Since Cru and Sapphira are off boinking somewhere else in the compound Chromie updates Lothar on the state of things. Lothar has no idea what is happening between the two but does Chromie know?
Looks like with the morning comes the journey back to the Eastern Kingdoms and to Stormwind. What sort of progress are Uther and Lora making in the Plaguelands? We'll find out soon enough when the story switches over to them shortly.
You might notice a new addition to the Recommended Comics section called Dead Heaven. Great illustrations and a dark story with fountains of blood. It's the sort of webcomic American McGee would have bookmarked in his web browser.
::UPDATE JUNE 24::
I'm sorry but the Thursday update won't be happening. There maybe not even be a Monday update. The reason is I cannot use my mouse much before my wrist begins to stiffen and I feel an aching numbness in my hand; early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. Given the amount of mouse movement it requires to make the comic I simply can't spend hours creating a new page without the numb tingling turning into pain.
At the moment I can't afford a solution to relieve the pain in my wrist. Fearing doctor bills for CTS (and having no medical insurance to cover it) I'm halting production of the comic until I can find a comfortable solution. I was eager to finish up business in Winterspring and move onto the Lora and Uther storyline but that's going to have to wait.
It could be a bit before I have the cash so until then the comic is on hold. If you can spare anything please donate and help support the comic, the author and my wrist. I was excited to move the plot ahead to content I've been wanting to cover for months and I feel like I'm letting the readers down but I just can't risk causing serious damage and pain to myself.
Again I apologize for this but the comic will be on hold until a solution is reached.
P.S. Could anyone out there who has a mouse with an ergonomic or comfortable design give me feedback on their experience with it?
::UPDATE JUNE 29::
My thanks to everyone who has donated so far. Funds are still short but I hope to resume the comic by July 6th.
::UPDATE JULY 2::
Going to try and get an update done before Sunday but the comic probably won't resume it's Monday-Thursday updates until the 13th.
So that's your 6 cents :P I'd love a trackball (probably) and should have one by next week. Of course I'll need a grace period to get familiar with it.
I'll toss in 2 cents for the third time. I originally started noticing problems with my wrist about 10 or so years ago. At that point I looked everywhere for an option that wasn't a normal mouse, and was instantly wowed by the logitech trachballs. And not the thumb ones, mind you, the regular finger balls. As far as cleaning goes, it's quite simple with the opticals. In almost all of them there are 3 ball bearings that the ball rests on, which you just wipe with your finger. Then the lens you can either use compressed air to clean out, or just a slightly damp cloth, but make sure you dry it immediately. I clean mine typically once every 2 weeks, and it takes less than 5 mins to do. I used trackballs only for about 6 years before getting an MX1000, and then switching to the G5 I have now. Yes, I like my G5, but I love my trackball.
But once you get used to them they're simply wonderful :P And the optical trackballs don't require much effort to clean. I also heard that spraying Pledge onto the ball and wiping it clean reduces friction and makes it gather gunk slower.
So far there's more support of trackballs than opposition. I will continue to hear both sides until the end of this case.
What you could also consider, is using a slim mouse.
Unlike the G5, which is rather big, though ergonomically awesome, you could try the "logitech lx3", which is quite small in comparison, and thus allows quite easy grasping and movement.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/149&cl=US,EN
Trackballs are horrible!
They clog like a mofo and take ages to get used to.
Logitech G5 is ftw.
Using it with vista 64 here.
It all really depends in "how" you hold it.
Personally, I move my mouse with my fingers, not my whole arm. Thus, my wrist is actually completely stationary on the mouse pad at all times. +Extra glide mousepad and low weight mouse really helps reduce friction and thus effort in moving the mouse. Wrist rests suck also.. but that varies per person.
I think I decided to avoid the expert mouse because it's not fully compatible with Vista and I'd only be able to use 2/4 buttons w/o software customization.
I would say to start cheap on the trackball to see if it will even work out well for you. If it is something that you like, then you may want to see if a computer store in your area has an expert mouse you can check out, and if you like it, save up for it. I picked mine up about a year or so ago, and have been extremely happy with it since. And as I said before, I do have the same kinds of problems with my wrist that you describe, and if a mouse isn't built ergonomically at all, I will be screaming in pain within 10 minutes of using it.
Looks like the Logitech Trackman Marble wins after reading reviews of the Kensington mouse. Awkward left mouse button placement, frequent stalling, smaller ball size and no full software support for Vista have killed the Orbit Optical for me.
The Kensington Expert Mouse looks like a nice choice too. Nice and at more than double the price tag of the Logitech Marble and at this rate the comic would be on hold for weeks more if I waited to get it.
