Side by Side Comparison of: Kensington vs Logitech

Big gamer here. I've had this model for 5 or 10 years, it's never failed me. I tried the wireless model and it is junk. I still use my old wired one, it works perfectly. I couldn't find them anywhere for a while so I'm glad they're back. I have a feeling my old logitech will never fail but if it should, I'll buy a new one!

Best trackball ever made. Over 20 years, I've had 3 of these. That new wireless one is a piece of junk. M570Damn wish they still made these. I might see if can get parts and refurbished mine.

I bought this model several years ago from Amazon for about $50. It's now about five times the price, so if the one I own dies I am sad to say I won't be buying a replacement of this model, even if it is available.That said, this mouse has been fantastic. Using a conventional mouse had become too painful to bear due to the repetitive stress. This mouse solved that problem completely and I no longer have any wrist pain. After a brief adjustment period where I was getting used to the action of the ball, and where my hand was getting used to the new movements required of it, this mouse quickly became a must-have in my daily work life. I bring it with me when I travel and plug it in to the laptop in favor of the integrated track pad. And aside from the far superior ergonomics, I find it easier to use and more efficient in every way than a conventional mouse. I hope that future models will be more affordable. In the meantime I safeguard my trusty old one with great care.

This is a replacement for the original Trackman Marble which lasted for nearly 10 years of heavy use. If this products lasts even half as long I'll be very happy. However, take note, it can only be used for right-handed people.Operation is very smooth as it was with the Trackman Marble. It is very comfortable to use and fits the shape of nearly every hand. The two buttons as well as the wheel are programmable with the included Setpoint software. My software was already installed on my Windows Vista Premium computer when I installed the Logitech Wave Keyboard. Installation was fast and easy. Setpoint integrates all functions for all Logitech keyboards, mice, and trackballs. It is very convenient to have one program that controls multiple devices. Included is Logitech Messenger which periodically checks for software updates.I did see one complaint that using the thumb ball isn't as fast as using a ball controlled by the fingers. The speed of the cursor can be adjusted with the software. That person may have not realized it could be adjusted or perhaps chose not to install the software. If software is not installed, the Microsoft software has fewer control and programming options.Now for the flaw. The old marble's ball was easy to remove to clean. On the Trackman Wheeel Optical, there is a small hole on the bottom plate under the ball. Theoretically, dust and dirt should drop through this hole. In reality, dust and lint do not drop out but instead build up inside the compartment making the ball more difficult to move and respond erratically. To clean, remove the 4 screws on the bottom plate, remove the plate and carefully use canned air or a soft brush to remove the lint from all surfaces that contact the ball. I then use a q-tip moistened with household rubbing alcohol to clean the optical window. I am a fanatic about keeping my computer and peripherals clean and this procedure adds only a few minutes to my monthly cleanings, I will not deduct any stars although it is a step backwards from the older design.

I have been using computers since the beginning when there were no mice.You arrowed the cursor and then we went to tablets (CAD). Tablets were a pain. When the G.U.I. applications/mice came in it was easy to figure out tablets were doomed. I have been using this configuration of trackball since it's initial release for both home and office (Office and CAD applications). All trackballs take some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you will NEVER go back, especially if you like speed. You have to move the whole hand with full size balls, and clicking can be a pain. CT/RSI problems are caused from NON-MOVEMENT (STATIC STATE), which makes the whole "repetitive" thing a misnomer. All pointing devices will lead to CT/RSI problems if you do not let go of the thing once and awhile!And finally the ultimate fix for the ball loosing it's tracking capabilities (this goes for ALL trackballs) SPRAY THE BALL WITH A LITTLE WATER! Too simple right?

I'm really big on ergonomics as I'm a software engineer and use the computer more than 10 hours a day during and outside of work. For optimal results, adjust the mouse sensitivity to whatever you like--I keep mine at about medium sensitivity, because when the contacts are cleaned (occasionally, remove the ball and wipe the supports), you can spin the ball and it can move the ball across the screen easily.I even used to play Starcraft using this mouse, and was fairly good at it (over 2000 lifetime wins), so this mouse is good even if you have to do a lot of movement--hours and hours, and still no soreness or carpal tunnel. The greatest obstacle to using this mouse is first learning how to use it--but once you do, it's great! I suggest that you just plunk down the $30 or so to get it, and force yourself to learn it.I like this mouse so much, that I own 3 of them and currently use 2, one at home and one at work.

