Elecom Relacon Handheld Trackball Mouse, Thumb Control, 2.4GHz Wireless, Ergonomic Design, 10-Button Function, Windows11, MacOS (M-RT1DRBK)

Here are my operating system specifications:* Hardware: MacBook Pro 2020, Apple M1 Chip* Software: macOS Ventura 13.5.1UPDATE: After 5 days of heavy use (10+ hours per day), there are a only two issues I've noticed that have no impact on my love for this device, but that I'd like to share to make sure others who experience these issues do not become frustrated.Issue #1: Continuous heavy pressure on the left or right side of the wheel can cause the wheel to slide slightly ajar, degrading the function of the wheel and whichever button the wheel has been pushed towards. I was pressing my thumb on the right side of the wheel unconsciously, and found that eventually this pushed the wheel towards the left, causing some accidental clicks of the left arrow "<" button. Part of the issue is that I programmed the down-press on the wheel as "Command," and instead of pressing straight down. I was pressing at an angle. Once I noticed this issue I just gently slid the wheel back into place and it worked fine. It is not fragile, I was really putting too much pressure on it.Issue #2: After turning the mouse off and then back on, sometimes the key functions revert to the default. I custom programmed the left-arrow "<" and right-arrow ">" as left-click and right-click, respectively, because I have no use for the "back" and "forward" web browser functions that are the default. I also reprogrammed all of the media player buttons to more useful actions (e.g. Copy, Paste, Undo, Redo, and Tab). For the most part, the custom-programmed buttons all function as expected. Occasionally, however, I have to re-open the "ELECOM_Mouse_Util" GUI and click "Apply" to re-apply all of my customizations. The GUI remembers all of my button preferences, so I don't have to do any tedious resetting in the GUI, I just have to quickly open it up and click "Apply," and my customizations are automatically applied to the device. I recommend keeping the GUI in your dock (on Mac) for convenience, since you might have to do this a couple times a day.Other than that, I just recommend being disciplined about resting the device upright on its docking station when you switch to the keyboard. I've been lazily setting it in my lap, where it shifts around, activating the rollerball and moving my cursor around the screen. This is my fault, not the device.These are the only issues I've noticed in the past five days. On the upside, I've noticed that updating dense software code files has gotten WAY easier. After updating the media player buttons to my most frequently needed actions while coding (Copy, Paste, Undo, Redo, and Tab), I find that I can make most of my code updates with my hands resting in my lap or at my sides, and only spend about 20% of the time actually touching the keyboard. I'm able to go a lot longer now without any numbness or pain setting into my wrists and hands.ORIGINAL:I have only been using this little thing for an hour and I am already crying tears of relief. I have been searching for a device with this exact design for three years, and I cannot believe it actually exists. After installing the utility software, the mouse worked immediately, right out of the box. The software package seems to have auto-detected my default OS language, and the program opened in English (no need to select "English" as the default language, as indicated in earlier reviews). I also did not need to download Rosetta 2 to get this to work on my MacBook Pro, even though I have an M1 chip (as indicated on the manufacturer website). The mouse was so easy to use, that I actually used the device itself to customize its own functionality through the utility GUI. I am shocked at the level of customizability across the 10 (!) onboard buttons, and how easy it is to quickly update this functionality in the utility GUI. If you look at ergonomic keyboards with comparable customizability, you will find that (1) they are very, very expensive, and (2) full customization usually requires some code, and cannot be achieved with a simple, user-friendly GUI. In my opinion, the GUI software that accompanies this little device is easily worth an additional $300.00.The "loose trackball" complaints are unfounded. The trackball slightly lifts out of the cradle when you tilt it > 90 degrees on its side (or upside-down). It DOES NOT fall out of the cradle, even if you hold it upside-down and shake it violently. This is how all trackball devices work. You can read reviews of the highest-rated trackball mice on Wirecutter, and you'll find the same issue. A "tighter" fitting trackball design would have reduced functionality, and you would not be able to pop the ball out to clean