It seems like the Logitech Marble would be easier to click the buttons and the two extra smaller buttons (customizable) would be nice to program for some sort of scroll mode.
A trackball (finger) mouse would be very nice. I'm undecided between the [url=http://us.kensington.com/html/4771.html]Kensington Orbit[/url] and the [url=http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/4680&cl=us,en]Logitech Trackman Marble[/url]
Buy a logitech G5. it's sweeet.
Also, ergonomics is bullshit really, wrist rests, back support, that stuff just makes it worse.
Find something you're comfortable with, thats all that matters.
Hey Cru, just saw your problem, and I have been working on the same problem for years. I've found 2 normal mice that I can use without pain, and most trackballs. Currently, I use a a logitech G5 at my desktop, which fits perfect in my hand and causes no pain, and for my laptop I use a kensigton expert mouse which is awesome, although a little pricey.
One more thing about the mouse. There are many mouses out there with such but to help you pick, look the one that has light in it. It is not much but glowing, radiates a small amount of heat to the mouse what is extreamly comfortable and keep the mouse nice and warm, as big as its light as much its plesure.
About the mouse pad. I do belive you have a laser mouse there what is very good for precise works and you cant have reflecting stuff whats kinda sux beacuse usually those surfaces is best to slide the mosue on them.
I use a special item with my optical mouse (havent found a laser mouse this small). So far whomever i told to use this, they were greatfull beacuse its trully the best option so far.
A cut off from a jean's leg. Its best to use a worn off jean that is much softer then a new one. And the end of the leg supports as a little bump where you can lay your wirst and get a holding grip to the entire surface. We all know that jeans have a totally unique sewing technic and its the best.
Hope you get well soon and make a hard porn section with the personels in the comic.
2. I went from shop to shop and trough the internet to find the smallest mouse made. They called laptop mouses. They are soo small and light in weight you can firmly move them with using only your fingers soft touch. This way you can even chain your wirst beacuse bending halfway your fingers is enough to move trough the entire screen, and if you get a nice zooming configuration you can zoom on edited areas to do small adjustments with the mouse's high speed. Offcourse you have to lift your mouse and put it back again but as i said its soo small and light doing it doesnt require any noticable muscle excersize. Furthuremore it should have is a cord wire. Wireed mouses are much lighter beacuse they dont require items in them that makes them wireless and the wire's weight helps you keep the mouse at a default align and helps you push the mouse upwards what is a slightly harder movement then draging down. You can adjust this with the aligning the wire cord.
About the "buttons" on the mouse. 2 buttons is the most lighter mouses and it is best if that 2 main button is big as the entire top of the mouse. That way you dont have to bend your finger and push it as it would be a key on the keyboard. You simply have to lay your finger on it and add a gentle push to the entire finger and its done.
Im afraid i fill up this comment window too so I make one last post to complete my help for you.
Yellow. I like your style and I just read upon your missfortune. I also saw you type a lot of text. I shared your bad experience on the wirst, and my solution that helped me was:
1. Geting an ergonomic keyboard that has its keys breaked to half at the middle and turned in an angle, so at typing with 10 finger, and laying your hand on the keys, you dont have to bend your wirst at all to comortlly reach all common keys.
The second sollution i will write in another comment beacuse this ones getting filled up. Im sorry for the spamlike, I do write alot as you so this keyboard is a must.
First off: wear a brace. it's the cheapest and possibly least comfortable solution, but it'll help you form making unnecessary wrist movements. Work with tat while you find other stuff. soaking your hand in warm water can relieve the numbness/pain that builds up.
Arthritis creams allegedly help, but I wouldn't know, haven't tried it.
Or you can go with my favorite solution to all pain: Ignore it til you reach the threshold for pain, then keep going. After awhile, the pain stops hurting cuz you're so used to it. (of coruse you'll still be doing damage to your wrist)
I hate mousepads with wristrests. Though all I've used before were gel pads one of the padded ones might be better. Still they're stationary and I'd want something that would move with my hand.
You can also buy a mousemat with a wristpillow build into it, it's dirtcheap and really does a lot to relieve the tension and stress you'd otherwise get.
A very inexpensive wrist stabilizer is a bowling brace. Usually leather, velcro closure, and has a steel shank inside.
It last many times longer than the medical ones.
Logitech has one for the fingers, too, I think. I just never tried it. Strictly thumbs here.
I found trackballs a lot more durable than mice. Maybe that's because they don't get moved. My first one still works, and works hard. I use it at work daily because they won't get me one. About fifteen years, that's all I say.
