ProtoArc EM05 NL Wireless Vertical Trackball Mouse, 5 DPI Levels, Red

This is an initial review after a full day's use of the mouse, but I'm pleased with the mouse so far. I didn't think I'd find an upgrade to a rollerball mouse, but even the small things, like the buttons on this mouse, and the placement, already make my functional use so much better. I really liked my previous mouse, actually my last 2, but in each new upgrade, the angle of the mouse and reach of the ball felt a little more comfortable than the last. This is an exceptional upgrade in how my hand feels holding the mouse, moving my thumb, and using the buttons. It took a minute to get used to the new position, then realizing the functions of the buttons, quick ease to change the cursor speed, not that I need that much, but useful. The forward and back buttons, especially useful in webpage surfing, is great, and easy to get to without really thinking about the button placement. The real think is the comfort of mouse setting. As I deal with maps, imagery, and coding, I don't like taking my eyes off the screen, and should be able to find my keyboard and mouse easy just by last placement, not by eyeing where they are. This should be a comfort level. As I'm already used to a rollerball mouse, this placement is already good, but now putting my hand down on the mouse, the way this mouse sits just feels more comfortable, and the wear and stress on my thumb is lower. This, however, is on personal use of the mouse. I've used flat rollerballs that use index finder, index and middle, and thumb rollers. I can function with any with ease, but extended use tires the fingers, especially from mouse to keyboard, moving screen items and typing. So far, I like this mouse. The design of the mouse seems to take up some more space than my previous model, I think mainly how the bottom of this spreads out for stability and comfort on your palm. Using this in conjunction with a small gel wrist rest, feels really comfortable in prolonged use. I have been really friendly with Logitech products, especially like their rollerball mice, and it comes down to the tracking. The last mouse was an off brand. While the mouse was nice, it held up well, the tracking and smooth movement wasn't there. For general document management and webpage surfing, it was fine. For precision work, it was not. The tracking on this, so far, is perfect, smooth, but this is so far just the first day use. Let's see over time. My previous off brand, tracking was never smooth, and sometimes quite frustrating. I'm not seeing with this, so far. I like this mouse, it's held up well to the first day use. It charged up well, came with minimal charge to at least get started, then we useable while charging. I'm using the USB, but this has Bluetooth function, if you go this direction. I'm happy with the USB. I'll write more later on the other connectivities. Each mouse is dependant on the user, use, function, and wear and tear on the hand placement, finger use, and overall ergonomic comfort. This works very well for me, thumb use, and placement of the hand. If you get a lot of thumb wear, this has some ease to it, and when not using the thumb, it has a natural resting place on the mouse. And the button functions, in turn, make this mouse quite functionable.

Wasn’t sure I would like the vertical trackball but I’ve grown so used to it that it’s now my preference. The battery life is great and the buttons are holding up well. Much easier than a mouse for RTS games in my opinion. The cursor can jump quickly by default but you can adjust it in the settings. I like this one and will probably get it again when it breaks down. Seems pretty sturdy though so I’m expecting at least a 6-7 year lifespan here. I’m 6’2” with average hands for my size. The feel is nice and the wheel works great. It’s a little bulky so many not your “travel” trackball but a perfect one for the default desk work.

