Last update:

There is no warranty or support available from Elecom in the US. Amazon gave up looking for any contact information, offered a return but I am keeping the mouse even if I will have to remove the rubber pads eventually and glue the damn thing to my desk.

Update:

Ordered another mouse, really nice, the wheel button not as rigid, but after 3 weeks one rubber pad has moved, and there are glue smudges all around it. I want to keep the mouse even if I have to remove or re-glue the pads. Trying to get manufacturer contact information from Amazon.

Update 1.5 month later:

The mouse refused to stay in place, so I ordered a no-slip dashboard silicone pad. The mouse still drifts, less than it does on the desk finish, but:

The glue used on the 4 non-slip pads on the bottom of the mouse became soft, and the pads (3 out of 4) have moved from their places revealing almost liquid sticky glue. I don't know if the silicone pad has that effect, but glue is supposed to stay solid, otherwise it would be called molasses.

Amazon graciously took it back, I ordered another one, if it happens again, I'm out.

Original review:

I love this little trackball. Now when my last two MS Trackball Explorers die, I won't be left in mouse limbo.
I am not crazy about the shape and location of the right button, and the wheel button is way too hard to press, but with 10 customizable buttons and flying scroll (and I didn't even get to Profiles yet!) I can overlook that. Well done Elecom!

I just received my mouse so these are first impressions. Will update as necessary.

Why did I purchase this device?

Like I think almost everyone else that purchased it, the Logitech Optical Trackman has left a hole in my computing life. It really is sort of like THAT ex, the one that got away for not necessarily any reason of your own? Yeah. Since the trackman was discontinued I've gone through at least 5 others that just don't seem to fit right. The closest I came was a Kensington, but it was way, way too small. To this day, I haven't found the perfect replacement. I don't completely understand Logitech or Kensington - do they not realize that there's a demand for the mouse or is there some engineering issue that prevents it from being viable to produce? Who knows. All I know is, I'd really, really, really like another Logitech Optical Wireless Trackman.

This device, the good?

This is the closest I've come, other than the Kensington. Scrolling to me feels really smooth and I haven't had any tracking issues, ie: no hiccups in movement etc. Only time will tell how the optics stand up over the longer run. There are extra buttons, which is great. I'm assuming there's software to program them. For now I'm just interested in the basic function as well as web page scrolling and for that, It's A-OK. Will be testing gaming shortly.

The bad?

So far, just the size and that's probably just me. This mouse too feels just a tad too small. I have large hands and I find my thumb scrunching to hit the left button, not really because the button is small or anything. Just odd placement/shape. The ball also feels small, but I believe that should the mouse last long enough, I should be able to get used to it. I don't know if it was larger if my thumb would still scrunch to hit the left button, that may actually be slightly odd button shape or placement vs. a size issue, but the mouse feels small vs. the Logitech device. I'm doing a direct comparison because obviously, as I mentioned, I'm trying to replace the Logitech. I can get used to the ball, I don't know if I can get used to the finger.

The ugly?

The instructions are in Chinese I think. No software seems to be included so if you want or need to program keys, I imagine if the instructions are only in Chinese that the software would likely be too, but hey, perhaps this is an incorrect assumption. I feel like if this mouse does work out for me, it's going to kind of suck figuring out the software for when I do need to use the extra keys. Since I'm used to the Logitech, my fingers are going to all the wrong places on this mouse. Hopefully this will change. As it is right now, the mouse feels a bit awkward to use but is still the best and closest to the Logitech. Again, only time can tell if this stands up as a suitable replacement for my mouse ex.

Update (12/12/16):

It's just too small :(. I can't seem to comfortably game with it, but I can use Windows 10 perfectly. The left key is just in too much of a funky position. I'm pushing myself to try but it's not looking good. It's been a great mouse otherwise though. If they made a larger version I'd jump on that for sure.

The directions for the mouse are on the website, btw, in English. If anyone is curious, the switch at the bottom is for low/high tracking. Setting it to high will give greater accuracy but lower the time between battery changes. The little switch beside the roller is for pointer speed, high and low are the settings and it's the same deal with energy consumption. So far I haven't seen or felt any issues with keeping everything on low but hard core gamers will likely want to use the high setting for both.

I was excited to get the ELECOM Wireless trackball mouse for the index finger. I have been looking for a viable solution to the Logitech Trackman for several years. I thought this was finally the answer.

