For the past week I have been using an Evoluent VerticalMouse (Apparantly in the world of computer periphals, spaces between words are superfluous).
I ordered the mouse after my near debilitating wrist and shoulder pain returned after nearly twelve months absence. Whilst studying at uni, I experimented with a countless number of desk, monitor and chair height combinations to ease the acute back pain that I experienced after the first hour at the computer, but was never really able to resolve the problem. When I first began my current job, I decided on my first day to switch form right handed mousing to left handed (I am left handed naturally, and also like to add complications to the already stressful first day in a new job), miraculously, this relieved a large portion of my problems.
For a while.
In the past month, the familiar pains and accompanying headaches (and, as my better half will tell you, grumpiness) began to return.
After a little research, I decided the the Evoluent looked like the best model for me. It was a true vertical mouse (others were only slightly angled) without looking like I would need a sharp learning curve to use it.
After a week of use, I can say that it has definately helped with my back and wrist pain. Having your hand rest in a more natural position is one of those “why did I do it any other way” sort of things. After the first few hours it feels incredibly relexed and normal. At first I did experience a little difficulty shifting from typing to mousing, as you have to actually lift you hand up and over the mouse and grip it a little more than a traditional mouse, but this I soon got used to.
Overall:
Pros:
- Very natural position for your wrist means virtually no strain on wrist/arm/shoulder/back (so long as you are seated properly, but you already knew that)
- Passers by mistake me for a designer or some other creative type
- Co workers are too freaked out by it to want to use your computer (especially as I bought the left handed version)
- See the first point, it’s a pretty big deal
Cons:
- The mouse is very light. To control it fully you are required to grip is slightly, which feels sort of counter productive as your trying to relax your wrist, and takes some time to get used to
- Because the scroll wheel is on its side, you have to give up multi directional use (i.e. you cannot “push” it to the left and right. A sorely missed feature when handling very large spreadsheets, but one that can be resolved making the thumb button a scroll
- Your little finger drags on the mouse pad. Admittedly, I do have large hands, but a slightly raised lip on the outer side of the mouse would have resolved this problem for everybody
- Passers by mistake me for a designer or some other creative type
Several of the reviews I read for the VerticalMouse also listed the fact that it is not wireless as a detractor. Personally, I haven’t really noticed, but if that sort of thing is important to you than there is also that to consider.
Despite a few shortcomings, the Evoluent VerticalMouse is an excellent product. For me it has already become one of those quality of life products that I know struggle to think of working without, and anybody else who suffers from pain or discomfort from long hours at a desk (and I don’t just mean because of where you work) should definately consider one.
Bonus irony point: I finished writing this at home, where I still have not managed to get my desk set up properly. Consequently, my wrist is now starting to throb and I feel a headach coming on. Joy