gjax's Full Review: Logitech TrackMan® Trackball (904353-0403)
When my father purchased our first Internet capable computer in 1999 he insisted on getting an ergonomic trackball instead of a mouse because of his carpel tunnel issues. It took me a while to get used to the trackball, but once I was familiar with it I preferred it to normal mice because I also stopped having wrist problems after long bouts of video gaming.
The Logitech TrackMan is the newest version of the design of trackball my father purchased. When my supervisor's trackball died on her, she asked me to look for a different model that would still support her wrist. She has had carpel tunnel surgery and needs a very supportive trackball. So I looked for a Logitech design similar to the one my father had, and found this product.
All I have to say is that it has all the old advantages with none of the disadvantages of the older models.
Pros: The shape is very comfortable, and provides excellent wrist support. It is in fact much more ergonomic and comfortable than previous models of this general design. The ball moves very smoothly, and the buttons and scroll wheel have been very responsive. There hasn't been any sticking of the scroll wheel, which is often a problem I run into with less expensive mice. The largest improvement is how the trackball itself is held in. It is just a pressure fit, so if you grab the ball and pull it pops out of the device for easy cleaning. The older models had a ring with a small hole that you had to use a paper clip or pen to twist open, resulting is scratch marks on the plastic. It was also a very difficult thing to do. As the ball bearings that support the trackball do buildup grime fairly easily it is important to be able to clean it out. This design is very well thought out so this task is not difficult or time consuming. The color is grey, which is also nice because the white of previous version showed grime very easily. This design looks new for much longer than previous designs. I do not necessarily think most people will find the gray attractive, but it has just enough of a sheen to it to keep it from looking drab.
Cons: If you are not accustomed to controlling a trackball with your thumb it can take some getting used to. My supervisor is still using her index finger and just moving back and forth between the trackball and the buttons. This isn't very efficient, but she just can't quite get used to using her thumb. She hasn't complained about the mouse though, so I don't think it's a huge issue for her. It will also be fairly difficult for other people to use your computer if they are not used to using a trackball. Some people will probably like this, if your computer is in a somewhat public part of your apartment/house and you have people over a lot then it could be a nice way of avoiding being rude, while also avoiding having other people on your computer all the time. If you want to make your computer available to multiple people though then it will be something of a problem.
Jump to Web sites with easy scroll-wheel action. Patented optical technology provides smooth, precise motion while the trackball reduces hand and wris...More at Best Buy ®
With a sleek design and intuitive placement of the ball, scroll wheel, and buttons, the TrackMan Wheel is perfect for long hours of use.More at TigerDirect.com
Take advantage of the superior precision and maintenance-free operation of optical technology. With a sleek design and intuitive placement of the ball...More at Nu-Image Corporation
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