16 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Stick with the regular Trackman.
Date of Review: Nov 24, 2007
The Bottom Line: Buy a CORDED Logitech TrackMan Marble. The cordless version delivers LESS: it is more cumbersome, is shorter-lived, and erratic, and it costs more.
I will not describe the product completely, as it is mostly self-evident. I will just describe my experience.
I have used Logitech TrackMan Marbles for more than 14 years, or as long as Windows has existed. I am accustomed to moving the cursor with my thumb as this is how I have always used a mouse. (I found that, as a touch-typist from way back, I tend to move regular mice by moving my shoulder, and the TrackMan marble allows me to move only my fingers).
Logitech steadily improved their mice and TrackMen, so I always upgraded to their newest iteration.
A few years ago, I tried the cordless version of the mouse. It was terrific until it simply stopped working and I was SOL. So, I reverted to the regular, corded version.
A few years later, I switched from a desktop computer to a laptop that I carry from office to home. I thought using the cordless would make it easier for me, since my laptop is wireless and cordless.
Not so. I must plug in the remote device in a USB port. The exact same port as I would plug the corded version. If the mouse is not within the sight-line of the removte device (which is about half the size of a mouse) it doesn't work.
And, if the mouse is not communicating properly (check the batteries in the mouse before complaining) the cursor is weird and unpredictable. Sometimes the cursor moves around on its own, as if it is listening to spirit voices (g). And, all too often, it just doesn't work. I have to fiddle and shake the mouse and the remote.
So, using the remote, I must have both the remote device AND the mouse (trackman) on or near my laptop.
This means I have two things to carry -- the mouse AND the remote device (which is plugged into the laptop). If I were using a regular, non-remote mouse, I'd have ONE thing to carry and it would be plugged into the USB port.
So, I am concluding that for my purposes, having a cordless mouse is a useless and costly experiment with no benefit to me. I will be buying another regular TrackMan Marble mouse today.
My fantasy cordless mouse would be wireless--connect to a router and not require hard-connection to a computer (somewhat like a TV/DVD/DVR remote).
Further, I would like a thumb marble that is more portable to use with my laptop.
Nu-Image Corporation
