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Posted: Mon, July 5, 2004
Logitech Cordless TrackMan OpticalMatt Pearce Logitech claims the Cordless TrackMan Optical is its most advanced Trackball mouse yet, combining wireless technology with optical precision - and that marvellous marble. But does it perform any better than your old mouse?  Shortcut to: Technology benefitsThe advantage of using optical technology in the Logitech mouse is that there are no mechanical parts. A tiny camera scans the dotted Trackball thousands of times per second, sending a stream of images to a digital signal processor. This processor scrutinises the images for any changes so that as you move the Trackball with your finger, those changes can be translated into coordinates for the cursor on the screen.The result? Extremely precise movement. The TrackMan follows your directions exactly, and because there are no moving parts, the cursor does not carry on moving once you've finished moving. The lack of a roller-ball means there's no more of that jarring and stalling you had with your old mouse. Optical technology simply means smoother operation. There are other benefits to optical technology. As there are no moving parts, the mouse should have a very long life indeed, with little wear and tear to the Trackball. Better still, the ball requires only occasional cleaning, as dust won't have the clogging effect it has on a roller-ball. After all, the ball is now being used as a surface to scan, not a wheel. Best of all is that, as the optical technology is used to scan the movement of the Trackball - unlike some optical mice, that scan the flat surface upon which the mouse sits - the mouse does not need to be moved. For those who find themselves whizzing around a large screen and flying off the edge of the desk, this is a real plus. It also means that your mouse can sit anywhere, and the litter can pile up around it. Despite being much bigger than your old mouse, the Trackman ultimately takes up less space, as it stays stationary. Of course, there are other, long-term benefits to not having to move the mouse, which we'll talk about later. Added to the optical benefits of the TrackMan are the cordless benefits. A digital radio receiver plugs into your computer and gives you a 2-metre range with your mouse. If you're watching a film on your computer, you can use the mouse as a remote at a reasonable distance. You can also rest it on any kind of surface - even your lap. There is some restriction on the placement of the receiver - it's recommended that it be placed at least 8 inches away from other electronic devices. Mine works fine resting on the printer. A cordless mouse does, of course, mean a battery-powered mouse. The TrackMan takes two AA batteries. Expect to change them 2-3 times a year. Set-upInside the TrackMan box you will find a:
Software CD  As you'd expect, the mouse is compatible with most operating systems from Windows 95 and Mac 8.6 onwards. The only other system requirements are a USB or PS/2 port and a CD-ROM drive. Installation is simple. You stick in your batteries, turn off your computer, plug in your receiver, and then install your software. Finally, you press the 'Connect' buttons on both the receiver and the underside of the mouse, establishing a radio link. And you're off. Choosing the standard installation for the TrackMan, you do end up with 'Musicmatch Jukebox' software and a Logitech 'Resource Centre' on your computer - both with attending desktop icons. The former appears to have little to do with a mouse, and the latter might offer a support option, but it is equally geared towards showcasing other Logitech products. I binned them. During installation you are, however, given the more useful option of enabling the Desktop Messenger. This allows you to receive automated notifications of software upgrades - a potentially useful service. FunctionsIn practice, the TrackMan actually works perfectly well using Windows' default mouse driver. There are eight buttons on the TrackMan including the scroll button, which can itself be used as a press-down button. All of these buttons all have standard functions that work with the default driver.Next to the Trackball on the right side of the unit is a large right-click button, operated by the wedding finger. On the top left is the scroll button with an up and down 'cruise control' button on either side, operated by the index finger. These cruise control buttons are more useful than they sound - just press them and you keep scrolling upwards or downwards. This can save an awful lot of finger twiddling. Beneath the scroll button there's also a lock button that can be used to drag things around your screen. Finally, in a thumb-pit on the left of the unit, there is a large left-click button and two others that are effectively 'Forwards' and 'Backwards' buttons - handy when you're on the web.  So if the buttons function fine with just the Windows driver, why install the Logitech 'Mouseware' software? Simply because with Logitech's own driver and configuration software you can have fun with the buttons, and change the very way your mouse performs. The 'Mouseware' configuration software basically allows you to programme the hot keys so that the mouse can achieve new tasks. If you go to the 'Properties' user interface under 'Settings' and click on 'buttons', then you'll find a series of options. For instance, I wasn't especially keen on having a drag-lock button, so I re-programmed it to open up 'My Documents'. Much more helpful. In fact, the ability to programme your buttons becomes a huge plus - especially when there are so many buttons on hand. Once you've got used to their new roles, the mouse can be the next best thing to a keyboard in terms of functionality. The Mouseware even also allows each application you use to have its own button pre-sets. In the 'Properties' window, you also have other options. You can programme the mouse to show on-screen key effects, show icons in the task bar, show lock key notifications, and auto-hide lock keys pop-ups. You can even change the appearance of the cursor that appears on your screen. Furthermore, switching on 'Smart Move' makes the cursor jump to the highlighted button of a new dialogue box. You can even enable cursor trails if you really want to. But things get really interesting when the very movement of the cursor is adjusted. By changing the settings under ' Motion' , you can customise the speed and acceleration of the cursor, making the Trackball either more or less sensitive to your finger's directions. To top it all off, the Mouseware allows you to adjust the orientation of the mouse, so that if you hold it at an angle, you can compensate for this. Plus you can conveniently check battery charge and connection in this window. What you end with is a device that is extremely adaptable to your individual needs. You can tailor this mouse not only to perform those key operations you need most, but also to move the cursor in a way that pleases you most. What more could you ask for? Performance After using a