Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman (USB/PS/2) Reviews

• Logitech Does It Again!

  
  By on 2003-04-03
  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
  
  

• Very comfortable after a few days

  
  By AMD7UVHX0KC8S on 2002-11-28
  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
  
  

• Smooth motion, wireless, but button placement not as ergonomic as alternatives

  
  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 Cordless Optical Trackman does not score well in my needs - eliminating / reducing my RSI related pains.
  
  Pros: wireless, good build quality, good battery life, lots of programmable buttons, smooth scrolling trackball.
  
  Cons: Cannot be used left handed, buttons are not located in convenient position (cruise buttons, scroll wheel are too small, awkward position of the forward/back buttons).
  
  By far the biggest complaint is the most used left button.
  This key is clicked N times a day so it should be easy to locate and click.
  
  Instead, this button is concededly smaller than the one in Optical Marble Mouse and Trackman Wheel Optical.
  
  Also, this button is positioned 45 degree on the left side of the mouse, and it requires some extra effort to click it, since you have to hold the trackman in position using your ring and little finger to counter the force you acted on using your thumb.
  
  Consider this experiment, using only your thumb(without holding the trackman in position) and try to left click on it. You'll be tempted to secure the trackman using your other fingers. If you have to repeatedly do this, your muscle will be sore.
  
  This is not the case for the kensington expert mouse or the Logitech Optical Marble Mouse, where the button is faced up and you can click directly on it without securing the device in position.
  
  If you are young and not suffered from RSI, this might not be an issue for you. But for the others that who are seeking an ergonomic pointing device, this one is a no go.
  
  

• Wrong finger layout

  
  By AOY5ZDNBM64FY on 2003-12-21
  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.
  
  

• Finally, A Great Trackball for Macs

  
  By A1BIUVIVA1FVIT on 2004-02-11
  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.
  
  

• Simply the best input device I've ever used
  By AS0NL4FNH6XGS on 2003-11-06
  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.
  
  

• I've used a lot of trackballs
  By on 2003-01-09
  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.
  
  

• A nice change of pace...
  By on 2003-05-07
  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.
  
  
• ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE!!!!! BUYER BEWARE!!!!!
  By AEHQUXYDXD523 on 2003-12-02
  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!!!
  
  

• Super Mouse
  By A12AZ84EH6GNV5 on 2003-08-31
  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.
  
  

• Simply a menu feature, orientation can be set E/W or N/S.
  By A1I8J78K9F54QP on 2002-09-23
  ...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.
  
  
• Eliminate Wrist Pain, an excellent product
  By A3CR53SON1ECXW on 2005-09-30
  Although I gave TrackMan 5 stars, I do have a criticism, but first let me give the pros:
  1. With Trackman & a wrist rest I was able to eliminate a painful wrist caused by a standard corded mouse. This pro alone makes the Trackman a winner.
  2. Functionality is excellent. Everything is right at your fingertips. After a little getting used to the trackball, all controls operate smoothly.
  I am a programmer and the Trackman gets HEAVY use, 8 hours or more a day. After a year of heavy use the Left click button started to fail. It starts with missing 1 out of 3 clicks which will drive you crazy trying to get a double-click to work. Eventually the button didnt work at all. I reprogrammed a different button to be the left click and used that for a while till I could order a new Trackman.
  That's my only complaint, but I will buy a new one every year if that's what it takes. For most users, I suppose this would not be a problem since they would not use the mouse that much.
  All in all, I recommend the Trackman.
  
  
• This trackball ROCKS
  By A1VLNKVW8HS9XL on 2004-08-23
  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!!!
  
  
  
• Best one I've ever found
  By on 2003-11-28
  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.
  
  
• A previous MS Intellimouse trackball user review
  By A373PIFWG7U1JQ on 2004-11-23
  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?"
  
