Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical Reviews

• Simply the best trackball ever made

  
  By A3UZ3WQO1TQ99W on 2003-01-28
  I have used a Logitech Trackman Marble (this product's predecessor) since it was released in 1995. I still use that original one at home. (When was the last time you used a computer product for eight years?) I use it enough that I can feel the difference between the muscles on my right thumb verus my left. I love it so much I have gone so far as use my soldering iron to replace the worn-out button switches. (They happen to use the exact same switch as the ubiquitous MS mice.)
  
  This device fits my hand like a glove, and saves desk space since it never needs to move. The lack of rollers isn't such a big plus since the advent of optical mice, but it is still nice.
  
  While this is a stupendous product, you should never buy a pointing device or keyboard for the first time via mail-order. The only way you will know if it fits your hand is to go to a physical store and try it out. It may fit my hand like a glove, but it may not fit yours.
  
  

• Logitech Makes the Best

  
  By A20CQ20J30DJZT on 2002-02-12
  This is my third Logitech trackball. The trackball it replaces is a Logitech Trackman that I bought in 1995. Nothing attached to my computer was anywhere close to that old.

  I finally got tired of cleaning the ball on the old Trackman. My wife has both an Logitech marble trackball and a Logitech optical cordless mouse, and I wanted the best, too.

  While each new Microsoft OS has had problems with the older version of Mouseware software, in my experience, Logitech is always the first to have updated drivers available shortly after release of new OS's.

  After using the trackball for about 5 months, I'm still thrilled. Sure, the gunk from my oily, sticky, food-covered hands still builds up on the ball, but unlike mechanical mice and trackballs, it doesn't cause sticking and jumping of the cursor. The action was still smooth. I had not even noticed that it was getting harder to move the ball until I popped the ball out, and gave the contact points a quick cleaning.

  So even with five months of built-up grime, it was still working just fine.

  Now not everyone likes trackballs. I use a mouse at work, and it's probably better for me to be moving my whole arm. But at home my desk is too messy. There's no room to move a mouse, and even if I were able to, I'd hit my elbow on something else.

  Not for one minute have I regretted buying this trackball.
  
  

• Say goodbye to wrist cramps.

  
  By A37JY66NX5DFLK on 2003-01-23
  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.
  
  

• Affordable product. Functional scroll wheel. Inferior trackball design.

  
  By A1ZFU8B5E4UH1E on 2005-10-11
  Let me give you some background before you read my review.
  I'm in my 30's. I use computer 8+ hours a day and start developing RSI symptoms.
  
  I have tried / owned the following trackballs
  
  Logitech TrackMan Marble FX Trackball
  Logitech Optical Marble Mouse
  Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical
  Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman
  Original 3 buttons Kensington Expert Mouse
  Kensington Expert Mouse Pro
  
  The Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical does not score well in my needs - eliminating / reducing my RSI related pains.
  
  Pros: Reasonably priced, good build quality, scroll wheel included, programmable buttons.
  
  Cons: Cannot be used left handed, small trackball.
  
  This is one of the few trackballs that has a useable scroll wheel. The Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman and the Kensington Expert Mouse Pro for example, has a tiny scroll wheel that you won't even bother to use after a period of time. This one however, is positioned like all the other mice and you can use your middle finger to scroll effortlessly.
  
  However, the biggest problem for me is that the trackball is controlled by the thumb, instead of index/middle fingers like the other models. Precise movement is harder to control using the thumb. Also, you can move from point A to point B much faster by using the index finger.
  
  Consider this experiment, point your mouse pointer to the bottom right of the screen (which you can conduct in any local electronic store before you decide to buy this product), and then try to move the pointer to the upper left corner. Take note of how much effort it requires and how much stress it is putting on your thumb, rather than how long it takes for you to complete this task (for those who own a 30" lcd, you should record your time and post it here!). Now you should understand why using the thumb to control the trackball is a bad idea.
  
