And, of course, it’s no longer available. This device is just one of the many items whose demand appears strong regardless of the fact that their manufacturers have inexplicably decided to discontinue making them. A quick search on eBay produces a handful of Trackball Explorers, each fetching at least $100 (often a lot more; recently even several hundred dollars!) That’s pretty good for a device that one could pick up from a local computer retailer, or from the web for $39.95 few years back!
Today the mainstream trackball alternatives include Logitech and Kensington models (plus some more industrial, or “80′s looking” trackballs by ITAC and Evergreen Systems). None of the currently available models come anywhere close to the ergonomy of Microsoft’s Trackball Explorer, and this sentiment is echoed on countless hardware review forums on the web.
Was the demand really so minimal for the trackballs that it wasn’t worth it for Microsoft to continue manufacturing it? Perhaps the sales weren’t as strong as they’re “supposed” to be for this kind of a device—perhaps when compared to the sales figures of mouses. But my guess is there are quite a few people out there who would be more than happy to pay, say, $69.95 for the (perhaps even slighly improved) device rather than scouring the dwindling sources for the trackball, or settle for another manufacturer’s best model that the “late” MS Trackball Explorer beat hands down. Today Microsoft offers just mouses for pointing devices — but a mouse won’t always do. Oftentimes the available desk-space is limited — there is no space to move the mouse around (whereas, of course, a trackball is stationary). And more importantly—especially when using 3D or CAD applications—mouse is less accurate. When you’ve placed the cursor on the exact pixel you want it to be on, with trackball you can then remove your finger from the ball before releasing the button to get a positively accurate placement. With a mouse the action of releasing the depressed button moves the mouse enough so that the cursor is moved a pixel or two before the ‘drop’ action occurs.
I have written Microsoft a few times regarding this issue, and it’s likely few other people have done so, too. There has never been a response, probably because their trackballs are gone, period. If Microsoft is not going to bring it back, it would be a great business idea for someone to revive a truely ergonomic trackball… there would be many users who would be glad to pay, say, the aforementioned $69.95 for a well designed, professional trackball, the “Trackball Explorer 2.0″.
To get an update on TBE I contacted Edelman | Seattle yesterday. The original contact, Kerry Gentes, was no longer with the company and I spoke with Brittany Turner instead. According to her Microsoft’s stance on the issue has not changed; they are still not listening to what their customers want (she didn’t use those words exactly, but that’s basically what it boils down to).
Microsoft is also not willing to license the device at this time.
This puzzles me. Microsoft bases their decision not to continue manufacturing and marketing the device on a “strategic decision” to concentrate on mouse devices because the market share trackballs hold is “insignificant”. I’m sure the sales figures for mouses are greater than for trackballs, but it’s the same situation between any consumer and “pro” product. Most people who go to buy a computer at Fry’s or Best Buy automatically buy a mouse as the computer comes with one. In many cases it’s a Microsoft mouse, so naturally Microsoft sells a lot of them. However, unlike many other devices, there is no viable alternative for the Trackball Explorer, and the “strategic decision” to not sell them makes a significant number of users rather unhappy. If you go to a computer or office supply store they may carry a Logitech or Kensington model or two whose ergonomics simply have nothing on the TBE. Microsoft could easily hold that shelf-space instead simply by resuming the manufacture of the already existing product which even has up-to-date drivers (Vista compatible, etc.)
If Microsoft doesn’t feel like investing more R&D funds to the TBE at this point, they could use the exact same design as TBE 1.0. They might change its colors slightly to match the current product line and slap on a price tag equivalent to that of Kensington Expert Mouse ($99.99, or perhaps a little more competitively at $74.95) and it would sell like hot cakes. It would still sell fairly strongly even if the price tag was $149.99, just as long as it would be available (recent prices for functional units sold on eBay have fetched $400+). Surely the sales figures would not reach those of mouses, but then Microsoft also sells many more of the consumer licenses than professional licenses to its operating systems for the same exact reason – most computers sold come readily with “Windows Vista Home” installed. Yet lower sales figures for the “Pro” versions of the operating system products, for example, don’t result in pulling a product from the market.
