If you're used to a traditional mouse, then the Logitech TrackMan Marble FX may take a little getting used to. But despite its large, clunky appearance, this mouse has it all. Designed for those with limited desktop space, the TrackMan Marble FX remains stationary. You operate it by moving a large marble with your fingers while a sensor inside the mouse interprets the movement.
Solid and well built, the TrackMan Marble FX has a large, eye-catching red marble. Its weight and rubberized bottom keep it from sliding on your desk, and the curve of the mouse fits most hands (except lefties). Those with small hands may find it hard to reach the left-click mouse button, making double-clicking tricky.
Installation is not as quick as most plug-and-play mouse devices, as you must install Logitech MouseWare software to fully take advantage of the TrackMan Marble FX's features. However, the manual walks you through installation, making set up easy and quick.
Perhaps the nicest feature of this trackball is the four programmable buttons. During setup, you can program which buttons you want to perform certain functions. Most will want to set the far left and right buttons as on a typical PC mouse. However, the two middle buttons can be set for functions such as universal scroll, auto scroll, zoom, drag lock, or HyperJump and CyberJump--pop-up windows with shortcut functions in Windows 95 and Internet environments.
If you're in the market for a trackball and have the time to learn to use a new type of mouse, then you'll want to consider the TrackMan Marble FX. Its durability and low maintenance make it superior and easy to use.
Pros:
- Sturdy and well constructed
- Programmable buttons
- Dirt resistant
Cons:
- Difficult for those with small hands
- Not designed for lefties
- Requires software installation
1 USB Version Needed
I wish Logitech would produce a USB version of this trackball. This trackball is the best pointing device I've ever found. I have to clean it maybe once a year and it only takes about ten seconds. It is extremely ergonomic. The ball moves very smoothly with your index and pointing finger. I prefer a less-sensitive motion so the ability to use two fingers vice one thumb allows for fast controlled movement when desired. You don't have to "climb" the case to get at the ball and you don't have to break your wrist angle either.
After seeing the new trackballs out there I wonder if the new trackball designers have ever used one.
2 Make them again, Logitech!
I bought this mouse 8 years ago. In the last couple months, the right mouse button has been becoming unresponsive, and nothing I do seems to be able to get it back on track again. Now, we're talking 8 years here, I've gotten more than the $70 I paid for it back then out of it in that time.
Pros:
Ergonomic
Precise control
Doesn't need a mouse pad, or even the desk space needed to move a regular mouse around
No moving parts
Lasted me 8 years!
Cons:
Your hand is right on the ball, so any dirt on your hands gets deposited. It is really painless to clean, though, just take out the ball and blowing inside will get most of the work done. It's designed so none of the dirt will actually get inside the components of the mouse.
Fourth mouse button not recognized as a fourth button by games, must be assigned to a key.
Takes a little getting used to, a couple days at the most, like the transition from a straight keyboard to one of those "natural" keyboards.
Logitech doesn't actually make it anymore - they make a wireless version, which I will NEVER used due to a bad experience with a logitech wireless keyboard and mouse dropping keystrokes and movements a mere inches from the wireless receiver.
3 great tool
The marble allows precision tracking where desk space is limited, since it does not need any surface area to move around on. It takes a few days to get used to, but is a great alternative to conventional and optical mouse.
4 No doubt. I love my Logitech Trackman Marble FX device...
No doubt. I love my Logitech Trackman Marble FX device... and dread the day when it will no longer function. I do wish Logitech will once more come out with this device as it is or as a better, re-incarnated version.
