Customer Reviews

Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse

5 star:		(240)
4 star:		(59)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

Originally called the Logitech Marble Mouse Trackball, the TrackMan Marble Trackball is the superior alternative to the mouse. Unlike a mouse, it sits in one place and your fingers use that big burgundy ball to move the pointer. Your thumb does the clicking and once you get accustomed to it, using a mouse will seem quaint and clunky.

Long before the optical mouse rose to fame, Logitech was already employing optical technology in the TrackMan Marble and its siblings. Pop out the ball and you'll find a small rectangular window. Behind that window are an infrared LED and the sensor. Together, they track the movement of the marble's leopard spots. It might not be as sexy as the bright red glow of a conventional non-laser optical mouse but it gets the job done with more precision and comfort. The TrackMan Marble is even ambidextrous, allowing lefties to use it as easily as righties.

If you're wondering about scrolling without a wheel, it all depends on the operating system. With the Logitech Control Center software installed on a Mac, the mini-buttons scroll up and down. With Windows running Logitech SetPoint, configure the mini button nearest your thumb for Autoscroll. This turns the ball into a variable-speed scroll control that's as easy to master as a wheel.

I used to use the trackballs with "Cue Balls" and wheels. When my last one gave out (I bought a bunch on sale) my mate bought this one. I was sceptical because of the small ball. I do engineering work and I need precise movements. I used this for a few hours before I decided I'd never go back. Plus the optical technology is a lot easier to clean than the rubber wheels of the old style trackballs. And the price is very right.

Since I had to give up my PS/2 port Trackman Marble FX mouse, this model was the only alternative. The design is gentle on the hand. It is perfect for lots of clicking, whether you work with Photoshop or with lots of cells in Excel worksheets, your hand will thank you. It is accurate too. The price is reasonable, thus making it a good alternative to the USB version of the Trackman Marble FX, which goes for $150 and is no longer easily found in most stores. Once you try this style of mice, the other models are simply no longer a choice.

Why would anyone want to use a mouse?
With a mouse, you must keep your hand on the mouse and the mouse on it's pad, and then move your entire hand around to control the cursor.
With the trackball, all you need to move is your finger, any finger.
And you can pick up the trackball in your hand, sit back relaxed from the desk, and still control the cursor.
If you are agile enough, you can even hold and operate it with your left hand and use your right hand to write, or what ever.
Yet most folks are just hung up on the mouse.
In the beginning Bill Gates created the mouse (actually Xerox did) and thus you must use the mouse with windows.
Oh well, let them suffer from capal tunnel syndrom.
Just save your wrist for other purposes, and start using the trackball.Logitech Trackman Marble MouseLogitech Trackman Marble MouseLogitech Trackman Marble Mouse

I bought the Logitech optical marble trackball mouse; used it for 2 weeks; MAJOR PROBLEM: no scroll wheel. The software that comes with it lets you scroll with just a click, HOWEVER, it did not work for all applications: For some websites the scrolling was fine, but for others - including my email on AOL and GMAIL - it did not work at all; and on some sites the scrolling was very hard to control.

I then bought the KENSIGNTON K72337US ORBIT TRACKBALL WITH SCROLL RING for PC or Mac. FAR SUPERIOR! First of all, there's no software to install - you plug into your USB and you're ready to go, just like a regular mouse. Then, the SCROLL RING is fantastic - it's even better than the scroll wheel on a regular mouse. It gives you better control and a greater scrolling range than the scroll wheel on a regular mouse. Also, the Kensington is not as bulky as the Logitech.

I returned the Logitech and am happily using the Kensington for over 2 months now.
Kensington K72337US Orbit Trackball with Scroll Ring for PC or Mac

These are really much better than those darn mouses. I do a lot of graphic design and photo work and with mice I would always run out of space on my desk and have to back track constantly. These are great in that they stay in the same place. It is also very precise and offers much greater control. I wouldn't buy anything else as long as this is available.

I am a software developer and spend 8 hours a day or more hammering away at the computer. Years ago, I had a really bad tendonitis/carpal tunnel problem caused by a standard mouse. It got so bad that I couldn't even tie my shoes with the help of that hand. I tried 5 different mice and even tried switching mouse hands. Nothing worked until I found this. I have been using it for over 7 years now on my left hand (I am right handed) and gone through two of them, and my wrist feels great.

Some ergonomics expert made a comment on this site stating the contrary. From first hand experience I can tell you he is dead wrong. I also have coworkers who switched over to this mouse because they started experiencing pain and have been happily using it for years.

You will naturally end up using the mouse like this: wrist and arm for large motions. Finger tips for fine movements. Your thumb naturally clicks the button in a strong position. Draging is a little bit difficult so I advise you learn how to highlight using keyboard shortcuts, like the shift key. Its a small price to pay to get relief from the pain.

I never had to have wrist surgery either. By the way, I also switched to microsoft natural keyboard and use a keyboard tray. All of these things are important for taking care of your wrists.

Still, when I go back to a regular mouse my wrist starts to ache in only half an hour. The marble mouse rocks and I hope they continue to make it until I retire.

By the way, the thumb trackballs are terrible. I don't recommend them. Moving you thumb side to side seems to irritate the joint in no time.

I'm sure that life without my Logitech trackball mouse would be possible, but it would probably be, as Hobbes memorably said, nasty, brutish and short, and it's not something I want to experience. I'm typing this review after buying an additional mouse to use with my laptop after months of struggling to write a book on it using a more conventional optical mouse. (My desktop already had a trackball.) The difference between before (frustratingly clunky manoeuvering, aching arm and shoulder, mistakes due to imprecise mouse usage) and after (blissfully seamless/effortless usage) is marvellous. (Oh yes, and no need for one of those mouse pads to make it work -- I can even plop this down on the sofa beside me if I'm working on my laptop.) My productivity has zoomed.

This is easy to install and just as simple to use as the standard mouse. It takes a few days to become accustomed to the fact that you don't have to shove a mouse around, but it has all the functions that you would expect and once you are used to using it, you will wonder how you lived without it. I know I do. It's also very, very long-lived. My desktop mouse has been in use for six years now, and the only reason I had to order an extra was after I knocked it to the ground and failed to locate the marble-style ball (it surfaced three months later, having rolled behind a bookcase and into a corner.) The ease with which the trackball can be knocked out of the mouse is probably the only significant design flaw I've found, so would advise keeping the mouse in a place where such accidents won't occur (I hung on to the extra marble, once retrieved, to make sure that I'm never stuck again). But overall this strikes me as one of those rare technology products that does exactly what it's supposed to do, over and over again, and never malfunctions.

Recommended to anyone & everyone. You will be saving yourself from an ergonomic nightmare.

This is the most confortable mouse i ever had. Easy to use, not to big, not to short... is perfect for people who use photoshop and freehand, perfect for design with precision. the pointing arrows with this mouse is really accurate. Overall : Custumer totally satisfy!

This is the best mouse ever you need no mouse pad just sit back put the mouse on the arm of your chair palm the mouse and just move the ball its so easy i could never go back to mouse and pad trust me if you tried this product you will see it your self