Elecom trackball

[Prof7]

Hello,

I have a logitech m570 and came across the Elecom M-XT1URBK.

 

 

 

My question: has anyone tried it yet?

It looks better than the m570, but it has some negative reviews.

[ZetZet]

looks better? why, brand that no one knows about looks better than brand that is the most known? 

[Prof7]

looks better? why, brand that no one knows about looks better than brand that is the most known? 

 

Maybe it doesn't look better, but maybe it is better. The m570 maybe well know (relatively), but the build quality is mediocre - good

 

I'm just curios if anyone has tried it here

[MissusNesbitt]

I just ordered this trackball. I've used the m570 for about four years now and I'll let you all know about my experience with the Elecom. 

[Dirac]

I just received mine in the mail today; I too am a long-time (4+ years) M570 user, and have been waiting for a trackball mouse with adjustable DPI.  I ordered the wired version (M-XT1URBK).  Here are my initial observations:

 

- It is a tad shorter in length than the M570, and barely taller with a stronger contour in the center.  The bottom right corner of my palm touches my desk when using it, unlike the M570.  This may be an issue if you have larger hands, but it does not bother me.

- Because the scroll wheel and DPI switch separate the two mouse buttons by a good 3/4", the Elecom forces your hand into a very particular position when using it.  With the M570, I could comfortably rest either my index or my middle finger on the left button, and use my middle or ring finger, respectively, to press the right button.  Not so with this device.  This isn't a big deal, although the Forward/Back buttons don't feel quite as accessible to the index finger as on the M570 without momentarily shifting your hand position.

 

Edit: After a week and a half of using the device, I found that I was using the wrong hand position all along; the scroll wheel is wide enough to rest my middle finger on, with my index on left click, my ring finger on right click, and my pinky on the Slowdown Switch.  This also allows me to reach the Forward/Back buttons without straining my index finder.  Now, this thing fits my hand like a glove, and feels even better than the M570.

 

- The Elecom, on its lower setting, still has more DPI than the M570 (I believe it's 750 vs. 600 or so).  DPI switch doubles it to 1500.  Awesome.  Edit: I have since learned that the M570 has adjustable DPI from 400 to 1200, with a factory default value of 800.  I never figured out how to change the DPI of the M570, though; one could change the sensitivity in the Logitech software or the pointer speed in Control Panel, but it certainly could not be done on the fly like with the Elecom.

- The third mouse button acts as a momentary switch for slowing cursor movement.  Elecom's website calls this the Slowdown Switch.  I can imagine this being very useful to graphic design artists, engineers using CAD programs, or FPS gamers that need pinpoint precision.  Using this feature in tandem with the DPI switch, you can actually get four separate cursor speeds out of this device without changing its sensitivity in the Control Panel (on High DPI setting, pressing the switch moves the cursor slower than when on Low DPI).  Very nifty.

- The scroll wheel is stiffer than the M570, which is a bit of a bummer, but not a deal-breaker.  Edit: This is actually a good thing; see my response to Prof7 below.

 

- The cradle in which the ball rests does not rattle when picking the device up and moving it around.  No way to tell at the moment if it will stay this way for longer than my M570 did.

- It's a bit lighter than the M570, but the four feet on the bottom are significantly larger, giving a much improved grip on smooth surfaces.  One would have to be raging like a maniac to inadvertently slide this around his or her desk.

- I read on Reddit that there were Japanese reviews saying that this has a tendency to miss ball movements.  I really haven't had an issue with that, but if it does occur, I understand that you can fix it by swapping the ball for the M570 one, since they are the same size.  I swapped it out just to try it, and it does fit, although the movement is not as smooth with the M570 ball in there.  That could just be because the two M570 trackballs I tried are both well-used, and the surfaces are not as smooth as when they were new.

 

Edit: I have had this happen to me a couple of times, but it is very infrequent (maybe one in every 200 cursor movements, if even that) and the time period during which the device "misses" movements is less than a second.  I have not experienced any using the M570 ball, so a permanent solution is available if you have one lying around.

- Elecom offers software on its website for button reprogramming. It's a pain to find, so here's a shortcut.  You can reprogram all buttons except for the Slowdown Switch. 

 

- I only learned this by looking at their software, but in addition to the left, right, middle, back, and forward buttons, you also have two additional reprogrammable inputs in tilting the mouse wheel left or right, which by default scrolls horizontally in the respective direction.  That is so freaking cool, I don't even know what to say.

In summary: It has its quirks, but most of them are simply due to the fact that I've been using Logitech trackballs for so long; before the M570, I used a Trackman Wheel, and before that, a old 90's-era Trackman Marble.  So, using a trackball with significantly different contours and ergonomics is strange.  Without being able to comment on build quality or longevity, I do have to say that this is an improvement over the M570, though.  The increased precision from higher DPI, and the flexibility allowed by the Slowdown and DPI switches, make this a much more versatile input device.  I'm honestly considering ordering the wireless version for home use and bringing this one into work tomorrow to use there.

[Prof7]

I just ordered this trackball. I've used the m570 for about four years now and I'll let you all know about my experience with the Elecom. 

 

Thank you, I look forward to your review.

 

 

-snip-

 

Thank you so much for your review. I have been using my m570 for about a year and a half and I love it and hate it at the same time. For very precise movements, like for CAD, I sometimes have to use my thumb and my index finger and this is very annoying at times.

 

Also I have somewhat small hands (size 8 glove in the Netherlands). So the m570 is about half a centimeter to big for my taste.

 

 

How is the scroll wheel click on the Elecom? I found the m570 to have a horrible scroll wheel (ARGH Logitech, why don't you put the Microgear scrollwheel on the m570 /rant).

 

Tanks again for the review

[Dirac]

For very precise movements, like for CAD, I sometimes have to use my thumb and my index finger and this is very annoying at times

 

-snip-

 

How is the scroll wheel click on the Elecom? I found the m570 to have a horrible scroll wheel (ARGH Logitech, why don't you put the Microgear scrollwheel on the m570 /rant).

 

The amount of flexibility in cursor speed is quite nice.  It has been a while since I used CAD programs (I mainly do coding now), but I really wish this thing was around back when I did use them.

 

The scroll wheel click feels fairly solid; it does not require too much or too little force to actuate IMO.  The fact that the scroll wheel is a bit stiffer in rotating than the M570 is a bit of a blessing, as I have had no problems inadvertently rotating it while trying to click.  I have not used the Microgear, so unfortunately I cannot comment on how this one compares.  But, after getting used to it, I have found that I very much prefer this one's feel over the M570.

[Robert_40]

Could someone with hands-on experience with the 'Elecom M-XT1URBK' please comment on the functionality of the 'Double-Click' option for buttons.

Specifically, does a key, when programmed for 'Double-click' and pressed, send:

    a) A 'Down-Up-Down', which in a text document will select a word -- and then on dragging the cursor -- have the selection expand to encompass more; with the final 'Up' deferred until the key is released?

    b) A 'Down-Up-Down-Up' -- even if the button is pushed and not released -- which selects one word only (with no hope of expanding the selection).

 

Logitech used to have the 'a' behaviour, but now offers 'b'; Microsoft 'Intelli-Point' still believes in the 'a' behaviour.