ELECOM bitra M-MT1MRSAWH Mobile Trackball - Thumb, Silent, BT + trackball that fits in a laptop bag.
That is the proposition, and it answers a specific problem. Trackball userswho travel either carry a desk-sized trackball that takes up half the bag,or leave it at home and fight a touchpad for the week.
bitra is thumb-operated and fits in the palm. ELECOM originally released itin 2019; this version brings it back with two connections and silentswitches.
TWO DEVICES. Bluetooth and a 2.4 GHz USB receiver, switchable - so itpairs with a laptop and a tablet, or a work machine and a home one, andmoves between them with a switch.
SILENT CLICKS. The one people notice in a café, a co-working space, ashared office or a library.
The ball is 25 mm on artificial ruby supports. Small for a trackball, andhonestly so - one owner notes the small ball can feel a little notchy attimes, which he accepts for the size. His other comment is the one thatmatters: he cannot go back to an ordinary mouse.
The scroll wheel is tilted 16 degrees to match the angle of the body, so itturns under the finger naturally rather than fighting the hand's position.
Forward and back buttons for browsing. All five buttons reassignable withELECOM's Mouse Assistant.
The ball releases from a button underneath, so the ball and the supportscan be cleaned - which on any trackball is the maintenance that keeps itsmooth.
A padded pouch is included, with room for a spare battery.
One AAA cell, up to about five months on an : ELECOMSeries : bitraModel : M-MT1MRSAWHColour : WhiteType : Mobile trackball, thumb operatedBall : 25 mmBall support : Artificial rubyConnection : Bluetooth 2.4 GHz USB receiverPaired devices : 2 (one on each connection)Buttons : 5 - left, right, wheel, forward, backWheel : Tilted 16 degreesSwitches : SilentBall removal : Release button underneathPower : AAA x 1Battery life : up to approx. 5 months (alkaline)Supplied : Padded storage pouchSoftware : ELECOM Mouse Assistant
Also available (not this listing) M-MT1MRSABK Palm-sized thumb trackball for carrying with a laptop- Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, switchable between two devices- Silent switches- 25 mm ball on artificial ruby supports- Scroll wheel tilted 16 degrees to match the hand- Forward and back buttons, all five reassignable- Ball releases for cleaning- Padded pouch with space for a spare battery- One AAA, up to five cafés, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and anywhere a mouse has nosurface or a click would disturb IS SMALL - FOR SOME HANDS, TOO SMALL
Honest notes from Japanese owners of this series.
"For my hand it was too small."
"The small ball is a little notchy at times. That is the trade for the size."
"Compact, and I cannot go back to a normal mouse."
A travel trackball trades size for portability. If your hands are large, oryou want a trackball for all-day desk use, ELECOM's full-size models arethe better choice.
As a companion to a laptop, it does what it is for.
WHITE SHOWS MARKSA pale trackball carried in a bag and handled all day picks up marks at thepalm rest and around the ball.
A wipe with a slightly damp cloth deals with it. Avoid solvent-basedcleaners on the plastic.
THE RECEIVER NEEDS USB-AThe 2.4 GHz connection uses a USB-A receiver. On a laptop with only USB-C,use Bluetooth - which is also the connection for tablets.
CLEAN THE BALL PERIODICALLYArtificial ruby supports collect skin oils and dust over time, and thepointer becomes jerky.
Press the release underneath, take the ball out, wipe the ball and the threesupports. It takes a minute.
BATTERYOne AAA, not supplied for international shipping. Available everywhere.
An owner notes that left powered on continuously, a battery lasted him abouta month - turn it off when packing it away.
JAPANESE PACKAGINGJapanese retail packaging. ELECOM publish Mouse Assistant in English, andthe trackball works without software.
SHIPPED FROM JAPANDispatched from Tokyo with tracking.