  
• Can't do without it
  By ALVYD6HBLYI0W on 2006-01-07
  Since I don't sit at a desk when using my computer, a conventional mouse is out of the question.
  I also try to use my keyboard as little as possible unless typing letters, emails and such. So a trackball is a must. Of all of the trackballs I have evaluated, this one is the cream of the crop. The only complaint I have after using it for over a year is that the ball sits too loose in the socket. I semi-cured this by supergluing a couple of strips of thin flexible plastic to the underside of the socket rim. This has kept the ball from popping out quite so easily.
  One point few people have mentioned is that above the fact that there are seven buttons, a ball, a wheel and an additional button if you press down on the wheel, all eight buttons can be assigned any of 29 functions that you can choose from. If you don't use the lock function, assign a different function to the lock button. Reverse the right left button functions normally associated with a standard mouse, change the symbols displayed for pointers or system busy using any of 23 themes provided so that instead of an arrow you can use a dinosaur, a conductor's baton, different colored arrows or 3-D arrows, etc.
  An example is that if you do a lot of editing of text you can assign cut, copy and paste commands to buttons. I do this with the buttons in front and back of the wheel and the button function of the wheel itself. So moving my finger a bit more than 1/2 inch I can move the document up and down with the wheel and highlight, cut or copy and then paste the result in another location on the document. All with one finger and my thumb for the highlight function itself. I can enter, page forward and back on the Internet with my thumb using the three buttons where my thumb lies.
  All it needs is a built in massager to maintain circulation of blood in my hand.
  
  
  
• Over 2.5 years and still going strong
  By AR74YY08IP2WE on 2006-05-24
  I love trackballs and have been buying Logitech trackballs since they went optical, as mechanical trackballs always "grunge up". I went from an older Logitech trackball to this one because it has 8 buttons, and with the newer versions of MouseWare they are incredibly configurable.
  
  Someone complained about having to clean it once a day, which makes me wonder about his environment. I clean mine every month or so and it takes no time at all.
  
  The one negative is that because this model was released in 2002 it doesn't use the newer 2.4ghz frequency, and thus the receiver module can't be tucked away as is the case with newer designs. If I get the trackball more than about 2.5 feet from the receiver, performance gets iffy. And the receiver needs to sit on top of the desk as the signal doesn't travel well through metal.
  
  I wish Logitech would update this mouse or introduce a new one with the newer technologies. Still, if you compare this one to any other trackball, it's still a wonderful deal for the money.
  
  Someone mentioned having a problem with using this mouse through a KVM switch. I've used it both through both PS/2 and USB switches and not had a problem, so that may be a function of his particular switch.
  
  
  
• LOGITECH HAS OVERTAKEN KENSINGTON
  By AYLHQYF7OCSU5 on 2005-09-12
  The reviews on this mouse seem to be sharply divided between users who could not live without it and others who cannot adapt to position of the trackball and/or buttons.
  
  I believe opinions about the mouse represent differences in mouse culture. True trackball users would love this mouse and most luke-warm users would like it.
  
  If you are considering purchasing this mouse and you have used Kensington Expert Wireless Pro or Logitech's Marble FX Trackman(you have to go back a few years to remember this one) :BUY THIS MOUSE.
  
  I use this mouse along with a Kensington every day and the Logitech is a clear winner and that is not knocking the Kensington, which is a very good mouse.
  
  By a small margin, the Logitech provides longer battery life, more percise movement, and is easier to handle. The Logitech is also about $ 50.00 cheaper than the Kensington.
  
  
• Best Cordless Trackball I've Used!
  By A3PE9GL8IQXZOP on 2006-01-04
  My two-button Logitech TrackMan trackball mouse died after 5 years of hard use. I looked around for a new trackball (like the trackball much better than a regular mouse for use on the recliner!) and found this one. I received it today and plugged it in to my Win XP Pro laptop.
  
  This mouse was so easy to configure and very easy to get used to using. The buttons, while a little smaller than I would like, nevertheless provide a great experience.
  
  I'm very happy with this choice.
  
