by Al Harrison
Logitech, a well-established innovator and market leader of pointing devices, has delivered the answer to a trackball user’s dreams: the TrackMan Marble FX (“Marble FX”). The Marble FX is constructed to efficiently and ergonomically perform virtually any pointing-related task under Windows 95. Unlike a conventional mouse which repositions a pointer or cursor on a computer display via hand movements made across a flat surface, i.e., across a “mouse pad,” a trackball repositions the cursor via finger-controlled rotation of a ball. Most mice and trackballs internally relay this repositioning to a computer mechanically. Such conventional mechanical mouse operation impacts the user by eventually collecting dirt and d ebris that ultimately causes pointer movements to become erratic; periodic dust removal and cleaning of internal contact points are prerequisite to proper continued operation.
The Logitech TrackMan Marble, on the other hand, uses optical instead of mechanical internal components to deliver not only maintenance-free performance, but also superb reliability and accuracy.
Indeed, the Marble detects trackball movements in a manner that emulates human eyeball-in-socket movements.
The trackball portion of the Marble FX warmly receives a user’s digits and palm, while the base portion comfortably snuggles onto a user’s wrist. Excellent ergonomics appears to be the rule. But, there’s more to the Marble FX story.
Exploiting Logitech’s novel optical sensing technology, it permits trackball access from either side, thereby enabling both finger operation for normal movements and finger-plus-thumb operation for precise movements.
Also provided are four assignable buttons that minimize movements prerequisite to accomplishing virtually all functions under Windows 95 applications and Web browsers.
For example, a suggested button assignment might be:
Button 1 assigned to click/select, i.e., the normal left button activity.
Button 2 assigned to “hyperjump,” i.e., instant access to a 3 x 3 grid (each of 8 cells representing a Windows 95 function — the middle cell is empty) in which the user clicks an icon to jump to scroll vertically, scroll horizontally, open a window, close a windo w, resize a window, minimize a window, activate the Start applet, or access a full menu.
Button 3 assigned to context-sensitive menu, i.e., the normal right button activity.
Button 4 assigned to “Cyberjump,” i.e., instant access to a 3 x 3 grid (each of 8 cells representing a Web command — the middle cell is empty) in which the user clicks an icon to jump to scroll vertically, scroll horizontally, go back to the previous site, add a bookmark / favorite site, go to a bookmark / favorite site, or stop downloading.
As the icing on the cake, a button to which hyperjump or Cyberjump is assigned may also function as a frequently-needed double-click.
Once this nifty option is specified, to invoke a double-click, the user simply taps on the appropriate button (to which either hyperjump or Cyberjump is assigned), while to invoke hyperjump or Cyberjump, a more deliberate finger-visit (more than a mere t ap) is required.
Considering all of the mouse-oriented functions which are inherent under
Windows environments, the cumulative savings of wrist-hand-finger manipulations to effect pointer movements is enormous.
In short, the Marble FX should be seriously considered as a quintessential tool for activating the myriad functions available under Windows applications.
Contact Logitech at 800-231-7717 or http://www.logitech.com.
Estimated street price is $100.
Al Harrison is a HAL-PC member and past President of HAL-PC.
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