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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: bigpook on Tue, 07 July 2009, 20:59:21

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: bigpook on Tue, 07 July 2009, 20:59:21

I did this a few weeks ago and thought I would get around to posting about it. I didn't take pictures though, but its fairly straight-forward.

One of the more annoying things about the expert is that the scroll ring is not as smooth as we would like. Someone had posted here before about it but didn't seem to get much traction. Turns out he was right. I can't find the link, too lazy.

Anyways, there is a magnet that causes the notchy feeling you get when you use the scroll wheel. I took the mouse apart and removed the ball socket.

You will find a small magnet down by the lower right hand corner of the mouse. Its not very big but its easy to see. I don't know how it caused the notchy feeling, but whatever. I pried it out with a screwdriver and put the mouse back together.

The scroll wheel now spins freely. I can get quite a few revolutions out of it now. While not as smooth as I would like, it is an improvement.

Cheers!

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: bigpook on Wed, 08 July 2009, 04:14:53

Quote from: ripster;101676

Strange - wonder what the magnet was supposed to do.  

I'll have to take a look sometime.  How's that elbow??

Not sure. But it made a difference when I removed it.
As for the elbow; this is helping me out

check it (http://hundredpushups.com/week2.html)

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: MsKeyboard on Wed, 08 July 2009, 08:59:01

I also noticed a "notchy" feeling while using the scroll wheel. I wonder if they molded ball bearings into that scroll wheel to maybe keep it from free wheeling.

Don't know if I want to tear into it just yet though.  I am really trying to like it, and I do enjoy the scroll wheel, but the angle is just proving to be too much.  I keep finding myself looking for my Evoluent.

Thanks for the info.....Later

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: bigpook on Wed, 08 July 2009, 10:29:44

Quote from: ripster;101708

HAH!  That looks like too much work...  I'll just keep squishing my stress reliever.

Show Image

(http://media.canada.com/gallery/dose_oscarmoments/090217_om_palance.jpg)

It is. I was taking ibuprofin for a few days : )

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: tad on Wed, 08 July 2009, 19:14:15

There are opposing magnets built into the scroll ring that provide the "notching" when passing over the magnet in the base.

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: bigpook on Wed, 08 July 2009, 19:57:08

I remember the CST. That scroll wheel was very smooth. I wish they had that for the expert.

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: Xuan on Thu, 09 July 2009, 22:38:49

Quote from: ripster;101827

BINGO! Makes sense now.

A scroll wheel doesn't need that notching.  A video editing wheel for example has no stinkin notches! I'll pull that magnet sometime.  

The CST Lasertrak is nice in that it is a WIDE cylinder and smooth rolling.

I've never used it, but IMO the wheel needs to notch, it's the tactile feedback from the action, the same as keyboards.
In the other hand, I don't care about video editing only text scrolling and weapon switch.

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: tad on Fri, 10 July 2009, 00:55:31

The notching action in the Expert is too inconsistent to be very useful. When FPS gaming, I often end up switching weapons twice, for example.

I wish scroll wheels behaved like the analog devices they are. I could use a Z-axis in some games (think MechWarrior or flight sims).

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: BucklingSpring on Fri, 28 August 2009, 13:19:39

Quote from: ripster;101708

HAH!  That looks like too much work...  I'll just keep squishing my stress reliever.

Is this what I think it is? ie Jack Palance - one arm pushup?

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: bigpook on Fri, 28 August 2009, 13:34:18

It almost looks like Gary Busey. But I can't see his teeth to know for sure.

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 28 August 2009, 15:05:19

Coming from a Model M, real Alps are piece of cake.  Fake Alps are what you should watch out for.  My Northgate and Dells are fairly light.  The ABS M1 is "balky."

Title: kensington expert, smoother scrolling
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 28 August 2009, 15:56:11

Quote from: MsKeyboard;101712

Don't know if I want to tear into it just yet though.  I am really trying to like it, and I do enjoy the scroll wheel, but the angle is just proving to be too much.  I keep finding myself looking for my Evoluent.

Thanks for the info.....Later

Definitely, I have to have the Expert Mouse at a particular height relative to where Im sitting or it becomes literaly agonizing to use. Unfortunately, at my desk it isnt particularly easy to have it at the height needed.

It's a shame, because when I can use it, it's an awesome mouse.