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Microsoft Trackball Optical
Microsoft Trackball Optical
- Hey
I have gamed for years since the early police quest days. I'm a devote gamer who has made ££ in the past from events etc. I always emense myself completely in games the sorrounding and the hardware. Its got me far in some great jobs aswell in the past my passion for the industry.
I used to be a mouse gamer only up to 2000 though.I discovered your trackball the optical 1.0 after going threw every trackball avadable at the time i discovered its egernomic design was the best for gaming. It was completely innovating the design of how the ball is used with the thumb. My left handed mate also eventually managed to pic it up.
Now we hit 2009 ive gamed on the same ball for the past 9 years and it has never failed me. In all new games its high dpi still means you ahead yes ahead of all the competition on-line. Once the thumb has been fully trained it is more powerfull then the wrist in gaming imo the wide range of options avadable to you espically at high sensitivty our out of the usuall gamers box. I speak off all games im a brilliant low level jet pilot in bf2, i doged close range mass combat fights in freelancer, become professional standards in hl2 dm and css and i thank it only to the trackball ( yeh im slightly awsome to). In 05 i brought it at the rrp of £45 for 2 mates in the states as a xmas present. These have not gone back to normal mouse's alough i doubted it introducing them at a late stage in there lifes.
At the moment the mouse is discontinued from you and is selling for £90 brand new. Old ones are getting £50 bids on ebay the desire for this mouse just from the people who used it is great. I am writing all this because i want you to see it from our side which i cant spend alot of time campaigning unfortunately so just trying to put the passion in one.
There is still a market for this mouse a big market. There is a very big want for the mouse , lough id probably never get to use it im trying to show you how idiotic it would be to keep this mouse off the market. It has a future a very big one a new one 2.0 with higher DPI or a re release of the old mouse would in doubtablly work very very well at this time( there is a very big market for it trackball's option varity is rubbish and no dev has done such a design again as im sure u still have the tm)
I include a couple of links to show you without a doubt which trackball i refer to and its high current price for a 9 year old ball. If you do rerelease it id recommened that you include learning software for gamers aswell something themed so people can pic up the needed movements quickly.
Many thanks for even looking at this and many thanks for making my gaming history so perfect.
Tim
http://www.shopping.com/xPO-Microsoft-D67-00005
http://www.microsoft.com/japan/hardware/mouse/track_optical.mspx
All Replies
- I completely agree with you on this. This mouse needs to be re-released or a new updated version needs to come out. I have been using the same one for the fast 8 or 9 years, gaming and everyday use. Unfortunatly for me, after so long of continuous hard wear and tear, my cord is shorting out and it acts funny, and still regardless I refuse to get another mouse till I can find this exact one for a decent price or something comparable (as of now there is absolutly nothing comparable that I've found), and its been probably a year or so since it started acting up. I even got my mother hooked on this mouse years ago. I will be the "first" to second that MS should bring back or redesign this mouse. I never understood why it was discontinued in the first place. Just putting my bid in with the lot ;-)
- I Completely agree, I would really like to get another one of these (I found this thread while searching for one). I'm saddened that this mouse is going for nearly $300 at some places.
Please consider re-production of the Optical Trackball! - Agree, please re-release it with same ergonomics, but a slightly better ball system for more accurate navigation. I just love this thing, but my brother's son played with it to much and now the cord is broken :( The world needs more trackballs!
- Yes, microsoft... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE distribute an updated version of this trackball. The logitech thumb-trackball is way too small for grown-up man-hands.
- Ive used the trackball for the past 3 years myself and im yet to find a mouse that comes close to competing, its a shame to see it discontinued.
- I've been using thumbballs since Logitech released their first back in '96. I bought the MS Trackball Optical 1.0 when it first came out, as it had 5 buttons (better for gaming) and the larger size fit my hand better. I've bought 4 of this model so fay, as I did have a couple failures (2 units died due to the shroud scarring the track ball). However, I'm still using the first one I bought after 5 years for general computing and MMO-gaming on my home computer. The ball is a little worn from all that use, but it still tracks beautifully. I have another at work that's about 3 years old.
Recently, however, the buttons have begun randomly triggering from the lightest touches.. Obviously I've gamed the poor thing to an early grave. I'd go out and buy another one in a heartbeat.. Except of course that they're not for sale anymore.
In fact, there's nothing better, or even comparable, on the market..
Logitech is still selling the same 3-button model I upgraded from. Their forums have folks posting asking for an upgraded model..
As noted, a new MS Trackball Optical goes for $130 on Amazon, and similar on eBay. This is the MARKET price for a discontinued device. This says the demand for these devices has gone UP since they were discontinued, not down.
Personally, I'm amazed that SOMEONE hasn't figured this out and put out an updated model. Logitech is squandering their hold on the device, and MS abandoned it.. Is it that much of a niche market that it's not worth supporting? Even when folks are willing to pay around $100 for what amounts to an upside-down 5 button mouse?
Granted, thumbballs aren't the best choice for First-Person shooters. But they are AWESOME for less-precise, more relaxed use, such as MMORPG's (World of Warcraft), and everyday computer use. Why move your whole arm around when just flexing your thumb is all that's required?
PLEASE release an updated version of this classic controller soon!!!