  
• I love this mouse!
  By AF0M8S1ACAYOB on 2006-02-11
  I bought this mouse because I was suffering from Carpal Tunnel and I wasn't going to let it stop me from using my computer. Yes this mouse does take some getting used to, I thought I would never get the hang of it but after a year I can't hardly use a conventional mouse anymore. However it's usabiity can't be matched. I have had both my wristed operated on for Carpal Tunnel and my right elbow nerve released (heck of a year....) and I couldn't have stayed sane without being on my computer while homebound for weeks on end. I can easily prop this mouse on a pillow and keep my arm elevated at the same time. I also was able to rearrange the buttons and use this mouse with my left hand. The only reason I am buying another one is because I spilled some water on my current one and it just hasn't been the same since. I hope they never stop making this mouse.
  
  
• Best Trackball mouse I've used in a while.
  By A3H3SSMA6M73IF on 2006-08-02
  I've been a logitech trackball user for years, ever since the marble mouse was released so I've been hesitant to change. I decided to try to get something as close to that as I could find, so I tried a couple kensingtons....didn't work out. I finally decided to get this mouse despite my fears. Those who use a trackball know that the positioning of the ball means SO much, it's not something to ignore. Also, the feel of the ball itself is a very big deal. So far, I have no complaints. Fair warning, it IS uncomfortable for the first 2 weeks, then either your hand or finger or brain picks up and it's a clear highway from there on. It's completely natural feeling now and provides the same level of comfort and ease of use of my marble mouse - the buttons on there are also extrmely functional. The buttons above the main left button allow you to cycle back and forth through pages, the lock button allows you to multiple select or draglock and the mousewheel allows you to scroll up and down pages without using the ball. Also, the ball feels very fluid. One of the biggest reason I couldn't get used to Kensington trackball mice is that the ball felt like it had something movinng against it...it didnt feel fluid and free.
  On to battery life.....I got the mouse a while back and I havent charged the batteries since. It uses 2 AAs. There's a battery meter in the mousman application that lets you know what level the battry is at. I suspect the reason I'm getting great life is that I have the connector very close to my mouse - not even a foot away. I can move it 4-5 feet away and as long as the mouse is in line of sight it's fine, however once the connector is blocked at that distance, the connection will stutter. All in all it's a great mouse and I'd recommend it for any trackball user.
  
  
• Great product, but needs a bluetooth version
  By A2DYB9EFW61T7J on 2006-11-30
  I've been using this trackball for about 3 years now, lately on my iBook G4. I originally bought it since it can double as a remote control: configure your video player and the logitech software together, and you can use the extra buttons to skip through a movie, play and pause. A standard mouse requires some kind of surface to be useful, but this one can be used on a cluttered desk, or even on your chair's armrest or in mid-air. The position of the ball is unique, and I like it; trying other trackballs usually hurts my thumb.
  
  The mouse has held up to three years of use. The white Logitech logo on the front of the trackball has long since worn off, but it still works just as well as when I bought it.
  
  I have had no problems with Logitech's OS X software on Tiger, and all buttons work great. One tip: configure the wheel button to launch Dashboard, then you can take the icon off the dock.
  
  The only (small) problem with it is that it's still the same basic wireless design as when I bought it three years ago. Logitech's wireless devices are quite reliable, but this is the kind of thing that should be BlueTooth by now! I suspect the trackball market is not large enough, so Logitech doesn't feel like updating the product. It's really too bad, because "cordless" in this case is somewhat of a misnomer--you still need a USB port for the corded receiver. Because of this it works better as a mouse for a desktop machine than a laptop, unless you have desk space for your laptop where you can also keep the receiver.
  
  I like to use my laptop on my bed, so the receiver is more of an inconvenience for me than it probably is for most people. Still, this product suits my needs better than anything else I've seen.
  
  One quirk I have seen (very) occasionally: sometimes the pointer will start traveling on the screen in a slow, straight line while the ball is not moving. My guess is dust on the sensor, but it quickly goes away with a roll of the ball. As for precision, it's just fine for 90% of computer use, but if I am doing any graphics work in PhotoShop or Illustrator I can't control the pointer precisely enough for some of the finer operations.
  
