software only allows a single set of functions, which is quite limiting.

I find the shape very comfortable, despite the fact that my hands aren't especially big. My hand just drapes naturally in a relaxed position with fingers and thumb resting perfectly atop the two main buttons and the ball. I tried an Intellimouse Explorer, but found it gave me more handstrain since I had to grip the mouse fairly hard with my thumb.

As with all other trackballs that rely on embedded ball bearings to support the ball, this can get sluggish when skin oil and dead skin build up on the bearings. It's not a problem in winter but gets worse in warm weather. In the summer, it needs cleaning once every couple of hours. Luckily, it's easy to pop the ball out and back in. One solution is to clean the bearings thoroughly then dab them with a little spray silicone. It keeps the detritus from building up and, unlike other lubricants, won't attack the plastic ball. Unfortunately, the optical port is open, not sealed with a plastic window like Logitech's, so dust and cat hair like to get inside and Microsoft has basically sealed this unit so you can't take it apart for cleaning.

When this product is discontinued, I plan to buy a few on clearance as spares unless somebody can make something better. More accuracy wouldn't be bad, but for precision work, I use a graphics tablet, so this isn't a problem.

50 *Former* Logitech Trackball User
Trash your Logitech trackball and buy this. My Logitech trackball died of old age the other day (6 years), and I bought this one in its place. What a blessing in disguise! It fits my larger hands better, it's more comfortable and fluid to use, and it's additional two side buttons are very handy.

Trash your old mouse and buy this one. You'll thank yourself you did.

51 Logitech falls and Microsoft rises
I've used Logitech trackballs for years, but they've moved on from comfort to high-tech, Star Trek looks...cool-looking, but uncomfortable. This trackball is very close to the last of the beige-colored Logitechs, but it's better. I bought and re-sold one of these just last year, because the ring didn't hold the ball into the socket, but either the engineers fixed the problem or I just bought a lemon and the MS techie didn't know that the deficiency wasn't the norm. Anyway, buy one soon because they are harder and harder to find. The world wants glitz, not comfort, so these will soon be dinosaurs. Stock up for the future!!!

52 The best.
Microsoft should stick to making hardware, it's what they do the best. I've been a serious (50+ hours/week) computer user for over 10 years and this is *by far* the best pointing device I've ever used. I'll never go back to analogue, let alone a mouse. To quote Eric Raymond, "Optical Trackballs *rule*".

Smooth operations, little maintenance (clean out the guck every couple of months), extreme precision, programmable. if it was cordless, that would be the only possible way that it could get better.

53 Logitec is better...
I'm with Marek. The ball tends to stick a lot with this trackball, it's not so bad when the mouse is cool. The problem is the heat. The lights in it look cool and all... But, I game alot and the light is on almost constantly. It starts making my hand sweaty and uncomfortable, and makes the ball stick big time. I have a Logitech trackman marble wheel and don't have that problem. I thought buying this would "update" my trackball as my trackman marble is about 3 years old. I'm going back to my Logitech.

54 Trackball Optical
There is a fix to the "bad movement" problems with this device. After a few months of use lint and oil gets trapped in the stainless steel bearings surrounding the ball. All you need to do is pop the ball out, wipe it down, and use a tooth pick to clean around the three support bearings that hold the ball. Pop the ball back in, and it should work like new. Any device that contacts a human hand will accumulate oils and lint. This device is a thumb operated trackball, so if you want to use your fingers, go with the trackball explorer, or some other brand.

55 Almost a great device
I agree with reviewer Marek that the ball sticks. My experience is that it seems to stick when it gets warm and must expand a tiny bit so it binds in the housing. Wiping it off does not help. Curiously what does help is to put it in the freezer for 5 minutes (not always a practical alternative)or just leaving it alone for a while. The click is a little too sensitive as well. Barring these 2 things, I would probably buy 5 or 6 to keep for spares. It fits my hand well and I like the thumb control (definitely something some people need time to get used to).

