Basically I need a new mouse or alternative. Nowadays I hardly use it as a precision pointer but mostly to endlessly scroll through texts. What is the best device if scrolling comfort and control is key?
I lost count of the number of mice I used (and yes, I used Wacom tablets, trackballs and 3D space balls as well) but the good ones I lost and the bad ones never wanted to die in sufficient numbers. Luckily the last one is now in his (her?) last days.
I looked at some alternatives like the Leap Motion (not usable for production use according to the reviews), the Logitech Touch panel (to try it I used my phone as a touch screen for my PC, scrolling was a nuisance) and the latest trackball (could work for precision control, but vertical scrolling is again a nuisance).
So it has to be a mouse. Wireless (I don't mind about lag, don't do shooters). Not too large as I have small hands, not too small (as I'm clumsy) and most of all with excellent control over scrolling.
Any suggestions? #Tech
What on earth? It has hair and a tattoo? Clips it's nails!
I'm interested to see what kind of answers you get +Max Huijgen. I have never been satisfied, wondering what others are using.
Haven't used a mouse for several years. Just magic trackpad works great. If it works on PC, you might want to give it a go.
I take it you're not using a Mac or you wouldn't be asking, but the magic mouse, which is both a mouse and a trackpad is fantastic.
Isn't the high speed scrolling just uncontrollable super fast +Eve A?
A colleague of mine has a Logitech mouse with hyper-fast scrolling, and he really likes it. It's not so much 'high speed' as it is continuous (ie: you don't have to scroll multiple times to reach the bottom of a page).
Ah, so it's easy to control. The continuous would be great. The problem with trying out mouse in a shop is that a) you rarely get more than a very short text (if anything) and b) you can't judge how it would feel when you are concentrated and making the hours.
+Max Huijgen, I've tried out my colleague's mouse for a few hours. It is pretty cool, and certainly worth a try. It's not very hard to control, and you can scroll normally ('click'-style scrolling) as well. It's just that when you give it a spin, it keeps going.
+Max Huijgen why not use click-style scrolling with any regular mouse?
Check out the high end Logitech stuff, Max. Can't go wrong with them.
I scroll so much over a day that I get pain in my hand from it +Filip H.F. Slagter and before that I lose the precision control which on G+ with all these annoying nested windows is crucial.
+Alex Balcázar +Michael Mahemoff Logitech seems to make an equivalent quality touch pad, but testing with my phone as the 'mouse' made it feel awkward.
Started to use the Logitech MX Revolution 7-8 years ago and have only used that type of mouse since then.
It is great for scrolling as mentioned above.
At the moment I'm not using a mouse due to injuries, but my first choice would be Logitech.
I think they come in different sizes, you'll have to check yourself.
If you can try one in a shop. visit a webpage on that computer, something like a newspaper. They usually have very long pages.
The Logitech mouse I have has a heavy flywheel type thing. It can click or freewheel for ages. Very controllable too.
Apple Magic Mouse. Never look back. (Although installing the drivers in Windows doesn't appear entirely straightforward).
Shop with an internet connection? +Hakan Gül
the MX Revolution is no longer on sale. The Mx performance is a bit too large for me while his small nephew the Anywhere is definitely too small.
How do you get pain in your hand from pressing the mouse-wheel once to enter scroll-mode, and then (slightly) drag the mouse in the scroll direction you want?
By having to keep my index finger in the air +Filip H.F. Slagter and making the same small movement ten thousands of times.
If I understand you correctly, +Max Huijgen, that is the problem with a trackpad, including the magic pad. The thing about the magic mouse is that the trackpad is only used for scrolling and some gestures. For the point and click part you still have a mouse.
As an anecdote, when I got it I kept telling everyone how smooth and fast if I so wanted the scrolling was. Everyone looked at me as if I was talking about how cool the rear view mirror in my new car was. So yes, I understand you very well when you say scrolling comfort is your main focus.
Yes, after reading tens of reviews I realize it's a weird 'obsession' to focus on scrolling comfort +Alex Balcázar
My test with my phone as the touch platform just emulated the scrolling. The point and click I didn't even try. Still awkward.
Yes, we have shops here with internet connection on some of the demo computers.
