What mouse for long hours using CS3?

brakeinup · 15 Jul 2008 at 10:31

Hi all

My wife is a wedding photographer and uses CS3 for most of the post processing. This sometimes involves long hours at the PC using the mouse.

This is starting to have a negative effect as she sometimes (more often than not) gets painful areas in her hand and wrist. She currently uses a Microsft Wireless mouse (2 button) where the buttons are not exactly a 'soft' touch' and I suspect that due to the amount of clicking the left mouse button this could be the source of the issue.

Does anyone have any experience with mice that have less travel on the button or is a softer action? Or any recommendations please?

semi-pro waster · 15 Jul 2008 at 10:37

Has she thought about ergonomic mice? There are quite a few options available inculding some which are upright so your hand is at 90 deg to the usual or perhaps using a graphics pen and tablet.

The best thing to do would be to try out a few options and see which is most comfortable for her as what works for someone else may not work for her.

Plasmoid · 15 Jul 2008 at 10:55

The main thing with a mouse is to get the right size mouse. The mouse should be big enough that the hand rests on top of it and isn't grasping the side all claw like.

Beyond that, the wrist and lower arm should be parallel to the desk, so there is no contact and the upper arm is being used to move the mouse (never the wrist)

The wrist is full of nerves so if it is contact with anything (wrist rest) for a long time you can get pinched nerves at pressure points.

(Had an ergonomics assessment there lately)

I use one of these at work http://www.contourdesign.com/perfit.htm
They are expensive as hell, but incredibly comfortable if you get on in the right size.

These are also apparently very good http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ergonomics/home/products/ergonomicmouse/
You can twist your wrist to move them, so you dont stress your wrist but i never got used to one. Again, expensive.

Since your talking photoshop and lots of clicking a graphic tablet might be the way to go though.

brakeinup · 15 Jul 2008 at 10:59

Thanks for the responses.

To be honest I think its a small price to pay if it works.

semi-pro waster · 15 Jul 2008 at 12:15

I've just remembered one of the people at work uses an Evoluent Mouse which features adjustable sensitivity, I'd definitely suggest trying before you buy though if possible.

brakeinup · 15 Jul 2008 at 12:17

semi-pro waster said:
I've just remembered one of the people at work uses an Evoluent Mouse which features adjustable sensitivity, I'd definitely suggest trying before you buy though if possible.

Looks good. But who sells these on the high street to try?

semi-pro waster · 15 Jul 2008 at 12:21

I'm afraid I don't know that and even if I did I probably couldn't mention as they'd be a competitor, I'd suggest a quick internet search to see if there are any ergonomics practitioners or similar near to you as they might be able to offer advice and/or let you try a few input devices.

bledd · 15 Jul 2008 at 12:36

Razer Deathadder, super comfy, and the buttons start about halfway up the mouse so they're easy to click

that with a wrist rest

brakeinup · 15 Jul 2008 at 12:48

semi-pro waster said:
I'm afraid I don't know that and even if I did I probably couldn't mention as they'd be a competitor, I'd suggest a quick internet search to see if there are any ergonomics practitioners or similar near to you as they might be able to offer advice and/or let you try a few input devices.

Thanks, much appreicated. I have been looking online but agree that its a try before you buy job.

brakeinup · 15 Jul 2008 at 12:49

bledd. said:
Razer Deathadder, super comfy, and the buttons start about halfway up the mouse so they're easy to click

that with a wrist rest

Do you use this one for a few hours at a time?

manic111 · 15 Jul 2008 at 12:54

MX Revolution is the comfiest mouse I've ever used, although I havent used it for more than a couple hours at once.

PinkFloyd · 15 Jul 2008 at 13:03

Heavy photoshop use.

Get a graphics tablet.

brakeinup · 15 Jul 2008 at 13:03

manic111 said:
MX Revolution is the comfiest mouse I've ever used, although I havent used it for more than a couple hours at once.

How soft is the button action?

brakeinup · 15 Jul 2008 at 13:06

PinkFloyd said:
Heavy photoshop use.

Get a graphics tablet.

Really? Its lots of images with minor tweaks rather than lots of time per image. I suppose this does not make a difference though as the tablet pen is in a more natural position?

Any recommendations? Thanks

DavidQ · 15 Jul 2008 at 13:17

I switched from a Razer Deathadder to an MX Revolution, I take it to work with me and use it at home aswell, I suffer from tendonitis in my right arm so somthing comfortable is a must have for me and the MX has been fantastic, charge lasts around 2 weeks as well.

Plasmoid · 15 Jul 2008 at 14:11

Just as an aside, switching hands from right to left when mousing helps a lot too. Takes getting used to and slows you down but well worth it.

bledd · 15 Jul 2008 at 14:33

brakeinup, i was ill a few months ago, and spent all my time on the pc basically, was playing FPS for about 12-14 hours a day with that mouse and a mouse rest (much more frantic than photoshop) had no pains in my wrists

brakeinup · 15 Jul 2008 at 15:11

bledd. said:
brakeinup, i was ill a few months ago, and spent all my time on the pc basically, was playing FPS for about 12-14 hours a day with that mouse and a mouse rest (much more frantic than photoshop) had no pains in my wrists

Ok thanks - I will have a look into all of the above options. And a wrist rest!

Thanks all

Space Monkey · 15 Jul 2008 at 19:15

I have the Logitech MX Reveloution now and its quite comfortable but the G5 I had before it was more comfortable and stopped all hand, finger & wrist aches

Strife212 · 15 Jul 2008 at 19:17

I use the Logitech G5 for hours and hours on end most days, its got a high quality click, is the nicest shape to hold I've found and is well built.