Logitech Cordless TrackMan Wheel
by Logitech
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List Price: Our Price: $41.99 You Save: $7.96 (16%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Cordless TrackMan Wheel
Customer Review: Great Trackball! (but needs more range)
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a trackball fan from way back since I was first introduced to them by my physical therapist after having a shoulder operation that made moving my arm next to impossible. I find moving a mouse around a desk both clumsy and unnatural and just don't understand how people can accept them. This is my third trackball from Logitech and it is by far the best one I have had.(I gave the old ones to friends or family who are now converts to the trackball way!) It took a little while to get used to having the ball on the left side as opposed to the standard center position, but once I got used to using my thumb, things really flew. Set up was snap and the documentation was great. The design is very comfortable and the buttons and scroll wheel fall easily to hand. It has operated flawlessly for the year+ that I have owned it and I have only had to change the battery once in that time. The cordless feature works great and is a real boon to me because of my cluttered desk. Its RF signal does not interfere with my other IR controlled equipment(i.e. stereo and cordless keyboard). My only quibbles with this trackball (and the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5) is that it needs a greater range and they need to use ball bearings in the ball seat like their other trackballs. Right now I have to have the reciever within a foot or so of the trackball to work consistantly and it would be much more convenient if I could stick it someplace out of the way. Using ball bearings instead of the current nylon mounts in the ball seat would give the ball the super smooth action that their other trackballs have had and that I'm used to. In the end, I would certainly recommend this to anyone looking to make their computing a more pleasurable experience, but be warned...trackballs can be addictive!Customer Review: good ergonomy but has some serious flaws that need attention
Summary: 3 Stars
I have not used any other trackballs to draw comparisons, especially those where the ball is in the middle of the device, but Logitech's Trackman Wheel makes a difference. I would recommend either this or the corded version. But I prefer this because I can also controll the computer even from far (up to 5 feet I think) without many problems. You just move your finger and that is it.
But some points need attention:
1. Ignore Logitech's new drivers, even the most recent ones. They are over 50 MB and a memory hog. Install the older drivers called "Logitech Mouseware". Version 9.79 is just over 5 MB and does the job perfectly with just 1/10 in file size and installs like a breeze. No desktop messenger and no Yahoo toolbar either as in the CD-ROM. that goes only for Windows XP and lower though. For Vista and other OS there is no alternative.
2. Logitech Trackman Wheel cordless version has some compatibility issues. In case you experience instability and the receiver stops functioning or connecting do the following:
Connect the device to a normal USB port and not through a hub. Then uninstall the Logitech drivers (any version) and use the default windows drivers. Till now this ensures the most stability. With the other drivers it suddenly stops responding especially when the CPU load is high. Also ensure that you have a full battery and that you have the receiver as close as possible to the device and press the connect button. I read that this problem affects also some other Logitech cordless devices.
So far no serious issues.
Till I figured that method out though it took me sometime and there is no guarantee the device will continue to work. So I too would choose the corded version
Customer Review: Best Wireless Mouse
Summary: 5 Stars
I've actually purchased this mouse twice because I loved it so much. The first time was years ago when it was first released, and no other mouse has ever been anywhere close to as good. If you want a wireless mouse, this one is perfect in just about every aspect.
I've always thought, what good is a wireless mouse that isn't a trackball? Wireless mouse that require you to move the mouse around a surface extremely limits the places you can use your mouse other than a desk or table. That's one of the primary reasons I love this mouse. The trackball wireless design means I can put it on any surface, no matter how small an area, and use my mouse as normal. Even if you aren't used to a trackball mouse, it doesn't take a long time to get used to it, and I find that it ends up being faster and easier to move your mouse on screen than with traditional mice.
This mouse also fits so perfectly and comfortably in your hands you can use it for hours without feeling fatigue or uncomfortable. All the buttons and the trackball are set right under your fingers and are very natural and easy to use. The wireless function is done very well, you can use this from a good distance (if you are far enough away and can still see your computer screen, you can still use this), and you do not need it to be lined up with the sensor.
My only wish that would have made this a perfect mouse would have been the horizontal scroll wheel. It has the normal scroll wheel, but many new mice today have a function that allows the scroll wheel to be "tilted" from side to side to provide horizontal scrolling (like when a webpage is wider that your browser's screen). A small issue, but would be nice for future releases.
Customer Review: Not recommended if you are prone to repetitive movement pain
Summary: 2 Stars
I wanted a mouse that was shaped a bit differently and used a trackball because I had heard that trackballs were easier on the hands than a traditional mouse... plus if you have "tight living quarters" for your pointer device, a trackball works much better.
I was starting to have pain ... presumably from repetitive stress -- through my fourth finger and the associated tendons so I went shopping for a trackball. This was about the only one that was sold locally so I bought it.
After just 1 day, instead of having my 4th finger ache, my thumb was hurting. If you think about how you mouse, you spend much more time scrolling the pointer around than you do actually pressing the buttons. This trackball means that you spend the majority of your time trying to make very precise movements with your thumb. You *could* use different fingers but then that takes your hand off the intended buttons which sorts of defeats the purpose of the positioning of the controls in the first place.
I went back to my regular mouse after one day but continued my quest for a real track ball. I found the Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325 to come very highly recommended both on Amazon as well as the occupational therapy websites which study this sort of thing. The Kensington ball is much bigger which means you can use multiple fingers. There are four buttons that you can program to meet your needs. Set up is a breeze. It is a piece of cake to clean and it feels good to work with. No more pain. It just plain works and I will never go back to a regular mouse.
[NCJAR]
Customer Review: Great mouse! But save the money + batteries & get the corded one
Summary: 4 Stars
I've used this mouse for the past few years at work. I'd had some hand/wrist/arm discomfort from frequent mousing and purchased this -- as well as the Fellowes 98915 Antimicrobial Split Design Keyboard (Black), which btw is wonderful.
While almost frustrating to learn at first -- until you get the thumb motion down, the cursor can be devilishly difficult to control -- within 1-2 weeks I was not only mousing with ease but had completely eliminated all arm/hand pain.
I recently set up my home office more ergonomically also, and decided to purchase the corded version of this mouse (Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical (Silver)). Not only is it a better color (the darker silver better hides smudges and wear) but it doesn't use wasteful batteries (approx 1 AA battery every 4 mos.)...and I don't have to worry about finding an out-of-the-way-but-still-effective place for the receiver. Since both the corded and the cordless take up a USB port, and since both mice remain stationary (you move the cursor with the thumb-ball, not the whole mouse), and since the cordless receiver is on a long wire anyway, I don't see any point in spending the extra money -- the initial higher price PLUS the cost/hassle of batteries -- to purchase this cordless version.
Had I known these things back when I first bought this mouse, I'd have chosen the corded version. But both are excellent mice, that can help you say goodbye to arm/wrist pain forever.