Rating: 
Summary: A great product
Review: As long as you don't have to pay the full retail price ($60), the Trackman is a great buy. At first, the thumb-controlled trackball is a little tough to get used to; you may find yourself missing the icons on your desktop, or the targets in games, but after a few weeks of use, you won't have any more trouble. The scroll wheel is a little harder to turn that others I have used, but I actually prefer the extra resistance.After you get used to it, the Trackman's performance is great. The pointer never sticks or skips unless you spin the ball REALLY fast. The only problem I have ever had is that when dust builds up underneath the ball, it becomes hard to move in certain directions. The dust is very easy to clean out, so this is not really a big deal. I should also mention that if you've had bad experiences with hand-contoured devices, (I've had a few) this won't be one of them. The trackman has a good design that allows you to rest your hand comfortably on it. I would suggest trying the Trackman before you buy it, just in case you prefer the finger-controlled trackball devices. So, aside from possible "thumb fatigue", the trackman is great for anyone who doesn't have room for a mousepad or is just plain sick of having to use one.
Rating: 
Summary: Bye Bye Mice
Review: Having used an old fashioned track ball (vintage '92) I thought I could go back to a mouse with my new computer -- too much wrist/hand pain. Finally, this arrived and it's the best. I'm happy to use the ergonomic design. It was a bit too fast for me at first but soon realized I could not have made a better choice.
Rating:
Summary: pain free
Review: I agree with most every review already posted, but I want to add one important point. I'm fighting carpel, and I've found that a standard mouse is much more painful than a keyboard. In searching for a less painful pointing device, this one is the ONLY one that was completely pain free. I've used it for a few years now, and I won't use anything else. It takes a while to get used to, and don't expect anyone else to be able to use your computer, BUT IT'S WORTH IT!
Rating:
Summary: good for my wrist
Review: I bought this mouse to relieve some strange tingling feelings in my wrists & forearms that I can only guess were the initial symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. I had been using a regular mouse - the one that came with my pc. Since I have been using the TrackMan the symptoms have disappeared. The motion of my pointer is now entirely up to the motion of my thumb rather than the motion of my whole arm. Besides the relief for my tendons, I also get the benefit of using less desk space for rolling my mouse around (I can now have my coffee cup within inches of my keyboard!). I have had to clean the ball once in the last 3 months. Some dust had worked its way into the ball-socket and caused the ball to stick in place when first using it in the morning. The ball removed easily, I blew the dust out, and the ball was free to move as new. This mouse has proven itself enough to me that I am not even tempted to expense it to my employer. If I have to leave - I am taking my TrackMan with me! :)
Rating:
Summary: Best for Drawing
Review: I do alot of drawing and a regular mouse started giving me severe shoulder pain. I switched to a trackman with the thumbball many years ago and have had no trouble since. The positioning of the ball allows for the hand and arm to be totally supported in a relaxed position. I recommend also paying attention to the positioning of the chair arm. When the mouse and chair arm are properly positioned the comfort is fantastic, especially for long hours. I find using the thumb rather than the fingers easier on the wrist and forearm, as well as more accurate. Finger balls tend to be larger and heavier to move while the muscle is smaller and the movement awkward. The thumb position solves this as well as you could ever hope to. Regular cleaning is easy (and advised). If your Trackman starts slowing down or skipping, you need to clean it. I use alot of handlotion. This and lint tend to collect on the inside points where the ball touches, but is no problem to clean out. It is a sturdy product that lasts for many many years.
Rating:
Summary: You will never go back to a regular mouse..
Review: I got a thumb operated trackball around 4 years ago and I havent wanted to use anything else since. I find it a pain to use a regular mouse anymore, I cant see why anyone would bother with the hassle. Using your wrist to move it around and having a mousepad and running out of desk space, ick. It may take a 'little' getting used to, but after a week you will wonder why you used anything else. The incredible comfort and such extras as the scroll wheel make this a great peice of equipment... And with a brand name like Logitech you cant go wrong. =]
Rating:
Summary: Logitech is the logical choice
Review: I have been a Logitech fan from the first day I bought a mouse by Logitech. I have been using an earlier model, but I just recently upgraded to this TrackMan model and I have not been disappointed. It is smooth, space saving, and fun to use. The scroll button makes the net a breeze. This is a must have for all those who spend any time in front of their computer.