  If your local electronic store has the kensington expert mouse on display, you can compare how superior it is to use a huge trackball with your index/middle finger.
  
  

• I want my old style Logitech Marble Wheel

  
  By A15VM6ZWZEFCOJ on 2002-07-17
  I went looking to buy another one of my old style white Trackman Marble Plus type of 2 button trackballs with roller like my 804335-000, the style of which is a few years old. What I found was that they now only sell the gray slightly smaller Trackman Wheel Optical #904353-0403 (and 804360-1000), and I dont like the design. The buttons are too close together, and the buttons are too close to the ball. The roller itself is also too close to the ball, and so the middle finger cannot easily manipulate the roller without arching the finger considerably more than with the older style. The buttons of the old design were a fingers width apart each, but on the new design, the buttons are less than a fingers width apart. It seems Logitech designed the new trackman to be used with 2 fingers instead of 3 fingers, even though they count the roller as a 3rd button.
  The older trackball device overall was wider/longer and fit my hand better, the new trackball device seems to be made for small people, perhaps non-adults. The height of the old device was low and allowed the hand to not slip off easily, where as the new trackball has a steeper slope to its sides, and it takes more effort to keep ones hand on top. I actually fear I will succumb to carpal tunnel syndrome if I continue to use the new product. I agree with the other review that posted similar to mine, I love the old style, it was the best design out there. I would not buy the new style, I would tell others to try to find the older wider/longer white with red roller Trackman Marble Wheel or Trackman Marble Plus design for sale somewhere.
  
  
• Nicest Trackball
  By AWZR0O65DL2Q on 2003-07-11
  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.
  
  

• Why my review was removed?
  By on 2003-08-20
  This is much better than the Optical Marble trackball.
  However, the form is not as good as those from the Kensington.
  To be more comfortable, the finger portion should be less cursive.
  I think Logitech is not good at making comfortable trackball.
  Most Logitech trackball lovers seem to be new users of trackball.
  If you compare it with Kensingtons', then you will find out what are better.

  The software for this is not good. With Kensington's software, the buttons can be used as usual and be used with modifier keys. Well, the Logitech's software seems to work like that at first, but it's not really. (With Mac version )
  The advanced click mode for using the buttons with modifier keys just let you use it with modifier keys and as a predefined simulated buttons, like 1 ~ 5.
  But you can't assign that button 1~5 what they should do.

  This H/W itself is good. But the s/w is not.

  I recommend Kensington's Orbit trackball for its ergonomic design, good H/W, and better S/W.

  Don't erase my post, administrator.
  People need more frank review. Not "Evey prodducts are good."
  
  

• Excellent design!
  By A26RNXBY42VYH4 on 2004-08-18
  I've had one of these for over 3 years, and I love the thing. So much, in fact, that I just bought a second one for work. Working with a mouse all day was making my wrist a little sore... a day with the Trackman and it feels better already.
  
  Logitech got this one right - the shape fits absolutely perfectly in my hand, and my fingers fall right over the buttons, resting in the little scallops thoughtfully provided. With Logitech's mouse-management software, I can dial-in speed and acceleration to give precision for computer drafting, yet scoot all the way across the screen diagonally if moved agressively. Definitely reliable - the 3-year-old one works as well as the one I bought today. Some competing products (i.e. Microsoft) provide extra buttons, but I've found that 1) I rarely use extra buttons anyway and 2) extra buttons almost invariably interfere with the ones I use all the time. I didn't even consider the cordless version; it's not like I'm going to walk around the room while using the computer, so to me their need for batteries is a failure waiting to happen.
  
  In short, everything you need, and nothing you don't, in a very well thought-out package.
  
  I tried the Microsoft equivalent and returned it immediately in favor of the second Trackman. It wasn't as comfortable, the controls weren't so intuitively located, and the additional buttons were merely in the way.
  
  If you're right-handed (unfortunately, no lefty version is available) and want a trackball, in my opinion this one can't be beat.
  
