Our most advanced trackball yet: a comfortable, cordless, finger-operated trackball that works where you need it. Save space and eliminate desktop clutter.
Take advantage of extra buttons that help you navigate around Windows and the web more easily. And with Logitech's patented optical technology, you get virtually maintenance-free precision and smooth tracking.
- No cord, no clutter, no hassle
- A comfortable right-handed shape
- Advanced buttons for easier navigation plus a scroll wheel
- Smart power management keeps battery working for months
- Easy to install and set up
Software- WebWheel™ software for smarter Internet browsing
- Easy scrolling on the web, in Windows® and Macintosh® applications
- A variety of button assignments to customize your mouse buttons
- Online registration with Logitech.com
Logitech's cordless optical TrackMan lets you work where and how you want with the freedom of a cordless mouse, the comfort of a trackball, and the precision of optical technology. It's Logitech's most advanced trackball finger-operated trackball mouse. Save space and eliminate desktop clutter. Take advantage of extra buttons that help you navigate around Windows and the Web more easily. And with Logitech's patented optical technology, you get virtually maintenance-free precision and smooth tracking.
Logitech's patented Optical Marble technology ensures smooth cursor movement, while 27 MHz cordless digital radio technology gives you reliable cordless freedom. The product offers advanced navigation features in a form-fitting, right-handed design. Its special drag-lock functions let you move text and images with ease, while Cruise Control scrolling lets you scroll rapidly through Web pages and documents by merely pressing a button. With conveniently located thumb-operated forward and back buttons, you can easily move through applications and Web pages without having to move the cursor to the browser's onscreen buttons. Two AA batteries (included) keep you powered for six months or more.
1 take it or leave it
i love this thing but i have had a lot of users beg to differ. i am a win sysadmin (hey i do my *nix with style) and the need for a good mouse is essential. I love that it is wireless and can move it about. it is unbelievably durable, trust me i have dropped it several times on hard services. the only issue that muck gets trapped in the optical lenses and needs to be cleaned out regularly. all and all it is a great grab...
2 Best Trackball I Have Ever Used
This is an extremely comfortable and accurate trackball. It is very well designed and I like having the left mouse button on the side.
3 YES! The answer for hand discomfort.
I am a psychologist, and an internet hound. I spend a lot of time on my laptop (2-5 hours a day?). A year ago, I began having pain in the tendons along the top of my hand, from my index finger through my wrist. This was not "carpal tunnel" pain (that is on the underside of the wrist) but was apparently tendonitis aggravated by typing and mousing.
Anyway, I decided to make a radical switch, and the relief was instant. I have fairly big hands and this stationary mouse is like laying my hand on a custom recliner. Combined with a small mousepad and raised wrist pad, I literally never have to move my hand or wrist at all...just tracking with my middle/ring finger and clicking with thumb. The index finger is mercifully spared.
Gaming is a downside...especially for high-speed games like shooters.
Rarely does a product do everything you hope it will. This one did. I have had NO pronlems with gummed up wheels from dust...and I've had it for a year.
4 A previous MS Intellimouse trackball user review
When my old mouse died I tried to find something similar. Like the intellimouse this mouse can be controlled by your index finger but it is a lot more sensitive. Two fingers work better unless you slow down the response setting.
I love that I can left click with the thumb still but it will take a bit getting used to doing a right click with the pinky. Still, when I want to do that it reacts easily without strain on the hand.
The best feature of this mouse is being able to 'advance to' or 'retreat from' viewed files without having to search for a back button on my browser. Not only is it faster, but it leaves your cursor just where you expect it to be when you get there. When you are in a database this simplifies the movement back and forth to the same navigation location. It has a couple of other nice features the intelli didn't as well such as 'quick lock and scroll' copying which gives you more control where to stop and start.
Ergonomically the mouse feels good but I wouldn't rank it as high as the Intellimouse for my own small hand. I find the ball bigger than is really necessary and the scroll wheel feels a bit farther away from where my index finger wants to be but that is the only reason for a less than a perfect 5 stars.
No wires makes it a dream as I no longer have to extract my mouse from my telephone cord to take a call.
Software loaded without problems on my ME machine (after I ignored ME concerns about missing drivers that were on the disk still to be loaded) and the install instructions could be followed by a 3 year old, though a two step install (basic mouse first then the trackball)was kinda strange.
All in all, a good mouse that I will be happy with...hopefully as long as my intelli lasted. The real bonus is that visiting relatives take one look at it and say "do you have another computer I can use?"
5 Almost there!
The engineering of this product is currently a comedy of errors, however, I believe that once the driver and manufacturing issues are resolved, this will be one of the best trackballs on the market.