conventional mouse for years, it takes a few frustrating days to get accustomed to the TrackMan. At first it feels jittery, although its precision is immediately apparent. What's also a pleasant surprise is the speed and smoothness of the movement of the cursor. This TrackMan is undoubtedly a pleasure to use, and consistent in its on-screen movements - even if it does initially feel over-sensitive. It soon becomes apparent that with text, the TrackMan is highly effective. In no time, you find yourself whizzing around the screen with a few flicks of the finger, able to work dextrously with words, highlighting single characters with ease. Again, the accuracy of this mouse is clearly evident. The Trackball is so sensitive that you can move the cursor millimetre by millimetre - no doubt helped by the fact that the Trackball is large, and moving the cursor requires little movement. And of course, optical technology means no more unplanned stops and starts. The operation is seamless, and the cursor is always faithful to your finger. So it's good news so far. But open up your design software, and the limitations of the Trackball soon become apparent. Drawing a long straight line is extremely difficult using just a finger. You literally have to roll a straight line, which is harder than it sounds! The TrackMan is undoubtedly extremely accurate and touch-sensitive, which is great for moving to an exact point on the screen. But try writing your name freehand and you'll find that you don't have the control you had with your old mouse. See, for example, my attempt (using the TrackMan above, and the old mouse below). The movement is simply too spidery, and the ball cannot be piloted well enough by the finger alone when it comes to freehand graphics. This is despite having adjusted the settings of the mouse, with sensitivity and acceleration set to their lowest possible points.  My freehand writing attempts, reduced to 25% original size What it comes down to is this. If it's control you're after, then using the entire hand and wrist - as you would with a traditional mouse - is better than using a finger. For smaller details the wheel is remarkably accurate, but for cross-screen work, finger-control cannot match the control of movement you have with your hand and wrist combined, where you effectively match the movement on screen with your own movement, rather than working a wheel to produce that movement. Realistically, of course, a designer might actually use a pen or stylus when it comes to freehand drawing. But the occasional illustrator might bewail this loss of control across the page. What this name-writing exercise does is to show the difference between finger-led mouse control, and whole hand/wrist control - and the benefits of the older technology. This is perhaps to miss the point, however. The TrackMan is still extremely effective when it comes to navigating the screen and manipulating text - which is what most of us do for most of the time. It is also very consistent in following the finger's movements, and it is undoubtedly a fluid operator. For the majority of what it's used for, this mouse will perform perfectly well. It is still a very good mouse. The big advantageThis brings us to the big advantage of the Trackball. You might lose absolute control when you don't use your hand and wrist to make movements. But what you gain is a less taxing, and less harmful, way of working. And this is important.When working with this mouse, the risk of repetitive strain is greatly reduced. Long-term, this is a vital consideration - especially for those who spend their lives at the computer. Even on a day-to-day basis, using this mouse is less tiring on the hand. The inclusion of those cruise control buttons even saves the fingers - there's no need to spin the scroll button endlessly up and down with this mouse, and that can only be good for the old joints. Logitech is obviously taking comfort seriously. They even include 'Comfort Guidelines' on the software CD-ROM and on their website. The ergonomics of the TrackMan are certainly excellent - at least for my hand. The palm rests comfortably on the hill of the mouse, and the index finger is perfectly placed to operate the scroll button and the Trackball (on other models the Trackball is placed to be operated by the thumb). My only complaint is that double-clicking with the thumb still doesn't feel completely right - and sometimes I don't do it quick enough. But that's a personal thing. In terms of comfort, the design is superb - as long as you're right-handed. Additionally, it has to be said that the TrackMan looks the biz. The design is visually appealing thanks to a sculpted look and two-tone plastic. Best of all is that glamorous red marble in the middle - it never fails to dazzle. The materials used in the mouse are also high quality: the black plastic is smooth to the touch and fairly stain-resistant. The only disappointment is that the silver coat has already come off the left-click and cruise control buttons. Verdict Last month we looked at an LG TFT and found that, whilst a TFT is excellent for graphics and far more desk-friendly, the good old CRT still excels in some areas. The same seems to be the case with Trackball technology. The Logitech Cordless TrackMan Optical is far more convenient than a standard mouse, and it is a pleasure to use. It is extremely functional with its programmable buttons, and great for precision working, with a truly fluid movement. Most importantly, it is easy on your hand and wrist. For office workers, the TrackMan becomes an essential buy simply because of its strain-free use. If only for the benefit of giving your wrist a rest, I would highly recommend this mouse. Yet ultimately, just like the old-fashioned CRT, the old fashioned mouse gives you better performance in certain areas. Because it must be moved with your whole hand and wrist, the old roller-ball mouse gives you more control when working with graphics in particular. This, for some, might be a deciding factor. For absolute usability, maybe a compromise is best. Cordless mice are undoubtedly more convenient, and optical technology offers a smoother, more precise and consistent performance. Yet the Trackball limits this performance by putting the control of movement at your fingertips alone. For the best possible performance, maybe the excellent Logitech MX700 is a better option - a traditional move-around mouse that has the benefits of optical and cordless technology. Precision is first-rate, and you have that all-important wrist control when you're working with graphics. You even get the 'cruise control' buttons and the ergonomic design of the TrackMan, so all the benefits are not lost. The question, of course, remains: is moving that mouse around really worth the risk to your hands and wrists? Thinking long-term, the answer might have to be a definite no, so my advice is to give the TrackMan a go. The Logitech Cordless TrackMan retails at around £39.99. For more information, go to: www.logotech.com |
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