5 Wish Logitech still made this trackball
I love this mouse. I was getting cramps in my hands from using regular wheel mice and different kind of trackball. I got this trackball through work a little over two years. It took a while to get used to, but now I don't any problems with my hands. I saw some people wanted a left-handed version of this trackball but I haven't ever thought it about. Yet I should be one of the people to want left-handed versions of mice, I am left-handed. I have always used a mouse with my right-handed since I started working with CAD (computer-aided-drawing) programs 10+ years ago. I got so comfortable with the trackball at work that I brought one for home. I am glad I bought when I did (early 2000) since Logitech doesn't make the corded version anymore. I haven't tried the cordless one yet, but it looked like it would be a little uncomfortable with such a quick and high angle of rise for the hand at the back of the mouse (part of reason why I didn't like the other kind of trackball). I love using this trackball so much that I actually asked the company that brought it for me orginally if I could take it with me (or buy it from them) when I left the company for a another job. Just my luck a month later they laid me off and the only bright spot about the lay-off was the company let me take the trackball with me. I will never go back to a regular mouse again even everyone avoids my computer just so they don't have to use a trackball that's unfamilar to them.
6 Superb trackball
I shopped and tried several types and brands of trackball mice.... This one is it. The larger trackball makes it a breeze to operate with any free finger. I can play games for hours with no aching elbow or wrist.
It was necessary to download the newest drivers after upgrading my win98, but that was simple enough.
7 Great Product
This is a great product. I have had mine for about 2 years now and it is still as precise and smooth as ever. It is easy to clean and maintain and is great for graphic design.
The only thing I have to mention is that this mouse is for right-handed users only. I do not believe that Logitech has manufactured a lefty version of this great mouse. Too bad.
8 The Ultimate Trackball
I've no doubt about it, this is far and away the best trackball ever. I've been using it for over a year and it is SO comfortable; nothing else comes close. I want another.
9 FX Handicaps
The Trackman FX takes a while to get used to. Alternate users of your pc will have difficulty performing tasks. The only problem I have encounterd is with system upgrades. We are at W-2000NT and the upgrade software will not allow all 4 butons to be activated. I am using the FX as a standard PS2 mouse, but my carple-tunnel(?) has not returned.
10 Made me a convert
This is one great trackball. The product I bought is actually the Cordless version of the FX Trackball, but it's basically the same as this one except for the cordless/wireless feature. The ergonomics are a little different also but it's basically the same trackball device.
You can't beat the smoothness of this trackball. I've seen lots of them over the years but none ever impressed me enough to buy one until now. Now that I've tried one I'm a convert. The action is extremely smooth once you adapt a little to the finger movements to move the ball. Also, getting used to the placement of the four different buttons takes a little time. But once this is accomplished the ability to move smoothly and quickly around your computer screen is vastly improved over a typical mouse.
The buttons are all configurable as to function, but I've found sticking with the default settings during the software setup is the best way to go. There is one thing I am trying to see how it works out. I reconfigured button 4 as the delete key. This is sort of convenient because it allows you to browse and delete files just with the trackball instead of having to use the other hand to hit the delete key on the keyboard after highlighting a file with the trackball. Pretty convenient for those occasional cleanup tasks on your hard disk.
Another thing I have found useful is to use medium instead of low acceleration, which allows you to shoot all the way across the screen by moving the trackball maybe an inch and a half or so, but then to drop the overall sensitivity down a bit. The default setting for trackball sensitivity is right in the middle of the range on the slider adjustment bar. I drop it down one more tack on the slider bar. This assists in hitting all those small buttons when using high resolution on your monitor. The medium acceleration gets you there faster but then you have more control once you're there to zero in on the button. Try it and see if you like this better than the default settings. You will find these settings by opening up the Trackball program menu, clicking on "mouse properties," and then on the "motion" tab.
One last thing I do to customize the operation of the trackball is you can check a box that causes the cursor to jump to the highlighted button of a new dialog box. I find this useful also.
I noted a very interesting new feature. One of the buttons when clicked pops up the "Webwheel." This is a wheel with 10 different pie-shaped pieces which are configurable as web addresses or for other web-related functions, such as go back, reload, go to favorites/bookmarks, and so on. When you hit this button, the wheel comes up, and you basically have a second menu to choose selection from. Pretty cool.
