[OT] Wacom Tablet
Hi. My wrist always gets really tense when I use the track pad on my laptop. I saw that people were saying that using the Wacom tablet is way easier on the wrist but I looked them up and saw that they are basically like a drawing pad with a stylus. Is it really that much better on the wrist. My wrist always gets really tense when I'm writing. Thanks for your help.
id say it probably feels more like painting than writing. you dont have to apply any real pressure (unless you want to for doing pressure sensitive stuff)
i cant write for more than 2 minutes before my hand really hurts but i can use a wacom tablet all day without problems.
Contrary to what a lot of people think, it is the mouse that causes more wrist problems than typing. What is even worse than a mouse is a trackpad (which only seems to get worse while making Max patches). I agree with MDK's input on painting vs. writing. Using a tablet you can focus on arm movements not wrist movements to lower strain (or something like that).
But, unless you plan on bringing your tablet EVERYWHERE, I would really urge you to get a portable bluetooth mouse (USB is fine of course, but with wireless you have one less excuse not to use it) so you can say goodbye to your trackpad. I use both tablet and mouse at my desktop, but always carry a mouse with me to avoid using my trackpad as much as possible and this has made my wrists VERY HAPPY.
have you had that checked out?? I remember one day I worked for like 4 days straight with no sleep and my hand and wrist started hurting so badly that I couldn't function.. I think it was carpel tunnel.
anyways, I have a wacom and I use it religiously, I rarely use the track pad, and in fact I may upgrade to the new cintiq 12wx screen tablet, which would be a great way to intimately patch in a more analogue work flow, drawing patch chords right on the screen and adjusting sliders as if I was touching them. there only 1k, and well worth it by every review Ive read.
On 21 Apr 2008, at 15:31, Theo wrote:
>
> Hi. My wrist always gets really tense when I use the track pad on my
> laptop. I saw that people were saying that using the Wacom tablet is
> way easier on the wrist but I looked them up and saw that they are
> basically like a drawing pad with a stylus. Is it really that much
> better on the wrist.
When you use a track pad or mouse, your wrist is rotated too far
inwards. A pen (depending on how you hold it) allows your wirst to be
much closer to a non-rotated position, so no stress on the wrist
muscles and tendons. Having said that, I do notice a bit of a tendency
to grip much harder than I actually need to, especially when lining up
all those connections. :-)
I've often wondered what it would be like to use on of those
specialist mice with the vertical grip. Your wrist would be in a
totally optimal position with one of those. I'm not sure how good the
fine control would be though.
David
The other thing about trackpads is that they don't work too well if
your hands are at all sweaty. pretty rubbish in a performance
situation! (I speak from experience of the time I took my wacom to a
performance, but forgot the pen!)
David
On 21 Apr 2008, at 17:29, Nicholas C. Raftis III wrote:
>
> anyways, I have a wacom and I use it religiously, I rarely use the
> track pad,
On Apr 21, 2008, at 3:29 PM, David Stevens wrote:
> I've often wondered what it would be like to use on of those
> specialist mice with the vertical grip. Your wrist would be in a
> totally optimal position with one of those. I'm not sure how good
> the fine control would be though.
The Evoluent vertical mouse is really great. http://www.evoluent.com/
It still allows for fine control through your fingers, while allowing
a more natural arm position.
To map all three buttons, it needs something like USBOverdrive on the
Mac, but it will work as a standard two button mouse with no driver.
Chris Muir
cbm@well.com
http://www.xfade.com
Quote: Axiom-Crux wrote on Mon, 21 April 2008 10:29
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> have you had that checked out?? I remember one day I worked for like 4 days straight with no sleep and my hand and wrist started hurting so badly that I couldn't function.. I think it was carpel tunnel.
----------------------------------------------------
I did get it checked out. It's not carpel tunnel yet. I went to a physical therapist and she gave me some stretches and exercises to strengthen the muscles in my wrist but I would like to also eliminate the different sources that cause my wrist pain. I think based on peoples reccemondations I'll take a look at the Wacom and I'll research for any other alternatives. Thanks to all.
Quote: Chris Muir wrote on Mon, 21 April 2008 17:02
----------------------------------------------------
> The Evoluent vertical mouse is really great. http://www.evoluent.com/
>
> It still allows for fine control through your fingers, while allowing
> a more natural arm position.
>
> To map all three buttons, it needs something like USBOverdrive on the
> Mac, but it will work as a standard two button mouse with no driver.
>
> Chris Muir
> cbm@well.com
> http://www.xfade.com
----------------------------------------------------
Hey that looks pretty nice. Although they are about the same price as the cheapest wacom tablet. But I'll check it out.
Hi. I just wanted to say thank you for everyones recommendations. I ended up going with the wacom bamboo and have to say that it has helped immensely. So thanks again to everyone.