I think we might have similar problems with our hands / arms. I'm also looking for options to replace my mouse as my problems are very serious. I can't use a regular mouse at all right now.
Oh yes on some, but then they don't have the right mouse connected +Hakan Gül At least over here.
What +Filip H.F. Slagter is suggesting +Max Huijgen is using a mouse with a clickable scroll wheel and taking advantage of click-drag scrolling. Once you click, you can rest your poor middle finger until you need to scroll again. The only trick is training yourself to use it. All other techniques require multiple repetitive movements which can lead to RSI. My recommendation is one of the Logitech M310 (smaller) or M510 (larger) whichever fits your hand better. Ambidextrous friendly (so I can switch hands easily), wireless with excellent battery life and range, and not expensive.
If it is a serious shop, then ask them to move the mouse to another computer 😉
Or bring a laptop with you. Prepare a file in advance.
Then ask to try the mouse on your laptop …
Anyway, if you find something truly awesome, please let me know.
Exactly what +Chris Holt said.
Furthermore, if you get RSI symptoms so easily, then perhaps you should have a closer look at your entire desk/chair setup. Often the issue isn't specifically with the mouse or keyboard, but with the way you sit at your desk.
No, I hardly suffer from RSI issues. At the end of a long day I just lose precision and get close to cramp +Filip H.F. Slagter no matter how I arrange my work place.
+Chris Holt Maybe I misunderstand how it works. I just found a Logitech 305 which can 'auto scroll' after pressing the scroll wheel but that's not what i'm looking for. Is that what a 310 offers?
If you can find a mouse that fits tour hand and has a thumb scroll wheel like the Logitech revolution you'd be set. Thumb scrolling is equivalent to holding the arrow keys, to get to the bottom of a page fast. The standard scroll wheel is still in place for controlled scrolling when you need it.
Maybe one of the Microsoft Touch Mouses will do the trick. Any one with experience with them?
Waiting to find the good mouse, are you using the "Scroll To Top Button" extension for Chrome +Max Huijgen which allow to save some finger movments for long scrolls ?
Just installed +Jean-Marc Luna but to reach top or bottom I usually use the keyboard home/end buttons.
+Max Huijgen If you can borrow a friends's Magic Mouse or even just a Macbook trackpad, I think you'll see the difference. Most PC trackpads don't stack up to it. People say the high-end ChromeBooks are close, but it's not the same.
I agree with +Michael Mahemoff, the "Magic Mouse" is at first a little confusing, but it is accurate and provides real comfort, and when the finger is tired, another can take over easily because it is a trackpad.
+Max Huijgen , if you have a Staples near you, they'll let you return hardware for 30 days. I have often bought a keyboard or mouse (or two or three), brought them home for a weekend, and returned the losers. And i have two Logitech Performance MX (one at home, one at the office), and would need to have it pried from my cold dead hand. The fast scroll is excellent, and easy to control – it's inertial, so you just spin the wheel, then brake it when you want to stop. and it has enough buttons to be handy, without looking like a keyboard. Also, uses Logitech "Dark Field" (?? who knows ??) that works anywhere, including (supposedly) glas top desks. ymmv, but i love mine
Yes, +Max Huijgen The 310 has the same auto scroll function. Sorry that's not any help. Perhaps the inertial scroll function of the Performance NX (righty only, boo) or the smaller Anywhere MX will be a better fit. +Chuck Mauthe has a great suggestion about any store with a no questions return policy.
IO/PEN
After trying many devices, like you, I am now very happy with a wireless logitech M505 mouse. It is small, simple, battery lasts for more than a year. It is optical, easy to clean, doesnt feel sticky, and has a good wheel. Of course, like many optical mice, it doesnt work on glass surfaces. Never had wireless interference with other users (I often work in crowded consultant places).
Well, you do have an RSI +Max Huijgen just not the carpal tunnel type that people typically think of. I think it's interesting that you say it's your index finger that you are keeping in the air and this causes the pain. So I guess, first point is that I do know why you do this as it sort of creates "space" for your middle finger to scroll, however you don't actually need to. Have you tried readjusting so you leave your index finger resting lightly on mouse 1? If you do that, then presumably there's no pain caused by the elevation of the finger? Many many hours of PC gaming shows me this is perfectly possible.