The three primary flaws are as follows:
If you have a metal table, you will need to sit the receiver upside down on your desk, as the antenna was apparently placed on the bottom of the device. With the reciever propped up, I can use the trackball from across the room, so this flaw is a minor inconvenience.
There are four feet on the bottom of the trackball, and the trackball is warped enough to rock on two of them. Minor annoyance that can be fixed easily fixed.
This trackball won't work well without a driver that can re-align the axes of the trackball; as mentioned in other posts. I have verified that this is a problem in mac os x.
I have hope for this trackball, however, since the button layout is the most intelligent I've seen, and so far, all of the flaws are problems that can be solved with a little tinkering and a little more software from Logitech.
I have tried Microsoft's Trackball Explorer, and Microsoft's thumb operated trackball as well, and their ergonomics and construction were awful compared to what this will be once they work out the manufacturing and software bugs.
6 Love my trackball
When my first optical cordless trackball quit working after I dumped soda pop on it, I loved it so much that I bought from Amazon.com when none of the local stores had it. I even bought my mother-in-law one and she loves hers too.
7 Best thing available at time of purchase
This is a quality product and Logitech make excellent trackballs. The only reason I bought this technology was because I could not find a bluetooth trackball. I have a bluetooth keyboard and it is much more responsive and you don't have to worry about roving too far from your computer or where the signal receiver is. Having said all that, this is a great option for a desktop computer. For a laptop its kind of a hassle.
8 This trackball ROCKS
I have been using it for a while and its awesome. I do a lot of data crunching and I love how you can set up your copy/paste to the two buttons next to your main "Left-Click" button. Makes it so much more easier. My third button is set to (alt-tab)..makes it easier to jump from one window to another...and all this from my mouse and without taking my hands-off it.
The trackball is very accurate and I have it setup very sensitive, so I can rest my hand move around the pointer easily. It takes some time to get used to this type of pointing device..but once you settle down. Its Awesome. The Wireless works great too. (but you really don't need wireless cause its Trackball)
Here is my current setup. Since it is so helpful, I would like to share it:
Button 1: Explore MY Computer
Button 2: Quick Switch (basiclly Alt-tab)
Button 3: Close application
Button 4: Recall last Application
Button 5: Paste
Button 6: Left-Click
Button 7: Copy
Button 8: Right-Click
I have the same setup at home on Logitech MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse(930754-0403). It has 8 buttons as well. It takes a little while to remember which button does what, but once you have it down...you get things fast!!!
9 comfy!
Just received the Logitech Trackman yesterday. This may not be the ultimate ergonomic mouse, but it comes pretty darn close. My SO has the Microsoft Trackball Explorer. Both are very similar in terms of comfort, performance, and ease of use. I would say the Logitech trackball has a slight edge in terms of comfort (I find the contour fits my hand more naturally), while the Microsoft trackball has better button layout. Again, the differences are incremental at best. If cost is your main concern, go with Microsoft (about $10 less). If you prefer comfort and supporting the little guy, go with Logitech.
A final note: my trackball would not work initially after installation, until my cat (no mouse jokes, please) knocked it to the floor. Then, all of a sudden, it started working. Guess she must have jiggled some connection in place. It does make me wonder whether the fix will last.
10 State of the Art for the Trackball user
Being a confirmed trackball person this is probably as good as it can be for now. Operation is silky smooth, all buttons are fully
configurable and the hand comfort is excellent. Sometimes cordless
can be pesky, not so with this unit as everything is right on. I was never much for scrolling and some of the other things this unit can do, but am now just plain spoiled.
11 Excellent Mouse
I just received this Trackman and have been using it for about an hour. It is excellent. The ball is smooth, precise and responsive. I bought the Microsoft version first and returned it because the ball rolled like it was a studded snow tire.
The buttons will take some getting used to but it is worth it.
12 Exquisite and powerful
The best wireless trackball you can buy, period. This mouse comes fully equipped with all of the bells and whistles that you'd expect from a modern mouse. The layout of the buttons is extremely comfortable and easy to use.
The only thing that could cause concern is the size. If you have small hands, you may want to reconsider.
13 It's Okay.
I'm the lucky one, I get to try them all because I deal with everyone's computer for teaching across the U.S. I bought this trackball because of reputation and past experience. I got use to it pretty quick but I still like the Trackman FX by Logitech. The ball on this one is too small, as it is in most of the current trackballs. Add a scroll-wheel to the Trackman FX and it would be perfect. The buttons on this one are usable; neutral thoughts on that, and the scroll-wheel works fine. The ball does tend to skip and get dirty quickly, but it's easy to clean. I can't remember the last time I cleaned the Trackman FX that I've had for three years. Otherwise, I've used worse. Still want a Trackman FX. I actually hope that logitech is reading all of the entries.