56 Great Ergonomics, Very Poor Ball Movement
I have both this Microsoft Trackball Optical (at my office) and the alternative Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical (at home) and while the ergonomics are pretty much the same, the ball movement is much smoother on the Logitech. The Microsoft ball is manufactured using a translucid plastic that is not hard enough and causes it to "stick" to the rollers inside its casing.

Let me try to explain because I feel this is very important. Even though the trackball is optical (meaning there is a laser beam inside the casing that "reads" the ball movement), there are rollers in the form of tiny metal balls (the size of the head of a pin) over which the ball rolls. This "sticking" of the ball causes the movement of the cursor to be imprecise. When you try to roll the ball with your thumb just a pixel, it gets a bit hard (doesn't move) and then it releases it's stick and rolls too much.

On the Logitech however this does not happen. The construction is the same (plastic ball that rolls on tiny balls in the casing and a laser beam that reads the movement) but the ball is a little smaller and made of a much harder plastic. This harder plastic does not stick to the rollers inside the casing, so the ball is always free and the movement is smooth.

I definitely recommend you get the Logitech over the Microsoft model. Logitech has both a wired and wireless trackball models, both work the same way. Check them out.

57 MS Trackball Very Nice!
I found MStrackball to be very hand friendly, and comfortable. The pointer is very smooth moving, and accurate. I also liked the back and forward buttons to be quite nice when surfing the net. Even the led light is neat. The only problem that I've noticed, and is a slight one. The back and forward buttons should be either half their sized, or raised up and be rounded. They seem to get pressed alot, when I'm just trying to use the normal click buttons. Other than that, I'm quite satisfied, and am happy with this mouse. I also found the price to be cheaper than most of their competitors.

58 not a game thing
i've read all the reviews and there's a lot of people who says that this trackball is inacurrate : the intellieye technology scans the position of the ball about 2000 times per second when a mecanic trackball do this about 200 times per second. So it's time to stop blinking your eyes when you move your trackball.

Other peoples says that it's not designed to play games. Everybody knows that you WON'T play faster with a trackball (have you ever tried to make a U turn in a FPS with a trackball ?).

This trackball is well designed and very functional (and it works very well) but it's not the latest game-peripheral.

59 Neat, yet dirty
When i bought this mouse, i expected it to be so much to what i read on so many reviews. Well, it turned out to be pretty nice, except it tends to get dirty every few days and which make the trackball uneasy at movement. Another dissapointment i have is that it doesn't react at first touch, and which has cons at drawing precisely on any image editor. And if you've got a shaky thumb (even if it's just a little) it reflects on the mouse, but guess that doesn't count as a bad point to this mouse, because it's not the mouse's fault.

The mouse is pretty loyal though. It's MS. It costs a lot of money! (though i got it for half price, heh). It's supposed to be good and it is, just not as good as other mice and as i expected.

I'll be moving back to the old "move me with your hand" mice (optical, of course). At least you've got more control over them.

60 I just ordered my third one. (Shining endorsement)
While I don't always think M$ is a computing Godsend when it comes to software, this trackball is the best input peripheral I've used yet.

I have what I think is a larger than normal hand, so I find most mice and trackballs are too small for me to use comfortably. This causes my hand to tire out rather quick. This trackball however is of a decent enough size for me to rest my hand on without much fatigue.

The USB PS/2 adapter is a nice touch. I love the narrow back/forward (By default) buttons on the outer edges of the primary and secondary buttons. Web and folder browsing is definately faster with those. The scroll wheel button as a double-click also is a nice option.

For those hardcore mousers out there, it will take a bit of time to get used to a thumb ball, but I think it pays off as I now feel that I have better control. It also requires less desk space because the unit doesn't have to move around a la mouse. Mouse pads need not apply as well. Some grit occasionally gets in the small bearing that the ball moves on, but they are easliy cleaned with a brush of the finger, and they never get as nasty as regular mice.

The software is nice and easy to set up with a graphic interface that shows the buttons you are setting. I know some people that can appreciate that.

I bought one a while back for home, and then asked work to '[give]it up' and help out my ergonomics. Now my other home PC is needing one.

My one gripe with this trackball is that it could have been improved upon by layering it with a thin coat of rubber to make it even more comfortable. This is a small gripe to be sure, as I can be at the computer much longer with this than a conventional mouse before my hand bothers me.

