When I read the other reviews, I worried that the ball might fall out when you turn it upside down, but no, it is not like that. I set this thing on the table on its side without the cradle and I have no problems. What people are talking about is if you drop this, then maybe the ball will pop out like the Logitech (and every other brand's) trackballs do. I don't know, because I like this too much to let myself drop it.
Before going any further, let me stop and just say that I love this mouse. I have only had it a couple of days, and it is about as quirky as I am, but this mouse is really and trully everything I had hoped it would be. First, keep looking back at the price, which is amazingly affordable. Second, take a look around and the nearest similar device is a bulky version with a finger loop hole and basically everything to signal that it is for videogaming and not for the office. By contrast, this is like the classiest possible way to control your laptop during a presentation. If you had this, connected to a Macbook, controlling Powerpoint, people would assume it is some hot new tech they never heard of, rather than an actual obscure company with an idea that is bold and forward-thinking. That is if they even notice it, being so compact and discreet.
For anyone with limited mobility, this could be a really enabling device on a whole other level. The quiriest detail is also it's coolest feature once you master it, and that is the variable speed control beside the "on" switch. I never knew there would be such benefit to changing my mouse speed conveniently. This will be the key to enabling maximum mobility with this mouse.
There is one small drawback. I have medium-sized hands, so there is one motion that requires two hands, which is to move from side to side. You have to push down the scroll wheel and then roll the ball. That is the only feature I found here that requires two hands, excluding the moves that require that I hit shift on the keyboard before a mouse move.
However, if you are planning to work with this thing up to an hour strait, then you should anticipate switching hands or fingers to keep from getting a cramp. When I do switch hands and fingers, I am able to manage and not cause that type of cramping. Doing this also helps you to find the most relaxed sort of default ways to hold this. One way is if you slide your hand back, so that your first and second fingers are only at the very edge of each trigger button, then that promotes a hand position that is curled at an angle very close to the natural resting postion of your hand.
One final considerataion is that your success with this mouse will be linked to the task you most hope it will benefit. I got this almost entirely for graphic design, because the mousepad on my Macbook is not working ideally for my workflow, and the stylus-type pads are for drawing more than for designing. With most devices, the challenge is threefold. First, it is very easy to summon the left click on the Macbook trackpad, to the extent that it is so annoying and constantly in my way that I forget it's also a quick access to certain features. With this mouse, I am suddly actually using that left click and noticing it's options and benefits. Secondly, when I pull my finger off the Macbook trackpad, my cursor position is subject to a slight jump. That is a problem in precision graphics, and even the Wacom tablet or IPad with the Apple Pencil are not safe from this hiccup without a fair amount of finesse. This mouse solves that problem the second you get your ideal mouse speed calibrated, and get oriented to the device. The weight of the ball means the cursor absolutely only wiggles when you touch the trackball. This is the precision I needed. I can get used to the muscle memory of pressing the trackball to make it zoom in/out, and the two handed side-to-side movement is not too bad once I got in the habit of switching hands.
Why would you want to switch hands, you ask? Well, welcome to your new reality, because you don't have to be ambidextrous to use this mouse with either hand. That is another reason I feel this would be a really great and affordable solution for enabling people who may have limited mobility.
If you don't end up liking this mouse, it could only be because of a very limited number of reasons. Maybe you want to use this for many hours a day without changing up your grip or which hand you use, then this may not be the most comfortable mouse, unless you learn how to master that looser grip that I explained earlier. Another of the limited reasons you might not like this may be because of the size. This is probably most ideal for small-ish hands and least ideal for really large hands. My average-sized hands are maybe a small bit larger than what is ideal for this. Really, the bottom line is that if you are a person who wants to hold your mouse in your hand, not working it on the desktop, then I am convinced that this is the model to get, especially if you want it to be discreet. But that is why this seems like such an ideal mouse for giving a presentation, because it is nice and small in your hand and not like the handle-bar look it would have if it was the most ideal comfort for a large hand.
Some reviewers commented on this mouse, feeling that it was too light and not sturdy. Well, think of this as a mouse, because this is a...well, a mouse. It is equal in durability to the average mouse you have seen. This is not a piece of sporting equipment like a Wii controller that offers a rubber cover because it expects betting mistakenly tossed. Please do not toss this mouse. This is a tool that is sleek and designed for a professional who wants to whip their cursor around their monitor screen with an impressive sense of command and agility.
This is my ultimate mouse. Oh yeah, and the button to calibrate the speed is what you hold down to get the mouse to sync with your other gear. This can confuse you when you return to your Bluetooth menu on your laptop and click the old icon, which takes you nowhere. Again, hold down that calibration button beside the power switch on this mouse, and it will pop up in your menu as a new Bluetooth option.
There are so many amazingly well-thought-out features in this device. A feature that I really love and did not expect, is that I can control my music on iTunes or Spotify in the background, while I am designing on Affinity software, without having to summon the player window to appear in front of my graphic window. The circular play controls function independently of which app window is in front.
I mean...wow...really and truly, this thing checks every box I could have hoped for. We should be grateful they did not make this thing heavy for no reason, or three times this cost for no reason. This is simply a great product for a great price. I am thrilled with this purchase! Put the batteries in it and the weight is perfect!
| Brand | ELECOM |
|---|---|
| Series | Relacon |
| Item model number | M-RT1BRBK |
| Operating System | Windows 8.1, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Windows 7, Windows 10 |
| Item Weight | 2.7 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 1.61 x 4.41 x 2.24 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 1.61 x 4.41 x 2.24 inches |
| Color | Black & Red ball |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries | 2 AAA batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacturer | ELECOM |
| ASIN | B07ZKL66GY |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Date First Available | November 25, 2019 |
