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
#1 by John on 06 December 2008 - 13:06
Scan the bottom of your TBE. The part of interest is the rectangle at the heel of the hand. This has a split oval with the letters “MIC” in it. Scan at 600 DPI. Blow this scan up. This has five items. Each is numbered. The last one in particular has Chinese writing:China. I suspect the writing in this box identifies the vendor. If this can be tracked down, do they have any leftovers? There is some sort of patent. Who controls this, is it a design patent? Has it expired?
#2 by Ville Walveranta on 06 December 2008 - 14:57
Whether they have leftovers or not, I’m sure TBE could be cloned in China. There are factories that reverse engineer most any product and produce a duplicate. I suspect TBE would not even particularly difficult to reverse engineer and copy. Granted, the resulting “pTBEs” (“pirated TBEs”
) could not be sold in the U.S. without Microsoft threatening with legal action to guard its strategic decision not to sell the produt, but the pTBEs could be handily shipped from Shangahi or Hong Kong to U.S. and Europe in couple of days… 
#3 by Phil on 06 December 2008 - 18:00
John,
I speak Japanese not fluently, but enough to get by. Amazon.jp has a restriction on most items it sells, and won’t export a majority of them. This includes, electronics, hentai, and porn unfortunately. lol I already tried that route before I asked Benippon to export it.
Those going that route, be prepared to download Sakasa(axis changing and manipulating free software) to re-orientate the axis, I found it very annoying, and also that this is a relatively cheaper feel than the tbe, as it has a smaller ball, smaller buttons, and the plastic grade isn’t as good. Like I said before though, if you can’t find a tbe, it’s not a bad alternative once sakasa is employed.
#4 by Phil on 06 December 2008 - 18:07
I should also note, I would use the Stream on a system before I used the logitech trackman wireless. If you’re buying and your choice is between the stream and the trackman, I’d go with the stream even though it’s slightly higher in price. The button arrangement alone makes it worthwhile that the logitech even with the unbound driver installed just can never measure up to.
I do think it’s the best current production alternative to the tbe once the axis is adjusted.
#5 by Phil on 06 December 2008 - 18:25
It’s interesting, I’ve compared my 3 tbe’s. The relevant info seems to be 1. There’s a big chinese model number 3892A237. Then in the first box of the smaller writing with a “MIC” emblem is E-C001-002227.
The general product number is x08-70390. Going to do some google searching. heh
Anyone have one of the one screw variety? Is the info different? Apparently all mine are 2 screw versions, even the one I’ve had for like 8 years, and they all have basically the same numbers. Some are stylistically different, which is pretty interesting, and my original one either didn’t come with a product number/ bar code, or it was rubbed off after so much use.
#6 by John on 06 December 2008 - 20:38
I don’t understand two screws verses one screw. Are you talking about the bottom screw(s)? I have two screws. There are actually 5 screws. Two visible, two under the toe pad and one under the heel pad. These pads are what make contact with the surface the TBE is resting on. I took my TBE apart. The inside has Microsoft markings inside. The only markings are those visible on the bottom as noted above.
Phil,
What if you take your three TBEs to the nearest Chinese Restaurant. I am assuming there is one near you. They might be able to help. At least suggest the dialect, i.e. Mandarin. The three would be comparisons for differences or hard to read symbols.
#7 by Phil on 07 December 2008 - 23:56
John,
I can probably do a translation if I needed to, but I doubt it’s anything other than product number. Yes, tbe’s are two categories 1 screw, two screw, you can see the difference if you look on ebay and see it, it’s in the center of the bottom of the trackball. The one versions are apparently early versions.
I still haven’t done searches for those numbers.
Dan,
Found a tbe for $138 on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-Trackball-Explorer-1-0-usb-optical-mouse_W0QQitemZ300279352209QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item300279352209&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50
#8 by John on 08 December 2008 - 08:02
Phil,
I bet is something more than just a number. I am guessing it is the manufacturer’s name and address. Comparison of the three should do this. Another way is to scan the bottom and print it. This can then be used instead of the actual TBE. Also a way to enlarge.
