Anyone used a 'Kensington Mouse Expert' trackball?

[Justin]

Grabbed one for $14.99 today at microcenter.   It is a PS/2 serial version.  I hope this is OK considering that I will be using USB ports for everything else  (I-PAC)

Anyhow, I'm wondering if anyone out there has used this trackball to share experiences, and also mounting advice!  

Thanks,
-J

[neuromancer]

$15 is a steal. I just payed $95 at circuit city for an Expert Mouse pro. The only difference is mine has a bunch of stupid programmable buttons. (And a clear blue ball).

I've been using the expert mouse, and the macintosh turbo mouse since 1992. They seem to last about 5 years in a daily use/office environment. Kensington technical support is excellent. If it breaks under warranty, they'll ship a replacement.

Probably not as durable as an arcade trackball, but pretty decent.

Bob

[u_rebelscum]

I too paid ~$100 for the USB Pro a while ago.  Currently I use it most of the time for everyday windowing, and like it a lot.  Smooth spin, no backspin, decent spin time.  One thing I don't like about it for arcade play is how lose the ball is; sometimes if I wack the ball really hard from the side, or hit the edge vertically down from almost straight above with my thumb, the ball "kicks" up off the rollers before falling back in.  I thing the pro is mounted a little higher than the non-pro, though, so you might not experence this.  You might not hit the trackball the same way I do either.

Tech note: The movement sensor hardware between the pro & non-pro are the same, which is a little different than the hardware that most other mice & trackballs have.  Due to the different hardware, I found that if the pcb bent a little bit (from a heavy pool ball & playing mame a lot), the sensors won't work.  This only happened rarely, but usually in the middle of a game;  the TB would recover after a night of non-use.  I replaced the pool ball with the original ball, and bought arcade trackballs for mame, and haven't had problems since (using the pro for normal windows use).

As far as mounting, the non-pro looks easier to mount than the pro models.  I haven't tried it, though.  But because of above tech note, be sure to support the board when you do mount it.

[Justin]

Excellent feedback and comments, rebel...  thanks a lot!  I will make sure I give the PCB enough support.

[neuromancer]

hardware that most other mice & trackballs have.  Due to the different hardware, I found that if the pcb bent a little bit (from

Maybe that's whats wrong with the two I have replaced. They sort of work, just not quite right. I have the most problems moving the cursor left. Maybe over time the pcb looses some of its strength...

That's worth looking at.  I could use another one working.

Bob

[u_rebelscum]

hardware that most other mice & trackballs have.  Due to the different hardware, I found that if the pcb bent a little bit (from

Maybe that's whats wrong with the two I have replaced. They sort of work, just not quite right. I have the most problems moving the cursor left. Maybe over time the pcb looses some of its strength...

You've tried lightly cleaning the rollers, right?  Instead of normal encoder wheels, the kensington experts reflect a light off the side of the (reflective) rollers.  The optical sensors are located a good distance from the rollers (~inch), and if the rollers, lens, or sensor gets dirty, you need to clean them ( kensington support page )

Of course, if the board bends too much, the lens and sensor are not lined up any more, and you lose movements.

[neuromancer]

Yeah, I've tried cleaning.

It's wierd. I get movement in 3 directions just fine. The cursor just doesn't want to move left.

It doesn't help troubleshooting that they won't function if there is outside light on the sensors (like what happens when you open up the case!!)

Bob

[u_rebelscum]

It's wierd. I get movement in 3 directions just fine. The cursor just doesn't want to move left.

Left, huh?  That's away from the side with the roller, right correct?  I wonder if the horizontal roller is loose or worn, or if the small idler bearing "gives" too much when you roll left, allowing the ball to come off the roller.  If you tested with the ball out and just spinning the roller with your finger and you still get the prob, forget what I said above.

It doesn't help troubleshooting that they won't function if there is outside light on the sensors (like what happens when you open up the case!!)