I've been looking at the Logitech Trackman Marble and the Trackman Wheel. The scroll wheel would be nice but I wonder if the Marble model would be quicker having the trackball in the center on top and controlled by the fingers instead of on the side and with the thumb.
cru at 12:24PM, July 1, 2009
So that's your 6 cents :P I'd love a trackball (probably) and should have one by next week. Of course I'll need a grace period to get familiar with it.
drakonis12 at 12:13AM, July 1, 2009
I'll toss in 2 cents for the third time. I originally started noticing problems with my wrist about 10 or so years ago. At that point I looked everywhere for an option that wasn't a normal mouse, and was instantly wowed by the logitech trachballs. And not the thumb ones, mind you, the regular finger balls. As far as cleaning goes, it's quite simple with the opticals. In almost all of them there are 3 ball bearings that the ball rests on, which you just wipe with your finger. Then the lens you can either use compressed air to clean out, or just a slightly damp cloth, but make sure you dry it immediately. I clean mine typically once every 2 weeks, and it takes less than 5 mins to do. I used trackballs only for about 6 years before getting an MX1000, and then switching to the G5 I have now. Yes, I like my G5, but I love my trackball.
cru at 11:45AM, June 30, 2009
Trackball advocates you have the stand. Speak now or forever hold your balls. Trackballs.
cru at 4:00AM, June 30, 2009
But once you get used to them they're simply wonderful :P And the optical trackballs don't require much effort to clean. I also heard that spraying Pledge onto the ball and wiping it clean reduces friction and makes it gather gunk slower. So far there's more support of trackballs than opposition. I will continue to hear both sides until the end of this case.
bbr at 1:12AM, June 30, 2009
What you could also consider, is using a slim mouse. Unlike the G5, which is rather big, though ergonomically awesome, you could try the "logitech lx3", which is quite small in comparison, and thus allows quite easy grasping and movement. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/149&cl=US,EN
bbr at 1:04AM, June 30, 2009
Trackballs are horrible! They clog like a mofo and take ages to get used to. Logitech G5 is ftw. Using it with vista 64 here. It all really depends in "how" you hold it. Personally, I move my mouse with my fingers, not my whole arm. Thus, my wrist is actually completely stationary on the mouse pad at all times. +Extra glide mousepad and low weight mouse really helps reduce friction and thus effort in moving the mouse. Wrist rests suck also.. but that varies per person.
cru at 3:47AM, June 29, 2009
I think I decided to avoid the expert mouse because it's not fully compatible with Vista and I'd only be able to use 2/4 buttons w/o software customization.
drakonis12 at 1:11AM, June 29, 2009
I would say to start cheap on the trackball to see if it will even work out well for you. If it is something that you like, then you may want to see if a computer store in your area has an expert mouse you can check out, and if you like it, save up for it. I picked mine up about a year or so ago, and have been extremely happy with it since. And as I said before, I do have the same kinds of problems with my wrist that you describe, and if a mouse isn't built ergonomically at all, I will be screaming in pain within 10 minutes of using it.
cru at 2:30PM, June 27, 2009
Looks like the Logitech Trackman Marble wins after reading reviews of the Kensington mouse. Awkward left mouse button placement, frequent stalling, smaller ball size and no full software support for Vista have killed the Orbit Optical for me. The Kensington Expert Mouse looks like a nice choice too. Nice and at more than double the price tag of the Logitech Marble and at this rate the comic would be on hold for weeks more if I waited to get it.
cru at 12:48PM, June 27, 2009
It seems like the Logitech Marble would be easier to click the buttons and the two extra smaller buttons (customizable) would be nice to program for some sort of scroll mode.
cru at 12:44PM, June 27, 2009
A trackball (finger) mouse would be very nice. I'm undecided between the [url=http://us.kensington.com/html/4771.html]Kensington Orbit[/url] and the [url=http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/4680&cl=us,en]Logitech Trackman Marble[/url]
bbr at 12:40PM, June 27, 2009
Buy a logitech G5. it's sweeet. Also, ergonomics is bullshit really, wrist rests, back support, that stuff just makes it worse. Find something you're comfortable with, thats all that matters.
drakonis12 at 12:13PM, June 27, 2009
Hey Cru, just saw your problem, and I have been working on the same problem for years. I've found 2 normal mice that I can use without pain, and most trackballs. Currently, I use a a logitech G5 at my desktop, which fits perfect in my hand and causes no pain, and for my laptop I use a kensigton expert mouse which is awesome, although a little pricey.