#9 by Dan on 08 December 2008 - 11:36
Thx for the link Phil
This comment made me cry though : “US bidders only please.”
I’m waiting for a few ebay auctions to end (bid on 4 of them) that actually ship to Canada
Maybe this little community here should state if they are bidding on particular ebay TBE so we don’t push the prices too high for fellow readers? Just an idea
If we wanna go that route, I’ll gladly paste the links to the TBE that I bid on…
I bid on 4 and actually, I think I’m ahead for all 4 of them :S Hope I don’t win them all hehe else I’ll have to try and sell a few
I’ll keep everyone posted 
#10 by Phil on 09 December 2008 - 01:45
Got another one for $89, wohoo! My 4th. This one sounds like it’s going to need some tlc, but should solve my ball problem at least. yay.
#11 by Phil on 09 December 2008 - 02:02
Dan,
I don’t have a problem shipping something to Canada. If you spot one for a good price and you want it, you can paypal me the money if you want and I’ll buy it for you and send it to you once I get it…you’ll have to spend I think 10% more though cause of paypal fees at least though.
There’s one for $128 or best offer right now, which means you might be able to get it for 110-120 or so, but again us shippers only.
http://cgi.ebay.com/MICROSOFT-TRACKBALL-EXPLORER-1-0-USB-PS2-OPTICAL-MOUSE_W0QQitemZ260329009541QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item260329009541&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50
#12 by Phil on 09 December 2008 - 02:04
Oh, you’d have to cover my shipping fee too, so it’d tack on another $10-15..but still might be worth it if you spot one for $100 or so. Just email me.
#13 by Phil on 09 December 2008 - 02:21
From the description of the one I just bought, it sounds like they cracked the bearing housing trying to turn the bearing over..so if you try my earlier advice make sure you use a sharp tool that will cut the plastic, and not put a lot of force on the plastic.
Alternatively a better way to do it might be to disassemble the whole thing and drill them out from the rear, but I think that might be more risky, and doesn’t allow you to shift the bearings on the fly in the future if it starts getting slow again…
#14 by PC on 10 December 2008 - 01:29
I am a Trackball Optical (thumb ball) user and am in the same boat as you Trackball Explorer folks.
Has anyone found a TBO replacement that has 5 buttons?
#15 by Brian on 10 December 2008 - 02:10
I’ve used this model trackball for many years, had to revive a “one-screw” back from the dead, twice, due to breakage in the cord. Currently using a “two-screw”. Was able to play professional Counter-Strike on a CAL-Main level (have screenshots for proof). Nobody believed I was for real until they saw me in living color at LAN parties. I was the red ring of death long before the XBOX 360.
*sigh* why Microsoft, why are you so blinded by greed!?
#16 by Phil on 10 December 2008 - 06:16
PC,
I use tbo’s too, I like them for my laptops. They were pretty unique in that they were 5 button thumb trackballs. The closest of course is the logitech version, but they only have 3 buttons which sucks.
#17 by Phil on 10 December 2008 - 06:17
PC,
tbo’s still seem to go for a much more reasonable rate on ebay, can usually pick them up for $50-100.
#18 by Mark on 10 December 2008 - 08:32
Brian – I hope you are joking, “blinded by greed”? I love these trackballs and want them back, but gimme a break! You don’t even know all of the factors that went into the decision, but if Coke or Pepsi discontinue a product because it’s not selling well, that’s not blinded by greed, that’s good business sense, or common sense (to most of us). Let’s keep this thread helpful and positive, less drama please.
#19 by IH8FMS on 11 December 2008 - 00:57
Well, Mark, I think I can maybe understand how Brian feels… Speaking for myself, it’s easy to get to feeling a tad negative when your arm or wrist hurts due to excessive computering and you can’t get your hands on what helps it, and it’s not like you can give up the computering if you want to keep your job!
