The Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse: Its Pros and Cons

I have a limited space in my desk where my PC is sitting, so I looked for a pointing device that can just stay in one place on my desk. That is my main reason for buying this Trackman Marble mouse from Logitech.

I had searched the web for such, was able to read some comments and reviews on several products and finally decided on this Trackman. I eventually got this from my local computer shop and I was surprised that it was actually bigger than what I had expected but that didn’t stop me from buying it. The color I chose was that of dark gray which blended with my black keyboard perfectly.

It worked well with Windows XP Pro, at least the basic functions of a mouse but if you want to configure the buttons you will have to install the Logitech software that comes with it.

Getting used to it took quite a while for me. I had difficulty at first in familiarizing the use of the trackball, especially with the scroll function in which I had to click one of the buttons and move the trackball. The size and positions of the buttons are just right and I can get to them using my ring finger and thumb without moving my hand. In fact, I can also use my middle finger for right clicks just like before with my regular mouse.

I do house design sometimes and this requires very accurate movements. This mouse responded precisely making me work on finer points and edges of the design a lot easier. I noticed that the pointer moves slower than my old mouse until I was able to adjust its speed to the rate suitable to what I was working with.

The ball will eventually gather some dirt after some time of use but cleaning it is just a straightforward process, it will just take about a minute or two. Take the ball off its base and wipe it with moist cloth, then clean the points, and put back the ball on its base and it is ready for use again.

The pros?

* It is perfect for situations where space is limited.
* The movements are very accurate which is a great help for designers in getting their tasks done a lot easier.
* Configuring the buttons can be done.
* The appearance and overall design is modern.
* It is flexible in a way that it can be used by right- or left-handed people.
* It has gentle curves and wide palm base. A great feature in minimizing hand and wrist pains.
* Reasonably priced.

And the cons?

* You will have to install the Logitech software in order to configure this mouse.
* There is no wheel for scrolling. You will have to do some setup to program the buttons to get the functions of a wheel (scrolling up or down).
* If the trackball is dirty, it becomes slower. The trackball needs to be cleaned at least once a week or so.
* The inconvenience of adjusting or getting used to it.

To conclude, the Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse is great overall. I have been using it for over a month now and I prefer it over my old regular mouse. I got used to it pretty quickly and my wrist pain is gone.