Nape Pro Review | A New Concept Pointing Device for Keyboard Enthusiasts (Settings Included)
Hello everyone. This is Ryogu (@ryog_gadgets).
Recently, while talking with a few colleagues, I realized that there are surprisingly many people in my company who love keyboards and gadgets.
Some were planning to go to Tokyo to try out the GIZMODE and Keychron collaboration keyboard, and others were going to Korea to buy a Lofree keyboard at a lower price.
However, they are in different departments and we don't usually meet, so I thought it would be fun to connect them, and I'm planning something like a keyboard club.
Just then, that thing finally arrived... If I start a club, this is the first thing I want to talk about. Even though it's not a keyboard.
It is the "Nape Pro" that I wrote an article about when it was announced.
This time, I will summarize the review and setup of the Nape Pro that just arrived.
In conclusion, this is not an item that everyone should definitely buy! But it is an item like a curry made from scratch that will really resonate with the right people.
1. Hands-on Review
First, the outer box. I haven't bought other Keychron products, so I have no way to compare, but it uses a hologram and feels luxurious.
I also purchased the silver ball as a set this time. I will swap it out later.
Let's take out the contents. It's packed quite carefully, and it really feels like a finished product. In addition to the manual, the accessories are:
Type-C to Type-C cable
USB dongle
USB conversion adapter male
USB conversion adapter female
The female conversion adapter is likely intended for connecting via a cable.
The cable is a little under 2m long. Isn't that long...?
It's here. Let's take off the veil.
Oh...
My first impression was that it looked like a Unicorn Gundam. There's something about this simple yet intricately partitioned design that reminds me of it.
I will briefly summarize the product overview of the Nape Pro here.
The Nape Pro is a bar-type compact trackball device co-developed by Keychron and GIZMODO Japan. Its greatest feature is its long, slender shape, measuring 34.7mm wide and 135.2mm long, which allows it to be placed right next to a keyboard or inside a split keyboard. It is a product designed not as a 'mouse replacement' but as an 'extension of the keyboard'.
The key press feel is quite quiet, and I like that the click sound doesn't resonate, which is my preference. Since both the Naya Create and Slim Blade Pro are clicky types, this makes a good impression.
The M1 and M2 buttons have a slightly higher pitch, but both are quiet. Even if I use it at the office, I won't annoy the person sitting next to me in our free-address seating area.
I felt the thickness of the chassis itself was actually more than the numbers suggest. It doesn't seem to pair very well with low-profile keyboards, but since the unique 'Octa-Shift' feature allows for flexible placement angles, it seems like it could be used somehow.
By the way, checking the specs, the height is 36mm including the ball. It uses a 25mm diameter small ball, so it is smaller than typical 34mm class trackballs. The precision is authentic, with a Pixart PAW3222 sensor and 1000Hz polling.
The buttons also feel smooth and easy to operate. However, since the support bearings are resin, I can't help but feel that the smoothness will deteriorate over time... that's how it was with the Slim Blade Pro...
I will make sure to clean it properly on a regular basis.
I'm switching to the silver ball I bought with it. It's designed to be removed by poking it with something thin like a toothpick through the hole on the back. It's good that it's not just sitting there, but I think this is also the reason for the device's thickness. However, I definitely want it to be securely fitted when carrying it around, so this is the right choice.
I've swapped it to silver. In addition to this, I also bought a white ball in the second crowdfunding round, which will arrive later. If I want to match it with white, I'll use that one, but since the Slim Blade Pro also has a white chassis with a silver ball, they look like siblings, which is nice.
Overall, I had the impression that it was finished as a very clean product. With a few exceptions. I will mention those later.
2. Setup
Now that I've seen the high build quality of the actual unit, I'll get right into the setup and customization.
The Nape Pro uses Keychron Launcher.
Keychron Launcher is a web app that doesn't require installation, and settings are saved to the device itself. In other words, it's subtly convenient that the settings are carried over even if you change PCs.
At my company, I have to involve an incredible number of people to get approval just to install an app, so being able to quickly tweak settings even when I'm out and about is a big help.
When you connect the device to the Nape Pro via cable and open Keychron Launcher, you can see the settings screen.
From here, I'm going to assign actions to each button, but... there are so many... way too many...
Beyond standard mouse operations, you can also type keys, and with support for simultaneous presses, layers, Octa-Shift for changing Nape Pro orientation, and macros, I feel like I can do just about anything I set my mind to.
More than that, my impression is that it will take quite a while to find the optimal settings for myself. This is a real challenge for a Nomu30 user.
For now, I think it's best to use it and make small adjustments as I go, so I'll create a temporary setup for the time being.