  
• Not as good as its predecessor
  By A2KV61GNN22GAH on 2002-05-23
  I purchased this trackball to finally replace my aging Logitech Trackman Marble with a newer one. I have a Trackman Marble+ (with a scroll wheel) at work, and I love it. The one I have at home does not have a scroll wheel, so I thought it was finally time to upgrade.

  Unfortunately, this next generation of Logitech's ingenious thumb-operated trackball does not live up to the promise of its predecessor. They have made it both taller and narrower, neither of which are positive changes for people with anything but the smallest hands. And in an effort to keep up with the foolish decisions coming from Microsoft, they chose to provide translucent windows around the ball itself, allowing the red laser light to escape and light up the entire room.

  Overall, I cannot recommend this device. I do however strongly recommend the earlier rendition, if you can find one.
  
  

• Always on Track...
  By A2N1Q6J0DWRTLH on 2003-03-27
  My first pointing device was the original Logitech TrackMan--a product that still serves me well on a VERY OLD computer in my home. To this day, I still hate the "traditional" mouse pointing device, and all of our home computers are equipped with at least one Logitech TrackMan device.

  As has been mentioned by another individual, I do prefer the previous incarnations of the TrackMan Marble Wheel (M/N: T-CH11, P/N: 804122-3000 and M/N: T-BB13, P/N: 804335-0000) pointing devices; however, there isn't anything that makes this particular model (M/N: T-BB18, P/N: 804360-0000) inferior to the quality products normally sold by Logitech.
  My preference is merely a matter of style and color.

  Software/driver (MouseWare) support for win-whatever platforms is excellent, and the device is solidly supported under recent and contemporary iterations of Linux distros--across the board. Personally, I don't care for the WebWheel software component (for win platforms) at all, but it can be removed if you so desire.

  The device is wired for USB interface, but comes with a USB to PS/2 adapter. This allows one to use two pointing devices on the same computer; one with minimum sensitivity and acceleration characteristics--perfect for precision graphics editing--and one with "normal" sensitivity and acceleration characteristics--more appropriate for text editing and pushing icons around in a GUI environment. The convenience is worth more than the purchase price of two TrackMan Wheel devices.

  All in all, this is a solid and value-priced product, built for years of service. No computer should be without one.
  
  

• Smaller than the Trackman Marble+
  By A16F1NI30092UW on 2005-11-17
  My Trackman Marble+ went bad and I got this as a replacement. It just doesn't fit my hand as well. The Marble+ left my wrist above the surface the mouse rests on, but with this, half my palm rests on the table. It is higher in profile and steeper. It does not accomodate you're entire hand.
  
  Another difference from the Marble+ is that the right-click button is clicked using the middle finger.
  
  Its good, but I miss my Marble+.
  
  
• Works better after you clean it
  By A3FSDHOED3LK3G on 2006-04-10
  There have been some comments posted here that "you don't need to clean it" or that "it works great without being cleaned". It DOES need to be cleaned, or the friction keeps going up. The good news is that this takes only about 15 seconds to do, and is nothing like digging cat hair out of mechanical gears with a long thin knife, which I've had to do before. There's a hole in the bottom. Stick a pencil eraser in there and push up. The ball will pop out. Clean the three support points by wiping them with a finger and stick the ball back.
  
  Once cleaned, while in motion it is almost frictionless, and it is easy to very quickly move where you want and to stop almost exactly. Once stopped, the static friction is higher, and with the shorter movement distance of the trackball, it is, as has been pointed out, harder to move just a few pixels accurately than with the longer distance traveled of a regular mouse, but this should only be a real issue where you need single pixel precision.
  
  I find that it works better than a regular mouse for almost all normal tasks, including games, but where single pixel precision is required, it is a bad choice.
  
  The buttons are well placed and easy to use, after a couple days to get used to them.
  
  It's very nice to not have to worry about having a mouse-pad space available. I've knocked it down to 4 stars principally due to missing having 2 extra buttons. This has a standard right/left button plus a clickable scroll wheel as the middle button.
  
