Logitech TrackMan Marble, Wired Trackball Mouse, 300 DPI Marble Optical Tracking, Ambidextrous, USB, PC / Mac / Laptop

UPDATE: Please read NC_RO's comment. Specifically, "X-Mouse Button" control enables scroll in FireFox.Really good TrackBall. Accurate. Ergonomic. Fantastic value (£20). Ambidextrous - yet sill comfortable in either hand.I chose this over Logitech's M570, as I can use my three middle fingers to control the cursor - together, for precision; or seperately if one finger is fatigued. The M570 relies solely on using the thumb, which I thought was dangerous. Here's something you can try:-> Marble TrackBall: Try putting your hand palm-down on the table. Lift your fingers so they're on their tips. You should still be able to lift your three middle fingers (index, middle and ring) off the table and move them freely. Your thumb and little finger have to stay put as they to control left and right click!-> M570 TrackBall: Same exercise, but now take your thumb off the table and move it - trying to simulate moving the trackball to move the cursor. More pressure. Less freedom. Like me, you may also feel a slight twinge between a quarter and half way up your forearm. Index and Middle fingers control left and right click, like a traditional mouse.I haven't used the M570, so can't verify FOR CERTAIN what I've said - but what I just said persuaded me to opt for the Marble.I moved from a Logitech Cordless Optical TrackMan, that was a good 10 years old. I miss the way it was sculpted for one's right hand. I really, really miss the scroll wheel. My new Microsoft Split Keyboard 4000 also omits a scroll wheel, giving page zoom instead.I'm struggling.For the Marble TrackMan, I'd position a scroll wheel (left to right) in front of the red movement ball, in between it and the power wire.(FireFox has a TouchScreen AddOn, which lets you use right click to scroll; which helps. A lot.)My "LCOT" was also wireless, which was a blessing and a curse. In later years, it ran out of battery quickly and the range was sketchy. However, I could sit 3m back and watch YouTube and still play/pause control (left click). The M570 would allow this.Certainly, the Marble trackball being reviewed doesn't suffer from wires like a mouse does. Once it's positioned, it doesn't needed to be moved (only the wheel does). Also, there's a very generous amount of cable so the trackball will fit anywere on my 2m wide desk. It obviously doesn't suffer from any dropouts like the old LCOT.Likel its/my predecessor, I seem to angle the trackball at 45 degrees to the left for my right hand - and find this the most comfortable. Logitech has software that lets you compensate for this.If - like me - you're angled, but push "up" (away form you; towards computer), the mouse cursor does actually go up, and not up and to the right. Not a huge biggie, but it does help; and show they want their customers to be comfortable too.I almost gave this 4 stars, due to the omission of the scroll wheel. However, it just about scrapes through to 5. It's still so, SO much better than using a mouse and the only realistic trackball on the market place. So, imho, it gets full points.Any questions I've not answered, please ask me. :-)

IN USEI've used the Logitech Marble Mouse since the first 2 button version came out nearly 10 years ago. Since then there hasn't been a day when a version of the device hasn't been on my music studio desktop, or thrown in my laptop bag for mobile use.The Marble Mouse is a love/hate amongst my friends & colleagues and most of the criticism seems to come from the fact that the trackball is finger operated, not thumb operated. To me, the device makes perfect sense, despite being a brilliant thing, your thumb has a relatively limited movement - pretty much side to side in an arc and that's it. Using the trackball with 2 fingers makes a lot of sense, particularly for very fine work as is often demanded by the ever decreasing on-screen size of a lot of current DAW buttons. 2 fingers allows you to use one finger for movement and the other for resistance to that movement - effectively meaning you have a proportional control pointing device. You can also use the trackball between your 2 fingers to allow rapid travel in either direction.The very best thing - it doesn't move anywhere! Really small footprint, great for in-flight or on lap mobile work. Anecdotally, that makes it feel better from an RSI point-of-view. I've certainly never had a problem with long daily fine-control use for nearly a decade.ERGONOMICSThe key thing is how well the Marble Mouse fits under your hand (and under EITHER HAND - brilliant for left handed peeps or if you have another controller on the other side like I often do). All the controls just fit so well ergonomically. For right handers, the main click is under your thumb, the trackball under your index and 2nd finger, and the other click under your 3rd or pinkie dependent on hand size. The new micro buttons on the Marble Mouse allow very simple programmable control of scrolling or sub-menus. whatever you wish. (I keep them as scrollers as it's really useful on a bust DAW track screen)SOFTWARE/COMPATIBILITYThe device ships with a software suite for programming functions, but as with all devices, nip to the Logitech website for the absolute latest version. Great for both PC and Mac. It will run as a standard USB mouse without the driver but you miss out on a lot of functionality, but it's good if you are on a guest machine.TRICKSOne of the things I really like about the device for DAW work, is that if you are doing a lot of tracking and drop-in/drop-out points, it's really handy to hover the pointer over your Record button, and then - take the ball clean out. that way, no drift on the pointer and you have a pretty much dedicated drop-in/drop-out button.MAINTENANCEOn the subject of the ball - cleaning it and the support floats is a breeze. The ball clicks in/out very positively (ie doesn't just rest in there so even at an angle you're not going to lose it). Just a quick wipe over with a micro-fibre cloth every couple of days and around the ball cavity and you're good to go.Logitech's support has always been pretty good. there's a couple of times I've dropped the ball out of the back of the car onto tarmac and its dented - it really doesn't work so well at that point. I emailed Logitech about getting a replacement and on 2 occasions they've just sent me a replacement straight from Switzerland, no charge, no hassle.DOWNSIDESIt's not for everyone, I'll admit. Some colleagues prefer the side-address trackballs, but it's really personal taste.Also, there's no wireless version. That's never bothered me as it's just permanently wired on the desk, but it bothers some folks.Longevity - now this really is anecdotal, but I've seen a couple of other folk mention it. They don't seem to be lasting as long as they used to, particularly the micro-switches in the mini buttons. My first MarbleMouse is actually still working after many many years (the old beige 2 button job), but in the last 5 years, I must have bought maybe 4 or 5 new ones. Some of this may be the increased workload on them, and really £20 a year/2yrs for your primary input device bar the keyboard is probably not bad. Most peeps spend that on finding a mouse they actually like, or because they've lost/damaged the old one.All in all, I can't recommend this product enough. It's simple, pretty stylish (has a bit of wow factor on the desk for clients!), effective, robust, painless and low footprint. Just buy one, you'll see!

These Logitech mouses work really well there so easy to use and you find yourself thinking why didn’t i buy one before they make using the laptop/computer so much easier and with a lot less strain on your hand and fingers long term there also great for people with limited space for a normal mouse there’s no need for a mouse mat neither so if space is an issue for you this is definitely a mouse worth buying it’s extremely easy to set up too its just plug and play its great for left handed and right handed people as well i highly recommend It there great mouses and Logitech is a great quality brand that you can truly rely on for years and years also it looks very stylish and modern when all set up and to be honest i cant see me using any other mouse again