I know; ran into that before I realized the PCB was bending.  Dang weird sensor setup.  Those sensors' are just sitting out in the middle of no-where, all alone, uncovered, unsupported.

Works great most of the time though, and still on of the best PC trackballs out there by far.  Just not the arcade durability of a real TB.

[Wienerdog]

What is the general feeling of retail vs arcade trackballs?  I tried ordering a couple iBall TBs from Outpost (http://shop3.outpost.com/product/2422410), but I don't want to mount something on a CP if it is just going to breakdown.  I'm still considering ordring a Happ or Wico TB, I just can't bring myself to justify the extra $100 it would take.

[killr0y]

What is the general feeling of retail vs arcade trackballs?  I tried ordering a couple iBall TBs from Outpost (http://shop3.outpost.com/product/2422410), but I don't want to mount something on a CP if it is just going to breakdown.  I'm still considering ordring a Happ or Wico TB, I just can't bring myself to justify the extra $100 it would take.

I bought a red clear HAPP 3" trackball for $80, not $100.  I have to say there are several factors that make spending the extra $$ worthwhile.

1.  Why use consumer hardware in something you should take pride in builiding, especially when arcade cabs were meant for commercial use.
2.  The feel of a true arcade trackball is much better than a PC trackball.
3.  Arcade trackballs are designed for heavy use and can withstand wear and tear much better than a PC trackball.
4.  Arcade trackballs are designed to be installed in control panels.  It might be fun to come up with some creative way to install a PC trackball into your CP, but in the end you're just cheapening the experience, and robbing friends & loved ones of a true arcade experience.

[u_rebelscum]

What is the general feeling of retail vs arcade trackballs?  I tried ordering a couple iBall TBs from Outpost (http://shop3.outpost.com/product/2422410), but I don't want to mount something on a CP if it is just going to breakdown.  I'm still considering ordring a Happ or Wico TB, I just can't bring myself to justify the extra $100 it would take.

I bought a red clear HAPP 3" trackball for $80, not $100.  I have to say there are several factors that make spending the extra $$ worthwhile.

And the wico 3" runs for ~$50, wico 2 1/4" ~$25.
You shouldn't forget the optipac or mouse hack you also need to buy for an arcade TB to work on a PC.

2.  The feel of a true arcade trackball is much better than a PC trackball.

For arcade use.
I'll take my Kensington Expert Pro over an arcade TB for normal OS use, like surfing and forum browsing.

3.  Arcade trackballs are designed for heavy use and can withstand wear and tear much better than a PC trackball.

Definitely.  Even though one person probably isn't going to but their trackball through as much wear as one in the arcades, I think an arcade TB is a better long term investment.

4.  Arcade trackballs are designed to be installed in control panels.  It might be fun to come up with some creative way to install a PC trackball into your CP....

Yes.  Part of the price you're paying for an arcade TB is the ease to mount it.  Also, to mount a PC TB, you might need to buy parts that raise the total cost near to that of an arcade TB.

Either way you go, you should look at the total cost in money, time, effort, and fun/pain building, of the TB and all other parts needed.  IMO, go arcade trackball for long term enjoyment if you can spare the (smaller than usually figured) amount of $$ now.

[Wienerdog]

I bought a red clear HAPP 3" trackball for $80, not $100.  I have to say there are several factors that make spending the extra $$ worthwhile.

I definitely like the HAPP Blue translucent ball.  I was being conservative with the $100 estimate.  I was comparing the price to the $150 price of a 3" HAPP trackball with USB interface.  Even without the interface it is 96.90.  I'll look around for where I can get it cheaper.

robbing friends & loved ones of a true arcade experience.

lol, I wouldn't want to be so cruel to my friends and loved ones...  Part of my problem is that I'm not sure the trackball would be used much on my CP, but I don't want to leave it off.  I could probably spring for the extra $80 (as you quote) and then spend the time to hack a mouse interface.  Believe me, I LIKE the idea of the 3" Happ ball, I'm just not sure it is woth it.