Product Reviews

Despite the overall high quality of Apple's current mouse, there are many people who find it uncomfortable. Luckily for these people, Microsoft has recently started to make many of its mice and trackballs available for the Mac, thanks to Apple's adoption of USB.

Microsoft's Trackball Explorer is the latest in a series of input devices to use the company's optical technology. The advantage of using this is that it avoids mechanical parts which need cleaning after getting gummed up with the inevitable lint from your desk.

Early trackballs tended to place the ball centrally. Microsoft, in line with more modern designs, has shifted the ball on this model to the right, making it more comfortable to roll the ball using the tips of your fingers on the right hand. The body is curved, reinforcing that this is a trackball aimed at right-handers.

One of the most common reasons to replace an Apple mouse is to

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have more than one button. The Trackball Explorer features four buttons and a rotating wheel, all of which can be programmed using the excellent IntelliPoint software supplied. By default, the two buttons on the left (controlled by the thumb) single-click and control-click, while the two buttons on the right move forward and backward in Web pages viewed in Internet Explorer.

IntelliPoint is an easy-to-use and powerful button programming application. As well as standard features, such as allowing you to set up buttons to double-click with a single press of a button, you can also switch applications, cut and paste, and even trigger an AppleScript. The functions of each button can also be programmed so that they differ for each application.

Get the ball rolling

It takes a while to get used to a trackball after using a mouse, but rolling the ball around using your fingertips does provide a feeling of precise control over cursor position. The ball itself is incredibly smooth, and the trackball feels comfortable in the hand, although if your hands are on the small side, you can find yourself having to move your hand around. This goes against part of the principle of using a trackball, which is to minimise hand movement in favour of movement of the fingers.

However, the Trackball Explorer is a worthy addition to Microsoft's range of Mac-compatible peripherals. It won't suit everyone, but it's well designed, and the button programmability makes it suitable for a wide range of uses.