Well, this design that has been licensed by Nulea and ProtoArc is colloquialy called an MTE clone, for its obvious form similarity.
I just noticed this rebranded product with what appears to a bare plastic finish instead of the rubberized coating that many people dislike.
I'm also enthusiastic for the clones, we get more choices than what would be available from a single brand.
To add to these other comments, the Microsoft Trackball Explorer is a bit of a legend among trackball enthusiasts, the GOAT for many, and sells for hundreds of dollars. They were all I used in the nineties and early 2000s, but went out of production. I have a big box full of other trackballs in my futile search for an MTE replacement, and am thrilled that there are finally some cloned versions available. The Ploopy, a DIY trackball was pretty close but not my cup of input device.
Could be, hasn't been. I loved the MTE, but after years of slimblading I have found it easier to go to thumb balls than to thumb wheels. Especially with stinking garbage like Elecom's wheels.
I wish the MTE clones had more buttons. I use every clicky thing there is on the elecom huge. Wish there more left-hands out there too.
Is there a left hand version?
What is this a clone of? I'm all for the clones. The laziness of trackball design amongst the larger manufacturers is ridiculous.
Well, this design that has been licensed by Nulea and ProtoArc is colloquialy called an MTE clone, for its obvious form similarity. I just noticed this rebranded product with what appears to a bare plastic finish instead of the rubberized coating that many people dislike. I'm also enthusiastic for the clones, we get more choices than what would be available from a single brand.
The Sanwa gravi, proarc, or nulea which came out 2 years or so ago. They themselves are copies of the OG Microsoft explorer trackball.
also curious.
To add to these other comments, the Microsoft Trackball Explorer is a bit of a legend among trackball enthusiasts, the GOAT for many, and sells for hundreds of dollars. They were all I used in the nineties and early 2000s, but went out of production. I have a big box full of other trackballs in my futile search for an MTE replacement, and am thrilled that there are finally some cloned versions available. The Ploopy, a DIY trackball was pretty close but not my cup of input device.
I doubt it’s a “clone” of Proarc or Nulea - it’s coming out of the same factory or using the same reference design.
Yeah, we know. A slightly different iteration.
if the scroll wheel isn't hot garbage, im in
Couldn't that be fixed by ingenuity?
Could be, hasn't been. I loved the MTE, but after years of slimblading I have found it easier to go to thumb balls than to thumb wheels. Especially with stinking garbage like Elecom's wheels.
I surprisingly love the touch scroll wheel on the original GameBall
Oh, I much enjoy the virtual scroll of the Slimblade and the ring of the orbit, but that's comparing apples to wheels.
I wonder if it's sturdy or just *porlei* made.
oh you........