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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: pepijndevos on Sat, 08 March 2014, 08:10:29
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There is some information from gamers about what's a good mouse, but for gamers there is a lot of focus on precision and response time, which are less critical to programmers like me. Precision and response time aside there seem to be 4 criteria.
- Cord/cordless: Corded. Hate RF and batteries.
- Left/right-handed or ambidexterous: Ambidexterous. I alternate hands.
- Palm/claw/finger grip: Palm grip. It seems the most comfortable.
- Number of buttons. Don't care.
To that I'd like to add 2 more criteria.
- Size: Big. My hands are 21cm. On a 13cm mouse my fingers touch the table if I attempt a palm grip. Currently using finger grip.
- Drivers: Mac and Linux. Would be nice if I could actually configure and use all the buttons.
Any suggestions?
I'm also open to being convince about stylus, trackball or other input methods.
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I'd recommend a trackball, there are very few mice that are comfortable for large hands, especially palm grip mice. You'd think there would be more larger palm mice, but no.
As for regular mice:
The RAT7 can be adjusted, although I'm not sure if it can be made all that large, but it's worth considering at least. The Razer Lachesis is also a mouse that I've heard good things about from people with large hands, but that's EOL so you'll have to find a used one somewhere. It's not palm grip though.
The Func MS-3 is fairly large and suited for palm grip, but again it's not all that much bigger than most other mice.
I really would recommend a trackball, something like the CST LTrac(currently on Massdrop for $99, 2 days left) or Kensington Slimblade.
I'm also a fan of tablets, and can also recommend a small one if you've got the space for it on your desk, but it does take up more space compared to a trackball, so unless you'd like to be able to draw or write handwritten notes on your PC I'd still recommend a trackball over a tablet.
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I should have mentioned I actually own a Wacom. I used it when I did webdesign, but typing with the stylus in hand, or putting it down is not worth it for less visual tasks.
While looking at the mice you mentioned, my attention was drawn to this video, where a guy with large hands mentions he still claws it, but could do palm grip if he really wanted.
None of them is ambidexterous though. And that Func one is especially weird considering I use my ring finger on the second mouse button.
Why do you recommend the slimblade over the expert?
While not ambidexterous, what do you think about the thumb-controlled ones?
It appears that with the centered ones your hands are raised/tilted a lot, which looks uncomfortable.
How hard would it be to do an ergodox-style DIY mouse with 3D printed enclosure suited for your hands?
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Hmmm, I'm half-seriously looking into making my own mouse. Though I'll probably end up buying a trackball it seems.
I could use the Teensy USB board that the ergodox also uses.
Hooking up the buttons to the Teensy is trivial.
Not sure which buttons to get though.
Cherry MX would probably suck for a mouse.
The Teensy includes a mouse API.
I found some code that handles the optical sensor.
So the firmware is as good as done.
http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_mouse.html
http://www.martijnthe.nl/2009/07/interfacing-an-optical-mouse-sensor-to-your-arduino/
Printing the case can't be that hard, but I have no experience with this.
Alternatively, a milled wooden case would be superb.
I could start with breadboard and through-hole components. Worry about the PCB later,
That leaves the optical sensor. Again, no idea what to get.
I found the PAW3205DB-TJ3T which does 1600cpi.
The most tricky part is probably getting the LED right. It seems to require some transparent parts which would be impossible to print.
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I should have mentioned I actually own a Wacom. I used it when I did webdesign, but typing with the stylus in hand, or putting it down is not worth it for less visual tasks.
While looking at the mice you mentioned, my attention was drawn to this video, where a guy with large hands mentions he still claws it, but could do palm grip if he really wanted.
None of them is ambidexterous though. And that Func one is especially weird considering I use my ring finger on the second mouse button.
Why do you recommend the slimblade over the expert?
While not ambidexterous, what do you think about the thumb-controlled ones?
It appears that with the centered ones your hands are raised/tilted a lot, which looks uncomfortable.
How hard would it be to do an ergodox-style DIY mouse with 3D printed enclosure suited for your hands?
Well, the slimblade looks nice and has a low profile(so you don't have to tilt your hand that much), which is pretty comfy, if you're getting a bigger and uglier trackball you might as well get the CST since that's probably one of the best trackballs on the market, technically speaking. Of course, the Expert is probably cheaper(I don't know the prices off the top of my head), and it's not bad, so it's certainly an option.
As for thumb controlled ones; I don't have any experience with them so I can't really comment on them.
If you want to look into making your own mouse I suggest you talk to damorgue here on the forums, he's working on making his own.
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i don't expect everybody to agree, but i have large hands and the below mouse fits mine pretty good :thumb:
http://www.ttesports.com/productPage.aspx?p=51&g=ftr#.Uxtwm9y-1cY
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Based on your criteria it sounds like maybe either Razer Taipan or SteelSeries Sensei or Mionix Avior. Though if you want palm grip those mice might be a little bit short in height. But length wise those are definitely good for bigger hands.
Strictly speaking there isn't too many ambidextrous palm grip mouse. Typically company advertise ambidextrous mouse for fingertip grip and right handed ergonomic mouse for palm grip.
So you always have to pick and choose.
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Drivers: Mac and Linux. Would be nice if I could actually configure and use all the buttons.
Roccat Linux driver project (http://sourceforge.net/projects/roccat/), you won't find anything better or that comes even close.
However, there doesn't appear to be any roccat mouse that would fit your grip without compromises.
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Ambidextrous mouse devices tend to be on the smaller side so you probably won't find one there.
Lengthwise you'd have to go for a right handed mouse. Something like the rival or Logitech which are longer devices.
I'd recommend a trackball, there are very few mice that are comfortable for large hands, especially palm grip mice. You'd think there would be more larger palm mice, but no
Lol vun, I remember I said that large users were pretty much stuck with a few choices and you said something akin to "what there were plenty of mouse in that (large) size range"
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Ambidextrous mouse devices tend to be on the smaller side so you probably won't find one there.
Lengthwise you'd have to go for a right handed mouse. Something like the rival or Logitech which are longer devices.
I'd recommend a trackball, there are very few mice that are comfortable for large hands, especially palm grip mice. You'd think there would be more larger palm mice, but no
Lol vun, I remember I said that large users were pretty much stuck with a few choices and you said something akin to "what there were plenty of mouse in that (large) size range"
No, what I said was that there are plenty of mice of a similar size to the DA, IME 3.0 etc. That doesn't mean they're large mice, just some of the largest available. I'd love a bigger right-handed mouse, something like the shell damorgue is working on would be great.
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I use a mx510. Sturdy mouse and no driver installation required(And I have big hands).
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Same size hands. I use Microsoft Trackball Optical. No longer made, I bought up a few spares for lifetime use (not for sale) when I discovered how comfortable they are. You can find used ones on E-Bay.
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Same size hands. I use Microsoft Trackball Optical. No longer made, I bought up a few spares for lifetime use (not for sale) when I discovered how comfortable they are. You can find used ones on E-Bay.
HM, maybe I should try a trackball.