I really, really, do not want to carry my TBE back and forth to and from work. I carry enough “hafta have it” stuff every day. I am a very small person and sometimes i wonder how long it’ll be before my laptop case and all the stuff I carry weighs more than I do!
#20 by Dan on 11 December 2008 - 02:08
I bought 2 off ebay this week
101.00 and 122.50 USD not that bad 
Got over bidded by that trackball_r_us guy on 2 others beforehand… So at least I won’t have to pay 200$ for one now…
A friend of mine in Cali let me use his shipping adress so I’m good and covered on that now (was about time hehe) And I thank you a lot for the offer Phil, it’s very apreciated!
There’s another on ebay if anyone wants one currently 10 bids and at US $71.00 :
http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-Trackball-Explorer-1-0-PS2-USB_W0QQitemZ200285161768QQcategoryZ11193QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWINQ3aPOST0Q3aRECOQ3aBIDQQcmdZViewItem
Hope this helps someone
#21 by Brian on 11 December 2008 - 03:25
This thread inspired me to dig up my ol’ “one-screw” trackball and bring it back from the dead for a third time (all three times being a problem with the wire). Going to use it at work to ease some wrist strain.
#22 by Phil on 11 December 2008 - 04:04
http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-Trackball-Explorer-1-0-PS2-USB-Compatible_W0QQitemZ300280132521QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item300280132521&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50
$85+10 shipping!!! Will probably need a bearing turn, but looks good..wow…wish I could get it, but I spent my trackball explorer budget already.
#23 by Phil on 11 December 2008 - 04:07
Awesome portfolio Brian
#24 by Mikus on 11 December 2008 - 05:30
I´ve used the TBE since, almost 8 years ago, i had a RSI problem in my arm, to the point i couldn’t cut a steak for some months… after that, and not being able to live without computers in todays world i checked every pointing device made by man
and the TBE was the only one that was ergonomically perfect.. yes, perfect… no strain on arm tendons, hands, no trigger finger problems, nothing. Never used a mouse since.. yes, almost 8 years without mouses… and now the bearings are worn and need a replacement… damn microsoft.. i’m sorry to say this, but the prevalence of mouses, with 4 year old kids using them today, is going to destroy the right arm of half the humam race in 30 years.. people, and Microsoft, just don’t understand how easy it is to damage your limbs using mouses and double clicks (set a button for double click on the TBE, and you’re done with that forever) and don’t believe the pain those of us who actually experienced it first hand suffered. So, to all those people at Microsoft, hope you get a RSI, then you’ll think about just how important “profits” and “market shares” really are…
>ranting over<
bahhh
PS: it’s about time the cursor on screen and click thing ended… time to think outside the box and come up with a new way of interacting with computers…
#25 by bob on 11 December 2008 - 19:50
I own the original Intellimouse trackball and have been using it for over ten years…maybe 14, I don’t know…..but it has what appears to be jewels for bearings instead of steel..never wore out at all and still looks new …I’ve had to scrape the rubber wheels off a few times but I am thinking of replacing the rubber with rubber from an old mose and should be good as new…I am very lucky to have bought such a good product when I did…I just don’t think i would be able to use the pc w/out the TB
#26 by Phil on 11 December 2008 - 21:24
Mikus,
There’s been large headway made in neural mice in the past couple years. Likely in 5 years or less we’ll all have neural headsets that will act perfectly like mice. heh They’re out now even, but most of them only actuate buttons, and they’re still pretty pricey.
#27 by Brian on 12 December 2008 - 01:31
Thanks Phil, half of that stuff on my website was modeled using a TBE. I currently work in the video games industry making 3D assets with a TBE both at home and work.
#28 by Phil on 12 December 2008 - 03:02
Wow! Really? Amazing! I can’t use my tbe for anything that detailed, I have to switch to my wacom tablet…I mainly just like them for desktop stuff.