  It is basically unusable with the left-hand.
  
  Overall, I'm very happy with it.
  
  
• Smooth mouse that's precise and easy on the wrist
  By A2LB9OI3RE4J9T on 2004-02-06
  I'm a computer nut. Between work and being online at home I'm probably on a computer 15 hours each day. As you can imagine that takes quite a toll on your wrists after a while. While I love the old-style roller-ball mice, moving that mouse all day pretty much paralyzes my wrist. To address this problem I bought nearly every mouse on the market to test them out, and ended up returning all but one. The Logitech Trackman Wheel optical mouse was the only one I kept.

  This mouse is very easy on the wrist due to it's fixed position. The ergonomic design is extremely comfortable. The trackball, operated by using your thumb, takes some getting used to but is super smooth and ultra precise. The mouse buttons are also comfortable to use and the scroll wheel glides like butter. This mouse really enhances the computing experience, in my opinion.

  Aside from the steep learning curve involved in using the thumb-mounted trackball, the only other caveat to this mouse is that it makes playing games a bit difficult. If you are a hardcore PC gamer good luck using this mouse, it is very awkward. I tried it for awhile and got slaughtered in every game I played. Now when I want to play a game I always switch back to my old roller-ball mouse. Once I'm done gaming I switch back to the Logitech Wheelman for relaxed wrist-healing mousing. All in all I wouldn't give up my Logitech Wheelman for anything.
  
  

• Comfortable alternative to a mouse
  By A13VHU0AT3JOLO on 2005-04-16
  I bought a trackball to give myself a more space-efficient alternative to a mouse. After deciding against most of Kensington's trackballs because of cost and against a Microsft trackball because of my smaller hand size, I settled on the Logitech Trackman.
  
  I had never used a trackball for even a short amount of time, so adjusting to the feel of the Trackman took several days but was definitely worth it.
  
  -Ball movement. The ball glides smoothly on several mini ball bearings and is a comfortable size for me to operate with my thumb. Plus, it is also optical and thus has less parts to clean.
  
  -Familiar mouse-like shape. The Logitech Trackman is more mouse-shaped than many trackballs, and the buttons/scroll wheel can be used with the usual fingers. Unlike a mouse, of course, you don't have to worry much about desktop space and don't need to move the entire device around.
  
  -Simple buttons. If you don't like mice/trackballs that are loaded with buttons, this is for you. This trackball only has the standard left/right buttons, plus a clickable scroll wheel. The main buttons aren't too stiff, and the wheel moves easily and has a muted click when you scroll (pretty much the same as a Logitech optical mouse).
  
  -Curves. The entire device is curved to fit the right hand. There are grooves on the two "mouse" buttons to give your fingers a place to rest, and there are additional grooves for your ring and little fingers to rest on. There's also a bit of rubber along the right edge, presumably for comfort reasons.
  
  -Size. One of the reasons I've bought Logitech mice instead of the equivalent Microsoft products is that the MS mice feel large, chunky and unwieldy in my hand. This trackball is no exception; my palm, thumb, and fingers rest exactly where they should be. If you like the size of Logitech's optical scroll mice, you will probably like this trackball as well; if you have larger hands or generally prefer the larger size of Microsoft's mice, it would be a good idea to try this out in a store before buying.
  
  -Long cord. If your only free USB ports are several feet away, under a desk, etc., hooking the Trackman up shouldn't be a problem. It's a bit more cumbersome if you have it plugged directly into your keyboard and have lots of extra cord left over, but it's nothing a simple twist tie can't fix.
  
  -Construction. The Trackman is available for less than $30, but it has the usual Logitech quality. Three rubber feet keep the Trackman from slipping around. The bottom is held together with four screws and can easily be opened using a Philips head screwdriver if necessary; the ball can be popped out from above by grabbing it between your thumb/forefinger and giving it a good tug. All in all, much easier to open up and clean than, for instance, an Apple peripheral, but at the same time it won't come apart by accident during regular use.
  
