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Almost three years ago Logitech announced it had sold 500 million pointing devices. We talked about it on the Nitevilla forums. During the discussion I mentioned that I used a very old Logitech trackball. A testament to how well this device was made, I am still using it today as my main pointing device.
To be exact, the trackball I own is a first generation Logitech Trackman Marble Trackball, the first optical trackball on the market. This device uses a PS/2 connector and I am able to use it with my Ubuntu desktop and Mac Mini by using Synergy. Since the Mac Mini only has USB connections, I would need an adapter to use my favorite computer peripheral without using Synergy.
I have no idea when I bought this Trackman Marble, but I know it was pre 2000 and that I bought it as soon as it was released. This peripheral never misses a beat and goes down as the best designed and built computer peripheral I have owned. Do you have a mouse, keyboard or other peripheral that has seen many years of use?
Comments:
As you know, I have this same trackball. I think we bought them at roughly the same time? I also have this connected to my Ubuntu server. (Weird.) The one that you helped me setup last week which now has a desktop that looks and performs eerily like a Mac!
Though I use two Microsoft laser trackballs my two mainstay desktops... Logitech is the one that started both of our trackball "obsessions". I still remember reading the review of this pioneer in laser tracking. The reviewer stated that he got eggplant parmesan all over the device and it still worked great. For all of my struggles with mechanical trackballs as they would get dirty and not track correctly... this bad boy was a breath of fresh air.
Commented by
Shane @ Sunday, August 13, 2006
Don is a fan of this device as well - not sure if he has an original.
Commented by
aharden @ Sunday, August 13, 2006
I had on eof those. Just stopped working though. I couldn't find a replacement where the ball was meant for the thumb, the one I have has a tracman but you use your first or middle finger.
Commented by
jaboobie @ Sunday, August 13, 2006
I use a couple of the newer model:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2150,CONTENTID=5002
though I'm a bit annoyed that they got rid of the lights around the trackball in later revisions (the picture is of the original model). I like blinky lights.
Commented by
psychophil @ Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Blinky lights do rule. :)
Commented by
Scott @ Wednesday, August 16, 2006
I do have an original, and the first revision that added a scroll wheel to the middle button, but I sold my soul to Microsoft and their Trackball Explorer two years ago.
Commented by
Don @ Monday, August 21, 2006
Buy Scott a Drink
