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Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

nickbusey.com

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Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#61

Post by magarnicle »

bluGill wrote: post #33

> but takes more time than you think, and definitely slows me down. Are you sure? I mean have you done a real test with an independent observer using a stopwatch? Back in the 1980s Apple did run those tests and were able to setup many situations where an experience keyboard user was still faster with a mouse - but they all claimed to be faster with the keyboard. Now to some extent they were gaming the tests (not all…

Those test results are pretty irrelevant: https://danluu.com/keyboard-v-mouse/

I would like to see the results of much better testing, though.

Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#62

Post by magarnicle »

gtirloni wrote: post #29

I want to experiment with a tablet and pen to replace the mouse. My arm hurts too much with the mouse currently. Anyone have experience with that?

A step before that might be to just switch the mouse to your other hand. It doesn't take too long to get used to.

Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#63

Post by hammyhavoc »

JohnFen wrote: post #41
bluGill wrote: post #33

> but takes more time than you think, and definitely slows me down. Are you sure? I mean have you done a real test with an independent observer using a stopwatch? Back in the 1980s Apple did run those tests and were able to setup many situations where an experience keyboard user was still faster with a mouse - but they all claimed to be faster with the keyboard. Now to some extent they were gaming the tests (not all…

In my view, whether or not you're actually faster isn't nearly as important as whether or not you feel faster. Feeling faster means closer to a flow state, and so more productive. Actually faster does not automatically translate to increased productivity. In the end, I think the best method is the method that the individual is most comfortable with.

It really depends on the software someone uses.

Windows or macOS? It isn't going to compete with a twiddled Linux distro.

Use mouse-heavy programs like DAWs, Photoshop et al? You're going to have a bad time in those mouse-heavy programs if all your cursor usage is with arrow keys, getting further and further away from the speed-of-thought.

If all someone does is lurk the CLI and their IDE, great for them, they'll probably love it. For the average schmoe or digital creative, not so much.

Equally though, I do a good chunk of my computer usage with just a keyboard, but the right tool for the task is required for anything else, e.g., MIDI controllers, mouse, graphics tablet, touchscreen, TrackPoint, trackball etc. They're just options. Pros and cons to all of them.

The "extermination" mentality is an extreme view, and inherently very niche. That's without even getting into gaming, or users who do game dev.

Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#64

Post by NickBusey »

hammyhavoc wrote: post #63
JohnFen wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my view, whether or not you're actually faster isn't nearly as important as whether or not you feel faster. Feeling faster means closer to a flow state, and so more productive. Actually faster does not automatically translate to increased productivity. In the end, I think the best method is the method that the individual is most comfortable with.

It really depends on the software someone uses. Windows or macOS? It isn't going to compete with a twiddled Linux distro. Use mouse-heavy programs like DAWs, Photoshop et al? You're going to have a bad time in those mouse-heavy programs if all your cursor usage is with arrow keys, getting further and further away from the speed-of-thought. If all someone does is lurk the CLI and their IDE, great for them, they'll pro…

I specified “work desk” for a reason. Of course I still have a mouse for gaming and music.

Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#66

Post by theshrike79 »

I moved to an external touchpad years ago on macOS and haven't looked back.

I can just rest my wrist on my table and move my fingers, it's also (IMO, YMMV) easier to find with my hand without looking.

With a mouse, the movement comes all the way from my shoulder and elbow, it's not practical to move it just with your wrist -> neck pain (again, for me, YMMV).

I do have a mouse I connect for gaming and 3D work, those are a huge pain for touchpads, mostly because they often require right-clicking + panning, which isn't really something a touchpad can do. A trackball might work, though?

Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#67

Post by kazinator »

theshrike79 wrote: post #66

I moved to an external touchpad years ago on macOS and haven't looked back. I can just rest my wrist on my table and move my fingers, it's also (IMO, YMMV) easier to find with my hand without looking. With a mouse, the movement comes all the way from my shoulder and elbow, it's not practical to move it just with your wrist -> neck pain (again, for me, YMMV). I do have a mouse I connect for gaming and 3D work, those a…

> it's not practical to move it just with your wrist

Really? I'm trying it. I have my wrist planted on the table and just moving the mouse. Over the span of about an inch, it goes from one end of the 1920 pixel desktop to the other.

Tweak the mouse parameters, maybe?

I have a tiny Logitech M187 mouse. I sometimes work in tight places on the go; tiny desks in recreation centres and such.

Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#68

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

bgoated01 wrote: post #40
yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #11

> I have a designated key on my keyboard to invoke Shortcat. This let’s me “click” on anything on the screen (or in any menus, visible or not). Oh, that's sweet. Anyone know of a version that would work in a Linux-based system?

Shortcat uses accessibility to provide this feature. Unfortunately the current state of Linux accessibility support is insufficient for this type of thing, from what I understand.

I was afraid that might be the answer. Or something like "Well foo can do it for most QT apps but nothing else, bar can do it for GTK2 but was never adapted to GTK3..."; such is the mixed blessing of diverse ecosystems:\

Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#69

Post by mariusor »

m463 wrote: post #17

wow, that keyboard looks painful. Really, why would you use a hard wooden wrist rest? what a mess. I had trouble with my palms years ago, and a soft wrist rest was the solution. Your palms don't have high pressure points, the weight is spread out. This means the system of strings and pulleys from your muscles in your arms that control your fingers can function well, and long-term. The skin slides across soft material…

I have always used wood wrist wrests (for normal and split keyboards) and never had a problem with them in the way you seem to imply. It's definitely not "a mess".

Re: Exterminate your desk: How to remove your mouse

#70

Post by mariusor »

NickBusey wrote: post #51
lesona wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Previously favorite? I'm looking for something to replace my current KB, and I was wondering what your current favorite is/why you like it better than Das keyboard.

Current favorite is the UHK, linked in the article. Main reason is the split, secondary reason is the firmware for things like the mouse keys and custom layers.

I would think the main reason for preferring the UHK is the capability to add the trackpoint module to it, even though you gloss over it in the text. :D.

Btw have you tried the trackball? When they introduced the modules I was vacillating between that and the trackpoint, but ended up with the trackball (of which I'm very happy), but I would be curious of alternative points of view.

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