# Logitech TrackMan Mouse (Bus)

> trackball from 1989

**Wikidata**: [Q135904345](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q135904345)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/logitech-trackman-mouse-bus

## Summary
The Logitech TrackMan Mouse (Bus) is a trackball pointing device introduced by Logitech in 1989. It connects via a Microsoft InPort interface and features three push-buttons without a scroll wheel, representing an early iteration of Logitech's ergonomic input designs.

## Key Facts
- Released in 1989 by Logitech.
- Classified as an electronic device model and a subclass of trackball.
- Manufactured by Logitech, a Swiss peripherals company founded in 1981.
- Connects to computers using a Microsoft InPort interface.
- Contains three push-button components.
- Does not include a scroll wheel.
- Also known as TrackMan or TrackMan Mouse (Bus).
- Part of Logitech's early product lineup for computer pointing devices.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Logitech TrackMan Mouse (Bus)?
A: It is a trackball pointing device released in 1989, using a ball controlled by the user's hand for cursor movement. It connects via a Microsoft InPort interface and features three push-buttons for input functions.

### Q: How does the TrackMan Mouse (Bus) connect to computers?
A: It connects using a Microsoft InPort interface, a bus-type connector standard for computer peripherals in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

### Q: What design elements distinguish the TrackMan Mouse (Bus)?
A: It uses a trackball mechanism (cursor control via a rolling ball) and three push-buttons, but notably lacks a scroll wheel, reflecting design norms of its era.

## Why It Matters
The Logitech TrackMan Mouse (Bus) represents a significant early effort to popularize trackball technology as an alternative to traditional mice. Its ergonomic design, which allowed stationary hand control while manipulating the cursor, addressed emerging needs for desk-space efficiency and reduced hand movement during prolonged computer use. As one of Logitech's inaugural hardware products, it helped establish the company's reputation in computer peripherals and influenced future ergonomic input device designs during the foundational period of personal computing.

## Notable For
- Pioneering the trackball form factor for Logitech in 1989.
- Utilizing the now-retired Microsoft InPort bus interface.
- Featuring a three-button layout without a scroll wheel.
- Serving as an early model for Logitech's broader TrackMan product line.
- Demonstrating Logitech's expansion beyond founding-era products.

## Body
### Product Identity
The Logitech TrackMan Mouse (Bus) is a specific 1989 model of trackball pointing device manufactured by Logitech. It is formally classified as an electronic device model and belongs to the trackball device category. The device is also recognized under the aliases "TrackMan" and "TrackMan Mouse (Bus)," highlighting its branding variations within Logitech's portfolio.

### Technical Specifications
- **Connectivity**: Microsoft InPort interface for computer connection.
- **Components**: Three push-button mechanisms for input actions.
- **Exclusion**: Deliberately omits a scroll wheel, reflecting period-appropriate design.
- **Ball Mechanism**: Operates via a trackball system where a manually controlled ball dictates cursor movement.

### Manufacturer Context
- **Producer**: Logitech, a Swiss-based global provider of computer peripherals established in 1981.
- **Role**: Represents an early hardware product from Logitech, predating their widespread expansion into diverse pointing device categories.
- **Relation**: Falls under Logitech's product lineage, contributing to their foundational development of ergonomic input solutions.