ConnectReviews

Ergonomics have always been a big part in our workspaces here at Carbonite Media and ConnectReviews. We've tried our fair share of monitor arms and various mice and ergonomic keyboards so far, but have yet to try out a trackball… until today. We're taking a look at the Kensington Expert Mouse 7.0.

The Expert Mouse is the latest version of Kensington's former model, the Turbo Mouse, which was the first trackball available for the Mac in its beige form. The 7.0 version is somewhat more stylish, coming in a black and silver finish and a sleek wrist rest. The trackball has 4 buttons, a scroll ring, and of course, the trackball located in the middle. The Expert Mouse is USB-only, so wireless fans will be disappointed.

Instead of a scroll wheel, the scroll ring surrounds the trackball and is similarto the iPod's click wheel. Just take your thumb and scroll.

As Kensington puts it, this is really the "ultimate trackball" or as we like to call it, "the ultimate ergonomic pointing device." Your hand will have less motion, reducing the risk of carpal tunnel, and in the end, you'll free up desk space. At first glance, you're probably going to think, "How am I supposed to use that?"

I've been using a mouse for as long as I've been using a computer, with a small amount of trackball usage in between – and the Expert Mouse does take a bit of time to get used to, but once you used to the motions, you'll love it. The trackball is also very customizable with the included ExpertMouse software. You can change the buttons around, so if you like the left click in a certain place, etc.

The Kensington Expert Mouse isn't cheap at $99 dollars, but if you're looking to give your hand a break, you might want to give it a try. Interestingly enough, Kensington is one of the few companies to offer a 5-year warranty, so if you have any problems, feel free to let them know and I'm sure they'd help you out.

Pros

• Comfortable.
• Reduces hand movement, therefore reducing the risk of carpal tunnel.
• Customizable with software.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Takes some time to get used to.

Final Verdict
5 out of 5 stars.

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