4 ms·

Years using the trackpoint gave me carpal tunnel. Try not to use it exclusively.

Arch-TK 4y ago
How many years exactly? I am at almost 9 years of use and I have not felt the slightest hint of any problem (for reference I have in the past suffered from carpal tunnel related issues so I know what it feels like).
- jojobas 4y ago
  25 years, no issues. Maybe with sensitivity way down you do start pressing too much on it.
  - reirob 4y ago
    Same here
jeff_carr 4y ago
I've been using a nipplemouse for at least 20 years. Exclusively. I hate trackpads. I always disable mine. I always use tables that my elbows rest on the table.
- Epa095 4y ago
  How do you scroll? You reach for the pgdown?
  - dschooh 4y ago
    Middle mouse button plus moving the trackpoint works well for me.
  - test1235 4y ago
    my t480s thinkpad has middle 'mouse' button just above the trackpad which you can hold down to enable scroll control.
panick21_ 4y ago
Maybe don't generalize your personal experience. Working with almost anything can give you carpal tunnel. Is there any evidence carpal tunnel is more likely then with any other input method?
- marpstar 4y ago
  More anecdotes from me on the input-method to wrist-problems correlation: I weight train regularly. Lots of forearm tension. I noticed one day that it always hurt more when I was scrolling (using an original Apple Magic Mouse). Brutal repetitive strain injury. However, when I went for periods of time only using the trackpad in my MacBook, my arm would feel Upon realization, pretty much immediately switched to a trackpad at my desktop as well, and problems went away. It took about 18 months to get from "my arm really fucking hurts" to "yeah, it was the mouse". People always ask why I use a trackpad at a desktop, I tell this story. I don't remember the last time I used a mouse on my computer.
  - Floegipoky 4y ago
    I had a very similar experience. It started to happen within less than a year of starting my career. Both arms bothered me if I was typing in high gear for a long time, but the right was a lot worse and started to be an everyday thing. I switched the mouse from right to left side for a week and the right side started to feel a lot better. I ditched the mouse for a trackpad and picked up a kinesis advantage and never looked back. Still use a mouse and traditional keyboard layout for my gaming PC though.
  - ris58h 4y ago
    Same story. Magic Trackpad is a life saver and the reason I'm stuck with Macbooks.
  - occoder 4y ago
    Yep, it's almost always the mouse. Many people, developers included, use the mouse to point and click when they need to change the caret position while editing text. If you do enough of that, the amount of precisely controlled movement involved quickly add up to repetitive strain injury on your hand/wrist. I've seen colleagues in their 20s/30s suffering from this problem, to a point that they needed to use the mouse with their other hand. I'd recommend using the keyboard to navigate within a document. It's going to take some getting used to, but it'll be best for your hand health in the long run. Meanwhile, switching to a trackball (remember those?), a trackpad, or a trackpoint mouse, will definitely alleviate the symptoms.

How many years exactly? I am at almost 9 years of use and I have not felt the slightest hint of any problem (for reference I have in the past suffered from carpal tunnel related issues so I know what it feels like).

jojobas 4y ago
25 years, no issues. Maybe with sensitivity way down you do start pressing too much on it.
- reirob 4y ago
  Same here

jeff_carr 4y ago

I've been using a nipplemouse for at least 20 years. Exclusively. I hate trackpads. I always disable mine. I always use tables that my elbows rest on the table.

Epa095 4y ago
How do you scroll? You reach for the pgdown?
- dschooh 4y ago
  Middle mouse button plus moving the trackpoint works well for me.
- test1235 4y ago
  my t480s thinkpad has middle 'mouse' button just above the trackpad which you can hold down to enable scroll control.

panick21_ 4y ago

Maybe don't generalize your personal experience. Working with almost anything can give you carpal tunnel. Is there any evidence carpal tunnel is more likely then with any other input method?

marpstar 4y ago
More anecdotes from me on the input-method to wrist-problems correlation: I weight train regularly. Lots of forearm tension. I noticed one day that it always hurt more when I was scrolling (using an original Apple Magic Mouse). Brutal repetitive strain injury. However, when I went for periods of time only using the trackpad in my MacBook, my arm would feel Upon realization, pretty much immediately switched to a trackpad at my desktop as well, and problems went away. It took about 18 months to get from "my arm really fucking hurts" to "yeah, it was the mouse". People always ask why I use a trackpad at a desktop, I tell this story. I don't remember the last time I used a mouse on my computer.
- Floegipoky 4y ago
  I had a very similar experience. It started to happen within less than a year of starting my career. Both arms bothered me if I was typing in high gear for a long time, but the right was a lot worse and started to be an everyday thing. I switched the mouse from right to left side for a week and the right side started to feel a lot better. I ditched the mouse for a trackpad and picked up a kinesis advantage and never looked back. Still use a mouse and traditional keyboard layout for my gaming PC though.
- ris58h 4y ago
  Same story. Magic Trackpad is a life saver and the reason I'm stuck with Macbooks.
- occoder 4y ago
  Yep, it's almost always the mouse. Many people, developers included, use the mouse to point and click when they need to change the caret position while editing text. If you do enough of that, the amount of precisely controlled movement involved quickly add up to repetitive strain injury on your hand/wrist. I've seen colleagues in their 20s/30s suffering from this problem, to a point that they needed to use the mouse with their other hand. I'd recommend using the keyboard to navigate within a document. It's going to take some getting used to, but it'll be best for your hand health in the long run. Meanwhile, switching to a trackball (remember those?), a trackpad, or a trackpoint mouse, will definitely alleviate the symptoms.