A $650.00 Mouse?

[George Redmon]

I was just surfing the web, not really looking for anything particular to speak of. When I ran across this Microsoft Trackball Explorer. I thought to myself, yeah yeah some poor stooge would actually pay this for a mouse, one born every minute. Then I got to reading up on these, to discover that these mouse's have an occult like following, and are the most sought after mouse in the world. Huh?? Then it hit me, wait just a minute. Years ago, when my daughter was in Junior High, (she's now 32, a vet, and a mother of two wonderful boys). I bought something like this contraption and I remember not liking mine. So I packed mine up, with the CD Rom and adapter, and put it away. My daughter loved hers and continued to use it for quit some time.
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D68-000 ... l+Explorer
Even used in original packaging they go for around $500 dollars. (Go To The Last Listing On The Page)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... rtIndex=10
The last listing.
On eBay without the packaging they go from $100 to $150. I have all the packaging for mine. But my daughter of course, lost all her original packaging. Here are a couple of photo's of mine and my daughters.











The Serial Number on my mouse, match's the serial number on the box. What would be an amount I should list these for on eBay? I'm still looking for the original box for my daughters mouse. I paid $45 each at best buy, before my hair turned grey.

[Charlie McDonald]

What would be an amount I should list these for on eBay?

As much as you can get. It's not something that responds to market values.
Start high, and set a big buy it now price. You can always set the first bid lower later. Your foresight may pay off.

It amazes me what some folks will pay for things these days.

[Dave Potter]

I'm not sure about the "occult following" part - maybe the ones you're referring to are in a class of their own. But I've used a Logitech branded trackball like this one for years, and they're dirt cheap.


Amazon sells this one for 30 bucks, and it's wireless.

Having obviously also used conventional mice, once I discovered these things, I never went back, except for games . For browsing and things like that, who wants to have to be moving a mouse all around, when you can do the same thing with your thumb, and the device stays stationary? Not me - I wrote the book on "lazy".

[George Redmon]

Just an update, the mouse I had with no box, or software with it. I sold for $250 on eBay. Sold it 2 days after I listed it. I still have the nice one in the box left. Was recently offered $450 for it, which I turned down. Just going to let it sit for the time being. Might try to trade it for a nice guitar or something I need.

[Charlie McDonald]

Amazing. Looks like the one you still have, the price won't go down anytime soon. Might pick up a nice guitar.

[Dave Potter]

Yeah, if "packaging" makes a significant difference in what people are willing to pay, that says they're "collecting" them, not using them. People collect some strange items. "Sucker born ever day" kind of thing.

Lots of good alternatives out there new, at a fraction of those prices.

[Richard Sinkler]

I'm not sure about the "occult following" part - maybe the ones you're referring to are in a class of their own. But I've used a Logitech branded trackball like this one for years, and they're dirt cheap.


Amazon sells this one for 30 bucks, and it's wireless.

Having obviously also used conventional mice, once I discovered these things, I never went back, except for games . For browsing and things like that, who wants to have to be moving a mouse all around, when you can do the same thing with your thumb, and the device stays stationary? Not me - I wrote the book on "lazy".

I've also used a Logitech, but not the same as Dave, and I would never pay more than $50 for any type of mouse. Not even if it served me beer. I also used a Microsoft version that looked a lot like the one in the first post. Again, I don't see a high price to sell them. Are these things really collectibles?

I went back to regular mice because this one ate too much cheese. Actually, they were aggravating the carpal tunnel I was having at the time.

[George Redmon]

Incidentally, I just use a wireless Logitech mouse with the buttons on the side. It was gived to me. I never did like those wheeled meeces.

[Wiz Feinberg]

I have a friend/customer who suffers from either MS or MD and he cannot use a standard computer mouse. Instead, he uses a trackball mouse and has had it for many years.

[George Redmon]

I hear they can help some folks. Glad it can him. My daughter loved hers, I just couldn't get the hang of them is all.

[Wiz Feinberg]

I hear they can help some folks. Glad it can him. My daughter loved hers, I just couldn't get the hang of them is all.

When I have to update his computer, I have to use his trackball. It isn't that hard if you use caution and roll the ball slowly.

