The cure for 'mouse arm': Gyroscopic mice

The Gyration Air Mouse

Do you suffer from hand and arm pain while mousing? Many factors can be blamed, from poor posture to a badly designed ergonomic environment. Unfortunately, simply adjusting one's seat or desk height doesn't always solve the problem (and sometimes you can't adjust either of these much at all).

I was a longtime sufferer of the condition I dubbed "mouse arm," which at one point got so bad that after a few hours, I would have to awkwardly mouse with my left hand for the rest of the day. About five years ago (long before I joined CNET), I discovered a company called Gyration and its line of gyroscopic mice.

The very latest version is the just-reviewed Gyration Air Mouse, a smaller $99 travel version of the company's standard Gyration Go model. Like most other gyroscopic mice, the Gyration Air functions as a regular optical mouse when placed on a flat surface--but lift it up, and it switches into gyroscopic mode, letting users control the cursor by moving the mouse through the air.

Unfortunately, the new Gyration Air doesn't compare favorably with either the Go or another favorite, Logitech's sleek MX Air. The Air Mouse feels flimsy and insubstantial, and it literally rattles in your hand. The clacky mouse buttons feel loose, and worst of all, the optical tracking feels a tiny bit sluggish when used in the nongyroscopic mode.

A final note--newcomers to the gyroscope party should note that using one of these devices seems impossible at first, but after a short but intense 24-48 hour learning curve, it'll be second nature.

Read the full review of the Gyration Air Mouse.

Also, see our handy chart comparing gyroscopic mice.

[doggarnmike]

I used this mouse and it wasn't so fast or easy to use... sorry boys

[daaboss]

I have used a Gyration mouse for over three years and I just replaced it with a new model. There is no way I would go back to a 'normal' mouse. With the Gyroscopic mouse I can sit back on my chair or couch and relax with my hands on my lap while I use the Gyration mouse. My learning curve took about 15 minutes and I am in my 50's. The trick is to lay your wrist on your lap rather than hang you arm in the air while using the mouse. You will love this mouse!

[shawn1313]

i have the cure for your "mouse arm"... it's called a TRACKBALL!
i don't know why so many people prefer to use a mouse rather than a trackball.
it's insane.

[nikecar]

Trackballs are junk. I used a trackball once thinking it would save my wrist from getting CTS, but all it did was screw up my thumb. Now in the cold or morning, my thumb locks up and it pops when I move it. Worker's Comp'd it and they confirmed it was the trackball as the Docs had seen it before. Coworker used another trackball and had similar problems after a few weeks of using it. I'd never use a trackball again and regret ever using one.

[iamarcin]

get some exercise you losers and you wont have this many health problems.
Anyone who would spend more than $30 on a keyboard and mouse combo has too much money laying around. And after a month you will complain that your $500 computer is to slow...