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gunnar · Apr 25, 2003, 10:50 AM

I've been using a Logitech Wheel Mouse Optical which I love as a mouse but it seems to be very bad for carpal tunnel. I suspect it's the placement of the wheel which I use all the time. I've got my chair and keyboard swivel adjusted properly so I think it's definitely the mouse. What mice are the best for long hours at the computer? Are trackballs better? I would like two buttons and some kind of scroll wheel but I'm considering going back to the simple Apple mouse to force myself to do simpler less repetitive movements.

holygoat · Apr 25, 2003, 11:22 AM

I used a Logitech iFeel mouse until my wrist hurt so much I couldn't type. Mice are the worst thing to use for wrists, apart from this thing.

I got a wireless Logitech Optical Trackman, and after a little while I'm nearly as good as with a mouse (wouldn't really play Quake with it though).

The RSI is better (but I should still cut down), and it's actually better to use than a mouse anyway (once you get the practice).

I'd feel more comfortable if I could tip it forward though... my desk is too high.

andretan · Apr 25, 2003, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by holygoat:
I used a Logitech iFeel mouse until my wrist hurt so much I couldn't type. Mice are the worst thing to use for wrists, apart from this thing.

I got a wireless Logitech Optical Trackman, and after a little while I'm nearly as good as with a mouse (wouldn't really play Quake with it though).

The RSI is better (but I should still cut down), and it's actually better to use than a mouse anyway (once you get the practice).

I'd feel more comfortable if I could tip it forward though... my desk is too high.

Is the iFeel really that bad? I've been using it for more than a year... around 1.5 years (I think).

Previously I was using the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer (5 button giant) and it was great.

gunnar · Apr 25, 2003, 12:17 PM

I didn't like the MS mouse. It was too light and never seemed to track right. Plus, with so many buttons I was always hitting the wrong one because the click pressure is low.

holygoat · Apr 25, 2003, 12:21 PM

Is the iFeel really that bad? I've been using it for more than a year... around 1.5 years (I think).

It's not that bad... it's recently started double-clicking whenever I press the left button, which doesn't help.

I realised after I visited my doctor because the pain was bad that its size, unergonomic shape, and light button action caused a lot of stress. The trackball solves those to an extent.

I never used the iFeel feature really... it sucked in Windows. Waste of money... and I prefer the red non-iFeel colour too

gunnar · Apr 27, 2003, 07:00 PM

An update - I've been using the original Apple optical mouse for a few days now and it is like night and day how much better it is for my hand. My productivity seems about 10% less but it's worth it. Now if only they put in a touch pad interface for a scroll wheel I could have the best of both worlds.

gatorparrots · Apr 27, 2003, 08:13 PM

Wacom Graphire 2's stylus is much more natural than a mouse (avoiding the typical cupped-hand position over a mouse).

gunnar · Apr 27, 2003, 08:19 PM

I tried a Graphire but it didn't work the way I expected. I wanted to have it track the pen when it was contacting the pad and only to be active when I depressed the button. It only worked the other way, where I had to hold the pen above the pad to move the cursor, and drop it down to draw. It seemed really unnatural. I asked the tech guy if this was how it was supposed to work and he said yes, but it seemed completely counterintuitive to using a pencil.