it (which you do actually need to do every so often, as gross stuff gets trapped in there and degrades functionality after a while). When I use this mouse with my arms straight down at my sides, the trackball lifts slightly out of the cradle. I do not find that this affects the functionality at all. The trackball still settles exactly where I left it (it doesn't continue "spinning around" when it lifts out of the cradle) and the on-screen pointer position is stable. If you're really having issues with pointer precision, decrease the DPI.The design of the device is so intuitive that I didn't require a single minute of acclimation. My hands just sort of knew what to do, even though I have never owned a trackball-style mouse in my life. I found that I naturally started switching between using my thumb and my forefinger to operate the trackball. So, I changed the "back" and "forward" buttons on either side of the scroll wheel to "left" and "right" click. This allows me to constantly change my grip on the device, which lets me switch off between types of movement in my thumb and forefinger. This sort of rotation between types of movement, and between hands, is critical for managing my the symptoms of my repetitive strain injuries.I need to use a computer mouse continuously 10-14 hours per day, 7 days a week, in order to do my job. I often have to do difficult design work that requires precise control over graphics in clunky presentation and statistical software (e.g. STATA's graphic editor GUI that is unavoidable given the limits of code-based graphics customization). Unfortunately, I have severe carpal *and* cubital tunnel nerve compression on both sides, complicated by a botched surgery on the right side that resulted in tendonitis and neuropathy (my medial, ulnar, and radial nerves are all damaged). Holding my elbow bent at a 90-degree angle causes my ring and little finger to go numb, and severe stabbing pains in the knuckle of my ring finger and in my upper forearm. Articulating or putting any pressure on my elbows also causes pain and numbness. Any pressure on my wrist, or continuous finger articulation, or gripping, causes my thumb, forefinger, and middle finger to go numb, and causes pain in the base of my thumb, in my palm, and in the back of my wrist.So, pretty much any desktop mouse exacerbates my symptoms, no matter how "ergonomic" the design (vertical, trackball, rollermouse bar, external trackpad, pen-shaped mouse, whatever). I need a mouse that I can use in either hand without having to exert a lot of force, without having to articulate my fingers very much, and while letting my arms hang at my sides. Until today, I thought this was an impossible request. This mouse feels like it was made specially for me.Additional features and responses to earlier reviews:* My Mac is able to track and display the battery level in the Bluetooth settings, so if you use rechargeable batteries and carry around an extra pair and/or a little charger, this thing will be just as convenient as any wireless peripheral that takes a usb charge.* The scroll wheel customization is great. You can set up "flywheel" to work in any program. Flywheel auto-scrolls in whatever direction you were turning the wheel at the time it was activated. The number of "revolutions" is the number of times you need to rotate the wheel to activate flywheel. You can choose from 1-5 revolutions. The scrolling speed is how quickly the page scrolls automatically when flywheel is activated. I messed around with these settings a bit and was able to get close to the two-finger flywheel scroll I'm used to on my Mac trackpad, but found that I actually prefer a slower auto-scroll.* The buttons are actually infinitely customizable. The only restriction is that at least one button on the device (can be any of the 10) is reserved for left-click. The other 9 buttons can be programmed to do whatever you want. For each button, you can select "arbitrary key" and then program a set of commands that will be executed by that button. You can also select a "gesture" button, and then use the Gesture tab of the GUI to set up gestures. Basically, you select sets of commands that will be executed whenever you are holding down the "gesture" button and perform some on-screen gesture with the mouse.* It is lightweight, not "cheap." If you have an RSI or arthritis, you will appreciate how lightweight the device is. Heaviness is not an indicator of quality. Buttons are responsive without requiring very much force, and provide the satisfying "mechanical" feedback clicks that haptic devices just can't reproduce. The "skin" is also slightly grainy (versus slick) which makes it easier to grip loosely, even in sweaty hands. The trackball itself is substantially heavy and does not float around in the cradle.

