I’ve spent two days using the new Logitech Trackball Wireless M570 and I’m very impressed, overall.  Retailing for $59.99,  M570 is Logitech’s newest thumb-operated trackball mouse, and is ostensibly a spiritual successor to their popular Trackman series. Updates and additions include:

• Programmable back/forward buttons
• Further refined shape over existing Logitech Trackman mice.
• Wireless, supporting “Logitech Unifying” technology
• Adjustable laser

For me, the M570 is a potential replacement for my coveted Microsoft Trackball Optical, a model which has been discontinued. Thus, I compared the M570 to my “MTO” in nearly every regard.

Style

In terms of looks, the M570 is a departure from Logitech’s incumbent trackball mice. Its plastic shell is black and they chose a blue trackball instead of their usual red. Blue isn’t my favorite color, but I like the appearance overall. (It would be nice if you could buy replacement trackballs in various colors to personalize it.)

Installation

Great job, Logitech. I simply plugged in the included USB wirless receiver into my computer and I was using the mouse within seconds without having to see a single menu. No disks were even included in the box. You can optionally download the free Logitech software to program buttons and adjust settings.

Using the M570

Like other Logitech trackballs I’ve used in the past, the ball makes almost imperceptible noise and feels a little  ”rough” when you roll it. I’d compare it to the sound and feel of rubbing one of your fingers on paper. My MS Trackball Optical, on the other hand, is as smooth as glass.  At first, the feel of Lotitech annoyed me, but after a day I don’t notice it.

Though I’m not yet a fan of the “feel” of the ball, I’m  huge fan of the performance. The M570′s most noticeable advantage over the MS Trackball Optical is how much more easily the ball moves. With the MS Trackball Optical, I’ve found it difficult to move a stationary cursor (or crosshair) just one or two pixels, because there is always just a little stickiness to overcome before it starts to glide.  The ball in the M570 simply glides more effortlessly from a standstill position. This is a huge advantage for gamers, but also for people using graphic design programs.

Compared to the Microsoft Trackball Optical, the M570 felt less substantial in weight, size and feel. In fact, the trackball itself felt smaller, too, so I compared them:

I was glad to see the alignment of the mouse felt identical to the MS Trackball Optical. Switching back and forth between the two required no re-orienting.

Less “Room to Play”?

The M570 itself is smaller, too. I have mixed feelings about the overall comfort of the device:

(**UPDATE** Be sure to read my 4-month follow up to this review)

The contours and shape of the M570 fit my hand like a glove. In fact, it’s a much better fit than the MS Trackball Optical.  However, after using the M570 for a minutes, I noticed something.

When I placed my hand so that it felt most comfy on the mouse, my thumb extended past the middle of the ball, limiting the range of motion. I found myself either sliding my hand back or curling my thumb slightly to stay “on point”. It seems that the M570 (and perhaps other Logitech trackballs) are designed for smaller hands. (I’m a 6-foot male, by the way.)

My old MS Trackball Optical overcomes this problem by having a more generically shaped shell and longer mouse buttons. Users with a wide range of hand sizes (like those in my family) can find their “home” on it and use it comfortably. The M570, on the other hand, is so ergonomically shaped that I wondered if it ends up being a little  less accommodating to those outside a certain range of hand sizes.

In normal computer use, the above issue is minor, and I am able to use the M570 comfortably. However, gamers will want as much range of motion available to them as possible. The Microsoft Trackball Optical seems  to excel in this area by placing the ball on a wide, open face. Your thumb has lots of room to “play”.  The ball in the M570 sits within a more contoured socket that “juts out” along the bottom and upper portion near the “forward” and “back” buttons. Sometimes, my thumb is stopped by these bumpers before I want them to.

I’m happy to say that, after a few rounds in Team Fortress 2, the M570 performed wonderfully — especially once I found a good hand position that gave me the most control and range with the ball.

*Disclaimer* I haven’t empirically tested whether there is actually less available range of motion on the M570; It just feels and looks that way.

Going forward, and back

I can’t imagine using a web browser today without having the “back” and “forward” buttons right at my fingertip. So, the biggest selling point for me was the addition of those buttons on the M570. I have to admit they are much better designed than the ones on my trusty Microsoft Trackball Optical. Everyone who has used my MS mouse has accidentally clicked the small “back”button, thinking it was the primary mouse button. The Logitech forward and back buttons should cause no confusion for new users.

Other Observations

Like other trackball mice, the ball can be ejected for cleaning. However, the hole on the underside was too small for all but my pinky finger, and it was uncomfortable pushing the ball out.

