A Trackball mouse. No seriously. I had awful wrist pains, its always commented on that us developers / people who use computers a lot run the risk of getting CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and I was basically worried I was headed that way at 26, so I looked around at what my much more senior co-workers were using, and about half of them had trackballs. So I bought one, then I bought an ergonomic (Microsoft) keyboard. I…
Which trackball mouse, and how did you choose?
First one I got was the Logitech M575, I just went for what looked to have good reviews, and I've always bought Logitech. I got one for work and my home when the first one died too quickly because it got bumped in my bag going back and forth to work.
Then they released a new trackball called the Ergo MX (when googling it, definitiely add the term "Trackball") which was fantastic. I liked keeping it raised instead of lowered (which was a feature it had) but then after a few years the clicking stopped working as expected, and I found out some people had issues with the switch wearing down over time.
At this point I have a wireless Kensington Trackball mouse, it supports three devices (2 bluetooth, and one USB paired device, so three total), witching between all three isn't perfect (its a little too delayed compared to my Logitech keyboard that switches on a single tap) but it works well enough. Its raised by default so its just as I would have used the Ergo MX. It also has two programmable buttons, though you can also program other things with their software, I've left their custom software uninstalled however, since it fights with Windows' own settings, but it works great on any OS I'm on, including my Linux system.
As for the keyboard, I had Microsoft's Ergonomic wireless keyboard for a while, I've been leaning towards wired keyboards more, since I do tend to use Linux, and use full disk encryption, and none of that works if you're fully bluetooth wireless only.
My other thing is I prefer flat key keyboards, I know some people hate them, but I just find them to be nicer on my hands and quicker to type on, so I usually lean towards flat key ergonomic keyboards now, which there's not a huge amount of those. The wired Microsoft keyboards only come with regular "fat keys" as opposed to the flat keys their other wireless ergonomic keyboards feature. I did find a Kensington wired keyboard that's ergonomic and has flat keys, I replaced it after I spilled coffee on it and bought the same one, but I cant help but want a wireless one still.
But I'm looking into a Logitech keyboard that is ergonomic and supports multiple devices, and using the unifying USB plug as the main way to connect to my encrypted Linux system, I've always had solid luck with Logitech's unifying USB device, it usually just works regardless of what stage the computer is in, its just bluetooth only that fails if you're trying to make bios changes.
Anyway, its been a few different devices, but the focus has always been on getting a ergonomic keyboard and any trackball mouse that works best for me. I definitely like the ones where you rest most of your hand on them the most.