Rating: Summary: The best for graphic artists Review: I've used just about every pointing device available. Trackpoints are the worst. Touchpads are pretty bad, difficult to control, and you keep scrolling in areas and clicking on things that you never intended. Mice are okay, except (among other things) that fairly often I have observed people (including myself) clicking and missing--the pointer was on the target, but when you released the left button, you twitched and so nothing happens. Also, mice will wear you out after a while; I find a lot of muscle tension at the end of a day. Trackballs avoid these problems. With these devices, when you've got the pointer exactly where you want it, take your thumb off the ball and then click--this is especially good for novices. Trackballs generally give greater control and, when it comes to moving the pointer across the screen, just a tiny thumb movement takes you from corner to corner (if you adjust the motion properly in the control panel). The Logitech Cordless Trackman Wheel is the best trackball I've seen, and I've owned a bunch of them. It has all the features mentioned above and is very ergonomic and relaxing to use. When I cruise the internet, I sit almost motionless, concentrating totally on the information being displayed. Oddly enough, I do recommend playing some solitaire to develop the unconscious feel for the device. One nice feature (a point of distinction): this device uses radio frequency communication and does not require line of sight. I have used it on a table in the middle of the room, the desk being against the wall, without problem (I have a fairly large monitor). Could the Logitech be improved? Yes. There's room for another button under the ring finger. The scroll wheel could be a little smoother (sometimes you move it one notch and nothing happens, but it's not a big deal, just move it another notch). Something that probably could not be improved is its apparent indestructability; it fell from my hand as I was changing batteries and, trying to catch it, wound up slamming it into the hardwood floor. I was somewhat awed to find that it still worked. All in all, I recommend this pointing device above all others.
Rating: Summary: Freedom, Performance,and Quality Review: If you have a desktop area that is limited for space, and you're looking for the freedom that a cordless device can offer, then this Logitech Cordless Trackman Wheel is for you. Your thumb is used to effortlessly move the Trackball as your fingers operate the right and left buttons much like a standard mouse, a feature that I personally prefer over a fingertip controlled trackball. The wheel is also an great tool for scrolling and can be programed as a third button. Finally you're also getting the quality and experience that the Logitech name has come to represent.
Rating: Summary: The left handed are tools of the devil Review: It is true--those who went to a Catholic school soon learned. But, a lefty HAS to learn to use their right hand well to survive. I'm 70, still build and do systems for fun and profit. The thing to know is that persons who try to live lefthanded have a life expectency 10+ yrs less than righties. I have used the TrackMan since it came out and ALWAYS with my RIGHT hand. As was said it leaves your "good" hand for writing and other tasks. I also bat and play golf right handed, but throw with left and shoot expert with EITHER hand. The TrackMan is excellent for two reasons: It doesn't "run off the edge" and it "doesn't care if there are cookie crumbs on the table". Warning for confirmed lefties--don't use a Circle Saw unless you find a left one--it is THE MOST DANGEROUS TOOL. Oh yes, I was in charge of a physical accident insurance claims dept. for 15 yrs. and KNOW the statistics, and have taught them to my several children and grand children.
Rating: Summary: Off to bad start Review: Just installed my new Cordless Trackman today. My bigest hurdle so far was the software installation. The instructions leave a lot to be desired. People who write instructions should write them for the novice not the nerds. I got to the point of accepting the user agreement and could get no further. Could not figure out how to select the 'I Accept' and could not further. Of course, there is no number to call, so after calling information and calling a couple of numbers I finally got ahold of tech support. When I told them I was having trouble loading the software, the first question was "is the problem with accepting the agreement?" So they have had that problem more than once. By the way, one must tab to acceptance button and then space to get the button checked. The tech's comment was this is common procedure. New to me and I have been doing this for years. I have high hopes that this will relieve my sore wrist. Of course I haven't introduced it to my husband yet so I'll probably will have to return it. Husband does not take well to new things.
