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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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical (Silver)
Customer Review: You'll Have a Ball With This Mouse!
Summary: 5 Stars
Yeah it looks funny, but its what you call "ergonomic"- which has to do with making the workplace fit the worker. Perhaps the oddest looking thing is the little ball on the side. So what's that about? Well, its the whole reason you'd want to buy this device.
If you're satisfied with your regular mouse, it works well, and you have no hand, wrist, or elbow pain, don't be in a hurry to run out and get this mouse. However if you do have pain in any of those areas, I'd highly consider getting one of these little babies. Why? Well, because this is a "trackball" mouse, which means that you'll be moving that little arrow on your computer screen around- NOT by moving your hand and arm- but by simply rolling the ball with your thumb! So, as you can probably guess, little or no wrist and arm motion equals less stress on these areas--> and less pain!
Simply put, this device cuts down on how much you need to move your hand and arm around which can help you prevent or eliminate such nasty problems as tennis elbow or carpal tunnel. Yeah!
A few other good reasons to consider getting this mouse...
-you'll probably be able to work at a computer much longer and in more comfort because you won't be using your muscles as much
-you might find that its a bit quicker scrolling around web pages
Now it does have a cord, but that's about its only drawback (but it does work on glass).
So when all is said and done, if you're looking for more efficiency and less pain- get it. Also recommend Treat Your Own Tennis Elbow if you suffer from tennis elbow.
Customer Review: Dependable and Durable workhorse
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm an engineer with a medium size company in Texas that designs and manufactures pneumatic conveying components such as diverter valves, slide gates, and rotary feeders. 75% of the time I am on my computer doing 2D and 3D cad work with AutoCAD and AutoDesk Inventor. I also use Adobe Photoshop and Autodesk's Maya quite a bit. I switched from a mouse to a trackball about 6 years ago for the ergonomics and increased precision.
I have owned (3) of these guys - the original at work, the one I bought for my home PC because I liked the one at work so much, and the new one for work that I bought recently. The only reason I replaced my old one is because, after 6 years of heavy use, the rubber pieces that kept it from sliding on my desk had disappeared.
...And, when I say heavy use, I mean heavy use. I can't count how many times I have knocked it off my desk, or slammed a fist down on it in frustration (if you do CAD, you understand). It keeps on going, despite my abuse. I also put greasy, dirty hands on it sometimes, when I am in a rush. It works through the grime accurately and cleans up easy when you have time.
As with anything Logitech, you can expect good support, great functionality, and a long life for your product.
Also, for anyone doing similar work, I would recommend a spaceball from 3Dconnexion. One of these guys in conjunction with your Logitech trackball will streamline your work. Increased efficiency... Less fatigue... You will wonder how you did anything without them!
3D connexion SpaceExplorer 3D Navigation Device with USB Interface ( 3DX-700026 )
Customer Review: Mouse (and wrist pain) killer
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far the most comfortable and precise pointing device I've ever tried. My wrist pain has completely disappeared since I've started using the trackball. It took me about a day to get used to it, and two or three days to get really precise with it, but now going back to a regular mouse feels like trying to draw a picture with a sharpened fence post. My hand stays put on the thing, and just the small movements of my thumb drive the mouse pointer. There's no need for a mouse pad, since the trackball is stationary on the desk, along with the hand, which rests on the comfortably-shaped body of the unit, with the fingers doing the clicking just like on a regular mouse.
I don't like corded mouse designs because of the slight drag imparted by the cord as you move the device, but the cord isn't a drawback at all with the Trackman, since it doesn't move around.
I didn't know how much a regular mouse sucks from an ergonomic standpoint until I finally tried a decent trackball. I have no more pain or discomfort in my wrists and fingers. At first, the trackball fells odd, but once you get used to it, it's much faster and more precise than the mouse. The increase in comfort and efficiency is well worth the effort of getting your hand used to the new device. I've tossed my mice into the Bin O' Spare Computer Parts in the attic, and it's trackballs for me from now on. I want to buy a whole box of these things, so I have a lifetime supply in case Logitech stops their production.
The Logitech Trackman Wheel would be worth every penny at twice the price. At under $30, it's a bargain for what is (IMHO) the best pointing device currently available.
Customer Review: Too slow, too small
Summary: 3 Stars
Many trackball or mouse users have very specific preferences, and there's no reason to believe that "one size fits all" is a valid concept. With the Trackman, everything looks great, and may even feel great when sampling it in the showroom. The trackball fits ergonomically over your hand, the clicking is very easy, and it looks good to boot. Personally, I've heard a number of positive first-hand accounts of people who have used this device. Perhaps it might prove instructive to some how the experience of one user wasn't as positive.
My first difficulty pertained to tracking; it simply took too much efffort to navigate from one part of the screen to another (a real problem if you have a 20" screen or larger). A software update improved things somewhat, but not enough for the kind of convenience you get from Kensington products. And then there was the tracking itself; for an optical mouse, the movement was not particularly smooth. The software didn't catch some kinds of navigation, making movement even more difficult.
After sampling the product extensively, I came to realize that it was severely handicapped compared to Kensington products, which allow a range of tracking styles, speeds, and customization. If designers were to develop some kind of "fix," this trackball might offer serious competition.
That said, I strongly recommend trying a number of devices at a computer store to see if their feel is appropriate to your work style. A number of vendors allow a money-back policy for the first week; even with a restocking fee, it saves having to keep all but what you really need. You even might fall in love with the Trackman after all.
Customer Review: Bad design
Summary: 3 Stars
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.