- I don't have to periodically pick it up and reposition it because of running out of mousepad room. (My wrist doesn't like doing that, and my sister -- who has had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome in both of her wrists -- says it's bad too, but I couldn't find an online citation.)
- I can press the buttons without accidentally moving the pointer at the same time. (This is mainly a problem with ball mice, but I've gotten unintentional pointer movement with optical mice too.)
- I find it easier to do things that require pixel-level accuracy with a trackball.
I prefer the Logitech TrackMan Wheel, whose trackball is thumb-operated:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/d...
Instead, I've found this more comfortable: http://www.evoluent.com/vmouse2.html
Works great with a gel wrist wrest on the mousepad.
i got physical pains from reaching the mouse
(You are talking about the kind for divers? I also have them for kayaking. And I've always been very careful with walking on stones, etc.)
Do you mean the kind of new "shoes" they discuss in the article?
I feel like listening to a chef discussing wine and then ask about the color of his shirt. :-)
But going barefoot allows my feet and toes to flex freely and feel the surface. I am able to use parts of my feet and legs that used to be constrained by my running shoes (most notably my arches and calves). Because of this, my running gait has changed a lot. After years of pounding the pavement (striking heel-first) I am able to run smooth and easy, and it feels great.
Thanks to this new running style, there is hardly any wear to the soles. I think they will last around 500 miles. After that, I'll just spend $10 on a new pair.
Because it was such a great, joyful experience (and I still didn't get new laces), I've continued my barefoot runs. Yesterday morning I ran 10 miles (6 miles brick sidewalk, 4 miles sandy forest path), without any problems whatsoever. You do have to watch out for broken glass trough, so when I go between dusk and dawn I put on my aqua socks. But otherwise, I've found my bare feet to be incredibly resilient and wear-proof. Also, I am running completely pain-free for the first time in years. It does require some changes to your stride, most importantly not landing on your heel. But not being constrained by rigid running shoes anymore, your body is able to figure out the rest as you go.
In a few weeks, I'll be running the half marathon in my city. The self-conscious part of me wants to wear shoes and avoid the questions and strange looks. (You will get those, anything from people shouting "Hey, you forgot to put on your shoes" to others nearly walking into trees and lamp posts while staring at your feet in amazement.) But the Dvorak-typing, trackball-using part of me just want to do what feels best, regardless of any social standard, and go barefoot: zero pain, maximum joy.