Computer Mice Dilemma

My roll at work has changed and my new job requires a lot of mouse work.  My hand is on it much of the day to use three programs that run the day to day operations.  I am finding that i have some disomfort in my right mouse hand and started experimenting with different types/ shapes.

The one issued to me was the Logitech M220 silent touch. Nice for occasional use but too small and not a good shape for me.

I borrowed my brothers Logitech MX Master 3 and that was a big step in the right direction. Way better shape and the ergonomic tilt help my comfort levels. I do not like that it doesnt have silent clicks- at all.

EDIT: I also tried the Logitech M650L which was a larger mouse for larger hands and although smooth and silent and comfy for a bit, it was not all day long comfortable. But a nice mouse otherwise. I think the flat plane is what bothers my hand/wrist.

After some trying out at the big box computer store I thought a vertical mouse might be the ticket.

I ordered an expensive iClever vertical mouse that is shaped liked a vertical C kinda and has silent clicks.  It feels a bit low grade but other than that i really like it. Its a very natural hand position and its been comfortable.  I was chasing the Logitech  MX vertical but I believe they do not have silent clicks. (ill double check)

The only two I have not tried are the track ball mouse that is thumb operated and the Kensington finger track ball mouse. I might borrow a thumb track ball mouse to experiment and Im tryin to do the same with a finger track ball as well.

What do you guys/gals use for a comfortable silent mouse?

Any suggestions?

Any other things to consider?

Thank you for your help

I use the M650, I like it

I do a lot of line drawing in CAD and use a trackball, it's all finger movement so no achy wrist. Haven't tried a thumb version, but I think my thumb might not move as dexterously as my fingers.

At work I have a Kensington Expert Mouse and at home a Kensington Slimblade. Both work the same but the Slimbade scrolls by turning the ball instead of having a scroll wheel, that feels more elegant and smooth. It had a mechanical noise clicker for scrolling that couldn't be disabled so I had to take it apart to remove it, but it was easy to do.

I've also used their Orbit trackball, that was good too but I need more than 2 buttons for work.

I have a Logitech Trackball on my desk, have been using one at work for 20 + years.  If you want ot cover shipping I could send you one to try.

In reply to CarKid1989 :

I can't use a trackball, particularly for fine CAD work, without instant pain.  Some can, as indicated above.

I am a HUGE believer in the Evoluent vertical mouse:

DW bought me one of those and within a week, several years' worth of chronic arm and shoulder pain disappeared.  I won't use anything else.

Available in wired / wireless, and several different sizes for varying hand sizes.

Regardless of what mouse you choose, please develop a habit of swapping hands throughout the day. It'll be very awkward for your non-dominant hand at first but  you'll thank me in the long run. I'm a desk jockey and mouse non-dominant slightly more than dominant. 

Insert some comments about "the stranger" and ambidextrous use of hands for various purposes here. ;) 

Apple Magic Mouse for me. But I totally get how the right mouse/keyboard matters. 

I'm a CAM jockey, so I'm driving the 3d Connexion CAD Mouse and Space Navigator combo:

link

I use a Logitech G400 both on my work and home PC.  I think both are around 10 years old.  Looks like its been discontinued for quite a while :(

A lot of the larger mice (and vertical), and those with batteries in them, the extra mass of the mouse drives me insane.  I know it probably makes little difference at work, but I'm a picky SOB.

If I had to buy a new one now, I'd be looking at... (WTF they only have 5 corded mice) the M500S, or a Razer Deathadder.  I had one of those in the past and it fit/worked well.

I don't think either are silent, but also not loud.

What software are you using?

I can use my spaceball as a mouse if I want (I often use it for scrolling/panning even in non-cad software) and its dead silent.  If you want to get crazy with one you can program all kinds of shortcuts with it.

I did not know 3D Connexion made a mouse.  Interesting.

The "silent" part of the question is not easy to answer.  I don't know of any mice that have buttons that both feel decent and have no sound to them at all when depressed.

I used to use the Kensington Expert Mouse a lot and really liked it but haven't used one in a while.  For a traditional mouse I'm still rocking some version of the Microsoft Intellimouse.  

I also use the Logitech MX Master. I have the original. Love that thing! 

The good news is that if you do like that, they now make a silent version. It's called the MX Master 3S. I'm assuming the S is for Silent.



It's pricey at $99, but if it's like the one I have, you'll love it. 

I just use a cheap logitech M310. It is just the right size for my hand and I draw all day long with it. The key to comfort is never having your wrist bent up. What you really need is JimBo's super duper couch recliner computer desk. The bigger your belly, the more comfortable it gets.