61 Awesome product
I do a lot of technical writing at work and I must say that I was very scared of getting an RSI. I read at a lot of places that mouse devices with trackballs are more ergonomic than the normal ones. Hence, I bought this product to use at work. I must say that I am extremely pleased with it in the one day that I have used it. Its extremely convenient; Learning how to use the trackball is not a pain at all; I was comfortable with it within 30 minutes. (I have used the conventional mouse for 10 years now, and was apprehensive that I would not be able to adapt to the trackball). My only complaint is that I like to use the left hand for the mouse (its better ergonomically) and that Microsoft does not have a model that can be used with both hands. Overall, I highly recommend it..

62 Love it!
I just installed this today and I am thrilled!! I'm a software trainer, as well as a training designer, so I am on the PC constantly. I work on a lot of very long documents, lots of graphics that need editing AND I use the PC for presenting software classes. This trackball makes all of these tasks easy, even the very fine detail work of editing jpeg files.

I initially was looking for an inexpensive alternative to a traditional mouse for my classroom presentations. I FOUND ONE!! The only drawback is that it is a little big for my hand (on the smallish size) but it will work from any angle so I can actually cradle it in my upside down hand and run with it. The software has lots of adjustments to set the trackball movement and click operations/speed for the users skill level.

A great mouse alternative for all levels of users!

63 Sticky Fingers
I too think this is a good add on. It feels nice on your wrist when you use it, and I'm not in the market for a replacement yet, though I still use my laptop fingerpad most of the time.

My two complaints are:
1) If you're anal like me, you'll find that you have to clean those metal nubs that act as bearings for the trackball several times a day if I want to maintain that nice smooth feeling.

2) It's not the best mouse if you play those shoot-em up games a lot. It's hard to move the trackball small distances (as in, you're trying to aim at an opponent). This is compounded by sticky issue no. 1 above.

64 Nice :)
It takes a little while (not long) to get used to using your thumb to move the mouse, but after you do, it is "second nature." I really like using the programable buttons to navigate forward and backward in my Web browser and up and down directories within Windows explorer. The USB interface is nice too; I can plug it in to my laptop if I ever want to play a game.

The only reason I don't give 5 stars is because I do have to periodically pop the ball out and clean it. No big hassle though, it's painless. ;)

65 Great Trackball!
I love this trackball! I spend a lot of time on the computer, both for work and entertainment - probably 4-10 hours on a typical day. I was having carpal tunnel problems, and one of the recommendations was to switch to a thumb-controlled trackball. I was VERY skeptical that it would work for me - I remembered trying a couple of different trackballs 6-7 years ago, and I was very frustrated with the poor level of control and accuracy of the old models.

Microsoft's Optical trackball is a different trackball altogether! It is fantastic! It took about 3 days for me to get used to its layout, and now I prefer it to a mouse. In fact, I bought a second trackball two weeks later so I could have one on both my home and office computers. I added a $5 wrist pad from Belkin and have seen my carpal tunnel symptoms disappear almost completely!

I've used this trackball with my laptop and my desktop systems, and with both the USB and PS/2 connections, and have had no problems. Software installation was a snap! The programmable buttons are quickly addictive. I use the "extra" buttons for moving backward and forward between web pages - web surfing has never been so easy!

I have noticed that the ball sometimes gets a little "sticky." The stickiness is caused by gunk accumulating on the 3 metal nubs in the depression where the ball rests. It's quick and easy to fix though - just pop the ball out, wipe off the nubs and it's as good as new! And it's much easier than cleaning off the rollers in a conventional mouse.

66 Very Pleasantly Surprised
No sooner had I placed my order for this gadget, than my helpful friends all warned me that I had selected the wrong Mouse, that I should have chosen the one with the trackball on top. Since I have become thoroughly fed up with standard goop catching mice, I had ordered the first optical trackball my search engines turned up. As it transpires, I don't think I could have done better with even more research or experimentation. I like the set-up on this model. The ball on the side is highly responsive and the shape of the device fits my hand perfectly. For me, having the trackball on top would be a distraction. I recommend the Microsoft D67-00001 Trackball Optical with no reservations.

