Kensington Orbit Elite - trackball > Reviews (4)

The first thing to say about the Kensington Orbit Elite is that it looks more impressive than it truly is. With its futuristic aesthetics you could be forgiven for expecting it to deliver pioneering technology, but alas you would be mistaken.

This basic trackball is a wonder to behold. I have very often been disappointed by products that pack a punch visually, and although the Elite does have its distinguishing features, it is not as exceptional in practise as it is in appearance. The central portion of the device is coloured mid grey, with silver 'wings.' The trackball is luminous blue and set into a crater in the centre of the device. The ball illuminates when the ball is in use, and despite its smooth exterior it is possible to maintain a grip on it for a given period.

The Elite is equipped with Easygrip comfort palm, and ergonomically it is exceptional. Those who work extensively with computers will appreciate this product, and I noticed less cramp in my hand when I used it. This is perhaps partly due to the subtle texture of the outer casing, which enables good grip and helps eliminate repetitive strain injury.

The touch and illuminate technology makes it easy to see what moves you are making on screen, and cursor control is made more succinct. The compact nature of the product also saves on desk space.

I did feel however, that the manufacturers may have felt that in creating so stylish a product they could minimise on technology. There is no software disk provided with the product, for example. Similarly, there is no quick scroll facility and it takes a lot more effort than it should to get the pointer to progress from one side of the screen to the other. There is no way to accelerate this procedure, and so I often found it encroached on the speed at which I enjoy working. In this respect the Elite would not be the most suitable product for those wishing to purchase it for gaming purposes. Additionally, there is the issue of hygiene: the trackball may look impressive with its various pioneering aesthetic elements, but it is much more difficult to clean than your standard mouse. To clean around the ball takes patience and, I discovered, various beauty tools to dig into its recesses. Even then I did not feel I had properly sanitised it.

I believe there are other products on the market that are a lot more versatile than the Elite, and are offered at a more reasonable price. If you are looking for something ergonomic and do not mind your speed of work being impinged, then you may find the trackball to your liking.