Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical (Silver)
by Logitech
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Our Price: $343.76 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $65.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical (Silver)
Customer Review: Affordable product. Functional scroll wheel. Inferior trackball design.
Summary: 3 Stars
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.
Customer Review: About to buy my 4th
Summary: 5 Stars
Not because any of them have broken, but over the past 10 years I've lost them to moves, job switches, and other life changes.
I'm not sure this is the product for everybody. I think ergonomics can become very personal. All I can say is that it made a world of difference to me. I work on a computer all day, and often all night, and I used to have terrible carpal tunnel symptoms. Moving away from a mouse was the critical element, but until I tried this trackball all of the potential solutions -- whether trackball, touch pad, eraser nub, or anything else -- were as bad if not worse.
The Trackman puts your hand into a natural, comfortable position, with your arm and wrist in a resting position, and uses your thumb -- which for me at least is far stronger and more agile than any other finger -- to do the work. The result is an ability to work for hours straight without discomfort, and with a level of control rivaling a mouse.
Ah, yes -- it's not quite as good as a mouse in some ways. I won't use it for games, where pinpoint control is paramount. But I don't play games on my computer that much any more, so for me that's a trivial sacrifice. I'll also note that while accuracy isn't as precise as a mouse, reliability is greater -- it almost never "misses" a movement, unlike every mouse I've used. I assume this is due to having a predictable and well-designed surface (the trackball) for the sensor to watch, while a mouse has to track movement across whatever random surface is underneath it.
It also needs to be cleaned occasionally, since lint and grime can accumulate on the nubs holding the ball in place. This is pretty trivial -- just be aware that every couple weeks or so it may start feeling a little sticky, and you need to pop the ball out and wipe off the contact points.
All in all, I love this product enough that I actually worry about it being discontinued, since it seems to be a truly unique form factor. Hopefully the (well-deserved) $25 I throw toward it every 3-4 years will contribute to its continued longevity.
Customer Review: Excellent Product but has One Flaw
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a replacement for the original Trackman Marble which lasted for nearly 10 years of heavy use. If this products lasts even half as long I'll be very happy. However, take note, it can only be used for right-handed people.
Operation is very smooth as it was with the Trackman Marble. It is very comfortable to use and fits the shape of nearly every hand. The two buttons as well as the wheel are programmable with the included Setpoint software. My software was already installed on my Windows Vista Premium computer when I installed the Logitech Wave Keyboard. Installation was fast and easy. Setpoint integrates all functions for all Logitech keyboards, mice, and trackballs. It is very convenient to have one program that controls multiple devices. Included is Logitech Messenger which periodically checks for software updates.
I did see one complaint that using the thumb ball isn't as fast as using a ball controlled by the fingers. The speed of the cursor can be adjusted with the software. That person may have not realized it could be adjusted or perhaps chose not to install the software. If software is not installed, the Microsoft software has fewer control and programming options.
Now for the flaw. The old marble's ball was easy to remove to clean. On the Trackman Wheeel Optical, there is a small hole on the bottom plate under the ball. Theoretically, dust and dirt should drop through this hole. In reality, dust and lint do not drop out but instead build up inside the compartment making the ball more difficult to move and respond erratically. To clean, remove the 4 screws on the bottom plate, remove the plate and carefully use canned air or a soft brush to remove the lint from all surfaces that contact the ball. I then use a q-tip moistened with household rubbing alcohol to clean the optical window. I am a fanatic about keeping my computer and peripherals clean and this procedure adds only a few minutes to my monthly cleanings, I will not deduct any stars although it is a step backwards from the older design.
Customer Review: Love it so much I bought another for home -- BUT be patient learning it!
Summary: 5 Stars
A couple years ago I'd purchased the cordless version of this (Logitech Cordless TrackMan Wheel) to use at work, in hopes of eliminating some bothersome hand/wrist/arm pain that I'd started to experience.
While I frequently became frustrated in the first couple of weeks while trying to get accustomed to it -- until you get the thumb-ball action down, the cursor can be difficult to control -- I soon found that my pain had completely vanished (helped along, I'm sure, by the fact that I also bought a terrific ergonomic keyboard, the Fellowes 98915 Antimicrobial Split Design Keyboard (Black), so I hung in there just a little while longer and sure enough, I came to love the thing and missed it when I was working away from my desk. Once you find a comfortable place to set it, so that your palm can naturally curve around the top while your thumb rests atop the ball and your wrist is unbent from the elbow, you never need to move your hand or arm to control the cursor.
Recently, while outfitting my home office more ergonomically, I purchased this corded version and am even happier with it than the cordless one. Not only is it cheaper -- and doesn't require any batteries! -- but its darker color helps hide smudges & wear. Having owned both, I see no advantage in the cordless one: Both mice use a USB port, both remain stationary during use (i.e. the cord never gets in the way or catches on things during use, like with a traditional mouse), and both have a cord. In the cordless mouse's case, the cord is for the receiver, but it's just as long as a mouse cord and the receiver is not tiny, so there's not really any advantage to having the "cordless" one.
The only drawback to this mouse is the learning curve. But once your thumb muscle is trained :), this is a really enjoyable tool and hard to live without.
Customer Review: Works perfectly
Summary: 5 Stars
After the Mac wireless mouse and its replacement died, I went back to this trackball; my old standby. I should have done that sooner.
Trackballs are inherently easier to use, take less desk space and are less likely to create a cord-tangle because they don't have to move to function.
Perhaps it is in part due to the fact I played classical guitar and piano, but I find the thumb wheels FAR easier than any other method. Though I have tried other trackballs with the wheel in the center, this design seems more intuitive and "natural." (If one can describe anything computerized as "Natural.")
In particular, I love the fact that I merely had to plug it in, and it immediately started working. No software installation, no CD insertion, no downloads, no upgrade offers no hidden software.... boom, it just works. The truly "plug-n-play" feature is probably just as important as its ergonomic design.
I use the trackball for drawing with paint programs and designing with Sketch-up. It it much faster and easier than any regular mouse for those mouse-heavy programs.
Even when web-surfing, I find the trackball makes selecting things faster and more accurate. I'll do anything to waste less time on the computer so I can get back to real life. For that, the trackball excels.
Obviously, if you are left-handed, you want to get a left-handed model, so any complaints about "handedness" are moot.
If you don't feel comfortable with the thumb-wheel, then try the center wheel models. Either way, trackballs feel better and are easier to use. This is my favorite model because of its size and reasonable price. I chose the corded version since the wireless Mac mouse gave me so much trouble. This mouse is still working with ZERO glitches.
Delivery was fast. Packaging was good. It arrived in perfect condition. It worked immediately with no hassles whatsoever.
Find any compu-product that does that, and you have a winner!