Is there a place for the TrackBall at this point in time? The Logitech MX Ergo makes a very good argument that there is.
This is my first Trackball mouse, so the Magic Trackpad is about the closest thing I have used to the Ergo. Compared to a regular mouse, this one does not require you to move it around on the desktop so it is fantastic to have in a small space. It should also be a better experience for those that have problems with their wrists, though it does require a lot more thumb movement as the trade off.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
This is my first Trackball mouse, so the Magic Trackpad is about the closest thing I have used to the Ergo. Compared to a regular mouse, this one does not require you to move it around on the desktop so it is fantastic to have in a small space. It should also be a better experience for those that have problems with their wrists, though it does require a lot more thumb movement as the trade off.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
The Design
The design is fantastic. It has a nice soft rubbery material on top, so it is comfortable to use all day. Speaking of all day, if it is running low on power, you can plug it in for a minute and get a day’s work of power out of it. The mouse has a magnetic hinge on the bottom that makes it easy to rotate the mouse 20 degrees, which allows you to rest your wrist on the surface.
The mouse has the typical left/right buttons, but it also has a scroll wheel that can be moved side to side and has a click button built in. There are a couple small buttons on the top left side that can be used for going back and forth between web pages or if you download software from Logitech, the buttons can be remapped. For now, I have remapped the buttons to control up and down volume.
The mouse has the typical left/right buttons, but it also has a scroll wheel that can be moved side to side and has a click button built in. There are a couple small buttons on the top left side that can be used for going back and forth between web pages or if you download software from Logitech, the buttons can be remapped. For now, I have remapped the buttons to control up and down volume.
Usability
Right out of the box, I noticed that it took forever to move from one side of my 32 inch screen to the other. However, I went into the mouse settings on my computer and increased the tracking speed and now one flick will move me across the screen. The great thing is that Logitech has a small button above the ball that invokes Precision Mode. This means the tracking will slow down and make it easier to make precise movements. The Logitech Options software will also allow you to adjust speed of the ball and the scroll wheel.
For my personal needs, this is ideal for using my computer that is plugged in to the TV or for using with my laptop in areas where you don’t have a lot of room to work. My typical spot on the couch has a small side table and I can use this mouse with a computer plugged into the TV or the laptop by pressing o button that makes it easy to switch back and forth. You can also setup “Flow” using the software which will allow you to seamlessly move from one computer to another in a way that is similar to using a multi-monitor setup with one computer.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
For my personal needs, this is ideal for using my computer that is plugged in to the TV or for using with my laptop in areas where you don’t have a lot of room to work. My typical spot on the couch has a small side table and I can use this mouse with a computer plugged into the TV or the laptop by pressing o button that makes it easy to switch back and forth. You can also setup “Flow” using the software which will allow you to seamlessly move from one computer to another in a way that is similar to using a multi-monitor setup with one computer.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
The Wrap up
I have several mouses, but this is the only one I can keep on a couch cushion and use with my laptop for an extended period. So, yeah, I have a place for the Logitech MX Ergo Trackball Mouse at this point and time!
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