Microsoft’s unreachability and inertness regarding this issue is very frustrating. You’d have to look hard for a product that so many users feel so strongly about (just read the comments in this blog for a small sampling of TBE users who have searched the web, come across this blog, and decided to post!) If Microsoft discontinued a particular mouse, nobody would think twice of it – they’d just pick up a newer (or, perhaps, a competitor’s) model. Same goes for most anything I can think of – there’re always alternatives. In most cases a new, improved versions of the older products are made available by the same manufacturer. Unfortunately the situation with the TBE serves to illustrate the way Microsoft is going: business decisions are made internally without paying too much (or any) attention to the customer feedback. This, also, is why the agile younger companies like Google are gradually eating away Microsoft’s market share in many areas of business. When the time comes to make a choice between a Microsoft product that does have competitive alternatives – and most do – users who were shorted by Microsoft previously are more likely to choose a competitor’s product, especially if the competitor appears more responsive to customer feedback.
Microsoft Trackball Explorer
I have been checking websites for Microsoft TrackBall Explorer and I am suprised by the much positive reviews and the demand for it !
(- I have not seen any negative!)
Then, how come Microsoft discontined them? This is more surprising !!!
I’ve been using the TBE for a long time now , I’d say about 8 years, i have to admit its a very good precision trackball mouse and no other trackball feels right after you get used to using one of these. However i did manage to buy a new one at fry’s about 4 years ago to replace the original one that was going out. Needless to say these TBE’s last an extremely long time , and i think microsoft is being greedy by discontinuing them due to thier durability, they would rather have you buy something that breaks down in a year or two rather than 4 to 5 years , so you would have to keep replacing the product , and they keep making that money from the consumer everytime you do. Just my opinion , take it however you like , but if you were to make something that last a long time in durability, then how would you get your repeat sells?
I don’t understand why they don’t bring this back. I had one at work and one at home and had 2 spares 6 years ago. Now I have none. And I don’t care for the competitor’s version. I liked having the ball under my fingers and the buttons for my thumb. That set up works best for me.
Please bring this back!
Sorry!, Same rant, different product.
[ Microsoft Optical Trackball USB Mouse 1.0 ]
To many, including myself, it’s the finest mouse ever made. MS discontinued it?!
Absolutely no logic on the MS side. I’ve owned 3, now their $200 to $500 used
on eBay. I’ve repaired all of mine until they quit responding, Hardware can be repaired, but when the electronic components no longer respond, IT’S OVER!
I’ve seen some “Explorers” on eBay, they’re also expensive. If we can’t live without them, I guess we’ll just have to take a chance & spend the money.
Also great for those with hands – my wife can move the ball then press the button, with a rubber tipped pencil, in two moves without moving the on-screen pointer but it’s ***impossible*** for her to use a mouse.
Currently using Microsoft Optical Trackball USB Mouse 1.0. Have had it for years and desperate for new one.
The word ‘handicapped’ was left out of my comment – it should have read ‘handicapped hands’.
I didn’t realise that by enclosing ‘handicapped in ‘Less Than’ and ‘More Than’ (pointed brackets) that the contents would be left out!!!
I love this trackball…I also have tried to contact Microsoft …without results. This is an item with a market base just waiting to purchase it. I have tried many others…none compare to this trackball…it is the most comfortable, functional, etc, etc, etc,…. PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!
I miss my TBE, it recently died. I was thinking about the plight of the TBE user, maybe Microsoft won’t make it, but what if everyone contacts Razer about producing one? Razer seems to be Microsoft’s gaming arm and may be amenable to producing one. I would suggest everyone contact Razer and put pressure on a smaller company to produce them.
Will Have to contact Razer on this and maybe copy Google! I have two of these mice and if they ever sold them, I’d buy a lifetime supply! Would be great to turn on the machine for a year, sell a couple million then stop it again for awhile (kinda like Disney).
I’ve been in computing since the 1970′s and first came across the tracker-ball in industry. I’ve tried many over the years and found that most make my wrist ache after a few minutes but the TBE was a relevation. It is accurate and a pleasure to use. Even after long periods, I still have no aches or strain. Goodbye to RSI! Judging from the price TBEs command on ebay, I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’m sure that if more people had the chance to use a TBE instead of a mouse, the mouse would end up where it belongs – in the waste bin. Shame on you Microsoft. You keep updating your software with un-necessary bells and whistles and planned obsolescence but ignore something with a real demand because is doesn’t suite your pig-headed business plan.
