Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman (USB/PS/2)

by Logitech

Product Details

Data Sheet [63kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.5 x 4 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006B9CR
• Item model number: 904369-0403
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (452 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #3 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Keyboards, Mice & Input Devices > Trackballs
  • #47 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Computer Accessories > Keyboards, Mice & Input Devices > Mice
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 21, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Logitech's cordless optical TrackMan lets you work where and how you want with the freedom of a cordless mouse, the comfort of a trackball, and the precision of optical technology. It's Logitech's most advanced trackball finger-operated trackball mouse. Save space and eliminate desktop clutter. Take advantage of extra buttons that help you navigate around Windows and the Web more easily. And with Logitech's patented optical technology, you get virtually maintenance-free precision and smooth tracking.

Logitech's patented Optical Marble technology ensures smooth cursor movement, while 27 MHz cordless digital radio technology gives you reliable cordless freedom. The product offers advanced navigation features in a form-fitting, right-handed design. Its special drag-lock functions let you move text and images with ease, while Cruise Control scrolling lets you scroll rapidly through Web pages and documents by merely pressing a button. With conveniently located thumb-operated forward and back buttons, you can easily move through applications and Web pages without having to move the cursor to the browser's onscreen buttons. Two AA batteries (included) keep you powered for six months or more.

Product Description

Mice & Trackballs, Logitech, Cordless Optical TrackMan, 904369-0403

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

236 of 247 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Smooth motion, wireless, but button placement not as ergonomic as alternatives, October 10, 2005

By 

nsrpgmiv "nsrpgmiv" (SUNNYVALE, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman (USB/PS/2) (Personal Computers)

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.

268 of 282 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Logitech Does It Again!, April 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman (USB/PS/2) (Personal Computers)

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

121 of 129 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very comfortable after a few days, November 28, 2002

By 

Joel Newkirk (NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman (USB/PS/2) (Personal Computers)

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