Logitech MX Ergo
Wireless
Product rating for Logitech MX Ergo
Ball scratches noticeably and audibly, repeated dropouts and jumps of the cursor.
In principle, a pleasant trackball. Ergonomically much more pleasant than the Marble TrackMan with a central ball. But its ball and ball guide is significantly better: Almost noiseless and jerk-free. The ball of the MX Ergo scratches and jerks discreetly and the movements are audible despite the (quiet) SAN on the desk and fan noise. Not to mention the nicer look of the red ball.
What regularly jerks on the other hand is the mouse cursor. In contrast to the Logitech cable mouse next to it, the MX Ergo has dropouts again and again, the cursor usually jumps around more roughly on the screen afterwards. This is extremely annoying in the long run.
Contrary to the review at Heise, the device also works under Linux (in my case Debian 10 Buster). However, I first had to install the tool "solaar" (as a package from the repo of the distribution, e.g. "apt-get install solaar") and _then_ unplug the USB receiver again and plug it back in and then turn the trackball itself off again and on again.
What surprised me a bit, because I had imagined it differently according to the product description and other websites, was the tilting mechanism: There are only two positions. I had imagined it to be stepless. But the base is simply like an inverted gable roof with two roof halves and a metal plate (resting on the desk) that is always held on one of the two roof halves by a magnet. But even if this was not as expected: The mechanism is stable, totsimpel and very easy to use. However, it needs enough force to change the position so that this does not just happen by accident.
I was also a bit disappointed that the scroll wheel engagement for "hyper-fast scrolling" can't be turned off, as it is on many other, cheaper Logitech devices. I would have definitely expected in the price range.
On top of that, the MX Ergo is only available with wireless. And the Unifying wireless technology is known to be vulnerable and insecure. But you'll look in vain for a much simpler and safer cable variant from Logitech. Actually a poor report card for Logitech, if you think about it.
Pro
- Lies very comfortably in the hand
- The tilt functionality is totsimpel
- Charging cable included
- Also works under Linux
Contra
- Ball scratches noticeably and audibly
- The tilt functionality is not stepless
- Despite micro USB port and very stable USB cable, no data transfer via USB possible
- No instructions included on how pairing should work and what the flashing of the numbers means
- Scroll wheel locking cannot be switched off
- No nice red ball like earlier Logitech trackballs, only a boring grey one.
- Has despite only 1.5m distance to the receiver again and again dropouts and the cursor jerks
- Is only available with radio
- Unifying wireless technology insecure and vulnerable
The MX Ergo S model is now available with a Logi Bolt connection.
This solves both the stuttering problem and the vulnerability of the Unifying technology (Logi Bolt is encrypted)