Rating:
Summary: Good design,but a little lightweight...
Review: I have been using a Kensington trackball for a while on a Mac and recently purchased this Logitech Trackman Marble for a PC I am using. The aspects of the Logi. I appreciate the most are the rounded form that fits with comfort under the palm and the scroll knob on top. What I miss in the Kensington I had was the weight of the ball and the smooth cursor motion. It felt like, and probably was originally, a billiard ball. One light flick of the finger and the cursor went with authority. The tiny light ball on this Trackman requires more patience - operating with my thumb which is "all thumbs" when it comes to the fine coordination needed for graphics manipulation and general navigation of the screen. I find the price of a new Kensington a bit much to take at this point, so I'll probably stick with the Logitech for now. I hope this was useful information.
Rating:
Summary: A keeper
Review: I have been using the Logitech TrackMan Marble Wheel (formerly known as the TrackMan Marble Plus) since 1999. Prior to my use of this trackball I was a mouse user. Some people will always be mouse users while others will move beyond that. ;-) The advantages of this trackball are evident to me while I struggle to find negatives. The only negative that comes to mind is that it is a corded device. This design has two buttons, an wheel, and an optical (yes, I said optical) trackball. The wheel serves as the third button and I have found it very useful as such, binding it to hook/grapple in Quake 2 and later to my secondary fire mode in Unreal Tournament. This design is a derivative of Logitech's older design from before the middle button became a wheel (Logitech TrackMan Marble), and it is given equal space as the middle button was given before it, which allows you to place your first three fingers on the buttons, allowing for quicker response times in games and such. I've read several of the reviews on this site for this pointing device and there are several points I wish to make clear. This *is* an optical trackball, as all the Logitech TrackMan Marble series are (TrackMan Marble, TrackMan Marble Wheel, TrackMan Marble F/X, TrackMan MarbleMouse). Taken directly from the packaging (I have a spare still in the packaging): "Patented Marble optical technology delivers superior precision, reduced wear, and smooth tracking, even if the trackball gets dirty. Because it records motion optically, instead of using mechanical parts, there's no need for regular cleaning." Yes, it is optical, this is true. Yes, it still works smoothly when full of dirt. Yes, it works better if you clean the bearings on which the ball rolls every six months or so. This trackball (which I may accidently slip and call a 'mouse' if I'm not careful) is a very good thumb-operated design that neatly, comfortably, and functionally fits an adult hand, and it has been discontinued by Logitech for their newer model, the Logitech TrackMan Wheel. (They dropped 'marble' from the title of the new version? Yep.) The new version lacks the additional space around the wheel button, which makes pressing the wheel-button cumbersome. This was not an issue with the version seen here, and it is one of the reasons why I can't easily move to another wheel device. (Nor do I want to, but when I must it is a nuisance.) As I stated previously, I have been using this device for two years. My wheel still clicks with every roll as it did the day it was bought but after a little use all stiffness was worked out of it and those little clicks just become an extension of measuring how far I've travelled down a page. Previous reviewers have complained that this mouse doesn't allow for precision movement while others have said it is an excellent device, and I obviously agree with the latter. Two actions to take upon installing any mouse are to run the software and define the speed and the orientation (which way is up). Every user moves his or her pointer in a slightly different fashion. Defining the orientation of the mouse immediately insures it will behave how you like it. Your 'up' is its 'up', your 'left' is its left, and so on. As for speed, I have my trackball adjusted so that with a single roll or my thumb from the left edge of the ball to the other my cursor moves exactly from the left edge of the screen to the right. With games this sensitivity can be increased in-game for a quick 180 degree spin at the flick of the thumb. I'm playing through Serious Sam now and all is right with the world of pointing devices. Speed sensitivity adjustment makes the difference between a barely tolerable device and one mean gaming/productivity pointing device. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, Logitech has discontinued this trackball design, so as a safety precaution I ordered myself a spare. Nothing is wrong with mine but I got a spare so I'll have it if they become hard to find. My closing thoughts? If you buy any trackball buy this one. Plain and simple. If you like a mouse? If you're happy with your mouse? Why are you looking at trackballs anyway? When you're ready for a trackball come back to Logitech TrackMan Marble Wheel.
