Mousepads -- antiquated?

[Mise]

I use one at home because my desk at home is too shiny for the mouse to work properly. Otherwise, they are nothing more than a nuisance. I'm glad they're gone.

 

[Zelig]

I use one at home because my desk at home is too shiny for the mouse to work properly. Otherwise, they are nothing more than a nuisance. I'm glad they're gone.

How are they a nuisance? (Quality ones, not novelty ones that slide around and peel apart.)

 

[Mise]

They just get in the way a lot. I'd rather just have more table space instead of mousemat + table.

 

[MjM]

I still use a mousepad. The tablecloth on this desk is too uneven, and as others have stated, it is much quieter and faster with a mousepad.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I use a mouse pad. It has a better surface than my desk in both moving the mouse around and the noise. I used to have one with a wrist pad but then I spilled something on it and it got sticky and I couldn't wash it out.

 

[cardgame]

Yeah, I still have and use one. It's a nice gel one with a wrist rest.

To be specific, they're bad to use while typing/mousing.

Microsoft Hardware - Healthy Computer Guide

"Avoid resting your palms or wrists on any type of surface while typing (see detail 7). The palm rest, if provided, should only be used during breaks from typing."

"Your hands should move freely and be elevated above the wrist/palm rest while typing. When resting, the pad should contact the heel or palm of your hand, not your wrist."

You people type funny. Why the hell would my wrist be on my mousepad when my keyboard is a foot away from it?

 

[Zelig]

You people type funny. Why the hell would my wrist be on my mousepad when my keyboard is a foot away from it?

The details for wrist rests for keyboards apply to wrist rests for mice; your wrist should not be resting on anything while you're using the mouse.

 

[Disgustipated]

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a wrist pad? I admit I rest my wrists on it. Although right now I'm not since I'm self-conscious about the position of my wrists right now.

I know I do have carpal tunnel problems, but that seems to be from the mouse mostly, and playing MMO's too much (which I have given up).

 

[Till]

I use a piece of cardboard, since i have a glass desk.

 

[Zelig]

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a wrist pad?

Yes, partially, which is part of the reason I think they're dumb.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

I'm still gone, but this thread is irritating enough to warrant a login.

The details for wrist rests for keyboards apply to wrist rests for mice; your wrist should not be resting on anything while you're using the mouse.

Ok, WHY is that? I want a detailed explanation. No links, no saying "keyboard stuff applies to this" crap. Mousepad wrist rests were designed explicitly to minimize ergonomic injuries.

Just tell us: WHY is using a mousepad wrist rest is bad for us? And WHY should the wrist not be resting on something during mouse use?

 

[Zelig]

Mousepad wrist rests were designed explicitly to minimize ergonomic injuries.

I've never seen any evidence to support this statement.

I've provided links from a variety of good sources, if you disagree, the onus is on you to provide some contrasting evidence.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

I've never seen any evidence to support this statement.

I've provided links from a variety of good sources, if you disagree, the onus is on you to provide some contrasting evidence.

I explicitly stated NO LINKS OR OTHER SUCH BULLCRAP. That includes asking me to provide my own.

I explicitly asked for an explanation.

 

[Zelig]

I explicitly stated NO LINKS OR OTHER SUCH BULLCRAP. That includes asking me to provide my own.

I explicitly asked for an explanation.

It's not bullcrap.

My point of view is the ergonomic standard.

You can google just as well as me to figure out the mechanism behind the recommendation.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

It's not bullcrap.

My point of view is the ergonomic standard.

You can google just as well as me to figure out the mechanism behind the recommendation.

I am not calling your viewpoint bullcrap.

I am calling the behavior of simply providing vague links, telling me to google it, and not giving me a detailed explanation, bullcrap.

However, I googled anyway ( ), but I am still utterly confused, which happens every single time someone tells me to google it, and am no closer to understanding or comprehending the situation, which is why being told to google it is one of my bigger internet pet peeves.

So, to end the threadjack, I'll stfu.

 

[Zelig]

They aren't vague links, they're three of the best ergonomic resources I could find.

I don't know the mechanism behind most ergonomic guidelines, I trust that people who make the guidelines know what they're doing, barring evidence to the contrary.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Who would have thought that a discussion about mousepads could get so heated.

 

[Yeekim]

I use one at home because my desk at home is too shiny for the mouse to work properly.

I use an old newspaper or smth similar in situations like this.

 

[GoodGame]

Some surfaces do not track the laser very well. I use a pad at work mainly for the wrist bumper.

This, and most better mice use a laser. I use an "X-ray pad" which is basically a "space age", ABS plastic, mouse pad. It's molded with a very fine surface pattern that tracks very well. Great for using with a mouse that lets you reset the DPI on the fly. My current one is 4 years old and is still in "very good" condition.

 

[Disgustipated]

Who would have thought that a discussion about mousepads could get so heated.

I agree. What is it about mousepads?

Or maybe a mousepad is like a woman. You like it firm, but also soft and squishy where it needs to be.