One last thing is, I've never had an email response when writing to Logitech, if the product didn't work so good I'd definitely never buy it.
14 Finally, A Great Trackball for Macs
After reading the other Amazon reviews, I thought I would respond to some of the issues other reviewers raise from a Mac user's perspective. I run a new PowerBook 15" with OS X 10.3.2.
Unlike some other reviewers, I didn't notice any directional/orientation problems--the cursor follows the ball movement very well, even before installing the included Logitech software. Perhaps the necessary drivers are now universally available, or perhaps the Mac version is just better. Also, the "finger layout" has not proven to be an issue for me--I can use any or all of my fingers to control the ball without any cursor-direction problems.
The wireless function has proven flawless on my Mac. The reciever is a couple feet away and actually off the desk (no line of sight) and works fine. It was essentially plug-and-play on the Mac--I didn't even have to push the 'Connect' buttons to establish a signal, it just worked.
The software is necessary, however, to re-assign new functions to the several buttons on this model. As a former PC user, I can't go without a right-click button (one of the reasons I bought an external device for my notebook at all). The Mac software is very easy to use, and one can re-program all of the buttons and the wheel if one so desires. You can set a button to automatically double- or triple-click, or select keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Command and W to close the current window). Very easy, and quite useful--I use buttons to close windows, quit programs, delete files, and still have a handy web-browsing 'Back' button.
The only possible drawback to the Mac software is that one cannot "train" the ball's orientation (from what I can gather from other reviews, this option is not available on PC either). This really only matters if you know you hold trackballs at a different angle than most people do.
Please note that the software I'm reviewing is for Mac OS X only; the program for those running OS 8.6-9.2 is a different piece of software, which is also included in the package.
Those are all the Mac-specific comments I can think of at this point; if you're a Mac-user you're probably used to things "just working," and this device is no exception.
I'll also comment on some of the more universal issues raised by other reviews:
Ergonomically, there is a period of adjustment--anyone moving from a conventional mouse to any trackball or from one trackball to another should expect that. It's never a bad idea to try one out in-store to see how they feel, especially since trackball models vary from one to another much more than mice do.
This is not, as some have termed it, a 'disadvantage'--all new things take some time to get used to. If you've never used a trackball, it's weird for a while; it's also ergonomically superior/healthier in the long term.
Also, I use trackballs for computer drafting/design, and find superior control to mice--finger-control is just more precise than either thumb-controlled trackballs or wrist/arm-controlled mice.
The optical ball-tracking technology requires almost no cleaning, and there are zero moving parts to clean. Just pop the ball out and blow any collected lint out of the socket if necessary--which very rarely is.
For any pointing device that's wireless, optical, and has this many buttons, this price is pretty decent--lower, I think, than my previous trackball that was wired and lacked the wheel.
As for Logitech's reputation/reliability, I have had good experiences. My first trackball had to be replaced during the warranty period, but its replacement has lasted the four years since--I only replaced it now because it wasn't Mac-compatible. Now Mac-users can rejoice with a high-performance trackball that works seamlessly in OS X.
15 Finger Layout???
I agree with a post just made recently. Here it is again:
That is, until you realize that Logitech's idea of finger layout:
Thumb: 3 side buttons
2. finger: Wheel
3. and 4. finger: Ball
5. finger: Right button
Thank you to the poster for confirming this for me. It took me quite a while to figure this out. I wish Logitech had posted this on their site somewhere. I've been trying to get used to the mouse in various configurations. Still I swap back and forth from this one and the Logitech Trackman Marble which has always been my favorite. With it you didn't need any arm support but the Optical Trackman I think requires it.
16 Good buy!!!
Easy to install. Performs excellent with Windows XP. I am right handed: find it more ergonomic than other Logitech trackball models that I previously owned (2). Rated it (4) because I consider the design of the optical base could be improved eg. cable free.
I highly recommend it.
17 Wrong finger layout
I have been in love with the Trackman Vista for years, but they have long since gone out of production, and my last one died, so I needed a replacement. If Logitech made an updated version with optical tracking I would instantly buy enough for a lifetime.
This one comes close, and has several good features: Wheel, 3 buttons easily reached by thumb, ball almost exactly same size and weight as the Trackman Vista (no need to change a good design; the oversized ball in FX was a mistake), precise tracking, etc.
But it has this strange 30-45 degrees wrong orientation. And the wheel is a litte hard to reach with any fingertip. And there is only one button to the right of the ball, the Trackman Vista had two, which was right.
