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| Plethora of Mouses | | Date Created: May 27, 2006, 10:02 AM |
I have issues with my right hand. I had a military injury about 15 years ago which broke every bone in the back of my hand - when I close my hand you can hear them all crack in and out of place (it's kinda like having a "double jointed" hand).
There are times when it simply does not work. Either it won't grip anything, it will grip something but let's go on it's own, or it gets locked in the "closed" position until I warm it up (by rubbing it until I can move it, and then moving it until I can use it). No pain is involved at all, I just have to watch that it doesn't get worse.
Normally, this thumb thing wouldn't be an issue for someone - but I work with my hands 70% of the time. Loading and unloading trucks; hanging cable picks, screens, projectors, etc; driving trucks, forklifts, and manlifts. All these things require a certain amount of grip...
I have to change computer mouses constantly. I have found that the weakest part of my hand is my thumb, so I try to change up as often as possible to relieve the stress on my thumb. The less issues I have on a regular basis, the more I know if a mouse is the "real-deal"...
For show site, I look for a few things: Travel Size (the less space it takes in my bag the better), Working Size (the less space it takes on the desktop the better), Function (shortcut buttons for repetitive tasks save a lot of time), Usability (I'm gonna be using this thing all day, it can not kill my hand)...
I have a regular mouse - Mac's "Mighty Mouse" - which I like just fine. But, after using other mouses, I find there is little to no functionality to a regular mouse anymore. I used this thing on the road, until recently, because it took up little room in my bag - but found that a regular mouse is not practical on show site because I usually don't have the deskspace for it. Another issue, with prolonged use, the wrist doesn't work too well - I don't have carpel tunnel, but my Mom does, so I'm always careful and sceptical with regular mouses...
To get over the deskspace, and carpel tunnel, issue on the road, I have a few "trigger" mouses. Basically, these things fit in your hand like a gun would - which means, you don't need any deskspace at all, you just hold this thing in your hand. When you "pull the trigger" it is a regular mouse click, when you push the top button (which would be like "cocking the gun") it is the right-click, and it has a small trackball in front of the right-click button. Simplicity.
I use these things for Powerpoint Presentations all the time. The wired version (made by Fellowes) has a long cable, so I can stand up and stretch while clicking the presentation. I also have a wireless version (made by IOGear) which fits in the hand a little better (it's larger)...
These things a great, but, if I have to do do a major amount of editing that day, my hand is useless for other work the next day. The trackball is very cool, but it wears out my thumb after a few hours. Also, the wireless version takes up a lot of space in my bag, and these things have the same functionality as a regular mouse (no short cut buttons - just click and right-click)...
I've tried various other mouses, which sit in my "closet of shame", but found most to suck. Logitech, Microsoft, Kensington, you name it and I've tried it - it's sitting in my closet right now...
I found the two that really KB. The Kensington Expert Mouse Pro and the Wacom Graphire.
The Kensington has a huge trackball right in the middle of it, with four huge buttons around the trackball, a scroll wheel above the trackball, and six shortcut keys above the scroll wheel. This thing kicks butt! I use it for my left hand while at my home office. I use to have a wireless one, which I travelled with, but it was too bulky for the bag. It broke, so I don't think it liked to travel - the new one is wired and it stays on my desk at home. I really do love this mouse - and shortcut keys are bitchin'...
The Wacom has it all. I use it for my right hand while in my home office. This thing has a small footprint - it takes up little or no deskspace on showsite and it's a space saver for my bag. I really like using the pen-mouse - it's just like writing. The coolest part is that you can create your own pop-up menu, and you can program the thing to pop-up while pushing one of the buttons on the pen. You can literally, use your computer for hours without touching anything other than the tablet and pen - really saves the hand...
This thing also comes with a mouse - and the pop-up menu works when you click on the scroll wheel. So, as long as you don't use it enough to get carpel tunnel, I have finally found a functional mouse!
My pop-up has all my keyboard shortcuts and programs that I use most frequently - so, unless I'm typing, I do not touch my computer/keyboard...
I can kick back with my tablet on my lap - looks and feels like I'm writing a book...
Another really cool peripheral I have is my MS Keyboard. The thing is contoured and ergo - so there's absolutely no stress on the hand while typing. It's got 11 programmable buttons on the top with movie/iTunes control. This thing stays at home, but it really has improved the strength in my hand. Funny, how using the right equipment has obvious benifits, eh?
Logitech Extreme 3D Pro is a joystick which I sometimes use as a mouse (only at home due to its size). This thing is a monster, and takes a while to get use to using as a mouse, but it has a massive amount of programmable buttons - so I bust it out when I need more "Quick Button" functionality than the Kensington, Wacom, and MS Keyboard have...
Also, it's cool for playing games - especially 3D Asteroids... |
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