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.


Under my thumb   July 11, 2002
Boris Bangemann (Singapore)
50 out of 57 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).


perfect for limited space   December 27, 2000
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

I love this trackball mouse. I have been using Trackman Marble Wheel version for the past few years. It was great also, but with limited desk space at work, the Cordless version is better. With a keyboard, calculator and books/binders/papers needed on my desk, it is easy to get the mouse out of the way and still use it. My next goal is a cordless keyboard!

The only complaint that I have is that the "wheel" button from the Cord to Cordless has been reduced in space. It used to occupy a almost full size button space, and now only the wheel itself is placed in between the R and L buttons. Your hand used to be able to rest with index, middle and ring finger on L, Wheel, and R buttons. Now, you really can only use your index and middle fingers on the R and L and move one of them to the wheel when you need it. I do not find it as comfortable. But, I can live with that inconvenience in comparison with the benefits.


The best for graphic artists   January 24, 2002
G. Lindsay (CT USA)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

I've used just about every pointing device available. Trackpoints are the worst. Touchpads are pretty bad, difficult to control, and you keep scrolling in areas and clicking on things that you never intended. Mice are okay, except (among other things) that fairly often I have observed people (including myself) clicking and missing--the pointer was on the target, but when you released the left button, you twitched and so nothing happens. Also, mice will wear you out after a while; I find a lot of muscle tension at the end of a day. Trackballs avoid these problems. With these devices, when you've got the pointer exactly where you want it, take your thumb off the ball and then click--this is especially good for novices. Trackballs generally give greater control and, when it comes to moving the pointer across the screen, just a tiny thumb movement takes you from corner to corner (if you adjust the motion properly in the control panel).

The Logitech Cordless Trackman Wheel is the best trackball I've seen, and I've owned a bunch of them. It has all the features mentioned above and is very ergonomic and relaxing to use. When I cruise the internet, I sit almost motionless, concentrating totally on the information being displayed. Oddly enough, I do recommend playing some solitaire to develop the unconscious feel for the device. One nice feature (a point of distinction): this device uses radio frequency communication and does not require line of sight. I have used it on a table in the middle of the room, the desk being against the wall, without problem (I have a fairly large monitor).

Could the Logitech be improved? Yes. There's room for another button under the ring finger. The scroll wheel could be a little smoother (sometimes you move it one notch and nothing happens, but it's not a big deal, just move it another notch). Something that probably could not be improved is its apparent indestructability; it fell from my hand as I was changing batteries and, trying to catch it, wound up slamming it into the hardwood floor. I was somewhat awed to find that it still worked.

All in all, I recommend this pointing device above all others.