I should mention the software install is a little non-intuitive. The instructions say to disconnect your mouse and plug in the new trackball (with the power off). However, when you boot the machine, Windows 98 sees the now missing mouse and wants to autodetect your hardware again and recreate the entire driver database. Not knowing what would happen I just cancelled out of this screen and let the computer boot up normally but without any mouse function. I then loaded the software, using the tab key to navigate around to configure everything, which wasn't too hard, and after you are finished it asks do you want to reboot, and after that the trackball works normally.
Although not cheap, all in all a fine product that is worth the money.
11 Laptop owners be wary
I bought this device and tried to install it with a Dell laptop. What Logitech fails to tell you, until you spend 1 hour on a tech support call, is that this device does not work with laptops with Synaptics touchpads or docking stations. This of course comes out right after following the tech support guy's directions which also fried my machine -- he never bothered to ask these questions up front.
12 Ultimate Luxury in Mouse Technology!
Logitech has done it again. I have been a trackball junkie for as long as I've been using computers (which is 15+ years, I'm sorry to say) and the Trackman Marble FX is the ultimate luxury in mouse technology!
There are many people who really dislike trackballs in leiu of standard mice, and for me, this is a plus! People tend to find another computer with a regular mouse rather than "borrowing" mine when they need to "just check my e-mail real quick."
All my other trackballs would have to be taken apart on a regular basis to clean the little foam guides inside, but I have had my Marble F/X for over a year now and it is basically maintenance free. The red scrolling button is a fabulous feature and the mouse itself is very comfortable.
Unfortunately, Logitech has not put this mouse out in a left-handed version, but for the majority of us who are right-handed, and especially for trackball aficionados, this one is the greatest! You will be very impressed!
13 Excellent but...
It is extremely comfortable and actually fun to use. It would be the perfect input device if it only had a mousewheel. The button replacement is not nearly as good, but this is true on any device that tries to replace the wheel with a button.
14 This trackball hater loves this product
You have just got to try one. I cannot explain why I like this one so much and hate the others. The best I could do is probably 2 words. Functionality and ergonomics. It far exceeds all others in both departments.
15 Love it!
As a grad student, I use the computer 40+ hours a week sometimes. I was getting terrible hand cramps and arm and shoulder pain from using the traditional mouse that came with my system. I tried the Trackman FX on a hunch, because it looked the most different from the ordinary mouse, and seemed to offer much more flexibility in the repetitive hand movements. After I got used to moving my fingers instead of clutching and moving my whole wrist, I found that I loved the trackball, because NO PAIN! Now I can get my work done without having to take numerous breaks.
16 An absolute must experience. Especially for mouse lovers.
I am marveling at how smooth this trackball is. I just can't imagine having to go back to a mouse. I am buying one for the office right now as a matter of fact. The real reason I bought the first one was for use on a plane (forget using a mouse there and a finger pad is total frustration). What a nice suprise having the four programmable buttons - very cool indeed! The Logitech trackball is a must buy!!!!
17 Awesome, but beware of Windows 2000 Problems
I've had this trackball for a few days now, and I agree with the other reviewers who rave about it, but if you're running Windows 2000, there are two things you need to know. First, sometimes the link on Logitech's website that leads to the software you need to run in full-featured mode in Win2k fails. Second, sometimes the trackball simply stops working in 2000 (caveat: if you're using a Dell).
On the other hand, it's a testament to how great this device is, that I continue to use it despite these problems.
18 Better than a mouse
I was aprehensive a first but now I'll never go back to a mouse. Four assignable buttons make this a dream to use, especially when surffing the web. And those of you addicted to the scroll wheel will love the ability to not only scroll up and down but left and right using the ball. Using this product has actually reduced the effects of carple tunnel syndrome for me. Because I can put my wrist at an angle (wrist straight but rotated about 20 degrees clockwise) it feels more natural and reduces twist at the elbow. Also, since you don't have to move it, it uses less desk space. I don't like using it when playing fast paced shooting games. The track ball motion isn't a natural movement when pointing in a hurry. I would also like to see a left handed model.