67 If you like tendonitis...
Who came up with the bright idea that a thumb operated trackball was ergonomic? Ten minutes after installing this thing, there were shooting pains up my forearm. I unplugged it and went back to a logitech trackball which is not great but doesn't require medical attention subsequent to use.

A pity, 'cause their intellimouse explorer mouse is by far the best mouse around.

68 The Ball is TERRIBLE
I'd give it no stars if that were an option being that it doesn't do the simple job it should.
I don't care if when it comes to computers you're an idiot or Bill Gates, either way steer clear of this trackball. At first it seemed fine once I got used to the ball itself (having changed from a typical mouse to the traking ball to try to save desk space and my wrist's health) but it took less than one evening of use for the ball to begin studdering, other's who have revieved this have written the same thing. Why sell a product whose primary function is faulty? You can't accurately do anything if the ball doesn't roll smoothly, and IT DOES NOT. ... DON'T BUY THIS. I like trackball concept and will look into other brands and designs. I'm just annoyed with microsoft for wasting my time with this. (although the fact that it's a microsoft product should have set off alarms that something would go wrong, I just assumed they could at least get a simple track ball right, my stupidity.)

69 good technology from microsoft
In general, this is a decent Mouse from Microsoft. I bought this one because I got really sick and tired of moving the mouse on the pad all the time. The software that come with the mouse is excleelnt with lot of features. I think you need at least one week to get use to the mouse. At the beginning, you will problably find it difficult to aim the pointer in the correct position. I had this mouse for three weeks now and I have no difficulty at all using it (The first week was difficult to use it). The mosue itself is big but comfort to your hand. I think microsoft needs to relocate the two side bottoms somewhere else but you will get use to it. The trackball runs more smooth after you take it out and put it again. After use it for a while, the ball gets more stiff. With the price you pay for this mouse, you are getting an excellent deal from Microsoft

70 Extremely difficult to aim the pointer accuaretly.
I'm taking this back pronto, because it fails miserably in its first task, making it easy to get the pointer on whatever it is you're trying to target. While the whole unit fits comfortably in the hand, matching curvature well, the task of rolling the ball is left to the thumb, which is not the easiest digit to move around. (Think about it, if you play a music instrument. All the real work and ornamentation is usually left to middle fingers and the pinky, and thumbs may only hold an instrument up. There's a REASON why the expression is "all thumbs." Clumsiness is for the thumb.) Consequently, working with this item is a very slow and agonizing process. I find myself just getting the cursor into a field, and then clicking using the keyboard to right position. I enjoyed my Kensington Expert Mouse, and standard mice, far more than this. This is pure work.

71 Great Mouse
If you have developed any wrist or forearm pain and/or soreness from using a regular mouse over time, this trackball will be a godsend for you. Once you get used to it, the trackball is even easier to control than a regular mouse. With both a ps/2 adaptor and usb connector, installation is easy. This mouse fits easily and comfortably and now that I've discovered this trackball mouse, I won't ever go back to a conventional mouse. I have 2 computers and this trackball on both. Get this trackball, it will save your wrist!

72 Best trackball I've owned
MS has produced a strong trackball superior to many others I have tried. The ergo's are great and your hand relaxes naturally around the design. In fact others in my office have used it with nothing but positive feedback. The 4 button design and wheel fit my hand perfectly. I do have a medium size hand but others with larger fingers haven't had a problem. I have noticed in the 5 months of daily use that the ball does on rare ocassion tend to stick moving vertically. Maybe twice for 30 seconds in a 5 day workweek. I just move the mouse horizontally to loosen it a little and continue to work. The source of the problem is always gunk attached to the 3 metal numbs on the inside of the depression. A quick cleaning by my finger instantly corrects the situation. I clean perhaps once a month at most. The plastic post inside is not the problem. This trackball is packed with features. They really increase the value of the product and produce less handstrain. The ClickLock feature is the best followed by the Autowheel. I recommend this trackball to everyone, but think it is especially necessary for those of you who spend a great deal of time using a mouse/trackball. Your hand will just feel better and the end of the day.

