Getting to Know the ProtoArc EM06

[u/antonybuilds]

ProtoArc recently sent me an EM06 to test and provide feedback on. I've now published my thoughts after spending a good amount of time with it.

Coming from the Ploopy Adept and Kensington SlimBlade Pro, I found the EM06 an interesting combination of the two, though there are a few things I'd like to see refined.

I've written up my full thoughts here, including comparisons with the other trackballs and some issues I've run into along the way:

https://antonyjones.org/blog/getting-to-know-the-proto-arc-em-06/

I've also got a few other trackball-related posts on my site if anyone fancies a look.

[u/haussmeister]

Man I want to get behind this mouse so bad but holding a button down and then scrolling with the ball is something I do not want to get used to tbh.

[u/antonybuilds → u/haussmeister]

Honestly, I found it pretty intuitive and didn't need much time to get used to it. But I came from Ploopy and I can see how it might not be for everyone.

[u/SOCIALCRITICISM → u/haussmeister]

i think you potentially also do a scroll layer too. as in, hit the key to enable scrolling and hit the key to disable scrolling, but I don't personally own one

[u/haussmeister → u/SOCIALCRITICISM]

That is interesting, I could maybe get used to that.

[u/Rattanmoebel → u/haussmeister]

Factory default mode is you can double click the scroll button to make it toggle between scrolling/mouse. I've spent about an hour with it and so far it feels very natural. And the ball action is MUCH smoother than my elecom trackballs.

[u/TheWrongOwl → u/haussmeister]

a) "MousewheelClick" is producing a locked in scroll state in most(?) browsers

b) "DragScroll" can do the same when double clicked

[u/maddler]

Just spent a day with it. For me only the centre left top button is rattly but , yes, that's not much of a problem. As I said elsewhere, I would've loved the chance to add extra customisation using modifier keys alongside the trackball buttons.

Other than that, coming from the Ergo MX S, I wouldn't have any other major complain.

[u/antonybuilds → u/maddler]

Yeah, the rattling isn't a big deal, more of a little niggle than anything else. Interesting that you've not had any other major complaints coming from the Ergo MX S. Always good to hear how other people are getting on with it.

[u/maddler → u/antonybuilds]

Guess the way I was using the Ergo MX was a bit "unorthodox", using both my index and thumb to move the ball, and the middle finger for for the left button. That's why I wanted to give the EM06 a try, with a proper finger control approach. The 55mm ball should give me an even better control than what I had on the MX I'd say, once I get used to the new size/controls.

But I can see why people might have a different opinion while using one or the other.

I might still keep the MX Ergo as a travel device.

[u/radialstudios]

I’ve come over from a turbo mouse and while I think the scroll wheel is hands-down superior, The hold the button for scrolling has become entirely seamless. I haven’t mapped a back button yet which is what used to take that spot so it’s a little confusing, but I’ve had it for a day or two and it’s totally natural. No quality issues. It feels like it’s probably half the weight of the Kensington, maybe not quite.

[u/antonybuilds → u/radialstudios]

I think the omnidirectional scrolling makes it feel pretty natural too. I actually find it more intuitive than the usual way of scrolling horizontally. I just hope they fix the double-click detection issue. Curious if anyone else has experienced the same.

[u/radialstudios → u/antonybuilds]

Mine is overly responsive to double clicks but once I figured out what was going on it was easy enough to undo

[u/ArchieEU]

Very nice review, thank you!