Opinions on Microsoft Explorer Trackball (finger controls)

[heroinbob]

I have a friend that is fanatical about his MS explorer trackball, and while he is just that (a fan-boy), I want others opinions about them.

They can be painfully expensive if bought new, but I've seen logitech trackballs with similar functionality for less $.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thank you,
Paul (HB)

[davkol]

My comment over at DT:

good: very comfortable shape, smooth ball action, quite soft buttons and wheel, USB and no special driver requirements (compared to Marble FX), beautiful IMHO
potentially bad: I think all Microsoft's pointing devices of that time had a bit wiggly buttons&wheel (from WMO to MTE); sensitivity is good enough for a single-screen setup (up to about, say, 1600×1200), but a bit lacking for multiple widescreens (I haven't played with software sensitivity/acceleration though; AFAIK someone tried to implant a modern laser sensor into their MS trackball)
bad: discontinued

I can't stress enough the brilliance of its thumb-button placement.

A similar trackball is about to be released by Elecom these days (at least in Japan).

[jerue]

My Explorer trackball is my favorite device ever, even more than any of the keyboards I own. I could write an essay about it, but I'll just provide a tl;dr version:

• Simple, well executed design
• Ridiculously comfortable
• Wired
• The left-click and Scroll Wheel!

I also have the thumball variant (Optical), it is OK but I much prefer the Explorer. If used prices remain at $100 or so, I would have absolutely no qualms with picking up a replacement, not that I will need one any time soon...I have debated getting a second one for home but I prefer wireless for that workstation.

I really want to try this, the M-DT1URBK; the similar one davkol mentioned. It looks like it will be around $77 USD, and a bit more "functional" than the MS Explorer, but I doubt it will be as comfortable. Good news is that it comes in both wired and wireless!

[heroinbob]

Thanks for the feedback.
Much appreciated.

Paul (HB)

[hanya]

I really want to try this, the M-DT1URBK; the similar one davkol mentioned. It looks like it will be around $77 USD, and a bit more "functional" than the MS Explorer, but I doubt it will be as comfortable. Good news is that it comes in both wired and wireless!

It looks release date for M-DT1 and M-DT2 has been delayed to next month. In amazon, the release date has been set to 20th November.

[heroinbob]

Ok, broke down on MS explorer trackballs - got 4 (bulk deal).
Keeping 1, putting up the other 3 on classified.

Thanks for the feedback.

Paul (HB)

[SamirD]

Ok, broke down on MS explorer trackballs - got 4 (bulk deal).
Keeping 1, putting up the other 3 on classified.

Thanks for the feedback.

Paul (HB)

Link to classifieds listing? (couldn't find it via search)

[heroinbob]

Ok, broke down on MS explorer trackballs - got 4 (bulk deal).
Keeping 1, putting up the other 3 on classified.

Thanks for the feedback.

Paul (HB)

Link to classifieds listing? (couldn't find it via search)

Ok, broke down on MS explorer trackballs - got 4 (bulk deal).
Keeping 1, putting up the other 3 on classified.

Thanks for the feedback.

Paul (HB)

Link to classifieds listing? (couldn't find it via search)

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76543.msg1914196#msg1914196

[SamirD]

Ok, broke down on MS explorer trackballs - got 4 (bulk deal).
Keeping 1, putting up the other 3 on classified.

Thanks for the feedback.

Paul (HB)

Link to classifieds listing? (couldn't find it via search)

Ok, broke down on MS explorer trackballs - got 4 (bulk deal).
Keeping 1, putting up the other 3 on classified.

Thanks for the feedback.

Paul (HB)

Link to classifieds listing? (couldn't find it via search)

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76543.msg1914196#msg1914196

Thank you!

[building_an_ergo]

A similar trackball is about to be released by Elecom these days (at least in Japan).

Elecom trackballs have major tracking issues.

Trash compared to something like the M570.

[noway]

I like the Trackball Optical.  Glad I stocked up a bit before they were discontinued.

[davkol]

A similar trackball is about to be released by Elecom these days (at least in Japan).

Elecom trackballs have major tracking issues.

Trash compared to something like the M570.

That's blown out of proportion, esp. with M570's ball (and combined with new bearings).

[building_an_ergo]

out of proportion, esp. with M570's ball (and combined with new bearings).

I have had three elecom mice.

M-XT1, M-XT3, and M-DT1.

M-XT1 is unusable, even with the M570 ball.

M-XT3 is usable, but not great.  Nowhere near as great as the M570. My M570 ball also wont fit into my M-XT3 properly. I believe this is some sort of defect.

My M-DT1 (which I purchased long after that post) is almost perfect with the M570 ball.   Still inferior to the M570, but almost there.  The wireless range is terrible, however. Definately go for the wired.

[oneproduct]

Can I ask you what makes the M-DT1 not quite as good as the M570? I own the M570 but turns out I'm not much a fan of thumb trackballs, so I was considering the M-DT1. Also, do you happen to know what the difference between the M-DT1 and M-DT2 are? There are pages for both on the Elecom site but they seem identical. I assume the M-DT2 is newer and better? It's the only one that seems to be on sale on Amazon.

[building_an_ergo]

Can I ask you what makes the M-DT1 not quite as good as the M570? I own the M570 but turns out I'm not much a fan of thumb trackballs, so I was considering the M-DT1.

Hard to put into words, but it is just not as smooth as the M570. When you use the M570, the ball smoothly rolls at any speed.  On the M-DT1 it sometimes catches and is jumpy at low speed.  It is considerably harder to be accurate.  But I do agree, I like the fingertip better.

Also, do you happen to know what the difference between the M-DT1 and M-DT2 are? There are pages for both on the Elecom site but they seem identical. I assume the M-DT2 is newer and better? It's the only one that seems to be on sale on Amazon.

I assume it is an updated version.  There was a similar thing with the M-XT1 and M-XT2.  A quick google doesn't seem to show any major differences between them however.

I'd buy it and try it, but honestly I am fed up with elecom.  Not gonna burn $50 on yet another elecom trackball that barely works.