73 This product fails to impress
I bought the Optical trackball on the assumption that since it was a Microsoft product, then it would work well. I was wrong. I cannot understand how a company such as Microsoft can fail to properly conduct quality testing on a product intended for general use.

The problem with this trackball is the ball. It stops and stutters which tranlates to very imprecise cursor movement. There needed to be a reason, so I removed the ball from the socket and inspected the inside. I found that the source of this stop and start movement was a tiny plastic bump which evidently was designed to hold the ball in place. However, it also prevents the ball from rolling smoothly which is the reason behind the stop and start affair.

This design flaw is inexcusable on Microsoft's part. This is one of the worst examples of an inadequately tested product being released I have encountered. Shame on you Microsoft.

74 A Good Tool for Those Seeking a Trackball
Reviewing input devices is about as subjective and hit or miss as the school of ergonomics and design itself. What's good for me may be poor for you.

That said, Microsoft's Trackball Optical is a solid performer both operationally and in it's feature set.

Supporting both USB and PS/2, Trackball Optical is a complete package for those seeking an alternative to traditional mice.

I've had no problems with the unit and installation of both the Trackball Optical and it's accompanying Intellipoint software was both simple and straight forward on my system running an Intel processor with Windows ME.

The area with the most controversy is no doubt the trackball placement at the user's thumb. I found it fairly intuitive, but some may find it cumbersome or obtrusive. The two smaller clicking buttons on either side of the Trackball Optical are also somewhat tricky to access, and will probably not find a use for some users as a result.

The scroll wheel is a nice inclusion and it's clicky feedback and spinning mechanism have the right feeling for me.

The footprint of the unit is rather large, which may be a disadvantage for some, but the cord is fairly long which is helpful.

75 A handsome but flawed mouse...
On the outside, the Microsoft Trackball Optical may look pleasing. With its ring of red light, its perfectly shaded gray exterior, and a nice curve to it, you might wonder how this beautiful mouse might possibly be flawed...well, let's just say that it certainly has its share of them!

Let's begin with the trackball itself. This trackball, so far, has worked moderately well; however, on occasion, especially during quick scrolling, this ball has "stalled" on me. That is, it stopped during the middle of scrolling, forcing me to re-shift my finger and continue. On other occasions, the trackball has actually shifted off of the sidebar (although this may have something to do with me then with the mouse...) It's not fastened into its socket, which I find a tad questionable. Is this for cleaning purposes, if so, why? As of yet I have not run into any dust problems or whatever else.

Now, moving on to the button functions. Although the two side "back" and "forward" buttons may seem convenient, they most certainly are not. Their size just limits the accessibility of the two regular function buttons. Add to that the fact that I never use them (I constantly find myself going up to the "back" and "forward" buttons on my Internet Explorer menu) and you've got some problems. Like I said above, because of the two small "back" and "forward" buttons, I've had several difficulties with clicking on the main function buttons. When I go to click on it, I click on the "back" or "forward" button instead; this can become irritating. Lastly, the scroll button I've had no problems with. I don't use it that often, but when I do I have never had problems yet.

I purchased this mouse while it was on sale, so, as of so far, it's been worth the value. However, I'm sure there are much better options out there, especially if you're looking for another trackball. However, if like me, you can obtain this mouse for relatively cheap, by all means buy it. Rating: 3 Stars

76 Don't buy it
I have two,this one and Logitech "Trackman Marbel Wheel".I would rate this one with 5 stars

77 An amateurs opinion
I don't know much about computers, or their accessories. I complained to my son in law that I was tired moving the mouse around. He suggested the track ball. I ordered it, he hooked it up, and I haven't let him near it since. I'm like an amatuer with a pros equipment. I've been so busy using it I havent really found out all its capabilities. As the old saying goes, You rest your hand on it and your thumb does ALL the walking.

78 Couldn't Recommend
When our last trackball finally lived up its usefulness, we wanted to replace it with something that wouldn't require so much cleaning, would be accurate, and last awhile.