Let's start with something like this.
Basically, I built a horizontal Layer 0 by referring to the map introduced by Mr. Amifuji from GIZMODE. For Layer 1, I prepared almost the same keys in a vertical orientation.
In addition to this, I've added another layer later, but I'll try operating with this for now.
3. Putting it into practice
Well, now that the settings are done, let's try using it.
Before I start using it, I'll explore which of my keyboards it's easiest to handle with.
First, my current primary, Naya Create. Since it originally comes with a trackpad and trackball, I don't really need it, but just in case.
Naya Create and Nape Pro don't seem to be very compatible due to the thickness of the chassis.
Even if I place it in the center, I have to reach further than I would for the built-in trackball, so I'd likely end up using the Naya Create's trackball instead.
Next is Nomu30. This keyboard is unusually compact but quite tall, so it should get along well with it...!
I thought so, but my hands do interfere when typing. Since there are regular keys where the spacebar would be on other keyboards, there is some interference. However, it's not unusable; by maintaining proper posture and lifting my hands slightly, I can use it without much interference.
This combination is a viable option for writing Notes.
Next is the Dygma Raise2, which I haven't used much lately. Since it's a split keyboard, placing it vertically in the center feels right here too. The Slim Blade Pro was also in this style.
It's hard to use when tented because the distance increases, but if used flat, this is also an option.
Actually, I used to work with the Raise2 and Slim Blade Pro, so I'm already used to trackball operation itself.
I would have liked to check it with an HHKB if possible, but I let it go a while ago, so I can't verify it. Considering the thickness, I regret a little that the HHKB would have likely felt the most natural.
I originally purchased this to use as a pointing device when taking my Nomu30 to the office, so I will be using it as my main device with the Nomu30 from now on.
And I found something that is only possible because of this size.
That is, browsing X.
It's not just about looking at X, but using the Nape Pro like a remote control to operate it.
Until now, when I looked at X on my PC, I would sit properly at my desk and scroll through it, but I discovered that I can hold the Nape Pro like a remote control to operate it.
Also, unlike the Slim Blade Pro where the ball just sits on top, the trackball here is properly secured, which makes it possible to hold and operate. The official site introduced ways to use it, and it's quite nice that you can also use it like a presentation pointer with the same grip.
With this, I can now put my feet up on the desk (though it's bad manners) and waste time in a state of maximum relaxation. It's a use case far from efficiency, but it's comfortable.
So, I created a layer for holding it.
Since it's hard to access M1 and M2 while holding it, I mapped left-click to 01 and right-click to 02.
Also, I assigned the voice input key for the Codex app to 04, setting it up to accept voice input only while the button is held down.
Additionally, I assigned Mission Control, window overview, and window movement to ball gestures, and use M2 to enter ball gesture mode. Since I'm holding it with one hand, I can't press buttons at the same time, but I trigger the ball gestures by pressing M2 with the ball of my thumb while operating the ball. It's a bit awkward to use, though.
4. Things I'm concerned about
First, the cheapness, or rather the scratchy feel of the dial part, is undeniable. Not only is the tactile feel subpar, but it also feels like it doesn't respond well. This is something I want them to fix.
Also, while it doesn't bother me much for now, since it's a support-ball type trackball, I feel like the movement will get worse if it gets dirty. I wish it used bearings instead...
As for the software side, there seem to be a few bugs left. The settings for simultaneous key presses change when I'm not looking, so I hope this gets resolved in an update.
5. Summary
So, I've done a hands-on review and setup of the Nape Pro.
It is incredibly effective for the following uses.
Who the Nape Pro is for
Those who primarily use split keyboards or ortholinear keyboards
Those who want to use macros for blog writing or coding
Those who want to save desk space
For those with a quirky nature who feel that "ordinary trackballs just aren't enough"
Conversely, for those who find customization a hassle or just want to use it like a normal mouse, unfortunately, it won't be a good fit, so I think it's better to just use a regular mouse.
It's better to think of this not as a trackball mouse, but as a pointing device called the Nape Pro.
That said, I feel like I might just haven't discovered a revolutionary way to use it yet, so I would welcome any feedback like "I assign this here and use it like this!" or "Can it be used this way? If so, I might consider it," so please feel free to leave a comment.
I plan to write an article soon about creating Nape Pro-related accessories with a 3D printer, so I would be happy if you could follow me for easy updates.
I also plan to summarize more detailed specs and comparisons with other products on my blog (ryogdesk.com), so please check that out as well.
#trackball #keyboard #gadget #desksetup #NapePro #Keychron #GIZMODE #bestbuys #gadgetreview
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