I hacve been waiting for this for years. I don't understand why this type of pointing device is not more common. The only others like this are cheap chinese things that break quickly. I tried two of them and they both broke within months.This is on another level of quality altogether, but it is a little pricey.It does have the same issue like the cheaper stuff though, which is that the ball is not kept in place snugly and if you rotate your wrist or otherwise move your arm away from the horizontal, the ball tends to shift from its proper position. There should be some kind of ring to keep the ball in place. As a result, clicking and scrolling takes some practice but the trackball is very smooth and works very well.So this is great for couch surfing or standing, any situation where you're not sat on a desk in front of a keyboard but not much good for anything other than basic browsing. The ball is also too small for precision work, and index finger operated trackballs are more ergonomic IMO.Otherwise this has the usual Elecom high quality and it is super nice to be able to browse without being tethered to a desk!

The Relacon does what i bought it for, that being to relieve the stress on my arm making it hurt. My arm is indeed feeling better. But i feel the price is not reflected in the quality of the product although looking at the alternatives on amazon and elsewhere this is probably as good as it gets.The biggest problem is that when i start my computer and the relacon dongle is in the computer wont recognize any clicks from the relacon or any of my other mice. I have to restart the computer once or twice and then it works. This is not great, ive never in all my years with different mice had this problem, sure if it was just the relacon but as it will stop button clicks from any mouse. I can live with it but i dont feel great about paying as much as i did for it and considering you can get a top notch mouse with very good quality from other mouse brands for the same price this is disappointing to say the least and with the other quality issues its definitely not worth the prize.The DPI button, The relacon is ambidextrous, but somehow they forgot that the DPI button is on the left side, this means that if you are using it left handed you cant use that button as its against your palm, luckily that doesnt seem to mean that the button is pressed inadvertently so thats good. On the other hand while im using it right handed i now and then manage to hit the button, which is annoying. It needs to be a little stiffer to avoid unwanted button presses and it also needs some kind of texture so you can feel that your finger is on it as its completely smooth and blends into the surface of the mouse so much so that when i actually want to press it i cant find it with my thumb.Trackball and the tracking is good no problems there and no stuttering or the ball sticking to the pins because it has bearings, awesome. I tried a kensington trackball and it was useless when it came to doing small adjustments because it would stick to the pins it used instead of bearings. Be aware that while you can use it having your arm straight down the ball will fall a little bit out of the socket and while it will still track, everytime you release the ball it will change position making the mouse pointer jump but if you adjust how you hold it so that the Relacon is horizontal in your hand you can still use it, some buttons will be awkward to push but its fine.Software, it allows you to reprogram button and move some sliders around, i didnt use any of that and the one thing i wanted, to be able to set DPI and to set the different DPI levels for the DPI button is not possible to set with it :(Size is ok, i wish it was a bit tiny bit bigger but it feels fine, after long and intense use my hand can get a bit stiff, no worries just switch it over to the other hand. Weight is fine, you feel it in your hand but long use wont tire your arm out.Buttons; the right click is too easy to push, much easier than the left click button and it leads to some inadvertent right clicks now and then. Right and left click are otherwise nicely clicky but a little rattly. The other buttons are fine except for the DPI button which i talked about above.Scroll wheel, works fine. For some reason if you push it from the left it will click but if you push it from the right side it wont click it will slide a little to the left, still works the same and you can push it back but i've never had a scroll wheel where i could push it along the axis.Battery, 2 AA batteries, easy to install. I've had it a week and so far so good. Sadly the battery lid comes off too easily as when i grip the relacon tightly the battery lid will come lose. Not a problem, there is really no need to grip it tightly but wtf it shouldt come off just by squeezing it. Dont get me wrong it sits just fine in place and isnt a problem until you actually squeeze it hard.All in i would return it but as the trackball is very good and it helps with my arm i use it whenever i don't need to use a regular mouse(more intense gaming and some work where you have to click on small things rather quickly). Its good i use it a lot but the flaws and the prize are too muchfor anything more than 3 stars.

Had this about a year.Really nice to use.The scroll wheel has needed cleaning out twice in that time (contact cleaner and airline).It developes a mind of it's own if not cleaned