That is, until you realize that Logitech's idea of finger layout:
Thumb: 3 side buttons
2. finger: Wheel
3. and 4. finger: Ball
5. finger: Right button
Try this and all criticism is moot. The angle is right, and all the buttons are in the right place.
It is just the wrong layout. The 2. finger ("index"?) is the most sensible, flexible and precise we have, so it should be reserved for the ball. Thumb is reserved for side buttons. That leaves you with at least two fingers to the right of the ball, and none to the left.
Logitech should move the wheel to the right of the ball, and I will buy a stack of them. For now I will try to get used to this one.
18 ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE!!!!! BUYER BEWARE!!!!!
I purchased this trackball with much anticipation because it had almost all the features I had been looking for in a wireless format. However, when I connected it to my PC and tried to use it, I immediately found that the default orientation is off by about 30 to 45 DEGREES!!! What this means is that if you place the unit next to your keyboard, lay your hand on it, and move the trackball straight UP and DOWN... your cursor will move DIAGONALLY from LOWER LEFT to UPPER RIGHT!!!?
I thought I had a defective unit and returned it to my vendor who was quite surprised when I described the strange behavior. He offered to test a replacement unit before he shipped it out to me. Well, he went through four replacement units that ALL behaved the same strange way. He then contacted Logitech and verified that the strange orientation is in fact the product default and that there is an orientation setting in the Logitech Windows MouseWare driver that compensates for this errant behavior.
This revelation just left me flabbergasted. I went out to the Logitech website and poked around and found a statement on their product FAQ page that states that all Logitech products will operate normally with the default OS mouse driver. Well, for this product this simply is NOT the case.
I then called Logitech tech support to see if there might be a newer version of this product that corrects this problem. The Logitech tech support staff were nice... until I mentioned this particular problem with this particular product. Then they became quite haughty and verbally brash. They first denied there was a problem. Then they acknowledged there was an orientation setting in their Windows driver that corrects the problem. Then they told me this setting would not be present in the upcoming version of the driver?... Their bad attitudes, their denials, and their erroneous information, all contributed to my writing this review.
In direct contradiction to their own FAQ statement that all their products will work normally with the default OS mouse drivers, this product simply will not function correctly with DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows NT, OS/2, Mac OS 7-9 or 10, Amiga OS, Linux, etc. (Recently some users have found a way to tweak the linux mouse driver to get things to work, but this is not supported at all by Logitech.)
So, essentially, in order to use this product you MUST be running Windows 95/98/2000/XP and you MUST load the Logitech MouseWare driver that contains the orientation setting - at least until they remove this setting from the driver?...
As I stated at the beginning of this review, I was so looking forward to this product. The GLARING orientation problem is such a killer for me. The only reason this problem exists, as far as I can guess, is that somewhere in the design phase, the optical sensor was physically moved to a new location on the product and the electronic design engineers neglected to take this into account...
I have been quite happy with Logitech products up until now. To the Logitech company, the Logitech design engineers, and the Logitech tech support personnel, I have just a few words: SHAME!!! SHAME on you ALL!!!
19 Best one I've ever found
I love it. I like Logitech because the last trackball I had came down with a problem and, rather than fix it, Logitech just sent me a new hot off the assembly line model. This is the model that replaced the one I had and I need one that is a finger-operated ball. With arthritis in my fingers and moreso in my thumbs, there were very few trackballs to pick from. I'm so glad that ergonomics has been applied to items we use so often. This trackball is cordless and engineered so you can be leaning back in your chair even 6 feet away and use it accurately. You don't have to keep moving it around like a mouse, you can have it in any position and just move the little red ball with your fingers while your hand rests on the desk or in your lap - wherever you are most comfortable with it. It doesn't need to be on a mousepad and doesn't need to even be facing the computer. I also have carpal tunnels and fibromyalgia which affect my hands and fingers and wrists and arms. This is a blessing from above. It has so many buttons with so many options to which you can set it, it makes it fun to change them every once in a while. Just so you remember how you reset them. I still don't use them all, but they are there if I want them. Two buttons are close together and, knowing me and how I can slip my finger over too far, I have both buttons set to be double clicks and don't have to worry about it. Another good thing about the design of this trackman trackball is that the side of your hand is resting on the desk, rather than having to hold it up to operate it. I sure wish these had been out when I was in the working world. I highly recommmend them to anyone even with healthy hands so they don't get to be like mine. It is so easy to keep clean, and to clean it; and, it only takes two AA batteries which last a long time. I use it 10 to 14 hours a day and my hands even feel better than they did before I got this Logitech Optical Trackman. It is the most ergonomically designed one I have seen and used so far. Give it a try, what do you have to lose? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with it's looks, handling, options, and performance.