#29 by Phil on 12 December 2008 - 03:43
and some parts of games.
#30 by Mikus on 12 December 2008 - 07:10
Just checked that OCZ is selling something thay call NIA, Neural Impulse Actuator… Control your games (just games?) using brainwaves.. wow… still not sure if it’s a April’s Fools day thing… could this be the end of Trackballs? And mice?
#31 by Brian on 12 December 2008 - 22:56
Actually I do use a Wacom tablet for painting textures. You have an amazing sculpting talent Phil, you’d make a great 3D modeler!
#32 by IH8FMS on 13 December 2008 - 13:56
I have used Wacom Tablets for years, too! My setup here at home is a Wacom Tablet and my TBE. I go back and forth.
A colleague at work was talking about possibly getting one of those touch-screen PCs… am I the only one for whom a touch screen holds NO appeal at all? All I can think of is RSI in the shoulder because of holding one’s arm out at such an uncomfortable angle to touch the screen… plus I hateHATEHATE big old smeary fingerprints on my screen! I had a sup at a former (TBTG) job who used to come up behind the workers in their cubicles and stick her fingers on their screens pointing at things. It drove most of us NUTS! We had a bottle of screen cleaner and a roll of towels that would make its rounds up and down the rows of cubes after she’d been by!
#33 by Eric on 14 December 2008 - 16:25
For those of you needing ergonomic mouse solutions for RSI/CTS, there’s always the Evoluent line. Funny looking, but 5 buttons and even wireless.
http://evoluent.com/ergonomic/index.php
#34 by Ville Walveranta on 14 December 2008 - 17:04
Tilted mouse is better than a conventional flat one, but it has a fundamental problem: the user has to move it around on the table, and that movement stems either from the wrist (bad) or from the elbow/shoulder (bad). For these reasons mouses are by definition tougher for RSI/CTS sufferers and less accurate than trackballs with which the cursor positioning is accomplished with the finger muscles which have much finer control of movement.
#35 by jackie on 14 December 2008 - 21:07
No one probably wants to hear this but it might lend hope to keep your eyes open. I also wanted to gloat a bit. I was looking for instruction on how to use a Microsoft Trackball Explorer 1.0 when I found this forum. I picked it up a Goodwill for two dollars today. It looked like a relic, I thought it might be fun to play around with. I’m going to keep it due to it’s apparent level of awesomeness. It’s taking a minuet to get used to all the buttons and the track ball. Any advice on how to “set the functions” for the extra buttons?
#36 by TheRedlines on 14 December 2008 - 21:23
Well you can add me household to the list. I’ve had mine for over 7 years without a problem. A couple of years ago I bought my wife her own computer and she just had to have a trackball like mine…lol
After alot of bidding we got her one. I wasn’t about to give her mine. I have worn through the silver to the hideous color of an apple II and the steel balls have been worn pretty flat but she’s still working like a champ.
#37 by Ville Walveranta on 14 December 2008 - 21:32
Hi Jackie! Congratulations on your find! If nothing else, it’s some return for the dollar (or two)!
You can download the latest driver and application for TBE from Microsoft’s hardware website. Once you’ve installed it, you can start the “Microsoft mouse” application which allows you to change the button definition, etc. on the TBE.
#38 by PC on 14 December 2008 - 21:39
Thanks for the support, Phil.
What are all of us going to do in 5 years once our TBO’s or TBE’s are dead? I’ve already been through one TBO.
Maybe I should switch to some sort of touchpad that allows finger gestures. (I’ve given Microsoft enough finger gestures; I just figured I’d make them productive.) I like the two-finger scroll on some laptops.
The only things that hold me back are cost and accuracy. I do a lot of LabVIEW work, schematic drawing, and PCB layout. I couldn’t get something cheap that’d work for me, could I? Cheaper than the $99 for a “new” TBO, at least.