In my continued search for information regarding my failed trackball explorer I found a site with pictures of repair procedures and with a little help from google translator I could follow the instructions. (copy and paste this url) http://torapo.com/tb/tbe.htm#sijiq1 or http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&u=http://torapo.com/tb/tbe.htm%23sijiq1 This is a superior illustrated guide. The google translation is somewhat amusing as are almost all machine translations but with the pictures I understand. All my failed trackballs started with usb cord problems. I bought the kennsington expert mice and find it better than most but not at the standard set by the MSTE. Most of the connections to my mobile laptop suffer cord problems from too much movement. Too frequent movement and flexing damages connecting cords. I have twice replaced the power cord connection and need to do so again. Now I hope to find the explorers (I had 2) in storage and attempt an informed repair. I wish I knew how to thank the author of the illustrated pages but I have no language skills in Japanese. I hope this is helpful.
M$ won’t bring back a discontinued product; managers will never, ever admit they were wrong about ANYTHING. As above, they’d rather produce a product (like windows) that fails after a few years than something that you virtually never have to replace. I still have my original M$ trackball optical the one you move with your thumb, and it’s still going strong. Picked up a backup on ebay for $49 (lucky me) that I’m keeping n a box for when the current one dies. Always dissapointing when a company discontinues an excellent product because it’s not making enough money in relation to it’s market share peers (although, peers isn’t a very good word for this, because this trackball is waaay better than any of it’s competition).
I’m in mourning. My trackball was put on life support yesterday after giving me 8 great years! The bottom button on the right side broke in two. I’ve taped the remaining piece in place, but it’s not working. But I’m still using it. I prefer a 3-button trackball to a fully operational ordinary mouse. I’ve tried the LogicTech trackball, but hated it. I’m actually considering forking out the $500 bucks at amazon to get a new one. Before doing so, can anyone tell me if it will work with Windows 7? Thanks!
i’m left handed and most trackballs are designed for left minded people. the explorer was easy to use left handed. it finally broke and i’d like to get it fixed. no ther unit comes close.
@greg.. About the only reasonable remaining trackball alternative for the left handed people is Kensington Expert Mouse when used with ErgoRest arm support. Without that arm support it’s a painful trackball to use, but with one it’s reasonable.. usable.
I think it’s great that this posting page has lasted as long as it has and it definately says something about the popularity of the mighty TBE. I’ve used my 2 (a series one and series 2) for almost 10 years now. Would not use anything else. If my current one dies out, it’s off to Ebay for me to have it repaired. (yes, look it up)
Carp/Tunn has yet to find its way to MY wrists yet. Being a CAD operator for over 15 years, that says alot to the comfort and ergonomics of the TBE.
For us to gripe in here for over 5 years on Microsofts unwillingness to reproduce such a fine product is just… well disgusting. Either start listening to your long-time consumers and remake this beast or turn the license over to someone that is willing to cater to the demanding market.
and TO: Lisa Yes the trusty TBE will work on Win7. (32 and 64bit versions)
I’m using right now the TO. Also had a TBE that was detroyed by accident, a shame I can’t replace it. Used to have one at work, the other at home, so could alternate movements.
Anyone got feedback from Razer, or whoever?
Heights of Microsoft’s idiotic strategies and their sadistic behavior – The World’s wrist/palm friendly mouse – Trackball Explorer (TBE) discontinued by Microsoft despite of several requests made by TBE lovers. As far as I remember Microsoft is such a company which never is on a back foot when it comes to money minting techniques if one has been observing their history. Surprisingly they don’t seem to be obliging a good product which has gained popularity over a period of time. This was initially launched $39.00 and in 2006 after they discontinued, the black market price has gone up to $700.00 which made TBE the most expensive mouse in the world. Either Microsoft should let the design sold to some Chinese company for a product which is at a point of extinction or they can manufacture the same TBE for a better price. A lot of companies like Logitech and Kensignton came up with similar mouses, but none of them are close enough to TBE precision and the comfort of any computer user. I wish this article should be shared with as many people (TBE lovers group) so that the dumb Microsoft big fat tummy bosses shake their dirt off from their rotten brains
I’ve been using TBE for many years now.
And some years later buy two for replacement.
