# Logitech TrackMan Marble

> varient of the Logitech TrackMan that dispenses with mechanical components

**Wikidata**: [Q47091524](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47091524)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/logitech-trackman-marble

## Summary
The Logitech TrackMan Marble is a trackball pointing device manufactured by Logitech and released in 1995. Distinguished as a variant of the standard Logitech TrackMan, this device is defined by its design that dispenses with mechanical components. It connects via a PS/2 connector and features three push-buttons, though it notably lacks a scroll wheel.

## Key Facts
*   **Product Name:** Logitech TrackMan Marble (also known simply as "TrackMan Marble").
*   **Manufacturer:** Logitech, a Swiss global provider of peripherals founded on October 2, 1981.
*   **Release Date:** 1995.
*   **Product Type:** Electronic device model; subclass of trackball pointing device.
*   **Interface:** PS/2 connector.
*   **Input Features:** Equipped with 3 push-buttons.
*   **Excluded Features:** Does not have a scroll wheel.
*   **Design Characteristic:** Described as a variant of the Logitech TrackMan that dispenses with mechanical components.
*   **Historical Source:** Cataloged in "Logitech Products: Fall 1996."

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Logitech TrackMan Marble released?
A: The Logitech TrackMan Marble was released in 1995. It appeared in product catalogs such as "Logitech Products: Fall 1996" shortly after its inception.

### Q: Does the Logitech TrackMan Marble have a scroll wheel?
A: No, the device does not have a scroll wheel. It relies on its trackball and three push-buttons for navigation and input.

### Q: What type of connection does the Logitech TrackMan Marble use?
A: The device uses a PS/2 connector to interface with a computer.

### Q: How is the TrackMan Marble different from other TrackMan devices?
A: It is explicitly described as a variant of the Logitech TrackMan that dispenses with mechanical components, distinguishing it from models that rely on mechanical tracking mechanisms.

## Why It Matters
The Logitech TrackMan Marble represents a specific era in the evolution of human-computer interface devices, particularly within the niche of trackball technology. Released in the mid-1990s, it offered an alternative to the traditional mouse, catering to users seeking different ergonomic solutions or input methods. As a product of Logitech—a major global entity in computer peripherals with dual headquarters in Switzerland and the United States—the device benefited from robust manufacturing and distribution channels.

Its significance lies in its specific technological approach: by dispensing with mechanical components (likely referring to the internal encoding mechanisms of earlier trackballs), it aimed to provide a different user experience compared to standard mechanical mice or trackballs of that era. The device's inclusion in the Musée Bolo (an informatics museum) underscores its status as a notable artifact of computing history. Furthermore, its specific configuration—featuring three buttons but no scroll wheel—marks a distinct point in the design timeline of input devices before the scroll wheel became a ubiquitous standard.

## Notable For
*   **Mechanism:** Being a variant of the TrackMan that dispenses with mechanical components.
*   **Button Layout:** Featuring three push-buttons while lacking a scroll wheel.
*   **Heritage:** Being an exhibit at the Musée Bolo, highlighting its preservation in computing history.
*   **Connectivity:** Utilizing the PS/2 interface, standard for PCs of the mid-1990s.
*   **Manufacturer:** Produced by Logitech, a leading Swiss-origin organization in the peripherals industry.

## Body

### Manufacturer and Origins
The Logitech TrackMan Marble is an electronic device model manufactured by Logitech. Logitech is a Swiss global provider of peripherals founded on October 2, 1981. The company operates globally with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Newark, United States. The TrackMan Marble was developed as a subclass of the trackball pointing device and was introduced to the market in 1995.

### Technical Specifications
The device is classified as an electronic device model designed for pointing and navigation.
*   **Connectivity:** It utilizes a PS/2 connector, a standard interface for keyboards and mice in the 1990s.
*   **Input Components:** The unit contains three push-buttons for user commands.
*   **Design Omissions:** Unlike later and contemporary models, the TrackMan Marble does not include a scroll wheel.

### Design and Function
According to its technical description, the Logitech TrackMan Marble is a variant of the Logitech TrackMan that "dispenses with mechanical components." This distinguishes it from devices that utilize purely mechanical encoders for motion detection. Support for the device is documented via Logitech's support channels, and it has been referenced in historical product literature such as "Logitech Products: Fall 1996."

### Historical Preservation
A unit of the Logitech TrackMan Marble is held by the Musée Bolo (an informatics museum associated with the EPFL), where it is cataloged as a distinct Thing with an inception date of 1995. This preservation confirms the device's recognition as a tangible piece of computer hardware history.

## References

1. [Logitech](https://support.logi.com/hc/en-us/categories/360001764453-Mice-and-Pointers)