Csatrad at 6:18PM, June 26, 2009
One more thing about the mouse. There are many mouses out there with such but to help you pick, look the one that has light in it. It is not much but glowing, radiates a small amount of heat to the mouse what is extreamly comfortable and keep the mouse nice and warm, as big as its light as much its plesure. About the mouse pad. I do belive you have a laser mouse there what is very good for precise works and you cant have reflecting stuff whats kinda sux beacuse usually those surfaces is best to slide the mosue on them. I use a special item with my optical mouse (havent found a laser mouse this small). So far whomever i told to use this, they were greatfull beacuse its trully the best option so far. A cut off from a jean's leg. Its best to use a worn off jean that is much softer then a new one. And the end of the leg supports as a little bump where you can lay your wirst and get a holding grip to the entire surface. We all know that jeans have a totally unique sewing technic and its the best. Hope you get well soon and make a hard porn section with the personels in the comic.
Csatrad at 6:06PM, June 26, 2009
2. I went from shop to shop and trough the internet to find the smallest mouse made. They called laptop mouses. They are soo small and light in weight you can firmly move them with using only your fingers soft touch. This way you can even chain your wirst beacuse bending halfway your fingers is enough to move trough the entire screen, and if you get a nice zooming configuration you can zoom on edited areas to do small adjustments with the mouse's high speed. Offcourse you have to lift your mouse and put it back again but as i said its soo small and light doing it doesnt require any noticable muscle excersize. Furthuremore it should have is a cord wire. Wireed mouses are much lighter beacuse they dont require items in them that makes them wireless and the wire's weight helps you keep the mouse at a default align and helps you push the mouse upwards what is a slightly harder movement then draging down. You can adjust this with the aligning the wire cord. About the "buttons" on the mouse. 2 buttons is the most lighter mouses and it is best if that 2 main button is big as the entire top of the mouse. That way you dont have to bend your finger and push it as it would be a key on the keyboard. You simply have to lay your finger on it and add a gentle push to the entire finger and its done. Im afraid i fill up this comment window too so I make one last post to complete my help for you.
Csatrad at 5:55PM, June 26, 2009
Yellow. I like your style and I just read upon your missfortune. I also saw you type a lot of text. I shared your bad experience on the wirst, and my solution that helped me was: 1. Geting an ergonomic keyboard that has its keys breaked to half at the middle and turned in an angle, so at typing with 10 finger, and laying your hand on the keys, you dont have to bend your wirst at all to comortlly reach all common keys. The second sollution i will write in another comment beacuse this ones getting filled up. Im sorry for the spamlike, I do write alot as you so this keyboard is a must.
Deraymou at 1:23PM, June 26, 2009
First off: wear a brace. it's the cheapest and possibly least comfortable solution, but it'll help you form making unnecessary wrist movements. Work with tat while you find other stuff. soaking your hand in warm water can relieve the numbness/pain that builds up. Arthritis creams allegedly help, but I wouldn't know, haven't tried it. Or you can go with my favorite solution to all pain: Ignore it til you reach the threshold for pain, then keep going. After awhile, the pain stops hurting cuz you're so used to it. (of coruse you'll still be doing damage to your wrist)
cru at 9:14AM, June 26, 2009
I hate mousepads with wristrests. Though all I've used before were gel pads one of the padded ones might be better. Still they're stationary and I'd want something that would move with my hand.
Quaade at 7:29AM, June 26, 2009
You can also buy a mousemat with a wristpillow build into it, it's dirtcheap and really does a lot to relieve the tension and stress you'd otherwise get.
bilbomsb at 10:52PM, June 25, 2009
A very inexpensive wrist stabilizer is a bowling brace. Usually leather, velcro closure, and has a steel shank inside. It last many times longer than the medical ones.
Dracojounin7 at 4:47PM, June 25, 2009
The GE Mini Wireless Optical Mouse is very comfortable, I've found. All I wanted was a wireless USB mouse and I got much more.
Worldtaker Tkalamov at 1:18PM, June 25, 2009
Wrath of the Rich King pwns you all?
cru at 8:40AM, June 25, 2009
If they didn't cost out the ass a touchscreen would be fun. Certainly for Photoshop.
yarra at 6:51AM, June 25, 2009
Logitech has one for the fingers, too, I think. I just never tried it. Strictly thumbs here. I found trackballs a lot more durable than mice. Maybe that's because they don't get moved. My first one still works, and works hard. I use it at work daily because they won't get me one. About fifteen years, that's all I say.
cru at 3:02AM, June 25, 2009
I've been looking at the Logitech Trackman Marble and the Trackman Wheel. The scroll wheel would be nice but I wonder if the Marble model would be quicker having the trackball in the center on top and controlled by the fingers instead of on the side and with the thumb.