The Logitech Cordless Trackman Wheel isn't a new product. It was designed sometime between 2000 and 2002, but the box has been refreshed with stickers that show it is certified for use with Windows Vista. It even includes a PS/2 adapter which has become all but obsolete in 2010. That said, I needed a cordless trackball for use with my media center PC so I could watch movies and TV shows without having to grab a mouse pad for my cordless mouse. The pad becomes a pain because it is difficult to use a mouse on my couch. The trackball made a lot more sense. I did however, test this Trackman on my desktop to see how it works in normal usage.
First, the maximum effective range was tested to be 15 feet with direct line of sight and no other objects in the way. In the living room, this range was slightly shorter for unknown reasons other than the fact there might have been interference from my Microsoft cordless keyboard and mouse receiver. Even with the shorter range, I had a good 10-12 feet of range.
The Trackman module uses only 1 AA battery. I have been using a high capacity NiMH rechargeable which should last 3 months before it self-discharges. I also found that no drivers are needed unless you want to customize the button functions. I just plugged in the receiver in XP and Vista and was using the trackball with ease.
The trackball has been around for years but apparently it has not caught on. It's definitely not as intuitive as a mouse, but has its merits in limited spaces or if you don't have a table top surface. Its supposedly great for those suffering from repetitive motion disorders or carpal tunnel syndrome. I intended to use this for my media center PC and not for office applications, but it did take some getting used to especially in photo apps and even web browsing.
There's no back button or additional buttons besides the left and right buttons, and the scroll wheel button. There's no tilt wheel function, but this Trackman was also designed nearly a decade ago when such features weren't as prevalent. Another drawback is that it is designed for right handed users only. Southpaws will have to look elsewhere.
The Trackman and receiver are large in dimensions. They're not as sleek and sexy as the Bluetooth mice or cordless mice with micro transceivers, but it gets the job done. I can't seem to find many modern cordless trackball designs due to the low popularity of this type of device.
Pros: Great for limited spaces, optical technology doesn't require frequent cleaning, smooth ball rolling action, all of the buttons are very tactile.
Cons: RH users only, not as intuitive as mouse, no tilt wheel buttons, no back/forward buttons, large unit, and the receiver is very large. The range is acceptable.
Overall: 4/5 stars.
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Logitech "Cordless" TrackMan and USB Receiver
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2010
I started computing with DOS 2.1 and when the Mouse came out I hated it.I loved the TrackBall from first use. Especially for gaming! I don't need Desk Space to slide it around. I can lean back in my chair with the TrackMan in my lap and do everything I need. Try that with a Mouse.My first Logitech TrackBall, in the early '90s, had a cord. It spoiled me.My 2nd, 3rd and 4th (the one I have now) are "Cordless" RF designs.I emphasize "Cordless" because there is a 3 foot Cord on the USB Receiver.The Cord and Receiver are not a problem for me. I keep the Cord bound with a Velro Wire Tie.See the picture I posted at the beginning of this product's page.My son took my first TrackBall. My second, a Cordless unit, broke after years of being dropped. My current units are five and six years old.The ergonomic design fits the palm of my hand perfectly. The Ball, Buttons and wheel are intuitively placed and it is Easy to clean.I like this product so much I bought one for use at work.
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2010
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