Very comfortable, but just didn't stand up long term unfortunately. I went through 3-4 of these, wired and wireless before I gave up and went back to an ergonomic non roller ball

This is the best wheel mouse I've used. It is perfect for people who hate the terrible ergonomics of a standard mouse or track pad. It is accurate and easy to maintain. I only take a star off for price. It is very expensive compared to other options. Logitech makes a wireless trackball that performs almost as well for much less money. However, I don't like changing wireless batteries and require the precision this trackball has to offer.

This is a good trackball as long as you're right handed. It works with the standard Logitech driver so it's easy to customize the buttons and the scroll wheel gives you a third button which I always configured as a double click. So, why only 4 stars? I bought at least 3 of these, then they weren't being made and I got a recommendation for The Logitech Wireless M570 http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-910-001799-M570-Wireless-Trackball/dp/B0043T7FXE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_pc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1066HCEW67FRSPABMXEMSame basic configuration but wireless, just about the same price, too. The only thing I miss is being able to locate my trackball by starting at the computer and following the cord.

I'm a structural engineer who uses AutoCad very often. My conventional mouse was definitely making my wrist hurt. I turned to the trackball as an option to alleviate this pain. So far the trackball has worked beautifully and my wrist feels much better. The trackball allows for your wrist to remain in one position while you're thumbs does that work. It took me about a week to get efficient with the trackball. Drawing in AutoCAD was a little bit difficult at first but soon I was just as quick as with a conventional mouse minus the wrist pain.I definitely would not recommend buying it brand-new. I purchased my trackball used for $80. The new trackball is listed at well over $200 which is overpriced.

First off, I've been using these for YEARS. My brother got me hooked (jerk) with the model before this one which was a bit bigger but similar in most ways. I'm a semi-avid PC gamer, playing World of Warcraft, various First Person Shooters, Real Time Strategy games, etc. and I find it much easier (especially with little desk real estate) to move around using a "thumbball" like this one. I can maneuver quicker and more accurately than with a standard mouse. How much of this is due to experience with the device compared to it actually being easier to use? Maybe 80/20. I still think that anyone willing to put in the time will be very happy with it.Now to my only con with this product; the design literally has not changed in 8+ years. This is partly a good thing, but I would love an updated (or alternate) version with a few side buttons for the few of us out there that use it for gaming.Still, whether that happens or not I will continue to break and re-use these. Not to say they're shoddily made, because they're not. I'm only on my second or third in eight or more years, and one was fixable. I'm not the nicest to my electronics either; I can't count how many times this thing has fallen on the floor to have the ball roll across the room and get attacked by the cat.

If you're in the market for a high value, low cost, corded trackball that's easy to use, doesn't need much cleaning and comfortable, look no further. I've owned mine for 16 months now, and only had one problem and one annoyance, which I'll tell you how I fixed (this likely voids your warranty if you had one).The annoyance is that the scroll wheel makes a clicky sound and bumpy feel when scrolling. This also makes it slower and unjustifiably noisy to scroll through large documents. My solution (10 minutes): Open up the mouse, locate mouse wheel, remove paperclip-like-metal-piece that goes between the spokes of the wheel. Reassemble. Smooth scrolling forever.12-months after purchase: Dragging became impossible. I would be dragging something from one place to another, and it would fall part-way there, sometimes opening an application or the documents. Selecting words in a text document became similarly infeasible. Actual problem: the plastic used on the mouse buttons is soft and deforms after so many thousand clicks, making poor contact with the switch. My solution (5-30 minutes), take mouse apart again, look at the top "shell" where the plastic mouse buttons are. Remove the offending button by prying the plastic tabs below it aside. Put a piece of tape over the plunger that touches that sensors on the lower shell, followed by a piece of thin springy foil or plastic that you've cut to the same area as the plunger, and then tape over that again. Multiple pieces of tape might work for a while, but could deform over time. Reassemble. Just like new.

Good quality, not so nice to use, but it's just a matter of taste.

This is a replacement for my 20-year-old Logitech trackball that finally started acting up. It has the usual high technical quality that I have come to expect from Logitech. Ball control is smooth and easy, with no rough spots. The driver is easy to install. The only problem I have is that the buttons are too sensitive. Just resting my fingers lightly on them sometimes causes them to click. The button-wheel-button grouping is also just a little too tight for my rather large hand. But I am slowly getting used to it, and so far it has functioned flawlessly.

I bought this mouse to replace my old Microsoft ball mouse, that wore out after years of use. The Logitech has only five functions, while the MS mouse had seven, which I prefered. It is also smaller than the MS, and not as easy or comfortable to use, for those of us with larger hands. What I liked best about the Logitech, is the ball, which is much smoother and easyer to use. But the buttons have never worked right from the start, and seldom will make contact without a hard tap with the finger. Also, one of the functions of the scroll has ceased working, after only a few months of use. I think that Logitech, like so many other companies today, needs to be more concerned about the quality of the products for the consumer, than their obligation to the stock holders.

