[Macworld]

Post your comments for Expo: Kensington puts it all on the ball. here

[macFanDave]

Releasing such an expensive device in such hard economic times? That takes Balls.

[leicaman]

First look, I thought it was Slimeball. :p

[OriginalMacRat]

At that price I'm sure they'll sell like crazy!!
Maybe a whole DOZEN!

[Roquentin]

Wow. I'm a huge fan of Kensington's big Expert Mouse trackballs, and the seemingly slimmer profile may address a key ergonomic issue affecting the older models (a steep upward angle). But I don't understand why, with this and so many other electronic products, I always have to work so hard to find key technical details. In this case, what are the product dimensions? Is it USB or is it wireless? What's the purpose of that little tab sticking out on the upper-left side? Etc. There's a bit more info here, but not enough: http://slimbladetrac...tml/16644.html.

[danmusician]

At this price, I would hope it is wireless. However, is that a wire sticking out the upper right side of the device (left corner of photo)? I'm with Roquentin, I'd like more information. I could use a wireless trackball in by studio - but I think $130 is a bit high.

[whitedog]

leicaman said:

First look, I thought it was Slimeball. :p

Meow?

Actually, this is the first new mouse in a while that's peaked my interest. I currently use a Kensington Expert Mouse, which is a four button mouse with an optical trackball and scroll ring. Adding functions to the trackball itself is a major advance - or will be if it works as advertised. The Kensington web site is pretty thin on details. What it appears to do is combine conventional trackball functions with those of a scroll wheel.

From the pictures on the web site it looks like the SlimBlade also has four buttons, flush with the housing. I hope they work better than the buttons on the Apple Mighty Mouse. In my experience an optical trackball is sturdier, more reliable and easier to maintain than conventional scroll wheels - especially that little rubber pebble on the Mighty Mouse. An optical trackball is likewise superior to the old-fashioned mechanical trackball. The main advantage of the Mighty Mouse trackball is it's omnidirectional scrolling. Presumably the scrolling trackball function on the SlimBlade will move a page or window in any direction as well.

My Expert Mouse is showing no signs of wearing out, but I will nevertheless have to give the SlimBlade a look when it becomes available. Hopefully it will show up in retail stores so that I can get some hands-on experience before shelling out $130. Now I'm sorry I'm not going to Macworld Expo.

[bousozoku]

Can you use it to emulate a keyboard for that price?
If not, I'll stick with my Logitech Trackman Marble. Between this and the Logitech G13 keypad, there seems to be a trend toward too expensive input options.

[DocNo]

Kensington trackballs have always been relatively expensive, but then again their quality is top notch. I much prefer the large trackball over the "thumballs" that are so popular now. I'll definitely have to look this one up when it ships!

[heisetax]

I've probably purchased 15-20 Kensington trackballs over the 20+ years I've had one. Until the current expert Mouse with its scroll ring, all of the others had regulation pool ball sized balls. I miss the ability to use the 8-ball or some other pool ball as before. But the scroll ring & the optical part works so much better than the older mechanical ball bearing models. To me the quality went down a n easily noticed amount when they changed from US manufactured to made in China.
After using Apple's AL keyboard for some time, I would like a lower profile trackball. I'll have to see how they do the scrolling on this model. After using a 4 button track ball for so many years now, I would not like any fewer lines.

[smumac]

@Roquentin: From looking at the Kensington Photo Showroom, it appears the little tab is just the company logo and serves no function at all. It also appears the unit is wired.

What is interesting is the ball goes thru the base. This must be needed to get the slim profile.

[RobLewis]

Guess I'm just unlucky.

The bad news: I'm on my fourth Kensington trackball, and it just failed (scrolling ring no longer works).

The good news: Kensington has replaced the original one three times now without complaint. I wonder if they'll do it again.

[ianfinity]

Looks like a nice update for my Expert Mouse.
Any word on driver software? Their last update was in '06 & I've been using SteerMouse since updating to 10.5 (or maybe 10.4, actually)

[heisetax]

Kensington uses their SlimBlade drivers for this SlimBlade Trackball. It will not work with the old standby MouseWorks software.