The Trackball Optical by Microsoft was a BAD choice. Although your initial experience will be very nice, you'll soon run into some nasty problems. Namely:

A.) The ball will not roll in smaller increments. It "catches", causing the cursor to jerk on the screen, as if the rollers are dirty. This problem gets so bad, that it becomes _Very_ diffacult to even move between icons on a typical Windows toolbar (example: back, forward, stop, refresh, etc. buttons across the top of your web browser).

B.) There is nothing holding the ball in. If you look at the picture you'll see that the thumb-ball is on the side. Well, that's it. It's just sitting in there. There are three small plastic.. "bumps" on the inside, that I suppose are supposed to keep it in. However, if you turn the trackball side ways the ball will fall right out. This probably is even worse for an optical trackball, since you're not supposed to look at the light. And I'm not sure what one is supposed to do if the ball cracks.

Of course, this makes it very easy to clean the the three metal ball bearingings on the inside. So I know there's nothing preventing the roll of the ball. My best guess is that dirt got _behind_ the ball bearings, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to clean this without taking the trackball completely apart. Talk about your maintanence!

The red around the ball is a simple red plastic ring. This is purely for looks and to make the trackball look "cool". When you move the ball, the beam on the inside lights up, causing the red plastic to "glow". Microsoft does a a real good job at making their product _look_ nice, but unfortunately they seemed to been focusing more on the asthetic design more so then making it actually _work_.

The trackball hurts our wrist, we never use the smaller buttons for web browser "back" and "forward" command, and I just can _not_ recommend this to anybody who's thinking about getting an optical trackball.

Your experience may differ, but if you're trying to decide between optical trackballs, get Logitech's product.

My brother bought Logitech's after our problems with Microsoft Optical, and while it's no where as "cool looking" as Microsoft's, it sure works great. Smooth rolling, the ball is secure, and even though the rolling may feel stiff when the ball bearings get really dirty the accuracy doesn't drop and it's pretty simple to take out the ball and clean them off.

79 Couldn't Recommend
When our last trackball finally lived up its usefulness, we wanted to replace it with something that wouldn't require so much cleaning, would be accurate, and last awhile.

The Trackball Optical by Microsoft was a BAD choice. Although your initial experience will be very nice, you'll soon run into some nasty problems. Namely:

Your experience may differ, but if you're trying to decide between optical trackballs, get Logitech's product.

80 Best Trackball ever!!!
I did a lot of research before I decided on this trackball. I checked the Microsoft web site. I checked with CNET. I checked different magazine reviews and I also read every personal review I could find. I liked what was written about this trackball. The other products that I checked out did not meet the standards that I was looking for. I am using Windows ME and found it hard to find any trackballs or mice which state that they work with Windows ME. I finally had to call Microsoft to find out which trackballs and mice work with ME. It took me a few days to get used to turning the ball with my thumb but now I would not want to have to use anything else. I love it. This trackball must be used with your right hand only.

81 The answer to mouse-induced wrist pain
As an electrical engineer, I spend countless hours working on the computer. I started to develop pain in my right wrist that I figured was likely due to grasping the mouse. A friend suggested switching to a track-ball. I bought this item, and now have no pain in my wrists! I highly recommend this item because it essentially eliminates the squeezing motion linked to ordinary mice. I actually prefer using the trackball over a regular mouse, it has a much more fluid movement. If you are looking to this item because your wrist is hurting, I think you will be happy.

It takes a few hours to get used to the change, but once you conquer that you'll wish you switched earlier. It has two extra buttons which are a great idea for surfing the web, they let you jump forward and back through web sites with no effort, further eliminating wrist movement. If you like you can set them for other tasks, but I like the default. The scroll wheel is really nice. It moves very smoothly and quietly.

I gave it four out of five stars because I could not get the mouse to work through the USB port of my workstation, but I think that problem is linked to Windows 2000's lackluster USB support. Linux had no problem getting it to work through the USB, neither did Windows 98. Microsoft's Intellimouse software (that comes with the trackball, or can be downloaded from the web) is nicely refined.