Rating: Summary: A southpaw's sinster, leftist perspective Review: Like davidindallas (below), I'm also left-handed, but I don't share his view of this product. For many years, I used right-handed (and handedness-agnostic) mice with my left hand, sharing them with my right-handed family and friends, rearranging the desk each time. A few years ago, I had an epiphany: if I could just learn to use the danged things with my right hand, I'd be able to write notes with my left. I found that trackballs in general were much easier to use with my non-dominant hand, since they allow me to click a button after placing the pointer where I want it (I find it harder to keep a mouse from moving as I click if I'm using my right hand). In an important way, David is right: it is absolutely impossible to use this device with your left hand. If you are left-handed, however, you may discover as I did that you can master the use of a trackball with your right hand, and then proceed to amaze your friends and confound your enemies by taking notes and mousing at the same time. If you point this out to your right-handed colleagues, they may all begin demanding left-handed trackballs, but by then you will have left them in the dust. I gave this product only 4 stars because the ball doesn't move as smoothly, nor is it as comfortably placed, as on the inexplicably discontinued Trackman Marble, and because of the limited range. It works fine under Linux; a minor annoyance, as with most wheel mice, is that a middle button click requires depressing the wheel, which frequently causes an unintended scroll event.
Rating: Summary: Awesome piece of equipment Review: My first trackball, and very good at that. Works upto 4' away. Also, the trackball is easy and very intuitive for use.
Rating: Summary: Under my thumb Review: One of the most popular pastimes in Singapore - after shopping, of course - is sending SMS messages on a mobile phone. The kids here really have trained thumbs. It's a good qualification for users of the Logitech TrackMan. This gadget helped me clean up my desk - one cable less, mouse-pad out of the way. My two-year-old loves the red trackball although he misses yanking at the mouse cord. However, my PC co-user (and wife) cannot get used to the new toy. The shape of the Logitech TrackMan is too large for her hand, and she simply hates moving the cursor with the trackball. I have to plug in the traditional mouse for her whenever she wants to use the PC (the software supplied with the Logitech TrackMan handles this operation nicely, no big deal). I'm quite happy with the Logitech TrackMan, but it has some weaknesses: (1) the sender unit has to be on the table for the mouse to receive the signals properly. It can not be placed too far away from the mouse; (2) for precision work the traditional mouse is superior to a trackball device - moving the cursor with a movement of the mouse-on-a-cord yields more precise results than using the thumb on the trackball, especially for click-and-drag operations; (3) speed - I move the cursor faster with the old mouse-on-a-cord. Bottom-line: a product with good value for its price, very useful if you have only limited space on your desk - but you have to get used to it. One thumb up (the left one, the right one is on the trackball).
Rating: Summary: Excellent! If only I could switch the handedness.. Review: Otherwise I just love the track ball, but the only problem with it is that I can't change the handedness when I feel like 'exercising' my left hand. With my old mouse I got used to changing it from right to left every now and then but it's no longer possible with this one. :/
Rating: Summary: Works on my Linux machine Review: RedHat 7.1 plug and go. No problems so far. Its built well and feels solid. The wheel button is very slick and smooth. Can't comment on battery life yet, but I'm very pleased overall.
Rating: Summary: A mouse replacement for everyone Review: Since my first computer in 1992 I have used a mouse and never really had any strong opinions about it. I loved it for gaming, and it worked great for everything else. After I started getting inner elbow pain which appeared to be from placing my hand in the same position as required by a mouse, I decided I would give using a trackball a shot to see if the pain went away. Sure enough it did, and the comfort and ease of this trackball is certainly undeniable. I am not saying your pain will go away, but I know it is a lot smoother and more comfortable to use this rather than a mouse.
And gamers, don't worry. I am using a trackball for FPS games and it works just as well. As one reviewer said, it takes a day or two to use, and then you just feel disappointed whenever you have to use a mouse.
I love this. Buy a trackball. The cordless is nice, it uses batteries quickly. I am probably going to buy a wired one for work soon.
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