I use my computer day and night. I'm homebound, almost bedbound. My computer is my lifeline and is only not in use when I sleep. I read, do puzzles, cruise, shop...everything. All this is extremely mouse intensive. I also have a tendency for tendonitis and since opposable thumbs make us humans able to do many things, the loss of thumb use due to pain or injury is not a good thing. That said, I wanted something as smooth and gentle on my thumb as possible. This mouse isn't it.

The scroll wheel and the left click are thumb controlled. This requires continuous, repetitive action on the big joint of the thumb. The click action is stiff, sometimes unresponsive and the fingers actually have to subtly grip the mouse every time you click. This has caused a lot of aching in my whole hand.

The right click bar is too close to the ball and the fingers get in the way when I try and do a large, rapid movement with the ball. This causes awkward wrist movements, to realign my hand, when doing full range rolls. Then, when doing small, precise movements, the ball is sticky and stuttery and really difficult to attain accuracy.

I really like the multiple programmable buttons and use them all. This almost make the mouse worth the trouble. Almost

As for a user manual or helpful documents, there isn't any. I looked. In fact, if anybody can explain why the power switch has off/L/H I'd love to know! Also, there is a slide switch in front of the scroll wheel. I can't figure out what is does either.

Just so you know, I'm pretty knowledgeable when it comes to computers. Hubby and I are in our 60's, been in computer centered jobs for decades. We know our way around most things computer. I'll probably have to replace this mouse with another thumb ball unit in the somewhat near future.....darn it.

I wanted to love this product. I really, really, wanted to love this. I really needed to love this. But sadly, it is unusable.

For the last 15 years I have been using a Microsoft Trackball Explorer, which is on its last legs. Unfortunately, it was discontinued nearly a decade ago. I was looking for a new trackball that can be operated with the middle/index fingers, has a scroll wheel and 5 or more easily accessible and customizeable buttons for my CAD program. The more buttons, the better. This seemed to be the perfect solution. Except, it isn't.

Here are the problems:

The trackball is too small. I have average size hands and my hand was cramping after a few hours of use.

The ball itself is too small and can not be controlled precisely.

The left-most button, which is default to left-click, is pretty much impossible to use. It can be actuated only when pressed all the way at its forward tip. But when you hold your hand that far forward, the wheel and the ball are too far back and impossible to use.

The wheel button is too just too stiff to be usable.

The tilt buttons on the wheel are also too stiff. The left tilt (down) button can be used if you are actuating the wheel with the tip of the thumb, but the right tilt (up) button can not be pressed.

The right button is extremely awkward. The narrow button sitting up from the body is too tall to be actuated by a finger resting on the body and too narrow to rest the finger on it, not that it would be comfortable in that awkward position. A setup like they have on their thumb operated trackball (buttons flush with the body) wold have been significantly better and would provide one more button.

The only way to use this trackball is to have your hand way back on the trackball, with your palm resting on the table and tips of the fingers at the ball. To make this work you will have to assign the left click function to the left back button (located above and to the rear of the tilt wheel) and abandon the the default left click button, the left forward button, the track wheel button and the track wheel tilt. But then you are left with a 5 button trackball with a very awkward right click button and a ball too small to be controlled accurately. That is what gets the two stars.

I believe this product has great potential. By making the body a little bigger, moving a few things around, using less stiff switches and using a bigger ball, they can have a home run!

Let me start out by saying I will be returning this trackball, but with remorse.

This is the closest thing to a Logitech Cordless Trackman, Elecom, you came really close to me giving up on my 8 year old Logitech which is on its last leg.

Pros:

1) Button Layout very similar (but not exact) to a Logitech Trackman.
2) Very smooth scrolling of both the thumb scroll wheel and the trackball.
3) Buttons feel solid
4) Smaller than a Trackman (about the size of a mouse).

Cons:

1) Buttons feel odd. The click point is all the way up the side of the trackball, instead of at a similar point. The pivot is at the back of the button towards your palm, so you can only click up towards the front.
2) Right click button is very odd. Its like a 1/4" (5mm) sliver about 2 in. long to the inside of where your ring finger would lay on the ball. Since you are using your index finger and middle finger to control the ball, you have to take your middle finger off to press it instead of like the trackman where you would press the button with your ring finger.
3) Size: for those with larger hands this might be a problem. I have smaller hands and fits better than a Trackman.
4) Scroll wheel location. I prefer to use my index finger for this. All mice that I have ever used this is located on top of the mouse. Perhaps I could get use to this, but it is very far behind where you would operate the left click making it feel un-natural.
5) All of the other buttons are a little too far forward on the mouse. Those of us with small thumbs can't reach them comfortably. I have to lift my hand to move forward and press them.