# Logitech Marble Mouse

> trackball from 1998

**Wikidata**: [Q135904244](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q135904244)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/logitech-marble-mouse

## Summary
The Logitech Marble Mouse is a trackball pointing device released in 1998 by the Swiss peripheral manufacturer Logitech. It is an electronic device model designed as an alternative to traditional mice, utilizing a stationary trackball mechanism for cursor control.

## Key Facts
- **Manufacturer:** Logitech
- **Release Date:** 1998
- **Device Class:** Trackball (pointing device)
- **Connectivity:** PS/2 connector
- **Physical Controls:** Features two integrated push-buttons
- **Design Omission:** Does not include a scroll wheel
- **Brand Origin:** Logitech is a Swiss-based global provider of peripherals founded in 1981
- **Classification:** Electronic device model; subclass of trackball

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Logitech Marble Mouse first released?
A: The Logitech Marble Mouse was published in 1998. It was introduced as a specialized trackball model within Logitech's line of computing peripherals.

### Q: Does the Logitech Marble Mouse include a scroll wheel?
A: No, the Logitech Marble Mouse specifically does not have a scroll wheel. Its physical interface is limited to the trackball and two push-buttons.

### Q: What type of connection does the Logitech Marble Mouse use?
A: The device uses a PS/2 connector to interface with a computer. This was the standard connection type for many peripherals at the time of its 1998 launch.

### Q: Who is the manufacturer of the Marble Mouse?
A: The device was manufactured by Logitech, a global computing company headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Newark, California.

## Why It Matters
The Logitech Marble Mouse is a notable example of late-1990s input device design. Released in 1998, it represents the era's focus on trackball technology as a distinct subclass of pointing devices. Unlike standard mice that require desk space for movement, the Marble Mouse remains stationary, using a ball for navigation. 

Its significance lies in its specialized hardware configuration, which includes a PS/2 connector and a simplified two-button interface. The absence of a scroll wheel distinguishes it from later iterations of pointing devices that made scrolling hardware a standard feature. Produced by Logitech—a company with a history in the computing industry dating back to 1981—the Marble Mouse serves as a documented model in the evolution of ergonomic and alternative computer peripherals.

## Notable For
- **Trackball Navigation:** Uses a trackball mechanism rather than moving the entire device to control the on-screen cursor.
- **Two-Button Interface:** Features exactly two push-buttons for primary device control and selection.
- **Legacy Connectivity:** Utilizes the PS/2 connector standard, typical of hardware released in the late 1990s.
- **Simplified Design:** Distinguished by its lack of a scroll wheel, focusing purely on ball-based movement and button clicks.

## Body

### Product Classification
The Logitech Marble Mouse is categorized as an electronic device model and a subclass of trackball. As a pointing device, it serves as a hardware interface for computing systems. It is also known by the alias "Marble Mouse."

### Hardware and Specifications
The device was first published in 1998. Its technical design includes:
- **Connector Type:** A PS/2 connector for system integration.
- **Input Mechanisms:** Two push-buttons, which are simple mechanisms that can be temporarily depressed to control device functions.
- **Omissions:** The hardware design specifically excludes a scroll wheel, a feature found on many contemporary and subsequent pointing devices.

### Manufacturer Background
The Marble Mouse was manufactured by Logitech, a Swiss global provider of computing peripherals. Logitech was founded on October 2, 1981. The company operates with major headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Newark, United States. As of March 2024, the manufacturer reported an employee count of approximately 7,300 people. Logitech is a major entity within the computing industry, providing a wide range of global peripherals.