I just received this alternative to a Std Mouse, (to a Std Trackball Mouse, and to a Std Vertical Mouse), and I must say it is all it claims to be in terms of use and functionality. The buttons work very well in their designed locations and the trackball ensures I minimize my hand/arm movements. I am enjoying the user experience. I had long ago moved from using a Std Mouse to using the Trackball alternatives, (of which I highly recommend the Kensington, Nulea, & Logi-tech options if someone is not ready to move to a Vertical Mouse). So while my current favorite option for a Std Mouse is the Logitech Ergo Trackball Mouse, when it was recently liberated (ie lifted/stolen) from my temporary workstation location, I decided it was high time to try the Vertical options available. I looked and tried several Vertical Mouse options, and although fairly comfortable with a few, I missed the use and functionality of having a Trackball Mouse. So when I discovered that Kensington & Logi-tech and a few other brands had some Trackball Vertical Mouse options I was thrilled. After reviewing the, (limited), options available I ended up selecting the ProtoArc Vertical Wireless Trackball Mouse, EM05 NL Bluetooth Ergonomic Rollerball Mouse for the following reasons: 1> A "true" vertical mouse setup with a 62' Tilt 2> A rechargeable mouse. Charging via a Type C USB cable option, with an included charging cable. 3> A 2.4 Hz Dongle along with Blue-tooth wireless connectivity options 4> Compatible with both Apple / Mac, Windows, PC Android, (this means in a pinch my significant other can use it as well for her Mac). As noted above I just received this mouse and have been putting it through its paces and so far, I think it's excellent. However, I am giving it 4 of 5 Stars, (as the system is not allowing me to give a 4.5 out of 5), for the following reasons: A> The trackball could be a little bigger even though it is thumb-specific, I have found the tracking of the larger trackballs for finger control tends to be a little easier to use, and therefore I would like the thumb trackball to be a little larger for that control. B> The Dongle could be set up for easier visibility. I find that keeping the Top and connecting edge Black requires a bright lighted area to ensure it is connected correctly and smoothly. So a brightly colored top and a white, (or other bright color connecting edge to the USB portion), would allow for faster and easier connection setup. C> Non-Programmability of Buttons prevents customization D> Lack of covering for the charging port and Dongle insert areas would be a plus from my perspective With that said, besides what I noted above, I also have the following recommendation: E> The creation of a Travel Size version of this or other Vertical Mouse. (As noted above I was using the Logitech Ergo Trackball Mouse and although it's big, I had a case for it so it allowed me to take it for some limited travel, so having the option to purchase a case would be a very good option. However, when doing serious traveling I defaulted to using a "miniature version" of the Std Mouse as space becomes a major restriction. So even with the feedback given above, I do want to stress that overall I am very happy with this ProtoArc Vertical Wireless Trackball Mouse, EM05 NL Bluetooth Ergonomic Rollerball Mouse, and I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially to those interested in transitioning to a vertical mouse and to anyone who would also appreciate having access to trackball functionality as well.

Basic description: essentially the trackball equivalent of the "vertical mouse." What do I think about it: Excellent. Ergonomic design is fantastic for me. Helps my shoulder vs. other trackballs because the angle of the arm impacts which muscles in the shoulder get used. It's just a comfortable, natural angle that allows my arm to be more relaxed while having good control of the cursor. This is also a much better value than the extra ergonomic Logi[tech] equivalent, which is nearly 2x the cost as I type this. And by the way, you'd have to use the cushion thing the Logi unit comes with to achieve a similar angle. Maybe it's great/fine, but if you want the steeper angle then why have a 2-piece design? Other aspects: Buttons somehow feel crisp while also being quiet. Effort feels just right to me. Weighting of the ball feels just right and it moves very smoothly. Scroll wheel could feel a tad tighter for my liking but this is being very picky; it behaves as I expect/want. Subjectively, the ProtoArc feels higher quality than the Logi M575 I'm coming from. The M575 doesn't feel cheap to me, but this feels nicer/higher end. If you like switching between DPI levels on the fly, there's a button on the mouse for this. I don't use this but the button is not in the way. My only open questions about this unit is how the Li-ion battery and buttons will hold up. The Logi units use plain old AA batteries, which makes them a non-issue to replace (though less convenient than Li-ion in some ways). The buttons fail on Logi units faster than I think they should. Time will tell here but I'm hopeful given that ProtoArc put the time and effort into creating a very thoughtful product.

