Logitech Cordless TrackMan Wheel

Also, I share this mouse with my two children. It's been dropped on a hardwood floor more than I probably know about. And it still works.

Excellent design and reliable service. I hope this review helps.


Works well but receiver is too big   May 23, 2005
W. L. Holder (Phoenix, AZ, USA)
79 out of 82 found this review helpful

I had the original TrackMan Wheel mouse (with a cord) and loved it. I regretted letting my mother-in-law have it the very second I agreed to it.

I purchased this one as a replacement once I realised I didnt like a normal mouse any more. Plus I purchased a laptop and thought the cordless would be handy.

This model works excellent and is great for use at home with a desktop computer. Unfortunately, it doesnt mention in the description or photo that the receiver which plugs into the USB port is HUGE, its almsost as big as the mouse itself. The size of the receiver and length of cord that comes with it is the same as having a mouse, completely defeating most of the purpose of a cordless mouse. It is too bulky to carry around and setup on my laptop like I had hoped. The receiver is much larger than the ones that come on the other cordless mice I have seen.

If you like the TrackMan Wheel I highly recomend this one, it is top quality and functions flawlessly, as long as you dont want to rely on portability. If you plan on carrying it with your laptop, I would recomend a different cordless mouse.


Under my thumb   July 11, 2002
Boris Bangemann (Singapore)
55 out of 61 found this review helpful

One of the most popular pastimes in Singapore - after shopping, of course - is sending SMS messages on a mobile phone. The kids here really have trained thumbs. It's a good qualification for users of the Logitech TrackMan.

This gadget helped me clean up my desk - one cable less, mouse-pad out of the way. My two-year-old loves the red trackball although he misses yanking at the mouse cord. However, my PC co-user (and wife) cannot get used to the new toy. The shape of the Logitech TrackMan is too large for her hand, and she simply hates moving the cursor with the trackball. I have to plug in the traditional mouse for her whenever she wants to use the PC (the software supplied with the Logitech TrackMan handles this operation nicely, no big deal).

I'm quite happy with the Logitech TrackMan, but it has some weaknesses: (1) the sender unit has to be on the table for the mouse to receive the signals properly. It can not be placed too far away from the mouse; (2) for precision work the traditional mouse is superior to a trackball device - moving the cursor with a movement of the mouse-on-a-cord yields more precise results than using the thumb on the trackball, especially for click-and-drag operations; (3) speed - I move the cursor faster with the old mouse-on-a-cord.

Bottom-line: a product with good value for its price, very useful if you have only limited space on your desk - but you have to get used to it. One thumb up (the left one, the right one is on the trackball).


Great Trackball! (but needs more range)   May 1, 2003
20 out of 21 found this review helpful

I am a trackball fan from way back since I was first introduced to them by my physical therapist after having a shoulder operation that made moving my arm next to impossible. I find moving a mouse around a desk both clumsy and unnatural and just don't understand how people can accept them. This is my third trackball from Logitech and it is by far the best one I have had.(I gave the old ones to friends or family who are now converts to the trackball way!) It took a little while to get used to having the ball on the left side as opposed to the standard center position, but once I got used to using my thumb, things really flew. Set up was snap and the documentation was great. The design is very comfortable and the buttons and scroll wheel fall easily to hand. It has operated flawlessly for the year+ that I have owned it and I have only had to change the battery once in that time. The cordless feature works great and is a real boon to me because of my cluttered desk. Its RF signal does not interfere with my other IR controlled equipment(i.e. stereo and cordless keyboard). My only quibbles with this trackball (and the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5) is that it needs a greater range and they need to use ball bearings in the ball seat like their other trackballs. Right now I have to have the reciever within a foot or so of the trackball to work consistantly and it would be much more convenient if I could stick it someplace out of the way. Using ball bearings instead of the current nylon mounts in the ball seat would give the ball the super smooth action that their other trackballs have had and that I'm used to. In the end, I would certainly recommend this to anyone looking to make their computing a more pleasurable experience, but be warned...trackballs can be addictive!


I love this trackball   October 16, 2004
Glynn Clapsaddle (San Diego, CA United States)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful

Four years ago I changed from the standard mouse to the wired version of this trackball. Yes, it took 2 days or so to get used to it, but then it became second nature. I love not having to pick up the mouse to get the cord out of the way, or running out of room or off of the mouse pad. With this wireless trackball and my wireless keyboard, I set my laptop on my coffee table and kick back on my couch doing all of my work and internet surfing. I've never had any problems with this model, in fact, I own three at home and one at work. The three at home, one for my laptop, my wife's laptop, and my kids' computer. I hope they never discontinue this style, for it is the most comfortale to use. If you're still using a regular mouse, it's time to try out a trackball. Again, it takes a day or two to get used to, but you will not be sorry. I just can't wait for a bluetooth version of this trackball so that I don't have to plug the receiver into a USB port.