So now I’ve three, just time to keep alive for a moment
But TBE is definitevely the BEST mouse for working
I’ve programmed mine with a dozen of different softs and it is paradisiac to work (very quickly) with it.
I don’t understand why this extraordinary mouse for hard programming and designers workers is discontinued.
It is a commercial non sense
Well I finally broke down and bought a Logitech M570. My two TBEs were wearing out in in multiple ways. Plus I decided I really should support Logitech’s trackball business since they are at least still making them!
Of course I would prefer it be a finger-driven ball – but I actually started my trackball use with a Logitech Trackman – so the thumb-drive is familiar enough.
The wireless works great, and it has all the buttons one needs.
I actually was considering getting the new Logitech Touchpad – so I downloaded an app that allows my 7″ Galaxy tab to act as a touchpad. DEFINITELY not something I would recommend for professional use – the lack of tactile feedback makes it difficult to use – though gestures are nice.
@Chris, I’ve also been moving to M570′s on new systems. It’s about closest it gets to TBE. On my main workstation I continue to use Kensington Expert Mouse with ErgoRest® articulating arm support I’ve mentioned here earlier – with such support that trackball is probably as close as it gets to optimal (large ball, forefinger control). Without ErgoRest support, however, that trackball is not pleasant to use.
Yep – your recent post on the matter was a big part of why I have the M570 a chance – so thanks!
I didn’t think I cared about wired vs. wireless – but I think that is probably my favorite thing about the change so far.
Least favorite thing is having to move my fingers – with the TBE I could right-click, middle-click and left-click with my pinky, middle finger and thumb.
Chris
I have been using a trackball optical for along as i can remember, for cad work along side a tablet it spot on.
Mine is the one with the ball on the LEFT hand side for thumb operation, its is starting to stick slighlty tried to clean it with all sorts but think i will just have to live with it. Hate standard mice
Well, I decided on hand crafting the chassis on wood and use discrete internal electronics of another mouse. the only thing remaining is the ball itself, which needs to
have the right weight, withstand the friction on bearing balls that holds it steady and be properly reflective to be accurate enough. Since Logitech and Gigabyte 800dpi boards along with optics are available, I am by no means bond to MS to resupply.
Still, I would rather not having to copy the design, but it is for personal use anyway, so sue me if you would, but I won’t dish out $400 for a new one.
Feels good to be an Engineer.
@potis21 … with a prototype ready, you should look for a potential manufacturer. Perhaps yours would be the long-awaited successor to TBE!
Do you have a picture of it?
@potis21 @Ville
So how about we start a group project (something similar to this project:
http://ergodox.org/Default.aspx
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ergodox )
We can even improve it if we want to.
I recently lost my last original trackball mouse in last weeks floods in Maryborough Queensland Australia.
I searched years ago & found a spare but my Wife unfortunately dropped the newer one & I’ve been persevering with the older one with a ball which was becoming pitted, but still a great unit!
I’m now going to have to search for something as comfortable to use & I know it will not be an easy search!
@potis21
If you use ceramic bearing they’ll most likely never wear out.
I replaced the bearings in all of my TBE’s with Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) balls (the black ceramic ones). I got mine off ebay a pack of 20 for about $10 shipped (I just checked and you can get 100 for about $35 shipped). They’re cheaper and easier to find than Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) (white balls). I’ve had them in for over a year with no visible signs of wear (steel replacements would flatten within a few months or so). The trackball also rolls much smoother and easier than before.
For those interested, the balls in a TBE are 5/64″. I had the originals mic’d to be sure. Be sure to work in an area where you can easily find the balls if you drop one. If you have a TBE with the oval recess around the balls you can pop them out with an exacto blade, just be careful. Once they’re out hold the TBE sideways so that a hole is positioned at the bottom and carefully set a ball into place and press it on firmly (I used a screwdriver handle). The only way I’ve been able to extract the balls from TBE’s with no recesses is to take apart and carefully drill 1/32″ holes behind them and push them out with a pin. Fortunately this type of TBE is much pretty rare, and are assembled differently, and is much less delicate than the other type (components are held in with screws instead of delicate clips).
I haven’t had any fall out, but I wouldn’t want to replace the balls too many times out of fear that the sockets would become enlarged, and since the ceramic balls last a ridiculously long time, I may only have to replace them once.
