Welcome to the first product review from Flying Pig Designs! I hope that you find these informative and useful. As always, please let me know what you think by commenting below.
Let me begin by saying that I started out using a standard mouse for all of my CAD work. About four years ago I started getting hand pain, primarily in my wrist and forearm. Diagnosis…pre-carpal tunnel syndrome. Basically, the issue was not fully developed, but there were some troubling signs that, if not corrected, could lead to the full blown syndrome. According to our friends at the Mayo Clinic, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused when “compression of the (median) nerve produces the numbness, tingling and, eventually, hand weakness…” (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20030332). There is also a good summary of the condition, prognosis, and treatment at the University of Maryland Medical Center website (http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome). To make a long story short, the PT recommended trying an ergo mouse. After doing some research online, I settled on the Logitech Wireless Performance MX mouse.
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Overall, the functionality was pretty good, and most importantly the fit was great. In addition, I was able to switch the middle mouse button to my thumb, which used larger, less easily fatigued muscles to activate. In addition, the larger and more flat approach is significantly more comfortable. There have been a number of studies that provide useful tips to avoid pain. The Ergo study from Cornell is very succinct and helpful: http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/cumousetips.html. Now, I certainly don’t claim to provide any medical advice or that this product is a cure all, but I really did notice a marked improvement in pain. Unfortunately, my mouse eventually had to die. Luckily, Logitech was ready with a replacement…the MX Master.
Periodically, I come across a product that becomes so integral to the way I do business, that I feel the impulse to tell everyone about it. The MX Master mouse from Logitech is one such product. This is an awesome mouse. In addition to its wireless functionality, it has a “momentum” scroll function that let’s you slowly scroll to an exact spot, or quickly move down a page. Also, the MX Master can sync to up to 3 devices via wireless or BLuetooth. Furthermore, I have accidentally dropped it onto hard concrete flooring more times than I would like to count and it still functions perfectly. At this point I have well over 1500 hours of CAD time using this product and my hand pain has completely gone away.
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PROS
~ Designed for large hands
~ Reasonably priced
~ Configurable buttons
~ Momentum scroll wheel
CONS
~ Designed for large hands
~ No middle mouse button (but can use thumb button or scroll wheel in its place)
~ Only for right-handed users
~ A little heavier than the Performance MX
All in all, a great product that I highly recommend. And for those of you looking for more of a gaming look, there is the sister version, the G502 Proteus Core.
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