19 LOVE it at work, WANT one for home!
I have been using the Trackman at work for over 6 months and it is THE best pointing device. I was beginning to experience the symptoms of carpal tunnel and the onsite ergonomics department offered this as one option. It was a little difficult to get used to, and the mouse users in the office find my Trackman difficult to use but I love it so much I want to get one for my home.
20 Wicked accuracy. Intuitive buttons.
I work in a helpdesk environment which means I have to constantly "Mouse around" a great deal. The old HP OEM mouse was gunked up and I wanted something that did more than two buttons. This puppy has it all. The software was well written and intuitive, and the fit of the trackball unit to my hand fits perfectly. The additional functionality of four buttons takes a bit to remember, but after that - your efficiency goes way up!
21 Still Unrivalled as Best Trackball Device
Once upon a time I got sick of the gunk build up on all the mice and trackballs I had used, it got to the point where they would bump and jump on the mouse pads. I was intrigued when I saw the technology used in the Trackman line, detecting position using the tiny dots on the ball. Now having used the FX Trackman at home and at work for over 3 years, I find that it is the still the best input device of its kind, including the new MSFT optical mice. Once one gets used to the button placement and develops the dexterity to utilise the trackball, constantly smooth and consistent movement will reward them. With no moving parts for the tracking assembly the user only rarely [once a year?] has to pop the ball out and clean the sensors. This trackball does very well in digital art work with Photoshop and is especially excellent when used to play classic trackball arcade games through Mame32 emulation, Missile Command, Tempest, Centipede, Arkanoid, etc. The tertiary buttons are recognized and used as scroll wheel counterparts in Win2k; it's a nice fluff feature. My only wish would be that Logitech eventually upgrade them to use USB so I can plug them into my MSFT keyboards. Otherwise, highly recommended.
22 Better than average trackball
I do digital image editing as a hobby, and I wanted to find an accurate input device to handle fine line editing. I tried two different Kensington trackballs, but both had problems whenever I used slow, flowing movements. Even with clean rollers, the ball would never roll smoothly enough for minute editing. Logitech's use of optical tracking make the motion nearly flawless, almost no straying, even with a pixel-wide brush. I agree that the setup of the ball and buttons requires a bit getting used to, but the new hand position is more comfortable once you adapt to it. Others who are complaining about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are probably trying to force their hand position to match the usual angle they've used with other trackballs. You need to look at the instructions to see how to rest the arm and wrist properly for this item. I only dropped a star off the rating because it's too dang expensive! It's worth it, but I wish they would give us a break.
23 Fits your hand naturally - many useful features
As a computer tech I am extremely picky about what input device I am going to use. I am extremely happy with the Marbleman FX trackball. I no longer have numbness in my wrist as a result of having my arm at an unnatural angle. The setup wizard also is very easy to use and lets you easily configure the marbleman to your specific needs. The real testament to the ease of use was when I bought one for my Mom to use. She was able to set it up without calling me - a definite plus in my book.
24 Painful to Use - Returned Mine
I bought the original Logitech Trackman Marble somewhere around a year ago and loved it. So, I jumped at the chance to "upgrade" to the new TrackMan Marble FX Trackball last week.
Even though the design is reminiscent of the original Trackman Marble, actually using the mouse feels completely different, and not in a good way...
I found the buttons intuitive and even after custom-mapping them, I find that their locations require me to "reach" or stop what I'm doing to find what used to be quite intuitive to me. Not good at all. I have medium-sized hands (for a woman) and so I don't think it's just that the mouse is to big for my hands.
I also find that my right hand cramps up painfully after using the mouse for a few hours. This is very disturbing, considering that I've had issues with carpal tunnel syndrome a few years ago and this is the first time symptoms have flared up in about three years.
