Kensington Expert Trackball: the CAD workhorse I keep buying

TL;DR: In 25 years of “computing life,” I’ve only repurchased two peripherals: the Razer Naga (for gaming) and this trackball. That says everything about its staying power for serious work.

I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that...

Why I use it (CAD first, gaming not at all)

While not everyday, I have occasional CAD tasks for work and DIY projects. I’ve tried a zoo of input devices, thumb trackballs, bars, 3D navigation tools, and some true gimmicks, and I keep circling back to this trackball because it nails the fundamentals that matter for me. It’s a finger‑operated trackball with a big ball that suits my large hands and long fingers. I prefer trackballs i can control with my index and middle fingers for added precision and comfort (vs. just the thumb, which I find more fatiguing and obtuse). The scroll ring feels natural, and the four buttons (although I never program them to special functions) make it easier to work with different applications.

What it is (and a couple key specs)

This trackball is billed as a desk‑friendly, ambidextrous trackball with dual wireless (Bluetooth and a 2.4 GHz dongle), a 55 mm ball, four programmable buttons, and a Kensington-unique Scroll Ring around the ball. Power is via AA batteries (which I love - i'm sick of having to charge everything). DPI is fixed and modest (400), but this device is more about control than speed.

My setup and the tiny thing that makes a huge difference

I run multiple Windows machines into a Samsung display and often view them side‑by‑side at the same time. I keep the trackball paired by Bluetooth to my daily workstation and by dongle to my CAD workstation. Flipping the hardware mode switch lets me hop between the two instantly, no pairing dance, no software KVM weirdness. That simplicity means I actually use both systems in parallel instead of avoiding context switches.

Bonus: the wedge‑shaped body has a flat “back” to it. I can stand the device on end when I’m typing or sketching and just slide it out of the way. It’s an unintentional design win that keeps my desk a bit less cluttered (sort of looks like a big red eye a la Space Odyssey staring back at me).

Human‑factors notes (how it treats your hand)

As a human‑factors nerd, I care less about max DPI and more about posture and repeatability:

• Finger‑driven control. With a large, low‑force ball, the motion comes from your fingers, not your thumb or wrist or forearm. That reduces gross arm movement and fatigue in long CAD sessions. It is awesome that I can set this on my arm wrest, lean back and just go to work vs. a mouse where I have to stay engaged and with CAD find myself frequently having to pickup and recenter the mouse on my workspace.

• Scroll Ring = natural interaction that is great for CAD (and scrolling). The ring lets me pan or scroll or zoom without shifting grip.

Wireless that works for multi‑system desks

Bluetooth LE saves a USB port on my everyday box; the 2.4 GHz receiver lives permanently in the CAD rig. That BT or 2.4 duality is the magic for my two‑PC, one‑monitor setup. If you’re toggling machines during the day, this convenience matters.

Comparisons I’ve lived with

• Thumb trackballs (for example, Kensington Pro Fit Ergo TB450): I’ve tried many. The TB450’s 45° tilt feels nice, but I prefer finger‑operated control for CAD; thumb units are not my happy place as I find the frequent up and down of the thumb to be taxing.

• Kensington Orbit with Scroll Ring: A solid smaller sibling with a 40 mm ball, but the smaller ball feels too small for me since I have long fingers.

• X‑Keys L‑Trac: Another big‑ball (≈57 mm) finger trackball. It’s rugged and accurate, but the overall ergonomics and button layout don’t beat the Kensington's comfort.

• 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse (Compact or Pro): These have a learning curve, but the main drawback is actually that they are really ONLY for CAD and I can't use them for normal daily tasks.

• Contour RollerMouse: The centered bar can be a wrist or shoulder saver for typing‑heavy days, but mis-clicks and inability to do quick precision inputs kills it for CAD.

Quirks and caveats

• Not for gaming. FPS specifically -- it probably could be useful for casual games or even RTS, but i've never bothered to try it since that's where I prefer the Naga with the full numpad on the side.

• Batteries, not rechargeable. It runs on AA cells, simple and field‑swappable. I appreciate this - but others may prefer having to add one more device that needs to be charged constantly to their desktop (I do not).

• It comes in black - no other colors. Breaks some of my desktop aesthetic, but utility trumps design in this case.

Who it’s for, and who should skip

• Buy it if you’re a designer, engineer, or creator who spends long hours in CAD or productivity apps and values precision, comfort, and multi‑system convenience over high DPI counts.

• Skip it if you’re gaming‑first. There are purpose‑built thumb trackballs and gaming mice that will suit you better.

Bottom line (my final word, again)

This is the only non‑gaming peripheral I’ve bought more than once in the last quarter‑century (ooph that chat-GPT summary of my life hurts). That’s not nostalgia, that’s a design that quietly supports how I actually work and in a form that I really have grown to like.