  -OS X compatibility. The two mouse buttons and scroll wheel work fine without any Logitech drivers installed, though the trackball is a bit slow. Installing the Logitech Control Center allows you to bump the tracking speed up further and program the middle (scroll wheel) button, among other things. If you already have installed it (for use with a Logitech keyboard or mouse, for example), the Control Center should detect the Trackman and allow you to program it without installing any trackball-specific software (you can even leave your mouse connected without any real problems).
  
  **If you use OS 10.3, download the latest drivers! Earlier Logitech drivers (such as the one included in the box) caused several kernel panics on my Mac when used under recent versions of OS 10.3.**
  
  
• More Work Less Accuracy
  By A28X7AM8P19UAI on 2005-09-29
  I currently use trackball to manipulate graphics 8 hours a day six days a week. I've recently developed wrist pain so I decided to change to a trackball that would use different fingers for the functions. I have done this before with the Logitech Trackman (the one with the teal ball) and the results were quite satisfactory. But it wasn't optical and the spring-loaded metal directors have worn out. So I assumed that Logitech's newest optical trackball would be a sure-fire solution. It was not. I set up the software and set all of the options (I know how to do this) and fine-tuned them again and again. The result was totally unacceptable. This trackball is so inaccurate that even when expanding graphics to 200% it is almost impossible to click on a single pixel.
  
  
• I only buy logitech
  By A10NTM410N6UDM on 2003-01-17
  I still use a logitech mouse I bought, hm, I'd say about 8 years ago, and I just bought this new trackan to replace a 5 year old one. It was still working as well as the day I bought it until it was involved in an accident involving a long drop to the floor, and then an encounter with the full weight of my body. Everything still worked fine though, but the right click button sometimes needed to be pressed more than once for a response.
  The new mouse is a bit more futuristic than I like, I really hate the new silver color they're making everything these days... But the product is still the same great trackball.

  I can't stand mice anymore.

  And for you people out there who think it's so weird... Give it a day. The rest your hand gets from not having to move that damned mouse all around is fabulous.
  
  

• Wonderful for Arthritis
  By A3IF2RRR8R84BV on 2003-12-15
  When I got a computer I managed to use a mouse for the first three years, though I had frequent pain from my arthritis after long sessions. Finally my hand, wrist and shoulder say "No More, Period." I did some research and got the predecessor of this trackball. It relieved my pain immediately. Took me about a week to get used to it, then it just became natural to me. When I bought my new computer a year ago I didn't want to deal with software updates, so I bought this model. Same wonderful service for a year now--except it's a little easier to clean than the old one. The old one is still in service on the older computer, where my husband uses it to play games and I use it as a back-up when this computer requires service. My arthritis is the rheumatoid type and I've had it for 25 years now. The fact that this device stopped my pain from using the mouse is high praise.
  
  
• Still the best, but not as good as it used to be
  By A1DZVTFN682AS8 on 2004-03-12
  Unlike "most Logitech trackball users", I'm not new to trackballs. Prior to this one, I've had two Trackman Wheels over the course of about 6 years or so.

  The old white one was great in that it was very comfortable on the hand. It fit what I'd call the "3 finger" style of button pushing where the middle three fingers never moved horizontally. The ring finger rests on the right button and stays there, while the middle finger rests on the wheel and stays there. This new style one seems to stray from that feel and cramps things up. It seems to assume more of a "roaming middle finger" style where the middle finger handles both right-click and wheel duties. My hands are quite small, and I still have a hard time holding it in a three finger style on this thing.

  I don't know, it just seems most mice, as well as the old Trackman and the MS counterpart to this, all feel pretty comfortable in the three finger style.

