TB550 Pro Fit Ergo Trackball review: specs, performance, cost

Kensington TB550 Professional Match Ergo Trackball

In case you’re fearful about repetitive stress accidents whereas working, the Kensington TB550 Professional Match Ergo Trackball mouse gives an ergonomic answer at a budget-friendly value.

It isn’t precisely breaking information that utilizing a mouse for prolonged intervals can result in all kinds of wrist issues, together with repetitive stress accidents and carpal tunnel.

Loads of methods to assist restrict the harm embrace taking frequent breaks, common train, or switching up your tools.

We just lately had the chance to check out the Kensington TB550 Professional Match Ergo Trackball mouse, a budget-friendly choice marketed particularly to first-time trackball customers.

TB550 Professional Match Ergo Trackball mouse – design & performance

The TB550 has a thumb-operated trackball, which we discover preferable to these operated with the palm however much less preferrred than these operated with the fingertips. It will come down to non-public desire.

For most individuals, the TB550 will match properly of their palms. It incorporates a 45-degree tilt that retains your wrist aligned correctly whereas working. We examined it with two customers of above and below-average hand sizes, and neither had any downside working the mouse as meant.

One neat function we loved was the 4D scroll wheel, which permits customers to scroll horizontally in addition to vertically.

Connecting the TB550 to our iMac was straightforward. Kensington gives a 2.4GHz dongle saved within the backside of the mouse that can be utilized with a USB-A port. In case you do not need to take up a port — or, extra realistically, bust out an adapter — the TB550 can even join over Bluetooth LE.

The TB550 Professional Match with included dongle

The setup course of was easy, and the compatibility with each Home windows and macOS techniques is a plus, catering to a wider vary of customers. The plug-and-play performance is handy, and we admire that no further software program set up is required.

Nevertheless, if you wish to additional customise it, you should utilize Kensington’s KensingtonWorks software program to additional make the mouse suit your wants.

The TB550 incorporates a rechargeable battery that lasts as much as 4 months per cost. It may be recharged through the USB-C port on the facet.

Final however actually not least is the trackball eject function, which permits customers to shortly come out the trackball to scrub it each time essential. We love this function as trackball mice are liable to selecting up dust and dirt shortly.

TB550 Professional Match Ergo Trackball mouse – be ready to regulate

Whereas Kensington payments the TB550 as a beginner-friendly entry into the world of trackball mice, that does not imply it is fast to select up.

We discovered that we have been considerably slower at each activity for the primary a number of days of utilizing the TB550. Even now, after utilizing the mouse for over every week and a half, we’re nonetheless nowhere close to as quick as we’re with an ordinary optical mouse.

The TB550 next to the Apple Magic Mouse included with the 2021 iMac

The TB550 subsequent to the Apple Magic Mouse included with the 2021 iMac

If you should full time-sensitive duties at your job, the TB550 can and can price you quite a lot of time whereas adapting to it. We extremely recommend that, if attainable, you be taught in an atmosphere with out time stress.

And, like some other new device you decide up, trackball mice will also be bodily uncomfortable to make use of. Positive, these sorts of mice stop sure varieties of repetitive stress accidents. But, that does not change the truth that your physique will most likely wrestle towards outdated habits.

We discovered that we had a good quantity of thumb and wrist fatigue whereas studying to make use of the TB550 and required common breaks to stop ache. As at all times, take it sluggish whereas getting used to any new device.

Who the TB550 Professional Match Ergo Trackball mouse is for

Like some other tech, all these trackball mice aren’t for everybody.

The TB550 actually cannot be used for intense, response-based gaming — however that is true of any trackball mouse. Nevertheless, some individuals vastly choose trackball mice for 3D modeling or CAD work.

Nevertheless, in case you aren’t gaming and also you’re keen to take a while to get used to it, some main well being advantages might be gained from making the swap. The TB550 is a good alternative for individuals who desire a trackball mouse at an entry-level value.