I saw a trackball mouse on the desk of an acquintance and asked him what he thought. He raved about it, so I thought I'd give this one a try. I use a large monitor (26") set at high resolution and I thought this might alleviate having to constantly pick up and reposition my mouse when working on large formats or magnified objects. I also hate constantly changing the batteries in a wireless mouse. So, I chose this one. It works fine in most applications (i.e., word documents, spreadsheets, email, etc.), but I personally have a tendency to cause the ball to move slightly when I lift up my thumb and this can be frustrating when working on something that requires precision. I've had this a few weeks now, and I am getting better at it. It just takes a while to change habits. Also, I don't know that I would really call this ergonomic. While I'm not using my wrist as much, all the the movement is now done by my thumb and now it gets sore after a long day on the computer.

I bought this just about July 28, 2008. It's now December 28, 2009. Technically, the mouse is still usable and functioning.However, it's showing those signs that it's about to become trash. Noticeably, it's starting to do that thing where it randomly double-clicks instead of single-clicks. This is not a software or hardware problem or anything---it's that sign that the mouse is getting to be trash.I got the mouse to replace a Microsoft mouse which had five buttons and a trackball and it was fun and stuff. On Amazon, that mouse seems to go for over 100 dollars, so screw that. I don't know how long it'll take, but I feel this mouse might end up dying soon, so I label it as 1.5 years going.It's fun, it's easy, it's reliable. For cleaning, though, it's not as easy as the Microsoft one. The ball doesn't come out easily, so you have to reach under it and shove it out with a prodding object, and it gets a lot more filthy in there than the Microsoft mouse.****UPDATE****I bought another one on September 2010. It is now November 2011, and the same problem has recurred with another one.

This mouse is smooth and accurate. The ball to curser movement is dead on! Left and right click buttons are everything you will ever want them to be. It's made for right hand use and it may take a little getting use to.I have limited use of my hands and found that a track ball mouse works best for me. For 9 years I've used a Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse by Logitech. They last me about 3 years each. I thought this time I would try Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical (Silver) by Logitech. May be this one will last longer and I like the scroll wheel. BUT, I'm having a hard time getting use to the track ball offset to the left and I had to put a pad onto the left click button to find it easier. I'm sure in time I'll be use to this on and very happy with it, if it last longer than the one I replaced. The track ball does not fall out if you turn it over! I love that. I recommend it.

I needed a mouse alternative. This item has a major flaw. The track ball is slippery and to light. I lack a lot of precision that I would get with track ball with a grip coating. I need to press hard on the ball to get it working and the motion is not fluid. I do not like this item.

This mouse just didn't work for me, and I had to send it back. It feels comfortable, but when you move the wheel instead of the mouse to move the cursor, you can only move it so far, and then you have to lift your thumb and put it back at the starting point to move it some more. In other words, the movement can't be a sweep from one place to another.

I decided to try a trackball because my right arm has a slight pain after extended use of a laptop. I decide to try this one because its good reviews and low price. After one night's use, I decided to return it because of two problems.1. It is not really ergonomic. The thumb is good at sweeping the ball in a left to right motion, but it is very tiresome to move the ball in a up-down motion. I found that I need to move the thumb too many times in order to move the cursor downward cross the screen. I can't add too much acceleration, because the control is already imprecise without any acceleration. Yes, some reviewer said you can spin the ball if you want to move quickly, but I found that I have to jerk my thumb in order to give the ball some momentum. I noticed how much tension is on the tendons and muscles of the thumb. Also the finger's end is too curved, so the fingers need to work harder to push or hold the buttons. It puts quite some strain on both the index finger and the thumb if you want to drag something in a downward motion.2. The ball is very imprecise to control. The bearings are not rollers, so what they put on the ball is not rolling resistance. There is quite some friction. This makes the ball hitch. It is very difficult to move the cursor in small distances even if you use the index finger instead of the thumb. It does this even when it is new. This is a major problem in my perspective as a normal user. For example, I found it very hard to select text in a browser if the selection starts with a narrow letter like "I" and is at the beginning of a line, because you only have two or three pixels to miss. It will be more tricky if you do graphic design I believe.After using it for one night, I found that I like the touchpad on my laptop much better. I'm going to return it.

Purchased this Trackman in September 2009 after having many logitech products that were wonderful. This trackman came with the marble ball loose in the socket and there are no adjustments. This makes accurate placement of the cursor almost impossible. I have contacted Logitech several times in an attempt to get it replaced or repaired with no response. Wait times on phone calls is always 10 minutes or more. I have sent two emails with no response. Although Logitech has been wonderful in the past I would purchase something else until they get their quality control back to an acceptable level.