Rating:
Summary: A keeper
Review: I have been using the Logitech TrackMan Marble Wheel (formerly known as the TrackMan Marble Plus) since 1999. Prior to my use of this trackball I was a mouse user. Some people will always be mouse users while others will move beyond that. ;-) The advantages of this trackball are evident to me while I struggle to find negatives. The only negative that comes to mind is that it is a corded device. This design has two buttons, an wheel, and an optical (yes, I said optical) trackball. The wheel serves as the third button and I have found it very useful as such, binding it to hook/grapple in Quake 2 and later to my secondary fire mode in Unreal Tournament. This design is a derivative of Logitech's older design from before the middle button became a wheel (Logitech TrackMan Marble), and it is given equal space as the middle button was given before it, which allows you to place your first three fingers on the buttons, allowing for quicker response times in games and such. I've read several of the reviews on this site for this pointing device and there are several points I wish to make clear. This *is* an optical trackball, as all the Logitech TrackMan Marble series are (TrackMan Marble, TrackMan Marble Wheel, TrackMan Marble F/X, TrackMan MarbleMouse). Taken directly from the packaging (I have a spare still in the packaging): "Patented Marble optical technology delivers superior precision, reduced wear, and smooth tracking, even if the trackball gets dirty. Because it records motion optically, instead of using mechanical parts, there's no need for regular cleaning." Yes, it is optical, this is true. Yes, it still works smoothly when full of dirt. Yes, it works better if you clean the bearings on which the ball rolls every six months or so. This trackball (which I may accidently slip and call a 'mouse' if I'm not careful) is a very good thumb-operated design that neatly, comfortably, and functionally fits an adult hand, and it has been discontinued by Logitech for their newer model, the Logitech TrackMan Wheel. (They dropped 'marble' from the title of the new version? Yep.) The new version lacks the additional space around the wheel button, which makes pressing the wheel-button cumbersome. This was not an issue with the version seen here, and it is one of the reasons why I can't easily move to another wheel device. (Nor do I want to, but when I must it is a nuisance.) As I stated previously, I have been using this device for two years. My wheel still clicks with every roll as it did the day it was bought but after a little use all stiffness was worked out of it and those little clicks just become an extension of measuring how far I've travelled down a page. Previous reviewers have complained that this mouse doesn't allow for precision movement while others have said it is an excellent device, and I obviously agree with the latter. Two actions to take upon installing any mouse are to run the software and define the speed and the orientation (which way is up). Every user moves his or her pointer in a slightly different fashion. Defining the orientation of the mouse immediately insures it will behave how you like it. Your 'up' is its 'up', your 'left' is its left, and so on. As for speed, I have my trackball adjusted so that with a single roll or my thumb from the left edge of the ball to the other my cursor moves exactly from the left edge of the screen to the right. With games this sensitivity can be increased in-game for a quick 180 degree spin at the flick of the thumb. I'm playing through Serious Sam now and all is right with the world of pointing devices. Speed sensitivity adjustment makes the difference between a barely tolerable device and one mean gaming/productivity pointing device. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, Logitech has discontinued this trackball design, so as a safety precaution I ordered myself a spare. Nothing is wrong with mine but I got a spare so I'll have it if they become hard to find. My closing thoughts? If you buy any trackball buy this one. Plain and simple. If you like a mouse? If you're happy with your mouse? Why are you looking at trackballs anyway? When you're ready for a trackball come back to Logitech TrackMan Marble Wheel.
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