Mice and Pointing Devices

[ECAsh]

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/mice-pointers/trackballs/4680 This little beast.. When are you going to UPDATE THIS MONSTER?? PLEASE. I think its about 10 years old. Iv bought 3-4 over the years. Even given a few away. Suggestions.. 1. WIDER 2. Rear extendable.. for longer hands.. 3. buttons that work in combination.. 4. SCROLL WHEEL.. 5. MORE BUTTONS.. you have enough room USE IT.. 6. MORE DPI YOU DONT EVEN NEED THE ball ANYMORE.. you can use a BASIC touch surface..Left right up down...Its a CLEAN surface. Lets see...This thing started at $50, dropped to $20 (SOLD GREAT, could find it most times), NOW its $30 PLEASE update/update this item. IF you dont, I wont buy another one..I CANT. Its missing to many features/abilities.

[MichaelKenward Logi Guru]

Don't despair. My favourite trackball disappeared for years and I had to solider on with a cranky old one. Now it is back in the shape of the Wireless Trackball M570.

Maybe one day Logitech will recognise that many people prefer the trackball over the mouse. They could even start promoting this sort of device.

So, keep asking!

[J_Tay81]

I don't necessarily agree with every specific suggestion ECAsh makes regarding how to update the Marble Mouse, but he is dead on by calling for a refresh/revamp/whatever. Like Ash says, you've got room there - use it. Its a great trackball, and I find it quite comfortable to use, but this puppy needs some updating badly! I totally appreciate that you at Logitech updated and sold the M570. Its been received very favorably, and hopefully shows there is still a market for trackballs that are of good quality. I tried the M570, but my thumb is not hardwired to navigate a cursor with any speed or accuracy. Hence, I still use/love the Marble.

Take the Marble and do to it what you did to the Wheel with the M570. People will buy it!

[J_Tay81]

I don't necessarily agree with every specific suggestion ECAsh makes regarding how to update the Marble Mouse, but he is dead on by calling for a refresh/revamp/whatever. Like Ash says, you've got room there - use it. Its a great trackball, and I find it quite comfortable to use, but this puppy needs some updating badly! I totally appreciate that you at Logitech updated and sold the M570. Its been received very favorably, and hopefully shows there is still a market for trackballs that are of good quality. I tried the M570, but my thumb is not hardwired to navigate a cursor with any speed or accuracy. Hence, I still use/love the Marble.

Take the Marble and do to it what you did to the Wheel with the M570. People will buy it!

[SanDiegoDick]

Can anyone tell me the "approved" way to clean a marble? I'm obviously not using it, 'cause I wind up with marbles that are too clean -- my thumb doesn't "grab" them -- just slides over the surface.

[J_Tay81]

Hi, I don't know if this the 'approved' method of cleaning (or if such a thing exists), but what I have done is to 1) take a q-tip, dip it in 70% isopropyl alcohol, use a paper towel to draw the excess of the q-tip, and gently rub the three white contact points. 2) I take the ball and wash it with warm water and dishwashing soap such as Cascade or Dawn. 3) I take a clean rag and spray it with Pledge furniture polish. I try to polish it fairly well until no longer damp. 4) I then take a microfiber cloth (like the kind you get to clean eye glasses with) to remove excess lint from the first rag. 5) I then replace the ball, and find it works quite well for me. I learned that trick online, but there are others: some people put a dab of vegetable oil on the supports, while one guy used lanolin to polish the ball. Finally, some just rub their noses and foreheads to get the ball rolling smoothly. I don't know what Logitech advocates, but there are a few options out there. BTW: canned air works wonders for blasting debris out of the trackball well. Hope this helped you somewhat!

[SanDiegoDick]

Thanks! Interestingly, I had been cleaning my office, and had a can of Pledge (actually!) sitting there. So figured -- what the heck -- might as well see if it does anything good. And, just like you suggested, the ball is now "grabbing" perfectly. I guess great minds do occasionally think alike!

[J_Tay81]

Great! Glad I could help!

Cheers!

[jelabarre]

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MichaelKenward wrote:

Don't despair. My favourite trackball disappeared for years and I had to solider on with a cranky old one. Now it is back in the shape of the Wireless Trackball M570.

The M570 is hardly a replacement for the Trackman Marble. The M570 has the ball on the side, down off the side, operated with your thumb. I've tried one, and my hand hurt in short order using it. The Trackman Marble has the ball in the middle, and I can easily and quickly flip it around with one or two middle fingers, with my thumb and right finger operating the buttons. *THIS* is what I would like to see them make a wireless version of.