Freewheelin!
Written: Sep 30 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy on the wrist and fingers
Cons: takes some getting used to
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| martet01's Full Review: Logitech TrackMan® (904369-0403-EA) Trackball |
I tend to sit in bed while using the computer so after accidently destroying my Intellimouse, I figured a trackball type device was in order. So after comparison shop/surfing I decided on this product. The Cordless Trackman Wheel works with both PCs and Macs and has a little USB (PS/2 adapter included) infrared receiver with an advertised 6 foot range. I have found that the device can actually reach about 8 or 9 feet but the action is not very smooth and the buttons don't always register beyond 5 feet.
Rather than rolling this puppy across a surface as one would a traditional mouse, all cursor movement is controlled by a 1-inch diameter thumb rollerball. Having never used one of these before, it took a day or two to get used to. The ball is optical so there's no need to clean it. There are also two regular mouse buttons and a scroll-wheel that can also acts as a third button. The buttons have the same sort of light feel as Intellimouse buttons.
Installation is a breeze. Just put the included CD-ROM in and follow the installation wizard. Once installed a little mouse icon appears on your startbar that allows you to adjust the sensitivity and motion characteristics. For those of you who play a lot of games you'll want to turn the acceleration off and sensitivity way down before starting to play.
One nifty feature is the ability to reassign the three buttons to frequently used functions. For instance, I set the scrollwheel button to Back in my browser. Again for you gamers be careful because accidently pressing Back during your game may minimize your game and open the browser.
Having made the transition to a trackball I would definitely buy another one of these before getting a regular mouse. I find the design to be more ergonomic and the rollerball to be more precise than my Intellimouse was. This combined with the lack of a cord means you can rest your hand anywhere as long as you're within 5 feet of the receiver. Since the receiver itself has a 3 foot cord this gives you 8 feet of effective range (if you're eyesight is that good :P). Since it's cordless you'll need a AA battery that lasts 4 months according to the manufacturer. There is also a low battery indicator but I don't know how much battery life is left once this goes off as mine hasn't yet.
If you're tired of your mouse cord catching on things or find yourself without the deskspace to roll your mouse around I would definitely suggest trying out one of these. The first day or two you'll feel like a recovering stroke victim but once you get acquainted with the Trackman Wheel I think you'll like it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 65
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Epinions.com ID:
martet01
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Member: Timothy Martens
Location: Philadelphia
Reviews written: 55
Trusted by: 27 members
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