I use a Logitech G203. I've tried the vertical mice, they don't work for me. The area where I get pain is in my elbow, so I've taken to wearing a copper-infused elbow brace when mousing, that has helped a lot. I also think it helps a lot to have your whole lower arm and wrist supported. A corner desk is great for this.

I've got some RSI damage from playing soprano saxophone that makes normal mouses uncomfortable for me. Here's what I've used over the years:

Logitech Marble FX. What makes this one interesting is that you can grab the ball with your thumb and fingers, making it very precise. You can also give a trackball a spin to quickly traverse the screen. I found it very quick and easy to use. My wife still uses one of my old ones thanks to a PS/2-USB adapter. Mouse clicks are muted. Never tried it for CAD as I wasn't doing CAD then, but I do still have one hooked up to a PC for vinyl work so maybe I'll give it a shot.

Large Wacom tablets. Used these from 1998-ish until two months ago. You're just holding a pen, it's very natural. I like the big ones instead of the small ones for precision. Never activated any of the touch functions other than the pen. Works well for CAD. I didn't use it in mouse mode but had it mapped directly to my screen. Silent.

These days, my work computer uses an Apple trackpad. It's just like using a laptop trackpad with all of the pinch/swipe/etc gestures. I may or may not go back to the Wacom but it's been working well. I've used it for CAD as well, navigation via gestures is useful. Silent if you turn off the haptic feedback.

I also have a Space Mouse for pure CAD work. In combination with a track pad, it feels like you're in the future :)

I also strongly recommend using your non dominant hand. I switched to this 20 years ago so I could write and work the computer while on a headset.

Two weeks of confusion, max, then you will be fine. 

BoulderG said:

I also strongly recommend using your non dominant hand. I switched to this 20 years ago so I could write and work the computer while on a headset.

Two weeks of confusion, max, then you will be fine. 

Are you right handed or left?

I have tendonitis and switched to a vertical mouse. It helped, but the pain came back with a vengeance over the next few months. I now use a Contour Rollermouse Red. It's totally different than anything else out there, and my shoulder pain is almost gone, and my wrist pain is considerably better.  
I bought mine used, saved about 50% off retail, and it's in like-new condition. If you go this route, they do have a trial period. It took me about 2 weeks to adjust to it. 
 

In reply to VolvoHeretic : Are you right handed or left?

I am right-handed and use the mouse with my left hand. However, I kept the right-hand mouse button setup. It makes it easy for other people to use the mouse. It's challenging for me to do very detailed work with my left hand, but then I'm not practiced at it with my right hand, either, so for stuff like Lightroom and Photoshop they're about equivalent. I often crank the zoom way up.

BoulderG said:

In reply to VolvoHeretic : Are you right handed or left?

I am right-handed and use the mouse with my left hand. However, I kept the right-hand mouse button setup. It makes it easy for other people to use the mouse. It's challenging for me to do very detailed work with my left hand, but then I'm not practiced at it with my right hand, either, so for stuff like Lightroom and Photoshop they're about equivalent. I often crank the zoom way up.

Same here: right handed, mouse left with buttons in the traditional right hand configuration. I've always been nearly ambidextrous, which may have helped me make the switch. My left handed daughter switch hits with a mouse too and said it's no different to switch between hands as I do as a righty. 

You must be a freak. Left handed people are ambidextrous from birth. Right handed people definitely not. I am a righty and have been practicing writing left handed but I have to write backwards, right to left. It's awful. Back in the old days, they used to tie a lefties' left hand behind their back and made them write right handed.

VolvoHeretic said:

Left handed people are ambidextrous from birth.

Are they?  I've heard/read that most "ambidextrous" left handed people are lefties that have adapted to live in a world dominated by right handed people.  Forced ambidexterity.

ProDarwin said:

VolvoHeretic said:

Left handed people are ambidextrous from birth.

Are they?  I've heard/read that most "ambidextrous" left handed people are lefties that have adapted to live in a world dominated by right handed people.  Forced ambidexterity.

Lol, I wouldn't argue against what you said. I've been practicing the piano for 60 years. My left hand is definitely handicapped. You would think that after the thousands of hours I've been trying, it would be getting better.

After 60 years of piano, I bet your left hand is much more agile and versatile than most folks, even if it still feels clumsy to you. That's a hell of a history!

In reply to CarKid1989 :

I have little in the way of specifics to recommend but let me start off with...  Congrats on the change of roll at work.  I suspect this is a move up so, again, congrats.  

As for mouse...  Amazon Prime has a very liberal return policy.  Buy, try, return (be gentle on the packaging when opening.)

I also wonder if repetitive of anything will eventually be bad.  What if, you had 3 different mouse of different styles and switched them out at intervals like use one per week.  It will take some time to get used to the all 3 different functions but if you really are using them very repetitively, in short order they will all become familiar.