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Ask HN: Best Mouse for programming

7 points by source99 9y ago

Hi All, The Apple Magic Mouse 1 I have been using for about 4 years is wearing out and I'm planning to get a new mouse ASAP. Any suggestions? I don't play games at all. I really just need it for typical work. I work on a Macbook pro in a docking station at my desk most of the time. I'm a developer that typically VIM locally and also manages several windows machines using remote desktop. I get a bit of Carpel Tunnel pain here and there but not too bad. Thanks

Finnucane 9y ago
Try a trackball instead. I've used Kensington Orbital trackballs for years and wouldn't go back to a mouse for anything. (When it comes time to do a desktop 'refresh' at work, I tell the IT guys that anyone who touches my trackball is going to lose a finger.)
source99 9y ago
Does anyone have experience with the vertical mouse?
thriveaway 9y ago
I like small high-res mice. Sadly high-res are usually gamer mice which often means not small not wireless not cheap. I used a r.a.t. m for a while, but the drivers suck. Now I got the Logitech G900 (got it for a lucky price), but it is biiig. Especially nice with it: you can map a lot of buttons (and a shift button for even more). I really liked a few cheap dongle mice, but I break the keys to quickly on those. If clicking hurts: map some keyboard key to the mouse button.
- Siilwyn 9y ago
  This. I'm currently using the "final mouse" which is catered to gamers but works perfectly. The biggest selling point for that mouse is that it does not need special drivers.
hacalox 9y ago
I do love vertical mouses. I highly encourage anyone reading this buying one for themselves. As soon as you start using one you will feel the difference, you really feel like your muscles are in a more natural position. If you handle a vertical mouse for a couple of minutes and then you change your hand position into a 'normal' mouse position you will feel that something was wrong with your previous mouse. My recommendation would be this model: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FPAVUHC/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1509298871&sr=8-2-fkmr2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=vertical+mouse+cls https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FPAVUHC/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr2... Durable and affordable. I've had 2 of them in the last 4 years. No special software + linux compatible + great feeling even after several hours of coding + it performed well when I played 'LOL' and designed CAD
- tedmiston 9y ago
  Any thoughts on vertical mice vs trackballs?
LorenzoLlamas 9y ago
I really don't see why anyone, including and especially programmers, use mice these days. That is, assuming you have a great (read: Mac) multi-touch pad. If you are in graphic design or animation/film, maybe a mouse is quite useful (I don't know, but watching others, it seems to have qualities useful to them in those fields). But once you master your hotkeys and multitouch pad, why lug a mouse around? I haven't used a mouse AT ALL in over 3 years, except when I'm forced to use a Windows machine. And I do mean "forced".
- orange_county 9y ago
  What about the web browser, how do you get around that? I still use it for various things albeit maybe only 10% of the time.
  - switch007 9y ago
    cVim is good
megaman22 9y ago
A cheap wired USB mouse. I think I'm using a $10 Microsoft two-button and wheel mouse. Wireless mice need batteries, and half the ones I have used have bad drivers or janky bluetooth/rf links, so it's just not worthwhile.
- eb0la 9y ago
  I was very lucky with the Logitech M555B (bluetooth) mouse. I always used rechargables, which meant I had to replace batteries every 2-3 weeks; but it was a great mouse for me. I didn't wanted wireless mice that needed their own USB port for the receiver. I guess they hava a more reliable connection, but since I already had bluetooth headphones I don't want more devices near using the same frequency with different protocols.
- pasbesoin 9y ago
  Same. An instance where Microsoft hardware peripherals excel -- or still did, the last time I bought one. I don't need a bazillion buttons. I have two units, purchased a year or a few apart. Very comfortable to hold, click. Clear, perceptive registration upon click. Comfortable wheel scrolling. Similar to how some Microsoft keyboards are -- or once were -- well regarded, in particular some of their ergonomic models. Wireless (of various forms) peripherals keep having security issues. And then I remember a meeting a few months ago where the fellow's mouse's battery had died, and things got a bit panicked until he managed to find and dig out his old wired mouse.
fuzzcode 9y ago
I got a hamster and run linux.

7 points by source99 9y ago

Finnucane 9y ago

Try a trackball instead. I've used Kensington Orbital trackballs for years and wouldn't go back to a mouse for anything. (When it comes time to do a desktop 'refresh' at work, I tell the IT guys that anyone who touches my trackball is going to lose a finger.)

source99 9y ago

Does anyone have experience with the vertical mouse?

thriveaway 9y ago

I like small high-res mice. Sadly high-res are usually gamer mice which often means not small not wireless not cheap. I used a r.a.t. m for a while, but the drivers suck. Now I got the Logitech G900 (got it for a lucky price), but it is biiig. Especially nice with it: you can map a lot of buttons (and a shift button for even more). I really liked a few cheap dongle mice, but I break the keys to quickly on those. If clicking hurts: map some keyboard key to the mouse button.

Siilwyn 9y ago
This. I'm currently using the "final mouse" which is catered to gamers but works perfectly. The biggest selling point for that mouse is that it does not need special drivers.

hacalox 9y ago

I do love vertical mouses. I highly encourage anyone reading this buying one for themselves. As soon as you start using one you will feel the difference, you really feel like your muscles are in a more natural position. If you handle a vertical mouse for a couple of minutes and then you change your hand position into a 'normal' mouse position you will feel that something was wrong with your previous mouse. My recommendation would be this model: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FPAVUHC/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1509298871&sr=8-2-fkmr2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=vertical+mouse+cls https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FPAVUHC/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr2... Durable and affordable. I've had 2 of them in the last 4 years. No special software + linux compatible + great feeling even after several hours of coding + it performed well when I played 'LOL' and designed CAD

tedmiston 9y ago
Any thoughts on vertical mice vs trackballs?

LorenzoLlamas 9y ago

I really don't see why anyone, including and especially programmers, use mice these days. That is, assuming you have a great (read: Mac) multi-touch pad. If you are in graphic design or animation/film, maybe a mouse is quite useful (I don't know, but watching others, it seems to have qualities useful to them in those fields). But once you master your hotkeys and multitouch pad, why lug a mouse around? I haven't used a mouse AT ALL in over 3 years, except when I'm forced to use a Windows machine. And I do mean "forced".

orange_county 9y ago
What about the web browser, how do you get around that? I still use it for various things albeit maybe only 10% of the time.
- switch007 9y ago
  cVim is good

megaman22 9y ago

A cheap wired USB mouse. I think I'm using a $10 Microsoft two-button and wheel mouse. Wireless mice need batteries, and half the ones I have used have bad drivers or janky bluetooth/rf links, so it's just not worthwhile.

eb0la 9y ago
I was very lucky with the Logitech M555B (bluetooth) mouse. I always used rechargables, which meant I had to replace batteries every 2-3 weeks; but it was a great mouse for me. I didn't wanted wireless mice that needed their own USB port for the receiver. I guess they hava a more reliable connection, but since I already had bluetooth headphones I don't want more devices near using the same frequency with different protocols.
pasbesoin 9y ago
Same. An instance where Microsoft hardware peripherals excel -- or still did, the last time I bought one. I don't need a bazillion buttons. I have two units, purchased a year or a few apart. Very comfortable to hold, click. Clear, perceptive registration upon click. Comfortable wheel scrolling. Similar to how some Microsoft keyboards are -- or once were -- well regarded, in particular some of their ergonomic models. Wireless (of various forms) peripherals keep having security issues. And then I remember a meeting a few months ago where the fellow's mouse's battery had died, and things got a bit panicked until he managed to find and dig out his old wired mouse.

fuzzcode 9y ago

I got a hamster and run linux.