If that isn't the case for whatever reason, I've found that the small Logitech VX Nano is very comfortable to use and has that good Logi click and free-wheel errr wheel. But to be honest it's your hand posture that's causing the problem so I don't think this, or any other conventional mouse, is going to make this go away. So if we follow the logic that it is an RSI caused by hand / finger posture, personally I would go for a form factor that supports a neutral hand position such as the various designs found here – http://www.rsi-shop.co.uk/browse_category.asp?id=47&item=Ergonomic+Mice . The crucial thing is to find something that isn't having you elevate that index finger back against the joint. Perhaps one of the handshake position mice and keep that index finger lightly curled instead of strained back. My $0.02.
Never thought about it, but I operate the scroll wheel with my index finger +Gareth Johnson I just tried to do it with my middle finger and I don't think I can with sufficient control.
You raise a good point! Maybe my underlying problem is that I'm left handed, yet use my right hand to operate the mouse. This is a habit I grew into as I had to operate lots of systems for demos etc where the mouse was already right handed.
disturbing
I'm the same way, +Max Huijgen , a lefty using right handed mice. My current is an aging Logitech g500… not what you need because it isn't wireless and its more of a gaming mouse. But in general I find Logitech makes some of the best peripherals.
+Max Huijgen As a lefty who uses a mouse right-handed, I can tell you it is absolutely possible to use a mouse with the middle finger for scrolling with great accuracy. The key I think for you will be to rest your index finger on mouse 1 and your ring finger on mouse two and keep your middle finger on the scroll wheel. It will feel slightly unnatural at first, but it will help because it will rest that sore index finger and also importantly turn you into a "hand-mover" of the whole mouse, not a finger-flicker which also causes minute repeat strains. I also agree with whoever said that you'd be best off using a click and scroll i.e. pushing in the scroll wheel to get a click and scroll icon for the mouse and then using up and down to scroll. You might have to force yourself to do both things for a couple of weeks but then it'll become second nature and your problem will be resolved. Good luck!
I will try, but I need a wider mouse than the Logitech M305to accommodate my fingers +Gareth Johnson
You're totally right that the way I now use the mouse is a recipe for RSI and thanks for helping me discover it.
*recipe 😉
+Max Huijgen Happy if it helps. You might have a look at these, which I've owned: http://www.cyborggaming.com/ . The "RAT" (I know, I know) is a fully adjustable mouse (length and arch) and as you can see, also has a thumb scroll wheel which might be just the ticket too? The mouse buttons are also really quite wide.
Tnx +Gareth Johnson Do you happen to know the minimum length of the RAT? It's not in the specs and as I use a cross between fingertip and claw grip (palm on desktop) I can't handle long ones.
+Max Huijgen They can go very short or really long – there's a screw thread that moves the back in or out as well as alternate replaceable back sections. The short side is almost like a 2/3rds mouse from recollection. I'm a finger-gripper too but from many years of gaming, I can tell you that the really serious gamers who have very fine degrees of control generally swear by a hand-grip not a finger grip and I have heard people before saying that finger grips tend to cause hand-ache and can lead to RSI. You should be good with a RAT. PC World actually stock them in bigger ones if you want to have a go. I would say that they aren't mega-robust. I slightly thumped mine down having just destroyed a file by mistake and it killed the laser – so be gentle!
I'm now testing a Razer Mamba
Anchor makes a "gaming" mouse here.
http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Programmable-Buttons-Cartridges-Switches/dp/B00AAQRNQ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378139995&sr=8-1&keywords=anchor+gaming+mouse
The quality is as good as any of the 75 to 100 dollar offerings I've felt out and it's quite useful in my autocad and various animation, paint, and layout software with both adobe and sair as well as autodesk stuff and the simple programing (9 buttons) and script recording functions are very useful when switching between software and the high dpi rate makes it my detail control of choice. I also use a 3 foot pedal rig for browsing large image catalogues or folders. Lots and lots of web pages and the like. It's the quickest and easiest setup I've ever had for such work. About 30 bucks on Amazon