**UPDATE** It's been just over 6 months since I bought this, and for the last week the scroll wheel has been "squeaking." It's not constant, at least not yet, but it happens "frequently." When you use the scroll wheel (not the ball), it frequently makes a light squeaking noise. The only other mice that I've ever had do this were cheap HP mice that are included with enterprise hardware. As of now, it's not overly bothersome and performance has not been impacted, but I'm removing a star because of it, as this should not be a problem on a $50+ mouse. We'll see if it gets worse. Overall, I really enjoy using this mouse. The design took a full day or two of work to get use to, but it is so much more comfortable than a traditional design. It keeps my wrist at a much more natural angle, which has eliminated the end-of-the-day fatigue and soreness that I had started to experience. I have used trackballs before, but they were always the more traditional index finger design...I really like using the trackball with my thumb. DPI is adjustable on the fly, which is nice because I can raise it to move between multiple screens or windows quickly and slow it down when precision is needed. It has been reliable, durable, and consistent. I've been using it 40+ hours a week for about a month, and aside from the initial charge I did before even using it, I haven't needed to charge it. You can use it either Bluetooth or with a 2.4GHz dongle (included), and you can have it paired to 2 devices. The wireless dongle stores in the bottom of the mouse when not needed, so if you're primarily a Bluetooth user or just want to keep your dongle safe when in transport, it's a very convenient way to keep track of it. I do have three minor complaints, or things I'd change: 1) The trackball could be smoother. It's not bad; far from gritty, but it's definitely not the smoothest trackball I've used. This doesn't cause any issues under normal use, but when I really need to make precise micro-movements in CAD, I find myself relying on my traditional laser mouse. Fortunately, that's only a few times a month, so it's not unbearably inconvenient. 2) There is no software or driver available for this mouse, so you cannot customize the buttons. Being this is not a gaming mouse, and the default functions are suitable for what it's designed for, I don't find this problematic, but if you like to change default functions, be aware. 3) There is only one DPI switch, so if you want to drop down one level in DPI, you have to hit the button several times. There also is no LED indicator for the DPI setting, nor any sort of driver or software that creates an on-screen indicator, so you have to go off of memory. This is the worst part of this mouse in my opinion and leads to having to "search" for the correct setting depending on the task you're performing. I understand that the thought process is "once you find your preferred setting, you won't need to change it," but in a modern office setting where we have multiple screens and work within many different applications performing many tasks, I think it's a relevant problem. A simple LED "ladder" indicating which of the 5 settings you're on along the top of the mouse where the "Protoarc" logo is would be perfect.

Pro: 1. Silent. all the buttons (except for the wheel click) is about as seilent as the Logitech ML 650. All the buttons are a hair louder than the ML650 (which has buttons that are inaudible at 6in away from the mouse), this mouse is silent if you're about 1 yard/1meter away from the mouse, so practically silent. the M3 button could be heard at 2 yards away. The EM01NL also has equally quiet M1 and M2 buttons, but the scroll wheel is quite loud, which is very unfortunate. That's all I gotta say. Other than that, this is just the best mouse. period. No other mice I've ever used comes anywhere near this. Unless you're into gaming, this should be standard in every office in the world. Con: 1. USB/BT1/BT2 button on the bottom of the mouse. If you're like me and switch between company PC, personal PC, phone simultaneously, being able to switch mouse connectivity between these three device was critical, this mouse is mildly annoying since the connectivity switch button is on the bottom of the mouse; this requires you to pick up the mouse. The EM01NL has the connectivity switch button on top so I'm using that at home, and this EM05 is dedicated for office; the ergonomic offsets this mild inconvenience. 2. I wish there was a wheel side scroll. I've just learned to use the M3 button to scroll through excel but would have been nice if this was native feature in the mouse.

Love this trackball mouse. Ball motion is smooth, quiet, and well-constrained. Button clicks are not as tactile or audible as a normal mouse, but that's fine. Scroll wheel is well-weighted and doesn't feel cheap. Forward and back buttons are placed in a great location and are tactile. USB-C charging is a nice touch. The ability to switch between a paired receiver and 2 other Bluetooth-enabled devices is what set this one apart for me. This one has served me well both in the office and at home. My only gripe is I'd like to have the device switching button located on a finger-accessible part of the body to switch devices faster. I use this to jump between PCs and a RasPi, so lifting it up to swap back and forth can be tedious.