  Positives:
  -Thumb trackball moves well under most conditions unlike the Microsoft version.
  -Still curvier than MS's, which conform well to the curvature of my hand in a resting position.
  -Seems more accurate and less flimsy than Microsoft's thumb trackball.
  -No wrist movement whatsoever. And, IMHO, my thumb seems to be able to work trackballs better than my finger on the finger trackballs from Kensington and Logitech. Plus, those non-thumb trackballs are totally different than any mouse out there. They just seem very tough to use for precision work like Photoshop. I feel like I should be playing Missile Command or Marble Madness with them!
  -And seriously, it's just as easy to play games once you're used to it. No problems with getting smoked in Call of Duty or other shooters and RTS games!

  Negatives:
  -You need "piano fingers" to do a three finger style of clicking around. Otherwise, people with double duty middle fingers will feel very comfortable with this one.
  -Would love at least one more little button somewhere, for double-clicking or whatever, to relieve wear on the left button. Microsoft has two extra buttons. Most Logitech mice have extra buttons.
  
  

• A comfortable, yet shockingly subpar product from Logitech
  By A32H4AOC0MFGB6 on 2005-07-11
  Being a notebook computer-toting student, portability, functionality, and durability are three musts in any product I use. I initially purchased the Trackman Wheel Optical to replace my Logitech Marble Mouse, which had been decomissioned because I played bouncee-bouncee with it too many times on the classroom linoleum floor.
  
  When I first got the Trackman Wheel, I was very impressed with the level of conformity to the shape of my hand, bested later by another of Logitech's products, the MX510 (see my review there). However, two large problems began to present themselves during the first three weeks of service. The first is that after using the trackball for over 30 minutes, my thumb would get increasingly twitchy and defeated the preciseness that is so touted by trackballs. It was almost as bad as the "ball" mouse I used with my 386 back in 1993 (remember those days?) Herky-jerky cursor (or cursing?) akimbo!
  
  The second problem was with the scroll wheel. After the second week of using it, I found the wheel slipping, meaning I would roll it down one notch, and the screen refused to scroll. This was much wasted effort on the part of my middle finger. (No joke intended) With these two problems, I decided to get rid of my Trackman Wheel and replaced it with new Logitech mice, the Optical Mouse for Notebooks for travel, and the much-vaunted MX510 for home use. The trackball fetish was over.
  
  
• Good precision, but only 2 buttons.
  By A3UUXQKQOYHSVY on 2006-04-18
  This is my first trackball. Got it a month ago. Using it on my laptop that comes with touchpad + "button" cursor.
  
  Learning Curve
  ==============
  - Less than 30 minutes to master the trackball-to-cursor coordination.
  - One hour to discover the joy of "throwing" the cursor across the screen with a light flick on the ball. (Don't try this with your mouse, especially the wireless ones.)
  - One day to get comfortable with sequence of Roll-with-Thumb, then, Click-with-Forefinger.
  - One and half days to get used to Click-w-Finger-and-DRAG-with-Thumb coordination.
  - One week to feeling the reduced strain on my right wrist and shoulder.
  
  Positives
  =========
  - Good precision, though a little tough to do illustrations.
  - Relative cheap compared to other precision mice like laser mice, etc.
  - Much easier on joints for compared to touchpads/button mice for prolonged usage.
  - Easy to install; easy to use; can be used simultaneously with touchpad for quick, hands-still-on-keyboard mouse movements.
  - Haven't need to clean it. Perhaps because my office is clean and little dust.
  
  Negatives
  =========
  - Four stars 'cause there are only two buttons -> can't assign Back/Forward functions or other customizable keys on the mouse.
  
  However, it is not a huge deal coz Firefox has its own extension for mouse gestures that allows me to browse Back and Forward with a Left-Right click or a Right-Left click, as well as other customizable actions.
  
  [...]
  
  
  
  
  
• Very Comfortable And Efficient . . . Only One Minor Flaw
  By on 2002-11-17
  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.
  
  

• The solution to potential carpal tunnel...
  By A595T15OO91DC on 2003-01-19
  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.
  