Logitech earns some karma points by including a Duracell battery in the mouse – a pleasant surprise. Thanks!

Summary

Pros:

Cons:

• Feels a little light and small (for my taste)
• Although the molded shape fits my hand well, the position of the buttons and trackball seemed to be geared for smaller hands and took some getting used to.
• Ball “eject” hole on the underside should be larger.

The Verdict

The Logitech M570 is a very well crafted mouse and a welcome device in my home office. Though gamers and advanced users might appreciate a gamer-oriented design with higher  range of motion and more programmable buttons, this mouse appears to be the leader of today’s very small pack of trackball mouse options. The addition of programmable buttons and wireless  make the M570 the trackball mouse to get today, whether you are new to trackballs or are looking for an upgrade.

For years now,  I’ve cherished my two Microsoft Trackball Opticals (one at home, one at work) fearing the day when I’d have to replace one. My Microsoft Trackball Opticals (MTO’s)  are rarer than you might think. Not only has production of the MTO been discontinued — mine might be some of the few MTO’s produced that actually work.

This is one of my smooth-operating MTO

About ten years ago when I first started using the MTO, I became almost religiously converted, evangelising trackball mice to anyone who would listen. Many converted — some to the Logitech series and some to the MTO’s I recommended so highly. Many sore wrists and arms were healed. Mousepads vanished. Desktop space formerly reserved for wandering mice was given back to the commons. Water almost turned to wine once.

Then, a couple years later, I noticed some people, including my mother in law, were complaining that the trackballs in their MTO’s were just too sticky. A coworker said he had to clean his constantly, and even then it was tough to roll. I was convinced they were doing something wrong.

“Did you use window cleaner? Is hand lotion gunking it up? ?”

My MTO, which I had been using for over 5 years, was smooth as glass. I could gently flick it and the ball would spin freely and silently in the socket, like a beach ball in a pool. Not so in the other’s mice.

One day at the office I decided I had to figure out what was going on. On a whim, I put the ball from my MTO into the socket of the “bad” mouse. It worked smoothly, just like mine — huh? The opposite was true: putting the other mouse’s ball into my MTO’s socket exhibited the same tough rolling my coworker complained about. It must be the ball!

Looking closely at the two extracted trackballs side-by-side, it was clear: My MTO’s ball was glossy, and in the mirror-like reflection I could make out fine details in the window and office. The other ball had a somewhat cloudier finish. My mother-in-law’s mouse had the same problem.

Here’s what I know. The “bad” mice were more recent productions of the Microsoft Trackball Optical (a lighter , more gray plastic is the most noticeable difference).

I have a few theories on why the trackballs got in such poor shape:

• The newer MTO’s shipped with poorer quality trackballs with a less polished finish and never worked smoothly. (Maybe… But that seems like something QA would have noticed and rectified quickly.)
• The MTO’s worked fine out of the box, but the plastic used in the trackballs was less durable and eventually degraded.
• The MTO’s worked fine out of the box, but the little metal bearings upon which the trackballs rest were produced differently and scratched the trackballs over time.

Whichever the case may be, I realized I may never be able to find a good high quality trackball mouse again — at least not one with” forward” and “back” buttons. The MTO was the only trackball mouse with more than three buttons on the market. Today you can find some used MTO’s for sale online at inflated prices, but I suspect most of them are of the defective variety.

Worse, I knew thousands of people probably tried those flawed MTOs and either suffered with them or gave up on the whole idea of trackballs altogether. Maybe this is why the MTO’s were pulled off the market. Or, maybe there just wasn’t enough demand to begin with. My irrational side feared manufacturers would soon cease production of trackball mice. My future grandchildren would have to listen to my endless rants about the way things could have been.

So, last month when I read about the upcoming release of the Logitech M570 due to “overwhelming demand,” I knew I could put my fears to rest. And, with the unceremonious  arrival of the new Logitech M570 at my doorstep last night I’m ready to tell you what I think about it. Will it live up to my unrealistic expectations and help me overcome my sentimental attachment to my proven, sexy Microsoft Trackball Optical? Find out shortly in the review….

Considering a switch to trackball mouse? Here’s a great post by Leslie G. Perecz, who makes a convincing testimony:

“…The good part is that once you get used to using a trackball, you will NEVER want to move back to using a mouse again.”

Finally, Logitech has released an improved and more capable trackball controller, responding to overwhelming demand from the growing number of trackballers. With programmable  forward/back buttons, adjustable laser sensor,  and a sleek new sculpted design, the Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 should especially appeal to trackball-using gamers.

