Hi to All

My trusty Logitech Cordless Trackman FX has just died. It is the last of the large ball Logitech trackballs, ideal for CAD and Photoshop use. I am looking at replacing it with either the latest Logitech Cordless Trackman Optical, or as an alternative the Kensington Orbit Optical or the Kensington Optical Expert Mouse.

Anyone got any other suggestions or know where I can find an old stock Logitech replacement for mine?

Anyone had any experience of the Kensington trackballs? The mouse is driving me nuts already:mad:

Chris

Is it this one - found several listings

eBay.co.uk: Logitech CORDLESS Trackman (item 130119699375 end time 09-Jun-07 13:53:00 BST)

more here

eBay.co.uk - Cordless Trackman, Cordless Trackman Trackballs items at low prices

Yep, I scanned Ebay. What I am miffed about is that the one I have has been superseded by a less ergonomically well thought out design. When my monitor dies, I will have to go for an inferior one as well. Seems tech stuff is going backward sometimes.

Thanks anyways. It is looking like the Wireless trackman at around

I've got one of the Logitech laser jobbies, expensive but IMHO well worth it.

Logitech would get my vote too, excellent products

If you we looking at a mouse, i'd say Logitech MX Revolution. LOADS of customisable buttons and rather comfy too

It absolutely has to be a trackball. Dont get on with mice, had a few problems with numb fingers so switched to a trackball about 7 years ago and have not used anything but since.

Curiously the Logitech has come back to life this morning, so I will see if it was just a glitch. If it is duff, I have settled for the Kensington Optical Expert, which looks like a very good device.

Chris

The laser trackballs can be cleaned and the ball bearings can be cleaned out too.

I have had some pretty good success with cleaning and repairing these.

What is up with your one?

The laser trackballs can be cleaned and the ball bearings can be cleaned out too.

I have had some pretty good success with cleaning and repairing these.

What is up with your one?

Last night it just stopped functioning with cursor movement. Everything else was fine. I tried a full cold boot (power off at the wall for 5 minutes) but the problem remained. Booted up this morning to order a new trackball on line and thought I would just see if it was still dead and it was not.

I regularly clean the ball mounts and sensor window to prevent dust build up. I just wonder if having it right next to my mobile confused it a bit (RF interference). Will see how it goes.

Chris

Chris, If you want to have a look, check the solder connections around the input cable and also around the laser sensor.

There is a very small processor that maps the dot/laser co-ordination to mouse movement, so you may be correct that this somehow got confused, but you would have to have been very unlucky.

Chris, If you want to have a look, check the solder connections around the input cable and also around the laser sensor.

There is a very small processor that maps the dot/laser co-ordination to mouse movement, so you may be correct that this somehow got confused, but you would have to have been very unlucky.

The trackball is cordless. I suspect the RF interference from the phone may have interfered between the sender and receiver to throw an error into the system. I did not think the trackball used a laser, thought it was just a LED and encoder?

At the moment it aint broke, so I wont fix it.

If it plays up again, I will have a look inside. It is the best mouse replacement I have ever used. Drove me nuts going back to a mouse for the evening. It will be worth having a snoop around inside if it does decide to stop working again, however, at the age it is, there are probably mostly surface mount components. Thinking about it, there may even be some warranty if it is under 5 years old.

Chris

Chris

Is it under three years old?? I had my original laser replaced by them after two years.

Is it under three years old?? I had my original laser replaced by them after two years.

Just hooked out the invoice. 5 1/2 years old so no warranty cover. Still working touchwood.

Chris

Chris, If you want to have a look, check the solder connections around the input cable and also around the laser sensor.

There is a very small processor that maps the dot/laser co-ordination to mouse movement, so you may be correct that this somehow got confused, but you would have to have been very unlucky.

Sorry i missed the cordless bit and got carried away there. My father loves the things too but his have all been corded.

Well the Logitech went off again on Monday night, it has also been a bit intermittent with transmitting lately, so I ordered a Kensington Optical Expert trackball. First impressions are that it is a very good device. It is more customisable than the Logitech and seems to work excellently with fine movement control and fast when needed.

Installed it on Weds and guess what, the Logitech had come back to life again.

Chris

Installed it on Weds and guess what, the Logitech had come back to life again.

Chris

Sods Law or what :(

But, at least you got a 'backup'

I have a Logitec trackman marble + which must be at least ten years old and still going strong. Dont know what I'd do if it packed in. I hate normal mice too, cant get along with them.

I have a Logitec trackman marble + which must be at least ten years old and still going strong. Dont know what I'd do if it packed in. I hate normal mice too, cant get along with them.

Well with a few days use, I have got used to the Kensington and can say that it is very good indeed. It is different, but not in the least disappointed.

The ball is about the same size as the Logitech one, movement is very smooth indeed, with not a hint of stickiness and the motion is much more customisable for fine accuracy, if anything, for CAD work it is better than the Logitech thinking about it. You can even toggle mouse slow mo on and off from keyboard or mouse button for really fine control.

Kensington also do a two button version for around