  

• At last... relief for CTS and Wrist Rest Syndrome!
  By A3QHR27MSXAZE6 on 2004-05-01
  I've been using the optical Trackman Wheel in it's many forms, from before the scroll button was popular! As a person who's constantly on the computer and one who has experienced a lot of wrist/arm pain from mouses, I swear by this trackball.

  Unlike other trackball devices (which also gave me wrist pain), this one is controlled by your thumb. Although this takes a little bit of time in getting used to, it takes all the pressure off your wrist and your hand. It's perfectly form-fitting to your hand, so you can surf or work in comfort.

  I have one at home and at work, and refuse to go back to using a mouse. It's also a great space-saver since you don't have to have all the room you'd need to operate a mouse. It never leaves its spot since you control it all with your thumb.

  A worthwhile investment if you've been experiencing wrist pain at your computer.
  
  

• Smooth and comfortable
  By A1PDJBAMUX63Q0 on 2004-10-01
  Just picked up my second Trackman Wheel Optical so I won't need to constantly be switching out the mouse at work. These little guys are addictive!
  
  While I'd welcome a couple extra buttons (perhaps down where one's pinky finger rests?), I don't consider the lack of extra buttons a drawback. 2 physical buttons and the wheel (which doubles as a third button - standard procedure nowadays) works out just fine..
  
  The trackball itself is small, and rests under the thumb. If you're used to a finger or palm-driven trackball, it'll probably take some getting used to. It also takes about 3-5 days of use to "break in". Out-of-the-box, the ball can be a bit on the stiff side. Rest assured that this goes away after a few days of use, and the action becomes *very* smooth.
  
  Highly recommended for anyone looking for a good trackball. You can't go wrong with this one for the price.
  
  
• Bad design
  By A3D001ZEZPF7H4 on 2006-05-14
  I have been using trackball for over 5 years, mostly for ergonomic reasons. If you have finger strain, pay attention to which finger(s). You most likely overuse that finger.
  
  Here is the bottom line:
  1. Left click is the most common mouse action so make sure it
  is done with the strongest of the fingers => yes, that would
  be your thumb, not your index finger or middle finger. Of course, with this design, you really can't. So, try to alternate between index and middle finger for left click or use more than one finger to do the job.
  
  2. The most strained mouse action is dragging something because you need to hold the button for longer period while you are moving the trackball. So, if you can avoid dragging such as using scroll wheel to scroll instead of dragging the scroll bar. You lessen the chance of straining your fingers.
  
  3. Your index finger is the most limbo among the fingers. Therefore, it is better to use that to move the trackball to
  control movement instead of the thumb.
  
  4. The click action on the button is too shallow. It is not as clean and as easy as the other Logitech Marble Mouse. And the one I have brand new out of box already had a busted left button. The button mechanics design on this mouse is an old flimsy design. I had older mouse with these kind of buttons broke prematurely. The Marble mouse buttons are much better but unfortunately, it doesn't have a scroll wheel.
  
  6. The shape of the mouse is comfortable to rest your hand on if you are right handed. You can change the speed of the motion under control panel->mouse.
  
  
  
  
• TrackBall
  By ADUPDMNO4JADD on 2002-01-17
  I use architctural drafting programs in a very small office, and my wrists began to ache with all the shifting and moving i had to do with a regular mouse. I decded for the TrackBall, and am very pleased with it. I have small hands but the shape contours very nicely, and the ball rolls very smoothly. It is reat since i do not have to flail around anymore to get from one point to another on my drafts, and also I no longer have contend with a mouse-ball that stalls, gets stuck, or randomly moves.
  
  
• Better than Logitech Optical Marble trackball, but..
  By on 2003-08-20
  Well, most reviewers of Logitech trackballs seem to be new trackball users.

  I've used kensington's large ball trackballs, and orbit ( mechanical ) trackballs.
  So, IMHO, I think my opinion can be more accurate than others.
  Before reviewing this device, I'd like to state that trackballs are, unlike mice, should fit your hand. If not, a trackball which is very comfortable to one's hand, can be inconvenient to others' hands.
  And I'm not biased to any companies.

