The Flat Earth Society

Other Discussion Boards => Technology & Information => Topic started by: xasop on April 27, 2018, 11:44:18 AM

Title: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on April 27, 2018, 11:44:18 AM
So basically every mouse these days has a clickable scrollwheel instead of a real middle button. The few that do have a real middle button generally accomplish this by dispensing with the scrollwheel. I want one that has both.

Scouring the Internet has brought up two options:

The Contour Mouse (https://www.contourdesign.com/product/contour-mouse/) seems perfect, since the scrollwheel is controlled with the thumb and so is entirely independent of the middle button. However, multiple reviews on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/contour-mouse-large-size-righthanded-ergonomic-wired-usb-mouse-1200dpi-5-buttons/dp/B005CMPCZO/) say that the surface of the mouse is very slippery and it takes a lot of effort not to have your hand slip off all the time.

The Evoluent VerticalMouse 4 (https://evoluent.com/products/vm4r/) puts the scrollwheel in between the left and middle buttons, which is slightly less optimal, but it has better reviews. It looks really stupid, but a mouse isn't supposed to be eye candy, so I'm ok with that. This is currently my preferred option.

I'm curious if anyone else has any other suggestions. If not, I'll order an Evoluent sometime in the next few days.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Dr David Thork on April 27, 2018, 12:23:59 PM
When I read the title, I assumed you were talking about the furry variety that eat cheese. You know, real mice.

I have a trackerball. I like them because you move the ball, not the chassis so you need less desk space as it sits in one place and also it takes less effort to move. You move your fingers, not your whole forearm. Still don't have scroll wheels though. :-(

Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Rama Set on April 27, 2018, 12:25:16 PM
I know serious gamers use something like the logitech G502, but I suspect you don’t need something quite that intense.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on April 27, 2018, 01:04:56 PM
I have a trackerball.

Irrelevant.

I know serious gamers use something like the logitech G502, but I suspect you don’t need something quite that intense.

That also doesn't have a real middle button. I could remap one of the other buttons, but it just feels wrong -- there should be three buttons where my index, middle and ring fingers naturally fall.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Pete Svarrior on April 27, 2018, 01:11:41 PM
Do you also need a scroll-wheel? If not, something like the HP DY651A might be the most "authentic" experience for an old-school 3-button-mouse

(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/182294869080-0-1/s-l1000.jpg)

EDIT: Never mind, you explicitly said you want both and I can't read.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on April 27, 2018, 01:14:28 PM
Do you also need a scroll-wheel?

"Need" is a strong word, but I definitely would like a scrollwheel. It's just such a more natural way to scroll than arrow keys or dragging a scrollbar that I can't imagine using a mouse without one.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Pete Svarrior on April 27, 2018, 01:20:20 PM
Yeah, sorry, you had already made that clear in the OP, I simply failed to read it.

The Evoluent looks like it would take quite a while to get used to, but it could be an interesting experience. I hope you'll share your experiences if you get it. Being mixed-handed, I can't imagine using either of these, but I'm still curious.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on April 27, 2018, 01:58:19 PM
The Evoluent looks like it would take quite a while to get used to, but it could be an interesting experience. I hope you'll share your experiences if you get it.

I certainly will, although my use case which involves both a scrollwheel and a middle button (switching between native applications and a Plan 9 VM on macOS) is somewhat unusual. It is an interesting form factor for a mouse regardless of the buttons, I guess.

Being mixed-handed, I can't imagine using either of these, but I'm still curious.

I'm also mixed-handed, sort of, but I settled on using only my right hand for a computer mouse about 20 years ago. It's weird, since I write with my left hand.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Cain on April 30, 2018, 02:58:52 PM

The Evoluent VerticalMouse 4 (https://evoluent.com/products/vm4r/)
That mouse is a monstrosity. Don't buy it, it has malware.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Rushy on April 30, 2018, 03:53:44 PM
(https://cdn.instructables.com/FN5/FXSH/F0ZTLK0N/FN5FXSHF0ZTLK0N.LARGE.jpg)
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Pete Svarrior on April 30, 2018, 05:19:15 PM
Have you considered CRUISING FASTER

(https://i.imgur.com/83xSS8v.png)
(https://cache.osta.ee/iv2/auctions/1_9_26022866.jpg)
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3nUAAOSwhC1alT6~/s-l1600.jpg)
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Dr David Thork on April 30, 2018, 05:36:46 PM
(http://blog.pcnews.ro/wp-content/photo/2007/10/hand-mouse.JPG)
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on April 30, 2018, 09:28:12 PM
(https://cache.osta.ee/iv2/auctions/1_9_26022866.jpg)

I would happily use this if it were still available.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Pete Svarrior on May 01, 2018, 05:31:37 AM
I think I've seen one when wasting time on ebay a few months ago. If I ever see one again, I'll let you know
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Benjamin Franklin on May 04, 2018, 07:50:58 PM
the logitech G502
Only mouse worth owning tbh
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on May 04, 2018, 09:07:14 PM
Update: A fellow 9front user on IRC has informed me that the Contour Mouse is actually really good. I trust people with a high enough IQ to understand Plan 9 way more than random Amazon reviews, and I haven't ordered an Evoluent yet, so the Contour is now my preference again.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Dr David Thork on May 06, 2018, 12:40:24 PM
people with a high enough IQ to understand Plan 9
Raymond Babbitt?

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31yvS5dg0tL._SY355_.jpg)
Yours for $40AUD + P&P
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on May 06, 2018, 02:03:10 PM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31yvS5dg0tL._SY355_.jpg)
Yours for $40AUD + P&P

This isn't what I want. Can you even read
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on September 18, 2018, 12:22:21 AM
So I finally ordered a couple of Contour Mouses from Amazon. The wireless variant, since nowhere that appears competent stocks the wired variant. I should have them in a week or two and then I'll report my findings.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Fortuna on September 19, 2018, 06:13:16 AM
the logitech G502
Only mouse worth owning tbh

Oops, you actually meant the G203.

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71BmDZ6u22L._SX466_.jpg)
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: Cain on December 04, 2018, 06:20:24 PM
So I finally ordered a couple of Contour Mouses from Amazon. The wireless variant, since nowhere that appears competent stocks the wired variant. I should have them in a week or two and then I'll report my findings.
Nice findings, btw.
Title: Re: I want a real mouse
Post by: xasop on December 04, 2018, 06:55:24 PM
Mouse is great. Forgot to mention that.

The only problem is that you have to make sure you have a good grip, otherwise it's easy to accidentally click the (fairly sensitive) buttons. But with a good grip your hand rests mostly on the non-buttony part of the mouse and you have the right balance to click only when you mean to.