[Charlie McDonald]

I might like to try one of these.

George, I'll give you seven-fifty.

[Dave Potter]

When I have to update his computer, I have to use his trackball. It isn't that hard if you use caution and roll the ball slowly.

It's easy to use the Windows mouse applet to adjust the cursor speed, etc for a trackball, same as for a conventional mouse.

The fact that they're that distinctly different from conventional mice is the reason I like mine. A standard mouse works by moving the whole device around, which forces the user to do that by moving his hand, and by extension, his arm, all around. There are variations on trackballs, and one has to decide which one they like best. But after a short period of acclimatization, one very quickly discovers how easy and effortless it is to give up all the arm and hand movement for simple finger or thumb movements, and the device remains stationary. I'd never go back.

The only time I do use a conventional mouse is when I need to make precise cursor movements, as with Photoshop and similar activities. For routine use, web browsing and such, the trackball is the easy choice. I prefer the thumb version, trackball on the side, and with buttons on top for right click, left click, and wheel.

[Richard Sinkler]

I've been thinking of going back to a trackball because of limited space on my desk. I mainly quit using one when I was having my first bout of carpal tunnel and tendon problems. I forgot to remind the doctor, before surgery, of the inflammation I would get where that tendon that goes down the side of the wrist into the thumb. I still have it and it gets real bad at times.

[Dave Potter]

I've been thinking of going back to a trackball because of limited space on my desk. I mainly quit using one when I was having my first bout of carpal tunnel and tendon problems.

They're available in a number of styles, ergonomic and non-ergonomic. You can get one with the ball on the side, that you manipulate with your thumb, and they're also available with the ball on top, that you move with your fingers. I suggest you use Google Images to get an idea of what's available. What I find so useful with these things is not having to move my hand (and arm) all over the place to move the cursor. It's pretty easy to find a setting that makes moving the cursor around pretty quickly anywhere you want it with just your thumb or fingers.

BTW & FWIW - I closed my Firefox and timed how long it took to open after I clicked the FF icon pinned to my taskbar. 2 seconds. Something else is going on with your computers - FF opens in a blink of an eye here.

[Wiz Feinberg]

I'm not sure about the "occult following" part - maybe the ones you're referring to are in a class of their own. But I've used a Logitech branded trackball like this one for years, and they're dirt cheap.

All this talk about trackball mice got me to thinking about how much hassle it is trying to use the little USB mouse I have for my laptop at my leather shop. So, today I went to Best Buy and bought one of these Logitech wireless trackball mice. I can set it anywhere I am sitting, within view of the screen and roll the ball instead of using a mouse pad.

It cost me about $43.00 with tax.

[Dave Potter]

All this talk about trackball mice got me to thinking about how much hassle it is trying to use the little USB mouse I have for my laptop at my leather shop.

Oh, Wiz! I didn't know you were into leather. You naughty boy! Dang, the discussion just went south.

Seriously, if you give it time to get used to it, I bet you'll like it. Mine's wireless too, and it's the way to go - wires are so "20th century".

There are situations where wireless is less than optimal, but I look for it and use it every time I can. In addition to my wireless trackball, I also use bluetooth speakers and headphones...and even a wireless HDMI system to get HD TV from the cable box in the bedroom to the TV in the living room.

[Wiz Feinberg]

All this talk about trackball mice got me to thinking about how much hassle it is trying to use the little USB mouse I have for my laptop at my leather shop.

Oh, Wiz! I didn't know you were into leather. You naughty boy! :lol: Dang, the discussion just went south. :roll:

I am a professional sewer and leathercrafter by trade. My Dell Latitude laptop is sitting kitty-corner to me on my left rear side when I am at the long arm machine. I have to spin around hard left to see it. Using the wired mouse is even trickier. With the trackball, I can set it on the left end of the sewing table when needed and just roll the ball. I use it to look up parts, serial numbers/date of manufacture, and to order stuff.

[Dave Potter]

I am a professional sewer and leathercrafter by trade.

You truly are a "Jack-of-All-Trades", what with your web design and security stuff and all.

I always admired anyone who was good at sewing and "crafting" difficult materials like leather, etc. I'd guess it takes a lot of time and patience to get proficient at that.