20 Simply the best input device I've ever used
I've been a long time fan of trackballs - most especially and specifically those made by Logitech. About five years ago I started having pain in my wrists from the constant side-to-side motion of using a mouse. I picked up a Logitech Marble Mouse and loved it for years. It instantly helped by wrist issues and I didn't get so strained and hardly ever got soreness.
The only thing I didn't like was that there weren't enough buttons. I envied things like a scroll wheel found on regular mice. The thumb trackball was horrid in my thought (all that stress where your thumb meets the wrist; Ouch!) but had the extra buttons I longed for.
Then this one came along. Wow. I saw it in the store and I'll admit, I was a bit intimidated at first. Did I need a cordless? Could I get used to moving it with my hand in a slightly different position? And I know I wanted buttons, but woah, there's a LOT of buttons on it!
I played with it and daydreamed about it. I finally ended up getting it for my birthday in May 2003. It honestly did take me a few days to adjust to the change (even from one Logitech trackball to another), but now I can't imagine ever going back. The sheer convenience of being able to not only left-click/right-click, but scroll AND easily go Forward and Backward through webpages with a click of a button amazes me everytime. Trackballs already cut down the amount of round-about pointing you need to do by making it much smoother and easier because of less motion required, but this cuts it down way more then that.
Some thoughts from other reviews:
*Lefties -- I'm sorry, but it really is designed for a right-hander. Like most mice/trackballs on the market today, they aim for the majority. It's usable on short term for lefties (my boyfriend's a southpaw and he can maneuver it, but couldn't really use it every day, day-in/day-out). HOWEVER, a nice option is the Logitech Marble Mouse since it is neither left nor right hand specific.
* Cordless issues -- I've had ZERO interference with it and I have a USB Wacom tablet as well as digital camera hookups and other usb items in my usb hub. NEVER a problem. The manual recommends that if you have problems, move the receiver away from the monitor. Mine sits two or so feet away and works perfectly.
* Battery life -- WONDERFUL. Mine went for about five months or so on the original batteries it came with. And I am a hard-core user, driving my trackball way over ten hours a day. The program even warns you on-screen that your batteries are getting low. How cool is that? You don't have to wait until things die leaving you without a mouse, wondering what went wrong - it tells you!
* Weight of ball -- I have to say that one of the best aspects of the Logitech trackballs is that the ball spins VERY smoothly and easily. It's also not heavy. This sounds weird until you try one of the HORRID Kensington ones which has such a heavy ball that you literally get fatigued fingers from trying to push the darned thing around the screen. It's such a battle with inferior ones whereas, with the Logitech ones, it's easy. I can zoom around the screen as fast as I wish with the slightest touch of my fingertips (*note: the speed and such can also be edited if you like a slower cursor, but it still will have the lightweight Logitech is known for)
* Range of Use -- I agree with another user here - this thing has a range that's far more then you'd need. I sometimes use it on my lap and can stand up and control it from several feet away.
* Cleaning -- IMPORATANT. Every now and then, pop the ball out (by pushing from underneath) and clean the gunk which gets on the points the ball rests on. It will help keep your ball rolling smoothly.
In sum: ergonomic, comfortable, works great and a real Logitech winner. Well worth the cost.
21 Ball is too small
This looked good in the store so I bought one to replace my Logitech Marble FX which had a broken button switch. Nuts. I ended up with a Microsoft TrackBall Explorer. The ball is still not comfortably large like the FX, but the FX can't be fixed, so....
22 Support For Linux!!!
I just wanted to write that there is linux support to correct the orientation just like in Microsoft Windows. Someone has posted on another site that if you add the line 'Option "AngleOffset" "-45" ' to your XF86Config file, for this mouse (/dev/input/mouse), then it will correct the orientation by -45 or whatever angle you specify. It does correct the orientation. Now, you can purchase this mouse no matter what OS you run on your PC! It is the best cordless trackball out there! Note, I am running Redhat 9.0 with xfree86 4.3.
23 Disappointing
Normally I've had very good luck with Logitech products. I've owned this one less than 90 days and it just stopped working.
24 Super Mouse
I love this mouse! Logitec has a real winner here. Our cat ate the tails off of both of our corded mice, but fortunately for me I'd already purchased one of these.
It was an easy plug, load and play device. It performs flawlessly. I've had it for six months and would never go back. I have another model logitec cordless track ball with a thumb operated , and smaller ball on a different computer. It's twitchier & easier to overshoot a target on the screen. The index finger actually has more dexterity than the thumb. Thumbs are good for clamps but not as good for manipulation.