  Trackman wheel optical mouse is more comfortable than its optical marble trackball. The problem of the marble trackball is that it's too nannow, and the buttons are located higher position than it should be. Probably people with small hand, for example, kids, can be satisfied with the trackball, but to others, it may not be. I don't have big hands, but my thumbs located comfortably on the lower portion of the left button and far right side of the right button.

  However, this trackball, trackman wheel optical, is different.
  It's more comfortable.
  However this also has some defects.
  First, it's too much curved. To be comfortable, the curve should be lesser when it approaches to the end of fingers. it should be more rounded on the palm side and less on the finger portion. However it's too much curved on the finger portion.
  Most comfortable one is just to put your hand relaxed. However this trackball doesn't allow it.

  Second, the mouse control panel software is another problem.
  It doesn't allow pressing two button at the same time.
  For example, Kensington's one allows it. So, you can set left and right buttons as usual. And pressing two buttons can work as click-and-lock. However with Logitech's program, you can assign it only with left or right button.
  So, you should give up one of the two buttons if you want to use
  "click-and-lock" feature.
  OK. You can use the scroll wheel as a thrid button, though.
  However, it's not so convenient.

  With trackballs, click-and-lock is very important, I think.
  It's a little harder to click and move mouse cursor than you do
  with mice. So, good "click-and-lock" feature is a must, IMHO.

  And I doubt if the scroll wheel is convenient. As I said above, it's too rounded on the finger portion. So, scrolling is not so convenient.

  Some people mentioned that Kensington's trackball doesn't have scroll whell.
  However, you know, the trackball itself can work as a wheel, and it's more convenient. With kensington's software, the trackball itself can work as a scroll wheel very conveniently.

  I've also read that the Kensington's Optical orbit is not so resistant to dirt.
  So, I can't judge how convenient it is.
  However its orbit mouse ( not optical ) is much better choice than any trackballs from the Logitech. ( I'm sorry. Logitech's mices are great, but their trackball is not so good as Kensington's. )

  Well, problem with Kensingon is that their products are somewhat expensive, and is not as widely available as Logitech's. Most retail stores have Logitech's but not Kensington's.

  I recommend this Logitech's trackball more than its marble trackbal.
  And if you are more more hardcore user of a trackball, the Kensington's one will be yours.
  
  

• Great mouse
  By A1TUKVABB887MY on 2004-05-20
  I've been using this mouse for a little over the last 3 years. It has worked well without any problems until recently. I think due to excessive use the left button is starting to fail.

  I would like to add that I completely disagree svtman21 about this mouse (and trackballs in general) not being good for gaming. I've been gaming successfully with trackballs for the last 6 years and would never consider going back. I consider myself quite competitive in online games and have competed in CAL-O and CAL-I for SoF2 for just under 2 years.

  I admit that at first I noticed a little bit of thumb fatigue with excessive gaming but that subsided after repeated use. I find that trackballs offer increased precision in online FPS games like Q3A (RA3), SoF2, BF:V, UT2Kx and others.

  Trackballs certainly take sometime to get used to (a few months) but after that you will notice the enhanced control and precision a trackball provides.
  
  This mouse also performs well at mundane usage such as programming, document and picture editing, etc. Not to mention it is so much easier on the wrist!

  I highly recommend this mouse for general desktop use and gaming a like.
  
  

• New smaller trackball got too small!!
  By A1AL5T9C08J1CY on 2004-08-16
  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
  
  
• Awesome, Accurate, and fast
  By A2BN3CLCHJ9106 on 2005-09-15
  I've been a big fan of the trackball for years and have tried many different brands...
  Best perfomance goes to Logitech (even previous versions of this model).
  However, unlike the previous model, this one is small in comparison and I have large hands....my wife LOVES it though.
  Drivers were somewhat easy to install, though it's a good idea to remove any other mice/trackball drivers first due to conflicts.
  
  Overall...excellent product.
  
  

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