I am a regular PC user, who spends 4-8 hours per work day on my computer. I experienced repetitive-use-injury tingling in my wrist after using a "regular" mouse for years, but once I purchased this one, the tingling and night-time numbness went away! However, I am very sad to say that this mouse "died" after 7 months. It is a bit too pricey to be so "disposable." Terrible.

This review is for a trackball, not a mouse with a ball.I have been using a trackball for years because computers are easier to manage when my hand does not have to move a mouse around, and the trackball can be manipulated fixed in place, without a mouse pad, I might add. Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer real trackballs available. The mice made with a ball are not really the same as a trackball.My new computer does not have a PS2 port, and my Trackman Marble FX does not have a USB connector. So, I bought a new trackball with the USB interface, and here is my experience with Logitech's Trackman Wheel Optical:For years, as a right-handed user, I have been using their TrackMan Marble FX where the ball is placed for use by the right index finger. This arrangement it far superior to a ball that's placed for use by the thumb, as is the case with this Trackman Wheel Optical. The thumb is needed for clicking the left button, not for moving the ball.Apparently I am not the only complainer about this change. My Trackman Marble FX is not made any more, and I have seen used ones offered for no less than 200+ dollars. I wish Logitech would reconsider their marketing strategy and re-issue the very good Trackman Marble FX in a USB2 version in its original 30-40 dollar range; maybe even wireless.

It got broken to early.

The left mouse button doesn't function properly, doesn't have a back button. Very frustrating!!! Will not buy used equipment again!!

I laughed seeing this item for sale for well into the $200+ area and had to give my review to save a person from buying this product. Since my Mac days back in the 80's, I always loved the trackball style mouse and in that era, had the Kensington Turbo Mouse. Later in the Windows era, I similarly looked for and purchased this mouse and I became very disappointed with the reduction of quality these trackball style mouse devices suffered from. Just to add, I also purchased the Microsoft Trackball and suffered similarly so it's not a Logitech issue, but rather a design flaw inherent in all of these trackball-based mouse devices.1. Your single click button on the left will fail on you quickly and in my case, I'd be lucky to have that button work reliably for over a year. I have taken these trackball's apart to attempt to clean the sensor button underneath the case but that does not fix this issue. This is the most glaring problem, considering these were $40-50 back then versus a standard mouse, which could run you under $20. I currently have some no-name branded mouse that I have been using for almost 6 years now still functioning perfectly without a hitch in comparison. The defect lies in the design of the sensor underneath the mouse buttons and they fail easily and are not reliable over time, the "why" I do not know but most of these trackball style suffer from this flaw.2. The trackball itself catches every piece of dust and dirt even when you think your hands are clean. This can be fixed by popping the ball out of the socket and cleaning the pins that hold the ball in place but after a while this become annoying and with a standard laser mouse, you won't have this problem very often if you work in a clean area.With that said, save your money and learn how to use a standard mouse on limited desk spaces or just get used to using a standard mouse. Logitech and Microsoft make great standard mouse devices and I would advise you abandon the trackball and move on, there is a reason why these two big companies abandoned the manufacture of these devices....

I got this mouse because of the numerous positive reviews on it and previous good experience with Logitech mice... but... this is one time I will have to disagree with them. This is the worst mouse I have ever used, by far. I thought I could get used to it... I didnt! It becomes uncomfortable for my thumb after extended use and I have to make more passes over the ball than normal to get the cursor from one side of the screen to the other. I already have the Logitech Marble Mouse and that is a good mouse which is comfortable to use, but that one is missing the scroll function, so I wanted to upgrade. Guess ill have to try something else cause this one just isnt for me. :(Additionally, I had my wife try it out on her computer because I figured if she liked it I wouldnt have to send it back. I also didnt allude to the exact problems that I had with it so I could get her honest opinion. In retrospect, my hands are large and hers are small. She has the same exact complaint... that the ball of the mouse has "too small of a stroke" to move the cursor efficiently, i.e., you have to use your thumb way more than you should have to, to move the cursor. Thanks for reading!

I'm sure this product like most everything Logitech produces is a good fit for alot of people. It just didn't work for me. I found it awkard to use and I didn't like it.

I remember back when the ball had some mass. On this newest model the ball is so light it's too easy to work. How is that a problem for me? I wanted to get away from mousing on my desk. Having used the older model before I was looking forward to that familiarity. I feel it is easier to control and develop a feel for something that gives you feedback, that let's you feel something as you work with it, not just skate away.They have gone the way of most everyone else, cheapen it up and sell it for the old price. Sorry, it isn't for me.