82 Excellent, but Imperfect
I bought the new trackball Intellimouse in one of those strange fits of upgraditis that come over techies such as I at unexpected moments. Several years ago I bought a Logitech thumb trackball to help me with a wrist problem. It served its purpose admirably. By the time my wrist was back to normal, I was a complete convert to this configuration.

Now this old trackball was wearing out. The buttons, which rely on plastic 'springs,' were losing their bounce. They are also cut too close to the desktop, which meant that I was regularly taking the unit apart to remove something that had slipped in. It was a non-optical ball as well and the rollers, which are always getting mucked up, where getting harder to clean. It was time.

On the surface, the Intellimouse looks very nice. The unit cradles my right hand perfectly and has a slightly rough surface that keeps my hand from slipping. All four buttons have excellent feel, and the center wheel but has a slight rubber coating for grip and a very nice graduated movement. The ball itself turns freely with no effort under light pressure, but is capable of good precision when pressure is increased to slow it down. Overall impression is that this is a superbly engineered pointing device.

The IntelliPoint software is the usual high Microsoft standard. All the buttons are definable, pointers are customizable, and ball and wheel response is adjustable. Adjustments are also available for double-click speed, and to adjust orientation to your thumb. There is also a nifty option that lets you use a feature called ClickLock to make click and drag easier.

For many, this is the ideal thumb trackball mouse. Unfortunately, for me, there is a slight design flaw that creates a source of irritation. The primary left and right mouse buttons are a tiny bit too narrow for my fingers! This means that I am perpetually hitting the outer buttons if my fingers are not perfectly placed. Under game pressure, or while engaged in heavy websurfing, this can make you crazy, fast! Since the software does not permit inner and outer buttons to be defined identically, the only corrective option is to turn the outer buttons off. Occasionally I manage to press only the outer button and find myself repeatedly hitting the button while nothing is happening -- until I realize what's going on. Gradually, I'm learning to be more precise about where I put my fingers, but I could just as well have done without the outer buttons in the first place.

If you are a bit more adept than me, have the right kind of fingers or are already used to four button mice you will probably love this device. I find myself liking it more as I adapt to it. But there is no reason why Microsoft couldn't have simply made the primary buttons large enough to prevent the problem in the first place. Instead, an engineering oversight keeps this mouse from getting the full honors it otherwise deserves.

83 There are better choices
I thought I would give the Microsoft Trackball Optical a try. I had enough in about twenty minutes. So I silently suffered, and kept using it to give it a fair shake. The ball seemed to have a weird movement. Not very precise. The mouse is well built, however. The buttons and scroll was quiet. If you are looking for a trackball style mouse there are better choices, like the Tracman Marble+ by Logitec.

84 weird setup
i recived this trackbll mouse as a gift, but expected the ball to be at the top of the mouse. it is awkward to use themouse and click, and forces you to buy another peripheal to play demanding games that require quick clicks. its like playing doom on a laptop, without another mouse, it's impossible almost!

85 Finally
I have owned mine for several months now, and the product works great. The accompanying software provides good functionality and abitliy to customize. My only complaint is that inside the bay where the ball sits are 3 small rubber pads. The rubber pads become dirty very quickly and impede the free flow movement of the ball. The rubber pads do come out rather easily, but then the ball moves too freely, with almost no fiction. Overall a great product. Microsoft has finally infused their products with some style.

86 Ausome technology
Yes I've had the microsoft optical for about 3 weeks now and it is great. It took a while to get used to but I'm a pro now. The technology of the optical ball is extraordinary. It works good for games too. However it will take a while to get used to to play games. Also it is a cinch to clean. Great product!! Buy it now!!

87 Yet another great product from Microsoft
This trackball is absolutely amazing. It's so much more accurate than my old Microsoft trackball which i have been using for the past couple of years, not to mention the low price. Along with my trackball, I have also been using the explorer intellimouse from Microsoft, which I love. Although I was debating over to get this or the explorer trackball, the price certainly makes the decision an easy one. With the performance and reliability of Microsoft, everyone should have an Optical Trackball.

88 trackball optical d67-00001
i really enjoy my mouse it is incredible i have never used something so nice ryan o.