Now to find a good way to repair broken buttons since they tend to get brittle when they get old.
I can’t live without my TBE. I just can’t use anything else for more than a short time.
If only MS would build a gaming TBE with the specs and features of the sidewinder x8 gaming mouse built in. That would be bliss!
I think I have the answer for all the TBE fans out there. I’m just looking for funding to start manufacturing the new trackball but not sure where to start. The electronics are the latest out there in the market, the DPI capability is over 8000 DPI with 13 programmable buttons and macro capability. There’s a lot of goodies that come with this trackball, but most importantly it is ergonomically designed to be if not more comfortable than the TBE and it is an absolute stunning looking device.
I had ten TBE’s until the last one died two years ago and I decided to take matters into my own hands and design and build a better trackball.
Any suggestions and help with the funding would be much appreciated.
@TBEF, I’m excited to see how trackball turns out! I would set it up as a Kickstarter project; grass-roots funding for a device like that would most likely work out very well.
Hi Ville,
If you PM me I’ll give you a peak on what the new trackball looks like.
A few years ago I did a little research as why MS quit making the TBE. Somewhere I read that someone else had a patent on the design and MS didn’t want to pay the for the license to manufacture. I thing there may have been a lawsuit also.
I have managed to keep several working for years and am about to try replacing the bearings for the first time.
TBEFan your project would be very well received to a lot of people out here. Keep us in the loop and check on that patent.
Please let us get a kickstarter going to make a replacement for the Explorer. Mine is barely holding on. When it does go I don’t know what I’ll do; I tried an M570 but I really can’t use a thumb ball. You could easily charge $75-$100 for these and people would buy them, provided the quality was good and any design changes you made worked out. Let’s get going!
Anyone know if a source for Ruby Ball Bearings? In a fit of dramatic irony, just after I posted here one of my old metal bearings popped out and got lost in the carpet, and the others are worn almost all the way down. I need to replace them, but I can’t find anyone that sells ruby bearings in anything but huge quantities.
@Void
Grab some 5/64″ (2.0mm) Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) Ceramic Balls off ebay.
They’ll last far longer than steel bearings.Mine are over a year, old with no sign of wear, but steel balls only lasted ~ 3 months or so before wearing flat.
@TBEF I have no idea how to PM here. Make a quick site for your design and post it up. We can get a community going and get a jumpstart on the kickstarter.
How do you get these balls out? I got replacements but I can’t get the old ones out. I don’;t want to drill into this thing, I’ll just end up destroying it by accident.
This guy is using a 0.8 mm manual drill bit to push them out from behind.
http://torapo.com/trackball/microsoft/trackball-explorer.htm
(Japanese website, I used Google Translate)
I don’t think there is a 100% safe way of getting them out. There is also a guy on ebay who does the repair with guarantee on the balls, you can explore that option as well.
@TBEF You are killing me. Please don’t be vaporware T_T
@Void, I assure you this is not vaporware, I have spent almost $20K of my own money so far to get the unit to the stage where I need to manufacture it. Almost every manufacturing vendor I have contacted comes up with a cost between $300 – $400K to manufacture the first 2000 units where most of the cost will be in the manufacturing setup (molds, assembly line, QA, etc…)
I had the opportunity to see TBEFan’s trackball design, and I quite like it! It really is a potential successor (and an upgrade!) to the venerable TBE. Insofar as the construction and the materials used would be of high quality and the component selection good (e.g. ceramic bearings instead of metal/plastic, sufficiently heavy weighed ball, non-flimsy switches, etc.), I think the TBE users would be happy with it.
Considering the cost of the initial setup and need for the initial funding, I think Kickstarter might be the best way to go unless there are individual investors available.
Then please by all means kickstarter it. My explorer is dying. I tried to the get the balls out and came close to breaking everything. It lives for now, but not very well with these completely flat bearings. Fortunately all the internal electronics are mostly ok for now, but every so often I get a random button click being missed, so it’s obviously only a matter of time before the mechanism breaks completely.
I am seriously looking at ebay. I would much rather put my money toward your product than pay the outrageous ebay rates for a replacement that may not even be in much better shape. I wish I could see what you have planned, if for no other reason than to know whether to hold out for it or not, but I understand you not wanting to post any information until you are actually going for it. I just hope you go for it soon.