Logitech TrackMan® Trackball (904353-0403)

I bought this Trackerball around 3-4 years ago, when I was starting to get wrist pains from using mice or glidepads all the time. I thought it was a little 'snazzy' for use at work (silver with a red LED), but the rest of the package seemed great, so I bought it.

In the package at the time was a USB-to-PS2 adapter, which plugs on the Trackman's USB plug; I'm not sure if this is still included these days, but it was useful when I didn't have a USB port.

For those who don't currently have a trackerball - I find it much more comfortable than a mouse. Your hand barely moves; just slight motion of the thumb (for thumbwheeled devices), and perhaps using the middle finger to roll the scrollwheel. You can sit it on a cluttered surface without having to clear an area, or even use it off the desk; eg. in bed, or held in your hand to click through a presentation. Also, there's no mouse mat to run out of space on, and you can zoom around a screen without having to zoom your hand around physically.

The Trackman itself feels solid, with comfortable contours that your cupped hand can simply rest on (my hands are quite large - XXL gloves). The middle roller has a button action that can be configured to a variety of tasks; I have it set for autoscroll, in that I can then move the pointer up/down/left/right, to scroll around a page. Excellent for long web pages, and for when zoomed into graphics. The management software for this is flexible and unobtrusive. The trackball itself glides effortlessly enough that you can zip around the screen all day with no fatigue.

So; it's a pointing device. What more can I say? Well - the build quality is solid. It's slightly weighty, with low rubber feet, all of which keeps it firmly in place. I've carried it loose in a rucksack for 4 years, and while a little scratched, it's just as solid as the day I bought it. The trackball has been dented too, which does let it catch on the bearings when I'm moving it, but that's all my own doing - probably from when I popped it out to let the cat play with it (it loved it too).

It looks respectable, but quite cool - the silver & red is stylish, especially in the (semi)dark. The tracking (which is optical, with a stippled red/black trackball) is smooth and very accurate; I never get any 'shimmer' on the pointer location.

Cleaning is easy - it might develop a little friction from dust around the bearings, although most dirt probably falls through the small access hole under the trackball. If it does get dirty, pop out the ball, swipe a finger around the ball housing, and pop it back in. Easy.

And finally, Logitech's support is First Class. When I broke the USB-PS2 adapter by trapping the cable, they sent me a replacement free-of-charge from Switzerland the same day. Likewise for when my previous trackball became too scratched to be usable - again, sent out first class, no request for payment even though I offered. All this, four years after purchase, with no need for a receipt, and with the damage being entirely due to my misuse. I actually felt guilty.

In summary; this trackball IMPROVES my computer-use experience so much, that whenever I forget to take it, I end up putting off 'pointer-intensive' tasks (eg. dragging mail into various folders, artwork) until I get it back. Out of all my PC accessories, I'd miss this one the most.