#39 by Ville Walveranta on 14 December 2008 - 21:55
When my current in-use TBE and the two other TBEs I have in very low use finally give out so that I no longer have a TBE for my workstation, I’ll probably move to Kensington’s Expert Mouse if nothing better is available at that time.
But I try not to think about it.
#40 by IH8FMS on 14 December 2008 - 22:57
Here is an interesting-looking trackball for a good price… anyone familiar with this product?
http://www.trackballworld.com/40-100.html
#41 by Eric on 15 December 2008 - 02:48
Only thing I see potentially wrong with it is the fact that it is PS/2 or Serial interface only. I have one computer that doesn’t have a PS/2 port (newer Dell) and the serial port is already taken. If they had an updated version with USB, it might be worth a shot. It kinda reminds me of my old Kensington Orbit, just with more buttons and the ball isn’t blue. That middle button is kinda in a weird spot, too. I guess you could hit it with the base of your finger. Not sure what the use of two scroll wheels is either, unless it’s just so you can use whichever one is closest/easiest. Good find, though. There are still viable alternatives out there.
On an unrelated note, I’ve recently acquired a MacBook Pro and needed a travel mouse and found that Kensington’s SlimBlade series is a very good investment for the price. Around $30 for a mouse that has controls for iTunes/Media Player, and the scroll function on it is provided by a small (3/16″-1/4″) ball that works as X and Y axis scrolling, but on a couple models it can function as a trackball. *sigh* Makes me miss my TBE.
#42 by Eric on 15 December 2008 - 02:52
Awesome.
http://www.trackballworld.com/freescratcher.html
#43 by jackie on 15 December 2008 - 09:01
Thank you. If I cant get used to it I know where to donate it. Happy holidays.
#44 by John on 15 December 2008 - 21:27
The TBE has a ball 46mm in diameter. This is 1.811 inches. This should be used in comparisions with other trackballs.
#45 by Dan on 17 December 2008 - 18:13
I’ve been trying to find another one of these for a few weeks now. I know that’s not NEAR as long as some of you. I agree, Best Trackball EVER. Microsoft would garner alot of support and/or respect if they would just make even a few thousand more. Don’t see it happening, but maybe someone can get ahold of Slick Willy Gates and drop some hints. Ha Ha.
#46 by Dan on 17 December 2008 - 21:16
To the other Dan :
If you wanna grab one off Ebay, here’s a link of a “want it now” search :
http://wantitnow.ebay.com/Microsoft-Trackball-Explorer_W0QQadidZ320311283955
#47 by Eric on 19 December 2008 - 00:42
If anybody would like to use a forum, I have set one up.
http://trackballexplorer.freeforums.org/
#48 by gharidav on 21 December 2008 - 11:55
I have used the TBO for around 6 or 7 years. Can’t imagine working without it. Am using my second one now. I hate the idea of paying as much as these things are going for now but I probably will if/when my second one ever croaks. If anyone ever produces a wireless one I’ll probably pee my pants with delight.
#49 by RudeDog on 24 December 2008 - 08:09
I have just learned this devise was discontinued that is hard to believe. I bought one back in 2002 for knowing others that had one used maining for gaming. I learned what ever is used for gaming is the best to buy. My right button just stop working but I have been looking for a new one for the past year. Finding this article on the net was a shock. After finding that a new one would cost $500 and seeing what other companies have, the cost just about out weights to buy them. This is when I have been told long back upon finding a good buy to buy more than one for this very reason. Mouses are find back in the day and ok today when not using a computer much or just browsing. The rollerball is much better when on the computer a long time or the hours in a day gaming. For most part I can still use my trackball except when the right button is needed. Back when this product was out maybe demand wasn’t as great but now with use of computers used more I feel this should replace the mouse upon buying a computer.
#50 by IH8FMS on 24 December 2008 - 12:30
Hey, Microsoft DOES listen!
Here’s proof…
http://www.pcworld.com/article/155951/article.html?tk=nl_dnxnws
So, maybe, just maybe, if we keep on squeakin’ the wheel…