Kensington Optical Elite Mouse (72121F)

OK, I've been a computer user for many years now. I build my own computers, and for the most part have used nothing but Logitech brand ball "mice" for pointing devices. But I recently got a gift certificate to a local mall that I had to use somehow. I've been thinking of trying an optical mouse for quite a while. In theory at least, getting rid of the ball is a good idea. So I did some research based on models I was likely to find at the local mall. I'd narrowed down my possible choices to the Logitech Wheel Mouse Optical and the Kensington Optical Elite Mouse. Based on reviews I read here and elsewhere, I'd concluded that the Kensington was probably a better mouse. But my own experience with Logitech "mice" has been pretty good, having owned several of them. And I'd never purchased anything made by Kensington before. So in spite of the fact that the reviews seemed to favor the Kensington, I was still undecided. Well when I went to the mall, I went to several stores (not just looking for a mouse). I discovered Sears had the Logitech Wheel Mouse Optical (M-BJ58) on sale for fifteen bucks, which is half the retail price of the Kensington Optical Elite. Yup, I could probably get better deals on both of them if I purchased online, but I wanted to use the gift certificate. I decided that, at fifteen bucks, I couldn't afford NOT to buy the Logitech. But I really wanted to try the Kensington also. So I bought both. I decided I could use the Logitech one with my notebook and the Kensington with my wife's desktop (which I also use extensively). At fifteen bucks, you might be wondering why I didn't get two of the Logitech for the same price as one of the Kensington? Well, Sears only had one left.

Bottom line, I replaced TWO Logitech ball "mice" with one Kensington Optical Elite Mouse and one Logitech Wheel Mouse Optical. So I'll compare both to the Logitech Wheel Mouse they replaced, and to each other.

The only significant advantage I can see to optical is that there is no mouse ball to get dirty. I don't see this as a huge advantage, as it's relatively easy to clean a mouse ball, and the rollers that contact it. Another advantage is that the optical mouse pointer movement is MUCH smoother than any ball mouse, at slow to moderate speeds. But, at high speeds, the optical mouse pointers are very jumpy. This is not something you are likely to notice unless you are used to moving your mouse at high speeds. You can turn up the mouse pointer speed in the control panel. But if you do that, you lose some ability to make "fine" mouse movements. So if you want to get from one side of the screen to the other quickly, you pretty much have to move the mouse quickly. This is where you will notice that optical "mice" don't handle quick movements well at all. In this sense, a ball mouse is better for moving the pointer across the screen QUICKLY.

Does that mean I recommend you stick to a ball mouse? No. Overall, I think the optical variety works better. At normal speeds, you will be pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the optical mouse pointer moves, compared to the movement of a similar ball mouse.

But if you are used to making lots of high-speed movements with a mouse (programmer, gamer, etc.), you might want to stick with the ball for a while. At least until the optical mouse manufacturers have ironed out this kink with the jerky high-speed pointer movement.

Before someone suggests it, I have tried the optical "mice" on various surfaces, including mouse pads. And the two different brands behave similarly at high speed. So I'm sure the jerky movement I've experienced is a problem inherent in the optical technology somehow.

Now about the two optical mouse models I own . . .

The Kensington is darned near perfect, IMHO, as far as an optical mouse goes (aside from jerkiness at high speed, but the Logitech has the same problem). Not only is the pointer movement much smoother than ball "mice", but the pointer movement of the Kensington is smoother than the Logitech optical. The Kensington also fits the hand better, and the scroll wheel is easier to use than the Logitech. In comparison, the Logitech's scroll wheel is noisy and jerky compared to the relatively smooth scrolling of the Kensington. The two main buttons of the Kensington are also easier to operate than the Logitech model. I find this somewhat odd, as I'm USED TO USING Logitech brand "mice". But even compared to the logitech models I'm used to using, the Kensington buttons feel like they are placed in a more natural position. With the Logitech optical, I keep trying to click the side of the mouse instead of the left mouse button. (!) My wife had the same problem at first, so I know it's not just me. They are both pretty nice, but the Logitech feels a bit cheap and clumsy compared to the Kensington. I'd say they are both worth as much as I paid for them, and I paid twice as much for the Kensington.

The Kensington also includes a couple extra buttons on the side that you can use, if you want to. In Windows ME, these buttons even work without installing software! I don't anticipate using these buttons much, as I'm too used to having just three buttons. But on top of an otherwise well-made and full featured mouse, the two extra buttons are a bonus.

In summary, if you are thinking of upgrading from a ball mouse, I think the Kensington Optical Elite is a great choice. I don't know if I could recommend any optical mouse for gaming though. High speed movement seems to be a problem for the optical variety mouse.