Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical

Rating:
Summary: This mouse is the cat's meow!
Review: Absolutely the most comfortable, ergonomic, and easy to use trackball available today.

Rating:
Summary: Great, almost maintenance-free device
Review: After having my trackman marble wheel for almost four years, I finally had to clean it today. The left button didn't always work. All it took to fix it was removing the bottom (with the mouse unplugged) and blowing some canned air around the button - good as new.

I started in 1994 with the old mechanical trackman and loved it. That is, with the exception of having to clean it out constantly. I finally got an optical then immediately purchased a second for my workstation at work.

Now, I wish I would have put up the extra ten bucks for the cordless.

Rating:
Summary: The solution to potential carpal tunnel...
Review: As one who spends a lot of time (too much really...) on the computer, especially the Internet, I developed an extreme cramping in my right wrist and pinky finger. It was due to the ergonomic design of the 'old' mouses. It's not natural (neither are the original keyboards).

This mouse is more ergonomically natural and the tracking ball is great compared to moving the mouse around (which is also an agitation to the wrist).

It does take some getting used to but once you've made the switch, it's difficult to go back. It is much more comfortable and eases the pain in my wrist. I'd give this one a thumbs up, especially if you've developed the cramping symptoms that accompany too much repetitive use.

Rating:
Summary: Very Comfortable And Efficient . . . Only One Minor Flaw
Review: As you progress through the learning curve and re-coordinate your reflexes, the TrackMan Wheel becomes very ergonomically friendly to use. The ball movement is extremely smooth. If the "Web Wheel" menu option is selected, a convenient navigation dial is displayed when the scroll wheel is depressed. The response to rapid scroll wheel movements is normal, but the response to paused 1-click movements is sporadic. The most recent driver download, selecting different menu options, and trying both USB and PS/2 port connections failed to correct this very minor flaw. A full one second pause between 1-click wheel movements is required for a uniform response.

12-24-02 Update: A recent download from the Logitech website (9.75 build 302) has eliminated the 1-click scroll wheel hesitation with Windows XP. It would be VERY awkward to go back to a conventional optical or ball mouse. Upgraded rating from 4 to 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Not for the long haul...
Review: I bought this trackball after my Microsoft Explorer Mouse went bad about two months ago. My wife wanted to try a trackball and I had always been curious.

I liked it at first but I found I had trouble clicking on buttons. When I would push the primary button I would almost always pull my thumb over at the same time and roll the cursor off the button.

Then I started noticing the little 'hitches' in the ball movement--especially when moving to the left. Those hitches became more and more obvious, until it became almost a constant drag. Eventually, the ball became too difficult to move without strain.

I ended up hating this mouse and now I love my new Microsoft Explorer Mouse.

Add to that Logitech's almost non-existent support and you have my review.

Rating:
Summary: Nicest Trackball
Review: I have always thought trackballs to be bulky and awkward, until I bought this one. My Belkin optical mouse would not work on my IBM Thinkpad via USB; the laptop does not have a PS2 port. So, back to Logitech who has never sold me a bad product.

I was not disappointed. I plugged the trackball into the USB port and it worked flawlessly without installing any software. It behaves wonderfully with both the touchpad and touchstick still enabled. The scroll wheel works very well with both Netscape and MIE, again without installing any of the Logitech software. Nice, painless and worked right out of the box. I am thinking of upgrading all my mice to this one.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing but Logitech!
Review: I have been a Logitech fan for years... and have purchased the Trackman Marbles through all of their different phases. When I first purchased this model I wasn't all that keen on losing the middle mouse button that was on the older model.. plus it is smaller so feels odd in your palm at first.

After a couple of weeks of use however, I could safely say that I didn't want my older model back! My wife still uses an older model and when I have to do anything on her computer, it is very uncomfortable!

This mouse is easier to clean too! It's been running flawlessly for the past 5 years now.. and we're getting ready to purchase another one to replace my wife's.

I am thoroughly satisified with the performance, durability, and most important RELIABILITY of this mouse!!

Rating:
Summary: New smaller trackball got too small!!
Review: I have been using the "white" optical trackball since they came out, I think in 1998 or so. The "old" size was a perfect fit for the hand, but the new size is just too small. My hand cramps up after about an hour of use; I would actually rather use a mouse than this little thing. Also, the trackball does not appear to be removable for cleaning as the white one was (and it needs it about once a week). If you are thinking of replacing your old white one with one of these think twice, I was sure disappointed and am hunting down old white ones..

Scott Lee
CAD engineer

Rating:
Summary: Best mouse EVER!
Review: I have been using this mouse from Logitech for years and surprised my sweetheart with one last year--I hate the traditional ones. I'm about to buy two more and surprise my boys who struggle with their traditional ones. It is SO COMFORTABLE and SO NATURAL to use! I never have any problems with it and have had it for years. My hand just doesn't feel right at a computer unless it's with this mouse! GET IT, you won't regret it!

Rating:
Summary: Say goodbye to wrist cramps.
Review: I have had this product for well over a year now. I am a heavy computer user and using a mouse was just putting a huge strain on my wrist, so I decided that maybe I should look into mouse alternatives.

Well, my first choice was the Kensington Orbit trackball, based on reviews on this site. All-in-all, it is a great product, but it has 1 tragic flaw which killed it for me - it gunks up incredibly quickly; I am talking on the order of every hour or two. I returned it to the store from whence it was purchased (hint: the one with a big yellow tag). Strike one.

My next choice was what is essentially a corded version of the Logitech Cordless Trackman FX Optical Trackball, which was probably simply called the same thing, minus the "Cordless". The up side - it has several buttons; this device did nothing about my wrist cramp problem, however. Strike two. (Side note: I don't really see the point of getting a cordless trackball or keyboard, unless you are just dying to have more battery-powered things.)

Choice number three: the Logitech Marble Mouse (which is a trackball, despite its name). I just plain could not get used to the feel of it and it did very little to ease strain anyhow. A lot of people on this site have good things to say about it. I, however, do not. Guess the third time is not always a charm.

Well, I finally ended up with (you guessed it) the Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical. While it takes some getting used to, once you get a feel for this, you will never even want to go near another mouse. It has two buttons and the scroll wheel which also doubles as a third button when pressed in, although I never find myself in need of this third "button" myself. This is probably the most ergonomic pointing device you can hope to get...that is, assuming you are right-handed. Sorry, lefties, looks like your choices are considerably more limited when it comes to trackballs.

While being an optical device, the ball bearings upon which the trackball itself rests do tend to need cleaned off once or twice a day, but this only takes a few seconds and is not nearly as time-consuming as cleaning off the roll bars on the non-optical Kensington Orbit, and these cleanings aren't nearly as frequent, either. I don't think you are going to be able to buy a trackball that doesn't need cleaned fairly often, and this one does a nice job of making it a relatively painless affair.

The software allows you to set the directional orientation (which way is "up"), among other things, though I have not even bothered installing the software since I started using Windows XP.

Bottom line: If you are right-handed and have your own computer, buy this. Just make sure you give yourself a day or so to adjust to using it. You shan't be dissapointed.