What mouse do you use?

[Truman Leung]

I'd been using the Logitech V450 Cordless Laser Mouse over the last couple of years. I've had at least three of them. I liked the fact that they were wireless. But they've been causing pain in my wrist from too much use. They are small and portable which is great because I'm out a lot. However, it is smaller than the size of my hand so it's not as comfortable to use as a larger mouse.

Last week I got a Logitech Trackman Wheel. While it will take some time to gain pixel precision skill in using the wheel with my thumb, there thankfully is no more pain. And as an added benefit, I can with a single sweep of my thumb get the mouse pointer fully across two monitors.

[Daniel Leuck]

You need a mouse pad with wrist support. 90% of the time this does the trick. If it doesn't, the next step is an alternate pointing device such as a trackball.

I'm obviously not a doctor, but I've dealt with this quite a bit as a manager of engineers working long hours in Japan. I also recommend an ergonomic keyboard with elevated wrist support such as Microsoft's Natural Ergonomic Keyboard. These simple things can save you trouble with your wrists, your shoulders and your back.

I had a very hard working woman on my team in Japan who was constantly going to a chiropractor for pain in her shoulders and back. She refused to switch to a more ergonomic setup at her desk because she thought the keyboard required too big an adjustment and she didn't believe it was the source of her issues. I finally made it non-optional, which didn't make me very popular, but within two weeks she stopped going to the chiropractor.

[Laurence A. Lee]

I'm still using the original "Old-Skool" (circa 2000) Logitch optical Wheel Mouse, and still have two of them in good working order. These were among the first optical mice that Logitech put out that would operate on any surface, rather than the "optical-grid mirror" mouse pad that older devices needed.

Even compared to current devices -- especially wireless ones -- these mice are very light in the hand, and comfortable to use.

I also use settings that would tick most average users off: I crank up the pointer speed settings to near-maximum, so I can reach any part of the screen with minimal physical movement. It takes some getting used to, but this arrangement allows me to drop my hand on the mouse when needed, guide it with my fingers, and resume typing.

If there's a keyboard that sports an Eraser-Head joystick mouse like older IBM ThinkPads, that would be my ideal. Also, traditional keyboard layout is a requirement for me -- with the backslash in the proper position above the Enter Key, "Inverted T" arrow-keys, and insert/delete keys as used in traditional IBM PC keyboards.

Synaptics touch-pad controllers are also OK, but they can really irritate you when they wear out and send the mouse in unexpected directions. That seems to be the #2 repair on my aging laptops, second only to non-functioning keyboard key repairs. If it weren't for Ebay and a good soldering station, my older laptops would've been abandoned years ago.

[Sid]

I use the exact same logitech cordless mouse now. For a long time I used Microsoft's optical mice (the shiny silver one with grey trim). I chose the logitech based on light feel, ease in moving it, and of course the cool USB dongle that can be stored inside the mouse itself =)

[Daniel Leuck]

Laurence: Also, traditional keyboard layout is a requirement for me -- with the backslash in the proper position above the Enter Key, "Inverted T" arrow-keys, and insert/delete keys as used in traditional IBM PC keyboards.

I have the same requirement. Although the Logitech ergonomic keyboards move the keys around, the Microsoft Natural keyboard does not. It only takes a few days to adjust. The ability to avoid repetitive stress injuries and strain on your wrists, shoulders and back is well worth the investment.

In terms of mice, I usually buy some funky Logicool (Logitech's cool++ brand in Japan) mouse in Akihabara. If your mouse can't change color, emit pleasant aromas and make restaurant recommendations, what good is it?

[John Wang]

I use a combination of things.

Mouse: Logitech MX Revolution
Keyboard: Apple Wireless Keyboard

and also a Wacom Intuos3 Tablet, which can also be used as a mouse if you so desired to. Actually, it comes with a mouse too, but I just use the pen instead.

As for the "Natural" keyboards Dan mentioned, I love the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard. Cheap too. You can get it for $30 usually on sale.

[Paul Graydon]

Logitech MX1000 mouse, wireless laser mouse. Superb, loved the thing. Only one stupid flaw in it: the charging contacts on the underside. They're right there on the base being rubbed against the mousepad. Which just guarantees the things get covered in gunk (no matter how clean you are mouse mats get covered in skin cells), it seemed every time you need to recharge the mouse you have to scrape off the contacts.

I've a strong preference for natural keyboards. Lack of tends to result in RSI. I'm a little baffled why they're becoming a much rarer thing, and it worries me slightly. Recently I've been using a Microsoft Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000. Suits me to a tee, even if the media buttons were completely useless under Linux, but even under Windows I rarely bothered with them.

[Mika Leuck]

My mickey mouse is light and easy to use :-)

[Laurence A. Lee]

Oddly enough, I have a silver-plated mouse from Tiffany's -- complete with the signature "blue velvet box" -- as a gift for completing a CRM project in Las Vegas. I rarely take it out, but it's definitely one of the more memorable keepsakes from those Vegas days. :-)

[Cameron Souza]

re: silver-plated mouse from Tiffany's

Now all our spouses are going to ask for one of these!

[Nate Sanders]

might depend on the answer to the question "What spouse do you use?"

Cameron Souza said:

re: silver-plated mouse from Tiffany's

Now all our spouses are going to ask for one of these!

[John Wang]

Not sure how useful, but the geek in me wants one of these mice.

[Layne Katsumoto]

I use the logitech G5 laser mouse for my main computer.

I use this on for my secondary computer.

For my laptop i use a logitech V450 Nano Cordless Laser

I use the Allsop's Comfortbead Wrist Rest which does wonders for me. Nothing else compares the Allsop wrist rest because you have freer motion then mouse pads that already have rest on them.