MicroAlex
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Introductions
Over the years Logitech peripherals continued branching out in to the core of consumer and gaming markets with successful results, but lurking in the shadows of the company there was always a Trackball category with its own niche market.
So, today we are going to take a look at a Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 mouse and see if the modern revision of a classic Trackman is still the leader in this category.
Mice are the main type of input devices since the introduction of personal computers and every company tries to differentiate itself by sculpting various shapes or implement specific tracking solutions. Logitech has its foot in a unique category that allows people with RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), lack of desk space or unstable surfaces to interact with their computers. The only other big player in this category left is Kensington with their own interpretation of a trackball solution.
Technical Specifications
Specifications of the M570 do not scream with jaw-dropping technology or a million LED colours, however, where it does make up is in the ergonomics, functionality and battery life. So let's get up close and take a look.
Specifications
Part number: PN 910-001882
Colour: Black
Connection: USB
Number of keys: 5
Sensor type: Laser
Transfer type: Wireless, Radio 2.4 GHz
Dimensions: (L x W x H) 140 x 102 x 42 mm
Features
Trackball comfort
Compact footprint
Logitech® Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless
Tiny, storable, wireless receiver
Logitech® Unifying technology
18-month battery life
System Requirements
Windows® computer
Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, Windows® 7, Windows® 8
Internet connection for software download
USB port
Mac® computer
Mac OS® X 10.5 or later
Internet connection for software download
USB port
Up Close
The mouse itself comes in a relatively simple box, yet it has some nice design touches like a sizable cut-out window and a vacuum-packed like top for the mouse. This actually allows you to get a rough feeling for the size and shape of the mouse without taking it out of the box if you are at a store. This feature is quite useful when buying a mouse, especially if you are considering an ergonomic solution that fits your hand for everyday use.
The Trackball M570
First of all the colour of the M570 is more of a darker ash grey than black, especially under a direct light source. The finish itself is glossy and can get a bit slippery, then again thanks to a darker colour the mouse manages to hide gunk and fingerprints even after a month of heavy use.
Checking out the profile of the mouse we can see a slick, streamlined design for you hand to rest on comfortably. The lines actually resemble a wing of an airplane slightly and provide a nice angle for your wrist.
We want to mention that the mouse feels way better if used even with the cheapest of silicone cushion mouse mats.
Looking from the top you can see the palm shape of the device really standout with resting sections for your fingers. The top contains your standard left and right mouse buttons, followed by programmable forward and backward buttons as default on the left, LED battery indicator, and a click scroll wheel in the middle.
The tactile feedback for the main buttons is as expected from Logitech. But the forward and backward buttons feel a bit numb, yet nothing to write home about. The scroll wheel is stiff and cannot spin freely like on other Logitech products, however after a break-in period it will actually feel better. The Battery LED flashes green when the device is powered on or woken from sleep, once the battery juice is close to running out the light will flash orange (not like you will see that happening too often). So far no difference from a standard mouse right?
Located on the side we see a funny, tumour like ball mechanism that differentiates this mouse. The ball is comfortably placed to provide thumb operation of the mouse rather than the classic movement on a surface way. Because of this approach the mouse does not contain features such as weight adjustment or a bottom faced tracking sensor.
The ball itself pops out quite easily for cleaning purposes and leaves the laser exposed. However there is no reason to be alarmed that the ball will fall out even if put upside down, it actually clips in firmly and will not fall out unless applied pressure from underneath.
If there is anything bad to say about this solution it is that we wish for a slightly bigger ball or for an upgraded laser to improve precision if you are using the M570 for delicate retouching with software like Photoshop or for anything more serious than a strategy game.
The back contains a power switch, a hole to pop out the ball and a door that reveals a compartment for one AA battery and a receiver. Scattered around are the rubber pads that unlike on traditional mice actually prevent sliding.
Battery life of the device is just astonishing, rated for 18 months of usage it destroys other solutions on the market. But, we should mention that this rating is only accurate if the mouse is switched off while not in use, if used 24/7 it will be fine for around a year.
The tiny receiver carries Logitech Unifying technology that allows you to connect up to 6 devices while providing an impressive operating distance of up to 30 ft. with the help of their Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless solution.