I boxed this mouse up and pulled out the old original Trackman marble and surprisingly enough, the pain went away. If you buy this one, keep the receipt until you've used it for awhile and are certain that it'll work for you.
25 Puts the mouse where it belongs THE TRASH!
I just started using my new Trackman Marble FX, and I gotta tell you GET ONE! This thing is so smooth, so precise I wish I had one months ago, I have never used any pointing device that works as well as this one, and believe me I have used about every version of a mouse there is, nothing comes close to this trackball! If you're in the market for a new mouse forget about it! Try a trackball you will not be disappointed.
26 Saves Space, Precision Tracking all in One Neat Package
I am a college student and space is at a premium for me, so a trackball was the first option that I though of. I looked around and the company that I thought of first was Logitech, I knew that they make superior products. I love the trackball, it took a little while to get used to, but now I use it for everything. It can be a little twitchy and sometimes a little hard to use. I find that when I use it during Half-Life and other games that it can be VERY difficult to use. Overall the ball is good, especially when space is at a premium.
27 Ideal Pointing Device for Elderly or Handicapped Users
I bought this mouse for my mother. She is 80 years old and it was almost impossible for her to manage a mouse. She could not hold the mouse still while clicking.
This track ball provides a resting place for her hand so she can move the ball, get her fingers off it and then click. Setting up one of the middle buttons for double clicking is also important. Since she has difficulty managing the double click sequence and double clicking with one button is 100% reliable.
Without this device she would random drag the mouse while trying to click and double click and wind up doing very strange and frustrating things. This mouse isolates the movement of the cursor from the clicking actions which is essential for her.
Everyone else who uses her system adapts very quickly. It is not a problem for mouse users.
28 Get one of these and have a ball
This is the best pointing device you can get. It might look like an alien, but it performs exceptionally well, even though it may have been designed for a right hand a bit smaller than mine.
You really don't have to install the included MouseWare software if all you really need is two-button operation. From a practical standpoint, all the software really does is configure the 3rd and 4th buttons to do whatever you want them to do, such as double-click, drag-lock or any function you could imagine for a mouse button. It also adjusts orientation of the trackball, so you won't have to worry about its knowing which way you want to push the ball to make your arrow go straight up.
29 My favorite pointing device.
I have worked with a lot of different pointings devices, both mice and trackballs, and this is my favorite. If placed correctly, all pointing operations can be preformed with just the middle and ring fingers, leaving the rest of your hand stationary. By "flinging" the marble, you can move the pointer large distances with ease. In addition, because of the large size of the marble, you can easily make fine-grain adjustments.
I love this pointer so much, I have bought the unhappy Seattle reviewer a normal mouse in exchange for his TrackMan. :)
30 Best input device I've ever used
I'll start off by saying the Marble FX isn't for everyone. That said, I will say it is one of the easiest input devices to use and maintain. The large trackball takes getting used to, but once you do, you'll never want to use a traditional mouse again. Using the trackball requires only the movement of your fingers, and not your wrist. I found myself resting my wrist and palm along the curved lower portion. You can use your thumb and forefinger to gain accurate control of the pointer on the screen. Maintenance is easy. I usually pop the marble out and clean it and wipe the socket clean with a cloth. There's never any worry about lint jamming it since there are no moving parts. The marble sits on several hard plastic contacts and is the only thing that moves. If you have limited deskspace or are suffering from a sore back or shoulder, I'd highly recommend this device.
31 carpal tunnel syndrome in 1 easy step
although this trackball has an appealing look, and may appear to be ergonomic, it is not. I developed chronic wrist pain while using this device. Other people using my TrackMan would complain that it was uncomfortable to use.
The reason for this seems to be that usually all your weight rests on your wrist while using this trackball. In addition, any movement that you need to effect is created by moving your wrist, rather than your hand.