Review is being written after two months of use and with years of familiarity with similar mice. Priced well for this style of mouse. Easy to adapt to if you are already familiar with trackball mice (like logitech's). I appreciate the extra buttons. DPI button does not have AS much fidelity as I would prefer, I definitely have to adjust my devices more than I'd like in addition. Battery lasts a very good long while, even with regular-to-constant active use. I love the connection to multiple devices. The mouse does not slip around on the desk with use. My biggest con is that the trackball movement is not smooth. It's a little jumpy and is not suited to accuracy. When moving the cursor slowly, the trackball sticks slightly and makes little jumps. Extremely frustrating for use in FPS gaming. Would strongly recommend Logitech's marble mouse over this one for that. The same issue is present when working at a fast pace & accuracy. I am constantly miss-clicking while navigating programs like the office suite of products. I'm not certain that this will reduce with practice. If you are used to standard wrist-motion laser mice, you honestly might not even notice the trackball accuracy issue, at least when it comes to point and click/non-FPS use. After an additional month of use with this mouse, I've decided that the trackball issue is so severe I am returning to using logitech's mouse. When you are already stressed or irritated, the mouse refusing to go where you need it to will make you go insane. Very frustrated with this purchase.

Muy buen producto, funcional la batería es buena, y muy fácil de configurar

Avant l'achat, je n'étais pas convaincu mais je me suis dit pour le prix, je vais l'essayer. Lors de la réception de la souris, l'emballage est digne d'une grande marque voir plus. Mais quand j'ai vu la souris et j'ai essayé, testé.... Wow ! Sérieusement, la qualité de fabrication, la solidité, le confort (++++), c'est beaucoup mieux qu'une souris d'une grande marque que j'ai eu à meilleur prix. J'ai une grande main et je n'ai pas besoin de replier ma main pour atteindre un bouton, ils sont à la portée de mes doigts. Bref, bien content, pour moi, c'est 5 étoiles. Un seul hic mais rien de majeur, la roulette de défilement, je l'aurais placé plus haut (sur le top) plutôt qu'entre les deux boutons droits et gauche. Mais plutôt de défiler avec l'index, je le fais avec le majeur, question d'habitude à prendre je pense.

Para uso diario y prolongado es la mejor opción, no cansa la mano y te permite mantener una postura relajada. Y con su configuración puedes variar la velocidad de respuesta, lo que lo hace más cómodo al adaptarlo a distintas actividades.

Un muy buen producto, se siente de buena calidad y es súper útil Al principio es un poco raro para adaptarse a él, pero después de unos minutos de uso es súper intuitivo Lo recomiendo 10/10

To preface, this is not my first Protoarc product. I've also used their EM03 trackball, but that one is a finger ball (the trackball is located up front instead of on the side) and not angled, which doesn't help with my wrist pronation and carpal tunnel issues. Enter the EM05. Very solidly built mouse but doesn't have a lot of weight to it, so some people might not like that it doesn't have that "grounded" sort of feeling. Otherwise it punches above its weight I find - easy to connect to any device via usb-c, 2.4ghz usb dongle or bluetooth wirelessly. The trackball rolls smoothly and is very easy to pop out and clean, but the ball won't just drop out of its slot. The metal scroll wheel feels okay but still lacking compared to the industry standard in the Logitech infinite scroll wheel in terms of smoothness and tactility. I also like that it has this sort of extended "lip" at the bottom to cradle the edge of your hand as you cradle it around the mouse. The angle on the EM05 is very comfortable compared to other vertical trackballs I've tried prior like the MX Ergo. I personally prefer the steeper angle so I can get my wrist as vertical as possible to avoid the overpronation but obviously not everyone will like this. For any left-handers wondering, this mouse is unfortunately not going to be for you with the buttons all located specifically for right-handers. Hopefully Protoarc produces a left-handed version of this in the future for the lefties out there.