This one is vastly superior. I just bought a second one for backup in case this one fails. I tried it left handed based on another review and while it did not fit the hand as well, it was still easy to use. The thumb still operates the same three primary buttons. The little finger still operates the same button. The only real difference is tha I found myself operating the track ball with the space between the first & second joints of my index finger, instead of the tip and you don't get the palm rest.
After about 6 months on AA alkaline batteries it still operates well at 6' to 7' distances. Farther away than I can really see the screen.
25 I'm left handed
I really like trackballs, they are great at getting rid of excess arm and wrist movements and save time. However, why can't I find one of these puppies made to fit the laft hand? I am currently using a logitech marble mouse trackball that works for either hand, BUT I WANT ONE SPECIFICALLY FOR MY LEFT HAND!! We lefties make up ~15% of the population. Out of 10 million people that's 1.5 million of us out there. Surely that makes enough demand for us to get this product produced. Isn't this some form of discrimination? I can't even special order one and am willing to pay extra for this product. I am so tired of the right hand superiority complex that assumes if it is made for a left hand it isn't worth making. I challenge you righties to try doing everything with your left hand for just one day and you will see what us lefties are faced with for a lifetime. Please try to accomadate us once in a while.
26 What a ball!
This is a great track ball, once you get used to the awkward button configurations. Especially useful on a small or crowded desk when space is scarce. I've had mine for several months now and never a problem.
27 Very good if it lasted
I bought this trackball, here at Amazon, about one or two months ago, and I really liked it. I have some RSI problems and this trackball, combined with a regular mouse and a Wacom tablet (also bought here) provide many different ways for me to input commands to the computer, so I will not be using always the same movements. But, this trackball has already given me a problem. Cleaning the trackball is very easy. The problem is that the trackball is supported by three ruby bearings and dirty can easily accumulate around these ruby bearings in a way that it's impossible to clean. Two of the ruby bearings have already gone sort of down, so they do not provide full support for the trackball anymore, and the trackball started to roll over the place where the bearing rest. The movement of the trackball is not as smooth as it were when new (and as said it has only around 1-2 months). How come some piece of hardware that is supposed to last for years in two months already have such a problem? This was my firts logitech product. I always bought Microsoft input products. This will be my last Logitech product. Microsoft product may not be perfect, but at least they last a lot more than this one here. It's a pity because if it weren't for this problem, that makes the trackball almost useless, it would be a very good product.
28 A nice change of pace...
I've been sold on Logitech products for a long time after I tried their products (I got tired of Microsoft's poor performance after 2 of their optical mice died in a span of days) and was impressed with their performance and value. I've been using mice from when they first started shipping with computers. But after shopping for a new one and seeing every button configuration under the sun, I decided to "walk on the wild side" and check out alternative controlers. After looking over what Logitech had to offer, this one definitely caught my attention. After trying out it's feel on a office display, I took the plunge and purchased it. It does take a bit of getting used to but after a day or so, it's feels natural and performs like a dream. The button placement is logical and comfortable while the trackball is ultra precise. I'd have liked the scroll wheel and the forward/back and lock buttons to have been a bit bigger but that's just a minor quibble.
The controller works just fine no matter where I placed receiver and I've had no trouble with drop outs. It simply does what it's supposed to.
As to what one reviewer mentioned about Norton causing problems with the mouseware, I've had no such problem. I run both Norton Anti-virus and Personal Firewall and neither seem to hamper controler performance.
In my humble opinion, this is one of the best Logitech has to offer. It's comfortable and you can almost forget you're using it. It's just that intuitive and transparent once you get used to it. Not a great alternative to a mouse, but a great controller, period.
29 Logitech Does It Again!
I've used Logitech mice before and this one tops all of the ones made by Logitech. I've read many reviews before purchasing this and read some of the drawbacks to this mouse and some advantages to this mouse. Logitech outperformed itself once again, with amazing features, support, and performance.
Disadvantages:
1. The styling of the mouse could have been better designed. It takes a little getting used to using the trackball with fingers other than your thumb.
2. Logitech erred in the device drivers. I repeat, please do not install the drivers shipped with the package. Go to Logitech.com/support and download the 9.75.0 verson and install it, not the 9.60.0 version as it will damage your compatibility with other mice already installed.
3. The price of this mouse will set you back and have you looking elsewhere. But, the advantages of this mouse far outweigh the little-bit-above-customer-expectation price ...
4. This mouse requires a learning curve, as its design and the use of a trackball may not be familiarized with everyone's use. For those of you who have never used a trackball or is used to using a trackball with your thumb, this mouse does take a day or two to get totally used to.
