[fomine3]

Let's note has circular trackpad (It's traditional design, IMO it's bad now) so maybe OP mistook it for trackball. There's no laptop with trackball within a decade AFAIK.

[snerbles]

Not mistaken. There were both circular trackpads and a couple of trackballs.

Like this: https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8466/8080447493_c11ce3c520_b.j...

[fomine3]

Such model exists until around 2000 but no longer exists. I suspect that you met old laptop enthusiast group at the cafe since it's Akihabara.