  If Logitech came out with a BlueTooth version of this I would gladly upgrade. I think I've gotten my money's worth on this one. Back in 2003 this mouse was a 5, but for 2006 I give it a 4.
  
  
• YES! The answer for hand discomfort.
  By A25H41RD7LD6J0 on 2004-12-23
  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.
  
  
• Logitech Cordless Optical Trackball Mouse
  By A6U8UARBO4TQD on 2006-01-31
  If you want the most comfortable mouse, this is it! I work a great deal in Photoshop and there is no other mouse that makes my work as accurate and efficient as this trackball mouse. If Logitech ever stops making this mouse, I am going to have a SERIOUS conversation with the President of Logitech!!!
  
  
• Generally good
  By AM7VIIW4S5D32 on 2006-03-17
  I feel less tired on my shoulder and wrist since I started using this trackball. In that prospect, it has done a great job for me. However, sometimes wireless connection comes to unexpectedly short range like less than about 10 inches. Then I have to find the spot where the trackball works. Second, the resolution appears not as good as wired optical mouse. Obviously it's difficult to do some CAD or design job with this trackball. Key arrange is not satisfactory; up-scroll key and lock key are hard to click. Navigation keys like back and forward are good, though.
  I may recommend this trackball if the primary job is web-surfing and mild word processing. If the heavy perfomance is required, use wired trackball or mouse with high resolution and more ergonomic key arrange.
  
  
• Great product but not perfect
  By A22Z6QGNUB2KCJ on 2006-05-11
  For feel, and button layout Logitech gets 5 stars on this one. The reason for the drop in stars is 2 fold. First this trackball does not play nice with PS2 KVM switches. It you don't understand what that means then don't worry about my complaint and get the product. The issue the trackman has w/ my KVM is that it does not recognize the type of mouse so the buttons are not customizable, they are all usable but you cannot change them around. The second complaint about the product is that it is hard/impossible to change the wireless channel on it. I was in an office with someone using another wireless logitech product and we were having problems because we were on the same channel. I tried to change my channel following the directions provided by logitech but I did not have any luck, the other person had to change their channel. If you are looking for a wireless trackball that won't be around anyone else and will be connected directly into the computer you are using, this one is great.
  
  
• Finger Layout???
  By on 2004-01-01
  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.
  
  

• Almost there!
  By A1RM8ZRVNM2B9G on 2004-10-13
  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.
  
  
• cordless mouse is great
  By A3GB8YYUTJRNX2 on 2005-09-16
  I love everything about this new mouse.
  It feels great in my hand, the buttons are possitioned good, and it also has a wheel to scroll, or in Auto Cad to Zoom in or out.
  The only thing is it does need to be cleaned once a week if you use it every day. But the ball just pops out and you can just wipe it out with your fingers if you want.
  
  
• Too much of a learning curve
  By A8SPPHKETDZ41 on 2005-12-31
  I bought this because I wanted to have a wireless trackball for my laptop when I'm lounging in my recliner. There are really only two wireless trackballs available; this one and a three button logitech model. I went with this one because I like having the additional buttons.
  
  The device itself performed flawlessly, but the effort to try to learn to use it was much too high for me. Trying to use your pinky to do right clicks while manuevering the trackball with your ring and middle finger was next to impossible. Also, since I had the trackball on the arm of my recliner, pressing the left button with my thumb tended push the unit(since it is on the side and when you push it you are applying horizontal force to the unit). As has been mentioned in other reviews the scroll buttons are in oddly uncomfortable locations.
  
  All this was enough to make me dislike this device, but the pain I started to feel from the constant manuevering of my hand and fingers was just too much. I felt like I had to contort in unnatural positions to get the buttons to work. I simply gave up on the idea of right-click and drag all together.
  
  I'm returning the unit and getting the other Logitech wireless trackball that is more of a standard thumb-ball device. I'd rather not have the added buttons and get a more normal device.
  
  If you are truly interested in this unit I would suggest find a place where you can try it out before purchasing it. Many people may like it, but I found it completely annoying; and I wish I had been able to try it before I bought it.
  
  

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