"The Bean is primarily intended for heavy travelers who are trying to get work done in tight spaces, like cramped hotel room desks. It looks like a traditional travel-friendly mouse, but it operates more like a trackpad. It doesn't have to move in order to register inputs. There's a red nub in the middle that controls cursor movement. This is how some laptops, like old-school ThinkPads, used to handle things."
"The company says that this particular nub is much more sensitive than the ones found on laptops. It features magnetic sensors by Texas Instruments and can detect movements as small as 3 microns. It can also move up to 11mm in all directions. The nub is surrounded by four buttons, which are all fully customizable via Ploopy's firmware."
"This allows for macros or combinations of keyboard clicks with a single press. Many of the components have also been designed in such a way that users with a 3D printer can make their own replacements. The downside? This isn't a wireless device and requires a USB-C connection. The Bean also costs around $51. It's available to order right now, but shipments could take up to 20 weeks to go out."
Ploopy Bean is a travel-focused mouse alternative designed for heavy travelers working in tight spaces such as cramped hotel room desks. The device resembles a traditional travel mouse but functions like a trackpad, registering inputs without requiring the unit to move. A red central nub controls cursor movement, using magnetic sensors from Texas Instruments to detect motion as small as 3 microns and allowing movement up to 11mm in all directions. Four surrounding buttons are fully customizable through Ploopy firmware for macros and combined click actions. Many parts are designed for 3D-printed replacements. The Bean is not wireless, requires a USB-C connection, costs about $51, and may take up to 20 weeks to ship.
#travel-accessories #computer-input-devices #trackpad-style-cursor-control #customizable-macros #usb-c-peripherals
Read at Engadget
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