5. Use the initial orientation/setup process seriously. Because of the nature of the styling of this mouse, the way you position the mouse on your desk while orienting/setting up the mouse will have an impact on usage.
Advantages:
1. RF frequency is used to the best capabilities in this mouse. I've used mice from other manufacturers and this one tops all of them. Using digital radio technology, this mouse allows you to place the RF receiver pretty much anywhere you'd like up to 20 feet away from the computer.
2. The many buttons on the mouse help you to minimize use of keyboard. It has Back/Forward, scroll, Drag Lock, Fast Scroll, and conventional buttons.
3. The compact receiver helps to minize clutter on your desktop and helps when you want to carry it and the mouse around (if you're blessed like me to have a laptop).
4. Customer support is one of the best in the industry, with lifetime phone support and a 5-year warranty.
5. Installation was a breeze. a) Download Logitech Drivers version 9.75.0 or above b) Install drivers c) Connect hardware d) Press Connect button on the hardware for 20seconds - 1minute e) You're Done! Enjoy!
6. This mouse comes shipped with a serial port adapter, giving you total flexibility to connect via USB or serial - I strongly recommend using the USB ports due to the advanced nature of the hardware and the reliability of USB ports.
7. The name of Logitech speaks for itself.
All in all, I recommend this product wholeheartedly to you.
If you do purchase one, buy from Amazon.com as they did an excellent job of fulfilling my order the same day.
Bang for your Buck: 10
User Friendly: 9
Service and Customer Support: 10
Installation: 10
Design: 8
Battery Life: 10
Performance: 10
30 Great Mouse
Obviously the reviewer at the bottom didn't either install the software or didn't use it. There is an orientation option in the mouse setup that makes that review irrelevant.
The reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is I think the buttons could have had a better configuration on the mouse. And the left mouse button could have been a tad wider. Otherwise it's great!
Recommended.
31 It should work for this kind of money!
Wow, I have a logitech optical mouse and it works flawlessly. I bought this and quickly noticed that the scroll wheel doesn't always work. Sometimes if you scroll down, even at VERY close range, nothing happens. Then if you scroll back up it'll go down, or if you scroll down again it'll go down twice as far.
I sent it back and Amazon's great service sent me a new one. It has the same problem. I count eight buttons on this thing, the software is good, but not great. One unreliable feature ruins it for me though. I'd keep it but the scroll wheel just keeps making me mad; work darnit! No scrollwheel would be better than one that works sometimes or in the opposite direction that you're trying to scroll.
32 MouseWare and drivers don't play well with others.
I had high hopes for this trackball so I did everything I could to make it work. But, as soon as I installed the MouseWare software, my security software started to inexplicably turn off. I am using Norton Internet Security 2003 on a Windows XP laptop. I called Norton and verified that it was not a virus (or trojan horse, etc.) They said "It was something that you just installed." I tried downloading the latest version of the driver. No change. Logitech was responsive (over email) but said, "Please contact the manufacturer of your program if you have a specific question regarding using our product in that program." I removed the trackball drivers and MouseWare software and have not had any problems since.
33 I've used a lot of trackballs
No questions asked, Logitech has nearly outdone themselves with this mouse. I've used an extensive number of trackballs, and this is by far the most versatile, logical--the buttons, even though there are many of them, make absolute sense and are all customizable!--and comfortable of all. It is much more sturdy and smooth than the Microsoft, Kensington, or IBM ones, and MUCH more accurate! Granted, this particular one is only an option for right-handed (or ambidextrous) individuals, but for lefties I would still recommend their marble mouse, which I used faithfully for 3 years with no problems.
I can also speak remarkably high about Logitech's customer service. I had the predecessor to this, called the Trackman FX I believe, which had a somewhat odd sliding wrist support at the bottom (this model corrects the ergonomic necessity for that), and (although I think it was my computer's fault, another story altogether) I had to get it replaced. I called, they made sure it was indeed dead, and 3 days later this (which I lusted after!) arrived--it had just been released and they upgraded me which was wonderful.
Like others, I had to adjust the orientation a bit, but not an awful lot actually. The buttons include a browser back and forward, a scroll lock where you push it in and move the wheel wherever you want the page to go, up and down scroll buttons, scroll wheel for those used to traditional scrolling mice, and a lock button. It works well for my small and my husband's large hands, and it is used for hours and hours with no pain (which is saying something, as I have early-onset arthritis symptoms that are present in most every manual task). As for gaming, I just set the motion speed and acceleration higher and it works great--I've done games like Neverwinter Nights without a hitch.
Best feature IS the cordless part... I set mine in my lap much of the time and just sit back and enjoy its versatility.
