Elecom has been known for their trackball mice in Japan for many years now. Those already familiar with trackball mice might be keen to know that the Elecom M-DT1/2UR BK is an index finger marble with 5 programmable buttons (8 in total).
Everyone else will probably be wondering “what the heck is a marble mouse and why would I need one?”
A marble mouse is one which stays stationary on your desktop surface. Instead, you roll your hand over a large rotating marble to move the cursor around. This makes the marble mouse perfect for those with limited desk space as you don’t need to move the mouse body around at all. Added bonus, is this also means you can get such mice to work from any surface, like the sofa arm or even your lap. Due to the fact your hand rests in a more natural position than with a traditional mouse, trackball mice are rumoured to even help with RSI.
So let’s take a look at what Elecom has to offer the niche trackball market.
Specs
- USB Powered
- 1.5m Cable
- Dimensions – 94.7mm width x 124.4mm length x 47.9mm height
- Weight – 112g
- DPI Switch between 750 to 1500dpi
- 8 Buttons (including the middle scroll button)
- Customisable profiles for button set up
- 6-month guarantee
In The Box
The Elecom M-DT1/2UR BK comes with a quick start user manual, which you can also download from their homesite. No problems getting your new mouse out of the package thanks to the considerate inclusion of frustration-free packaging. Hooray!
Look & Feel
Elecom has put a lot of thought into designing the body of this mouse. Textured, black plastic has been used for the main body of the mouse, with a few touches completed with a shiny finish. I find the shape comfortable to use, even with my small hands I had no issues. I really like the little thumb rest on the left side of the mouse and the subtle finger rests on the right-hand side of the Elecom. It wasn’t long before I picked up how to use this mouse, despite the fact I am a first-time marble mouse user.
The marble feels like it’s made from a solid black plastic which has been impregnated with tiny bits of metallic, coloured flecks. This gives the marble a slightly sparkly sheen to it. This marble feels robust and moves about freely, giving a smooth range of movements on-screen.
The buttons feel sturdy, have a decent action to them and are moulded into the body well. There are no awkward edges for nails to get caught in, nor uncomfortable sticky out bits. The scroll wheel has the standard textured middle section and appears to have been moulded from plastic. There is a tilt function on the scroll wheel which allows you to scroll sideways or zoom quickly up and down a page.
Performance & Set Up
There is a learning curve with this mouse due to the fact it has a unique button layout. The placements of the left and right mouse click buttons had me initially befuddled. Adding to this confusion is the detail of the left mouse click button looking to be a lot longer than is. The clickable switch area actually runs from the scroll wheel forward. Once I got used to these peculiarities, I found the mouse easy to use.
I had some initial issues with the marble stuttering or feeling like it sticks a bit, however, this seems to have cleared up after using it for a few weeks. I, therefore, think this might have been an issue with the rollers being a little stiff when new.
The profiler is where Elecom has really let themselves down. It’s terrible. So glitchy that I have had to write a large troubleshooting article on everything from how to install through to how to do a clean install. In my opinion, this is where Elecom needs to severely step up their game if they wish to make themselves serious contenders in the mouse market.
More Information
Devices supported are Windows, PC & Macintosh which come equipped with a USB interface.
If you would like more information about the Elecom M-DT1/2UR BK please visit the homepage where you can also download the profiler.
This mouse retails for £38.27 and you can buy it directly from Amazon.
Verdict
Despite the horribly programmed profiler, I really like this mouse. It’s accurate, comfortable, looks nice, appears to be easy to clean and I can switch between profiles.
The M-DT1/2UR BK is great value for money and well designed. Elecom needs to put as much work into programming as they do designing products. Perhaps then, we shall see Elecom products a lot more outside Japan.
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