I’m especially happy to see a suitable alternative to the discontinued Microsoft Trackball Optical which, until now, was the only trackball mouse that had more than three buttons. I just pre-ordered my own M570 and will be sure to post a review soon!

Some highlights:

• “…you can go for up to 18 months without replacing the included AA battery”
• “…a convenient scroll wheel and easy-to-reach Back/Forward buttons that make computing simple”
• 2.4 GHz wireless works with compatible wireless keyboards.

Read Engadget Impressions…

Full Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logitech Unveils New Wireless Trackball
Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 Offers All-Day Comfort, Logitech Unifying Receiver

FREMONT, Calif. – Sept. 15, 2010 -Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) unveiled the Logitech® Wireless Trackball M570, delivering a different level of comfort and control. If you’re searching for an alternative to touchpads or traditional mice, the Wireless Trackball M570 is uniquely designed for all-day comfort and features the leave-in Logitech® Unifying receiver.

“Based on overwhelming demand from our dedicated trackball users, we’re delighted to announce the introduction of a new wireless trackball – the Logitech Wireless Trackball M570,” said Rory Dooley, senior vice president and general manager of Logitech’s control devices business unit. “Everything about our newest trackball is built to improve the experience and give trackball enthusiasts the comfort and control they deserve.”

For those who haven’t tried a trackball, one of the many benefits is that it stays put – you don’t have to move your arm to move your cursor. As a result, it’s a great space saver if you have a small or cluttered desk and, unlike a traditional mouse, you can keep your arm stationary. Plus, the sculpted shape supports your hand comfortably all day long.

The Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 also delivers precise cursor control wherever you want so hard tables, comfy sofas and lumpy beds are all no problem. The laser tracking sensor uses the ball, rather than a surface, to guide movement – so you can use it almost anywhere.
Logitech’s newest trackball also has a convenient scroll wheel and easy-to-reach Back/Forward buttons that make computing simple, whether you’re surfing the Web with your laptop or desktop computer, or watching shows on your home-theater PC.

For your convenience, the Wireless Trackball M570 uses the tiny Logitech® Unifying wireless receiver. It stays in your laptop, so there’s no need to unplug it when you move around, and the advanced 2.4 GHz wireless means a robust connection with no dropouts from up to 30 feet away. Plus, you can easily add a compatible keyboard, number pad or additional mouse to the same receiver so you don’t fill up all your USB ports. To reduce the hassle of changing batteries, you can go for up to 18 months without replacing the included AA battery – and the convenient battery indicator ensures that you’ll never be caught off guard. (Battery life may vary based on user and computing conditions.)

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe in September for a suggested retail price of $59.99 (U.S.).

About Logitech
Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to the digital experiences they care about. Spanning multiple computing, communication and entertainment platforms, Logitech’s combined hardware and software enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).

# # #
Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are registered in Switzerland and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the company’s Web site at www.logitech.com.
(LOGI-IR)

For those Audigy users experiencing a lack of true surround sound in Battlefield: Bad Company 2, there may be hope for you.

After trying the solutions listed by others in the forums, I still could not get anything more than stereo with my Audigy 2 card, despite my surround sound working fine in other movies and games. On a whim I checked http://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/, a blog containing a wealth of information for Audigy users. I was surprised to see that Daniel Kawakami had just released a new support pack for the Audigy-series sound cards.

After uninstalling all my existing Creative software and drivers and installing Daniel_k’s new support pack (which contains the latest Audigy drivers and software) I was thrilled that Bad Company 2 was making use of all 6 speaker channels.

Now, it’s possible that it was the act of reinstalling my drivers that solved the issue. However, there are some fixes listed in Daniel_k’s release notes that are related to speaker configuration.

Try it yourself:

1. In Documents\BFBC2\Setting.ini Edit the SpeakerCount” line to read “SpeakerCount=6″. This forces BC2 to run in 5.1 mode.  ”0″ is the autodetect mode, which apparently is not working for some users. This setting alone may fix your problem, but it didn’t for me.
2. Uninstall all your Creative soundcard drivers and software. Retstart when prompted.
3. Install daniel_k’s SB Audigy Support Pack 3.7 (at your own risk of course)

Hope that helps. Let know if it works for you.

Note:  Some forum members suggest changing “SoundSystemSize=1″ to “SoundSystemSize=2″ in the GameSettings.ini. This did not work for me, so I have left it set to “1″.

My System: Win 7 32-bit, Audigy 2 PLatinum EX