Alternative Types of Mice

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phil
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Phil

I use the PC for long periods and find my arm and shoulder feeling the
strain. Any tips for relieving this and do you know of any different types
of mice that may help.

Thanks

Phil
 
Phil said:
I use the PC for long periods and find my arm and shoulder feeling the
strain. Any tips for relieving this and do you know of any different types
of mice that may help.

Thanks

Phil
Click to expand...
The best way I've found, after two carpal tunnel and one shoulder rebuild
surgeries, it to ditch the mouse entirely and to use a trackball that
doesn't demand any gross hand motions. I have two of these
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=6,CONTENTID=5002
and am considering buying a third strictly for use on the road with my
laptop so I don't have to unplug from another machine before leaving.
 
John McGaw said:
The best way I've found, after two carpal tunnel and one shoulder rebuild
surgeries, it to ditch the mouse entirely and to use a trackball that
doesn't demand any gross hand motions. I have two of these
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=6,CONTENTID=5002
and am considering buying a third strictly for use on the road with my
laptop so I don't have to unplug from another machine before leaving.
Click to expand...
Funny, I encounter those trackballs frequently at customer sites and regard
them as absolutely the worst possible pointing device! They are slow,
inaccurate and hurt the thumb after a short while.

I'm right handed but found it best to use the mouse with the left hand. The
left hand is faster and more accurate than the right that's why so many top
tennis players are left handed. I've been using the PC since 1986 for up to
12 hours a day this way and never had a single problem with my hands or
shoulders. I've always preferred a big desk and rest my elbows or forearms
on it while working. I absolutely hate those "workstations" type of
furniture with sliding keyboard trays and multilevel surfaces for keyboard,
mouse and monitor. They certainly give your hand and shoulders problems
because you can't rest your elbows or forehands anywhere.
 
Oh poor you!

Its a good job you don't work on a building site, as a fitter or down coal
miner crouching in a 4 foot seam picking coal with an axe all day!!!!!
 
Alien Zord said:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=6,CONTENTID=5002
Funny, I encounter those trackballs frequently at customer sites and regard
them as absolutely the worst possible pointing device! They are slow,
inaccurate and hurt the thumb after a short while.

I'm right handed but found it best to use the mouse with the left hand. The
left hand is faster and more accurate than the right that's why so many top
tennis players are left handed. I've been using the PC since 1986 for up to
12 hours a day this way and never had a single problem with my hands or
shoulders. I've always preferred a big desk and rest my elbows or forearms
on it while working. I absolutely hate those "workstations" type of
furniture with sliding keyboard trays and multilevel surfaces for keyboard,
mouse and monitor. They certainly give your hand and shoulders problems
because you can't rest your elbows or forehands anywhere.
Click to expand...
Your problems adjusting to a trackball are probably similar to mine when am
forced to go back to a mouse -- simply a matter of what we've become used
to. When presented with a mouse my mind asks me "how can anybody possibly
work this way? and who has all the extra desk space needed to work it?" I
find that I can manipulate the cursor with great precision using a trackball
and still maintain quick motion to anywhere on the screen -- it is all in
the driver setup. But I guess there must be a reason that there are so many
styles and types of pointing devices available: no single one seems to suit
everyone.
 
Thanks for the two detailed replies to my posting.

I have been able to borrow a roller ball but didn't get on with it despite
forcing myself to use for whole day.

Also borrowed an Ami hand trackball from friend who uses it when travelling
with their laptop but again worse than the desk rollerball.

However I have enlarged the desk space to the left of mouse position,
lowered my chair, bought a smaller monitor riser so more space in front of
it. So now able to put all arm weight on the desk and setting chair at right
height seemed to make a big difference.

I am now several days on and my arm has improved and it does not feel as it
is being strained.

Phil
 
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