In my line of work, I often times go into the offices of other people to setup their computers and what not. Whether by coincidence or providence, recently I’ve encountered users of this strange-looking mouse. Shaped like a dim-sum bun turned on its side, this mound of a thing turns out to be the Evoluent VM4SW, a vertical, ergonomic mouse. I’ve seen plenty of the typical thumb trackball ergonomic mouse, but never before one of these vertical ones. I was intrigued.
As I get older, ergonomics and function hold precedent over style. Those of us who make our money sitting in front of computers all day must limit the adverse affects on our health as much as possible. This is why I elevate my MacBook Pro on a stand, so the screen is more level to the eye. I use a mechanical keyboard; the long-travel keys cushion the typing forces of the fingers. Yet inexplicably, I still use the the stock Apple Magic Mouse as an external for the laptop.
The Magic Mouse have given me mild finger and wrist pains for years, but I kept on using it. Indeed, the gesture controls and deep integration with macOS make it difficult to quit the Apple mouse. However, my encounter with the Evoluent vertical mouse got me thinking about (finally) a switch. I went to the one input device brand I trust most - Logitech - to see if they’ve got such a mouse in their lineup.
Turns out they do! The Logitech MX Vertical works just the same as the Evoluent model, but much sleeker and higher quality. It comes in cheaper, too, though still a relatively expensive $89 dollars. The MX vertical actually costs more than this Keychron K6 keyboard I’m typing this on. It’s very much worth it: the comfort is immediate, and the movement far more natural than the traditional mouse. I do miss the touch gestures and smooth scrolling of the Magic Mouse, though I’d gladly trade that for the lack of muscle pain.
I’ll also never again have to suffer the ignominy of Apple’s worst design ever.
It looks surprisingly Bauhaus.