34 The Best Trackball
I just purchased this trackball, and I love it. No matter where I place it, it works flawlessly. It is even good for playing games, which I thought it would never be good at. I have recommended this product to all my friends, and some of them have bought it, and they love it also.
35 Very comfortable after a few days
This device is very comfortable to use after a few days adapting. Movement is very precise, BUT probably not suitable for 3D gaming. (except sniping :^) Adjustment is possible, but result is either too sensitive for useful gaming, or far too much movement needed. (IE, roll ball 3 times to turn 90 degrees) Luckily for gamers, under Windows it is very happy being plugged in USB at the same time as a PS2 or USB mouse, both work simultaneously.
Vertical/horizontal orientation is VERY far off out-of-box, (about 30 degrees, but feels like more at first) but can be adjusted under WINDOWS ONLY. (If you are a Linux user, you should probably pass, Linux mouse drivers don't currently offer orientation adjustments or extra [>3] button assignments) [Maybe some consumer pressure can convince Logitech to spare a few programmer-hours to add this support to the Open-Source driver? :^) Worth a few emails a week...]
Take placement warnings seriously:
The receiver is VERY sensitive to nearby metal. As an example, I placed the receiver on top of my steel computer housing, only 8 inches from the trackball, (right underneath it!!) and it was unreliable. I placed the receiver on my wooden desk, but on top of a few CDs, and it was unreliable at 12 inches. I turned the receiver UPSIDE-DOWN in either of those locations and I get 3-4 foot range! Obviously the antenna is located in the bottom of the receiver, which is IMHO a design flaw, but easy to overcome. When placed on wooden desk with no metal within 4 inches, I get up to 8 foot range before movement starts to stutter from transmission errors. Quite acceptable. Ability to mount on a vertical desk side would have been a very handy addition, however.
The rollers inside are VERY susceptible to dirt accumulation, and I find myself cleaning them AT LEAST once a day, but this is a very simple process. (push the ball up from the bottom, rub the three micro-ball-bearings with a fingertip, blow loosened crud out, drop the ball back in - about 7 seconds total)
All in all, apart from desktop wobble and a sticking button (...) and limited Linux configurability, I'm quite pleased with this trackball.
I would recommend it to anyone with limited desk space for a mouse, wanting/needing precise cursor control, and/or just wanting to try a trackball. There IS a 'learning curve' since you use fingertips to control motion, thumb for 'left-mouse' and two other buttons, but RMB is located to the right of the ball (not clear in pictures) and you can remap functions of all eight (that's right, 8) buttons in whatever way suits you.
j
36 I love it!
I found the tracking (left to right and top to bottom) to be very precise. I am very pleased with the Logitech Cordless Optical TrackMan and I will probably purchase another one for our other computer. It is very comfortable in my hand and it is much less tiring than a traditional mouse. My sister recommended it and she was right- you will never go back to a regular mouse again.
37 Simply a menu feature, orientation can be set E/W or N/S.
...Orientation is a user setting, you can change it from East/West to North/South in the "mouse" menu. Trackballs are far superior to the clumsy mouse. If you stop and think about the finger, hand , arm, and shoulder movements required to "control" a mouse, not to mention the desk space it requires to operate, you can begin to see the simple genius of the trackball. I say "control" because a mouse controls you, you don't control it! You're the devil if you can ;) You can sit comfortably with your trackball in your lap if you like and easily navigate the web and your arm remains motionless. There is also much less fatigue when using a trackball, espicially one that you use the fingers to control the marble instead of the thumb. I am a long time pc user, since the Intel 8086 was the processor to buy (that was before the 80286, 80386, 80486, Pentium and Windows,) so you can trust my judgement is an informed one. Granted, if you are used to a mouse, trackballs can be challenging to master for the first day or two, but the rewards far outlast the first awkward attempts. You will be forever a master and "convert" like me. I snicker when I sit at a computer and have to use a mouse! What neophytes, MAN (or woman)get a trackball! It is especially good for the elderly folks who want to use a computer but can't seem to get the hang of a mouse, they CAN quickly get the hang of a trackball, same with young children. The "fingered" ball as opposed to the "thumbed" ball is an especially comfortable device to use. My personal favorite is the Logitec FX, very ergonomical design. Take a giant step up the computer power user ladder, trade your mouse for a trackball and do have somebody show you the control panel or menu settings for your mouse, even if you don't get a trackball.
38 worst tracking ever
I thought this trackball would be awesome, but unfortunately the tracking is the worst I've ever seen. When you spin the ball left and right, the cursor moves up and down. When you spin the ball up and down, the cursor moves left and right. To get the tracking to work, you have to turn the trackball almost horizontal to you, which makes it impossible to use. I'll be returning this immediately.
