Kensington SlimBlade Trackball Mouse with Bluetooth Wireless (Graphite) K72281US

List Price: $99.99 Discount Price: $69.25

Features:

• Full-featured laser mouse allows you to navigate through your documents with superior precision
• Unique Scroll Ball provides easy and intuitive 360-degree scrolling
• Trackball mode gives you cursor control in tight spaces and on any surface
• Bluetooth wireless technology for an instant connection ¿ leave your USB ports available for other devices
• Fuel gauge indicator lets you know when it's time to change your batteries

Customer Reviews:

Almost, but not quite ready [Posted on 2008-05-05]
Software is a primary issue. The full hardware potential is unrealized due to the lack of a dedicated software package for this device. Mouseworks, Kensington's excellent suite for Expert Trackball, does not recognize this device, and Mac's mouse program has insufficient capabilities - for graphical users the various speed and fineness or control is essential. As configured this device just can't do it. Also, the learning curve regarding switching back and forth from scroll to trackball is not as well spelled out in either the advertising, or the paltry user documentation available, as it should be. You cannot use both functions at the same time: It is either scroll or trackball, and the functions do not completely overlap.

For the money all these issues should have been better resolved.

Works As Described [Posted on 2008-05-09]
I bought this as an alternative to the Apple equivalent, the Mighty Mouse (Wireless), for my MacBook. The Apple Might Mouse is marvellous but stops working after a while due to dirt getting under the trackball and there being no way (stupid!) to clean it out; also the one-switch-two button system takes a while to get used to and is a bit uncertain.

This mouse is cheaper than the Apple equivalent.

The mouse worked fine (despite me having dropped it in the bath!) and is usable for me and my missus. It is lighter than the Apple equivalent and the ball is much bigger. The cursor placement isn't as accurate and sometimes wobbles a bit due, I think, to the larger ball's momentum. The Bluetooth setup and the required software setup was OK. It is nice to have two real switches for the left and right mice buttons, ruling out any uncertainty as to which button you've pressed (compared to the Apple equivalent).

I may buy another one for my other Mac.

A colour choice would be great! Black and white for Macs.

Great mouse/trackball!! [Posted on 2008-05-14]
Works fantastic! I had problems at first getting it to work properly but removed a battery, reinserted & worked great. Paired very easily.

I bought this for portability & for playing a ship simulator game that benefits from a scroll wheel. The Kensington Mouse/trackball is exactly what I was hoping for.

Mine did not come with any manual & I can't find a manual download on Kensington's website. Would like a manual of some type. The description & pics on Amazon's site did help a bit.

I love this Mouse! [Posted on 2008-05-14]
I am very fond of this mouse. It is easy on the hands, good looking and easy to set up. I use it with my MacBook Pro and I am very happy with it. I liked it so much, that I bought one for my daughter.

Technically excellent, slightly too slim for some hands [Posted on 2008-05-15]
This is a great mouse, and has become my preferred travel mouse. The laser optics work on my blonde wood desk, which my older Logitech optical mouse does not, and seems to work well on virtually any surface. The scroller ball is really terrific; it's interesting how quickly this becomes a "necessity" and working with mice that have mere scroll wheels (up/down only, instead of omni-directional) becomes a chore. And the Bluetooth connection works perfectly with my MacBook Pro, coming alive quite quickly, shutting off automatically when not in use.

The only downside is one specific to my hands, which are larger than average. The slim mouse is actually a little small for me to use full-time, and so I still use my Logitech mouse when my laptop is docked at my desk.

If you have normal or (esp.) smaller hands, this won't be an issue, and you'll probably find this mouse to be nearly flawless. If you have large hands, it's still a good mouse, but be prepared to take breaks, or adopt a different grip, or otherwise do something to accommodate the slim profile of this device.

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