Wacom tablet or optical mouse?

[sfx3d]

I just want to know which one is better for using AM, a wacom tablet or optical mouse in a long run?

[itsjustme]

I just want to know which one is better for using AM, a wacom tablet or optical mouse in a long run?

 

Personally, I would opt for the Wacom tablet over a mouse no matter what the situation...using a mouse aggravates my tendency toward carpal tunnel. Also, in some paint programs you get the added benefit of pressure sensitivity. The Wacom I have came with a mouse that works with it as well...I don't use it though.

[jon]

i use a wacom pretty much constantly, but will admit that a mouse is better for splining... why not get both?

 

optical mice can be had for 10 bux... and a wacom will keep the carpal tunnel away when you're not banging out the models.

 

-jon

[robcat2075]

Computer Use Doesn't Increase Risk Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

 

I prefer the mouse for splining. When i want to click i only have to do it once with a mouse, with a pen i may have to try several times before it realizes I wanted one. Yes, I have experimented with various sensitivity settings.The rocker switch onthe wacoms is awkwardly placed for me also.

 

But both are rather cheap, you can get both.

[itsjustme]

Computer Use Doesn't Increase Risk Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

 

I was referring to my personal experience, your mileage may vary. I can't use a mouse for extended periods, but I have no trouble using either a Wacom stylus or a laptop with a finger pad. Like anything else, you get used to them. I had days where my right hand wasn't able to grip anything after extended use of a mouse, and ended up missing some work and having a visit with my doctor about it. You can argue about the initial cause, but, if it hurts, I don't do it. So, I had to take those feats of hand strength off of my resume.

[heyvern]

I have a small Wacom with a two button mouse and scroll wheel along with the stylus.

 

This is absolutely the best input device I have ever ever used... I love it. I use the mouse in AM and the stylus in Photoshop... just switch back and forth.

 

What I loved about an optical mouse was not having to worry about the wheel sticking... cleaning... etc... so the Wacom with a mouse is the same as the optical mouse... plus I get the stylus for painting in Photoshop.

 

Now all my editing in AM is the same on Mac and PC... because the Wacom uses all the same left click/rt click/scroll click etc... for moving around and editing.

 

----------

 

p.s. I use to think that my mouse was causing carpal tunnel... but... my dad actually GOT REAL carpal tunnel in both hands... let me tell you...

 

... I never had carpal tunnel... never. From his description... I realized carpal tunnel, if you have it diagnosed by a doctor... can be agony. If you "think" you "might" have it... you probably don't. After he described it to me... I realized what a wimp I was.

 

He had 3 fingers numb and tingly all the time. Stabbing nerve pain in his wrist that shot up to his shoulder. His shoulder pain was almost as bad as the wrist.

 

A little pain in my wrist... ha! It goes away after a few days when I change how I hold the mouse and position my hands over the keyboard.

 

My father had both hands done last year. Some new technique... Virtually no scar. Teeny tiny cut... like half an inch... at the base of his hand... can't even see it. Doctor "hides" it along one of the wrinkles.

 

After having this done all the pain went away in his arms and shoulders.

 

Vernon "!" Zehr

[Dhar]

God bless dad. Glad to hear his pain went away.

[C-grid]

I just want to know which one is better for using AM, a wacom tablet or optical mouse in a long run?

 

Hello sfx3d

 

Both can be very usefull; For modeling you should use the mouse and the keyboard, but when painting picture's for decals, a digital pen is really usefull (pen pressure and such). There is a program at make (www.3dpainter.com) when that will be finished, you/we are even able to give the digital pen a proper use from 'within A:M via a plugin'.

 

Some boards provide a pen and a mouse, but trust me, the mouse part 'onboard' is pretty unuseful for the counter part, so first, have a good optical mouse with scrollwheel, after that, the digital pen.

 

 

 

Niels.

[jon]

i may have never had full-blown ct, but i did experience numbness in my right pinky/ring fingers as well as wrist pain due to excessive mousing.

 

with the proper ergonomic setup, i'm sure a mouse can be as healthy as a wacom stylus... but it's much harder to use a stylus in a manner than cause ct/repetitive stress syndrome-disease-whatever.

 

-jon

[heyvern]

If you experience numbness in the "last" two or three fingers (pinky ring or middle) that is the first "real" indication of carpal tunnel.

 

Another thing to keep in mind... carpal tunnel can happen for no reason at all... you don't have to use a keyboard or mouse extensively to get it... but it does aggravate it.

 

My father uses a computer... but... not that much... not even everyday... it was not "caused" by the computer. He used manual and then electric typewriters for years... longer than computer keyboards and never had a problem.

 

For a long time he didn't even know what was causing the pain in his shoulders. His doctor thought it was something else entirely. Thought it was some other crazy thing and put him on all kinds of medication... that didn't work. He thought it was just "old age" or arthritis.

 

He then went to a specialist who immediately scheduled the "surgery"... if you really want to call it that... I don't even think they knocked him out... can't remember.

 

It cracked me up when all of his "other" symptoms went away just from his carpal tunnel surgery.

 

If you think you have it... definitely get it checked out.

 

The process my father had was a piece of cake. All he had was a small bandage on his hand and a few stitches. He was back up and running in a few days. It was not as scary as it use to be and the overall effect was incredible.

 

Interestingly... he had it one hand... had the surgery... then after that healed he got it in the other hand... and had to have that one done.

 

I had no idea that carpal tunnel can effect so much... neck... shoulders... arm... head. I always thought it was just the wrist!

 

Whatever input device you use I strongly recommend a padded wrist support... not just for carpal tunnel necessarily but it keeps your wrist supported and puts less strain on that area.

 

Vernon "!" Zehr

[trajcedrv]

I would always prefer Wacom tablet over any mouse... once upon a time it also came with some very cool bundled software (Photoshop lite and Painter Classic) that I am still using...

 

Beware of other tablets though!

 

Drvarceto

[heyvern]

I use a Wacom Graphire3 with mouse and pen.

 

The mouse is excellent. It only has two "real" buttons with a click on the scroll wheel but this is more than enough for me. I never did remember what all those buttons were programmed to do on my 5 button mouse... hard to reach around anyway.

 

It works with AM right out of the box! The scroll wheel zooms. Scroll wheel click/drag drags the view. Right/left mouse clicks just like... well... just like windows for you Mac folk.

 

The pen has the clicky button thing and the eraser on the other end... just like a pencil without the crumbs!

 

I highly recommend it. I have a very small one that takes little space... but I don't mind it at all. The small size doesn't hamper its usefulness in my opinion. It was also fairly cheap.

 

I have been using it now non stop for... almost a year I think.

 

The only small problem is the bottom of the mouse gets... kind of... dirty. It is like a clothy paperish material. Every once in a while I rub it on my jeans or sweater and it glides smooth again.

 

p.s. I even spilled coffee on it and it still works! Who knows for how long though.

 

Vernon "!" Zehr

[UNGLAUBLICHUSA]

If you can budget it, go Cintiq - the cost is well woth it. My speed in modelling between the mouse and tablet is vastly different.

[Dhar]

Thanks Vern for your input. I just lost a bid for one Graphire3 on e-bay. I'm thinking of dishing out the 100 bucks and buying it straight from Wacom, this way I get warranties and what nots.

 

Mark, that Critiq is pretty sweet. I just can't stomach accessories that cost more than my computer

[UNGLAUBLICHUSA]

I justify the expense (for myself) in that it pays for itself in increased productivity. Since I build my own PC's I can keep the cost down for the extras. I cannot imagine using a mouse anymore. Best of luck with the tablet you do get.