If comparing the M570 to a portable laptop mouse from Asus (also made by Logitech), we now can start to grasp the footprint of this behemoth. People with smaller hands probably will find it tricky to operate, but anyone from medium to large hands should feel right at home.
Software
Logitech SetPoint software has been with us for quite some time, it is easy to use and performs beautifully. Almost every essential menu is followed by a small question mark to the side that provides detailed explanation and examples of what you could do with specific settings. This utility allows you to do anything from setting up custom buttons to managing other devices on the receiver. While the amount of customisation options is not as vast as on gaming peripherals, they still provide vital tweaking settings for those who want to utilise the full spectrum of capabilities.
In the Button Settings menu we are greeted with the picture of our device and it allows us to assign custom functions. You can easily set a custom key from a list of provided options by the manufacturer or go as far as setting up a custom keystroke.
Opening the Pointer and Scrolling Settings you will see the options for adjusting the feel of the mouse. Pointer Acceleration function is quite handy if working across two or more monitors because it allows you to move the cursor rapidly from screen to screen by flicking the trackball sideways.
Orientation Settings allow you to change the way the mouse will register trackball’s movement on different angles for your convenience (essential if the mouse is attached on 45 degree angle to a chair, pillow, etc.)
Game Settings can allow the mouse to detect game applications when launched, functionally similar to what nVidia or AMD does for the graphics settings.
Advanced Settings will grant you the ability to attach custom mapped shortcuts only to specific programs if so desired. A great example would be to keep the default BACK button while in Chrome, once switched to Photoshop automatically assign UNDO.
Mouse Batteries menu states the obvious and provides the remaining power in days or percentage. It is worth of mentioning that an additional battery indicator can be found in the top part of the window across all of the menus.
Unifying section is adequate for those who own more than one Logitech device and wishes to pair them.
At the top right corner we find a button for Tools menu with options to contact support, check software versions, update and more.
Conclusion
Logitech peripherals are quite known for their quality and there are no exceptions this way around. The device feels solid, installation is hassle-free and performs as advertised.
Comparing a trackball to a classic mouse is like day and night. Because M570 is the last of its kind with a trackball on the felt, we can only really compare it to the previous versions of the Trackman.
The backbone of the M570 and the previous Trackman are ergonomics, they result in a great product that can trace its roots to the past century. Due to its size and shape the only other mouse we can compare it to is the Func MS-3. In other words this mouse was designed with a comfortable palm style grip in mind while supporting massive mittens as well. It is a fact that the trackball is quite sizable, but it stays relatively portable with a handy receiver compartment, long battery and a support for plug and play for those who are on the move.
There are not many downsides to this mouse, yet they are still present. One of which is the ball itself, if taking in to consideration that the highlight of this mouse is the trackball function and Logitech has great experience in this field, we would imagine that they would get it perfect. Well, sadly no. We believe that the mouse needs a revision with a bigger ball for a less twitchy experience. The other solution could be in a slightly better tracking sensor and a DPI dropping button for those situations when you need extra control over the clumsy thumb. It is also important to mention the fact that M570 is only available for right-handed users and has learning curve that will put away some users. Other than that the only thing that seems to be missing for such a large mouse are one or two extra buttons for shortcut mapping in games or other applications.
Logitech is not the only company with their ergonomic solutions, at this time there is one more major player in the high-end trackball market – Kensington. Kensington provides quite interesting designs for the modern trackball solution, but be ready to pay the price as the top models are even more expensive than what Logitech hast to offer.
M570 comes in at a price of 59.99 GBP, but if you are willing to shop around, you can find a better deal. Your only other solution from Logitech at this present time is the Trackman Marble that comes at around the 29.99 GBP mark. The price for the M570 might be a bit steep for a typical user, yet most will probably run away in horror after just seeing the non-conventional inflated tumour shape design on the side.
Sure it is already quite a dated device, it has no fancy lights or a gaming team behind it, but if you suffer from wrist pains or have insufficient space, this product might be a holy grail to enjoy a long day of using your computer. When looking at the M570 and the G600 MMO, you realise that those two mice have their specifically targeted audience, usage scenario and unique solutions that come with it, thus the price. Obviously it is a product of a niche market and it is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea with strange looks only a mother could love, but still the M570 is worth the Trackball branding and stays relevant in today’s world of high DPI and human limitations. By saying that, it is a case of either you will love it or you will hate it.
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