#Kensington expert mouse vs slimblade drivers
#Kensington expert mouse vs slimblade driver
#Kensington expert mouse vs slimblade software

It was especially problematic for left-handed users who wanted to be able to swap the right and left click buttons. This proved to be a tactical error that deterred existing Expert Mouse users from buying the product. When the product launched, there was simply no way to configure the behavior of those buttons so that they could be used for something else. Kensington intended for the Slimblade's top two buttons to be used for multimedia browsing, a feature that was likely introduced as part of a misguided effort to boost the product's mainstream appeal.

#Kensington expert mouse vs slimblade drivers

This initially made it difficult to use the device without drivers or on platforms that aren't officially supported. The top two buttons on the Slimblade don't emit normal button signals when they are pressed. It makes an audible clicking sound and rolls smoothly. I find that it works best when I use my first and second fingers rather than using my thumb and first finger. The necessary gesture feels a bit awkward at first, but it works better in practice than the old ring.

Kensington ditched the ring for the Slimblade and designed it so that scrolling can be accomplished by twisting the ball itself. The Expert Mouse has a rubber ring around the ball that the user can twist in order to scroll. The advantage of this design characteristic is that dirt and other debris can't build up in the well and impede the ball's motion-it requires less cleaning than the Expert Mouse. The sensor pits are on the sides of the ball well instead of the bottom. When you remove the ball, you can see straight through to your desk. One of the best engineering enhancements that differentiates the Slimblade from the Expert Mouse is the fact that the ball well has a hole at the bottom that goes all the way through the housing. This makes the housing feel more seamless, but the downside is that it's a bit harder to click near the outside corners. Instead of conventional buttons, the device's four quadrants can be individually pressed to activate a click.

#Kensington expert mouse vs slimblade software

After spending a few weeks with the Slimblade and testing it with tasks ranging from software development to Starcraft 2, I decided to assemble some notes for the benefit of other trackball enthusiasts.Д¬ompared to the most recent generation of the Expert Mouse, the Slimblade has a gentler and more forgiving slope, which makes it a bit easier on the wrist. It's finally an acceptable replacement for the classic Expert Mouse. When the recent death of my well-used Expert Mouse compelled me to revisit the Slimblade, I discovered that the product's software deficiencies have been corrected.

#Kensington expert mouse vs slimblade driver

Its successor, the Kensington Slimblade, was launched in 2008, but initially failed to meet the expectations of the Expert Mouse audience because it launched with extremely limited software and very poor driver support. Among trackball enthusiasts, it practically has a cult following. Very reliable.The venerable Kensington Expert Mouse is arguably one of the best trackball input devices for desktop computing. I find both of them to be comfortable and easy to use. If you don't mind taking apart the Expert to remove the magnet and lube the scroll assembly then get the Expert. Out of the box and you just want it to work, then go Slimblade. Once it breaks in a bit it works just fine. I had to remove the magnet and I used teflon lubricant on the scroll wheel assembly to improve scrolling. The Expert is a good trackball too, but not out of the box. I need to take it apart and see if I can repair it. The upper right button is intermittently working. Oil the ball a little bit to get it to scroll smoothly and you are good. The ruby balls the trackball rides on are embedded in the case and won't come out. The Slimblade out of the box will just work.

I need/use a wooden wrist rest for both which really makes a difference for comfort. I have used both the Expert (wired) and Slimblade extensively.