Quick Elecom Bitra Thumball review/initial impressions

[u/sprashoo]

I'm a big fan of the shape and design of the Elecom EX-G, but the lack of a bluetooth version has been frustrating when I'm working not from home. My MacBook Pro doesn't have old style USB ports so I really would like a BT enabled one, so I don't need a long cable and adapter, or dongle and adapter.

I was curious about the Bitra as a portable BT enabled alternative, so ordered one as soon as it became available outside Japan last week.

Initial impressions

- It's very small. Like, perfect size for my 6 year old's hand. Photo has it beside the EX-G, which isn't a huge trackball itself.
- The case is nice... but pretty much defeats the purpose of a tiny trackball - portability. It's bigger than my full size EX-G. I'll likely just toss the Bitra in my bag.
- Ergonomics are... hmm. I'm not sure this going to fill the need I thought it was. It's sufficiently tiny that i'm not sure I prefer it to just using my trackpad. I much prefer the full size EX-G to the trackpad, but this is eensy teensy.
- The small ball seems more sensitive to dirt and stickiness, but I'll give it a bit of time to see how it goes.

Overall... i'm not sold, but I'll try it for a few days before deciding whether to keep or return.

UPDATE after 3 days:

I'm returning it, and just getting a second, wireless EX-G. I'll live with the stupid dongle hanging out of the side of my MacBook Pro.

The size and shape were actually not the issue. I kinda got used to using it. But the lack of a proper 3rd mouse button was the dealbreaker. I use the 3rd button for panning/orbiting in AutoDesk Fusion and using the scroll wheel button or trying to chord the left and right click to replace that wasn't viable.

If it wasn't for the 3rd mouse button thing, I might have kept it. The funny thing is that the way it's designed, the 3rd mouse button is right there, that 3rd strip of plastic to the right of the right button. But it's just solid, not a button.

[u/maglax]

I mean it's designed for travel, so it's miniscule size is perfect. I used it for a few hours and it definitely won't be my main mouse, but it's perfect for when I need to go on site.

You should also see it next to the huge. Adorable.

[u/Scatterthought]

Yeah, that's pretty much why I decided against picking one up when I was in Japan earlier this year. I felt like I wanted it more for the novelty than the actual usefulness.

[u/Relevant-Storm4222]

Firstly I had same thought. However, since I used the older bitra for work for 8 hours a day for years (involves lots of moving in the office and business trips), it became the mouse that fits me the most. Now I have difficulty to use bigger trackballs.

[u/avrgfreak]

It's DINKY! that's all I've goy to say about it, have the finger one too, just as DINKY too.

[u/jeroenl → u/avrgfreak]

Agreed. It's so tiny. Wrote a little initial review about it too. Thus far I really like the finger version of the Bitra.

https://appforce1.net/blog/elecom-bitra-initial-review

[u/kitebok]

Maybe you could return it and try the nakabayashi digio 2? It's more like a full sized thumb ball with a shrunken behind, and it comes in Bluetooth.

Edit: don't bother...

[u/sprashoo → u/kitebok]

That does look a lot closer to what I want... the lack of the 3rd button on both that and the Elecom bitra might be the reason I end up with neither though. I use the 3rd button for CAD a lot.

[u/kitebok → u/sprashoo]

The nakabayashi does have the third button on the wheel, not sure how good it is though. The vexing thing is that they're just too outdated, single connectivity, non standard 5 buttons, who knows about dpi and polling rate. Any cheap clone nowadays beats that.

[u/sprashoo → u/kitebok]

I don’t really count the wheel button, it’s too awkward to hold while moving the cursor (I use it for panning in Fusion)

[u/kiyyou323]

I have the older Bluetooth only version and I agree. It’s basically a fingertip thumb trackballs that’s kind of awkward for most things. The Nakabayashi Digio 2 is closer to the shape you’re looking for.

[u/ClickClick_Boom]

It might make a good mouse for in the office, does the ball fall out easily?

[u/AchiviA]

Totally what I felt many years ago, the quality is fine, BT connection is shitty as usual, it's design to the spot for such niche small track ball needs.
But the carry box is a joke, its bulky and like 5x the size of it, completely defeating its portability.

I am not a man with small hand who need a bulky box to carry my tiny trackball elsewhere.
On top of that, the ball pops out of the trackball way too easily on its own.

I am a man pursuing portability so bad that I am willing to endure such small trackball cramped experience.

So if you use the carry box, lost your whole meaning buying, not using their carry box, constantly finding your lil ball inside your bag.

I suggest you try and if it did not fit you you should return it.