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3M Renaissance Mouse

REVIEW DATE:  03.12.02

  • Category: Input Devices
  • Product: 3M Renaissance Mouse
  • Price: $75 street
  • Company Info: 3M, www.3M.com/cws/

    • Ratings

    EditorVery Good

    ReaderUnrated

    Rate This Product

    3M Renaissance Mouse

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    OnlineExtraOnline Extra

    The 3M Renaissance Mouse is such an obvious and worthwhile concept that we wonder why other companies haven't copied it. The mouse stands upright and fits in the hand like a joystick. The stick is molded to fit the hand and has three buttons: Two are controlled by the thumb and one by the middle three fingers. The stick rests on a platform that slides like a standard mouse.

    The hand stays in a natural sideways position with the Renaissance Mouse, and all movement comes from the arm, leaving the wrist immobile. The mouse has a rubber trackball, which doesn't glide nearly as well as today's optical mice, and comes in two sizes. It doesn't yet have software support for Microsoft Windows Me or XP.

     MEMBER RATINGS Rate it Yourself 

    cylproductions
    Member rating: 
    December 26, 2005
    If it wasn't for the 3M Renaissance mouse, I would not be doing what I am doing now. Following a sport injury in my arm and elbow, I was unable to use a 'regular' mouse. It came to a point that my doctor told me that I had 2 choices: learn to use the mouse on my other hand (which I tried) or kiss good-bye to my design career. I researched extensively and took a chance on the Renaissance mouse. It is the only mouse I can ever use but I wished that 3M would come out with an infrared one by now. Also, this mouse is not available for sale in Canada, so it costs me almost $150!

    cgbale
    Member rating: 
    May 24, 2003
    This is a great ergonomic mouse for those with wrist injuries. I was pleased to find a new version that uses optical technology and a USB connector. The new graphite color makes it look more modern as well. The new model number numbers are EM500GPS for those with palms 3.5 inches wide and less and EM500GPL for those with palm 3.5 inches and larger. It's for right-handers only but at least it comes it two differnet sizes. I had a hard time locating the new model but finally found it at the Dartek website for about $50. You can find info and drivers at the official 3M website at 3m.com/ergonomics/ergonomicmouse.jhtml Highly recommended!

    olsenre
    Member rating: 
    April 26, 2003
    I have tried many many pointing devices over the years, and have found the 3M Renaissance Mouse to be the most comfortable of all. I now have these on all the computers I use. Delicate work like drawing still benefits from a pen interface, but for every other kind of pointing working, the 3M is the best. Eliminated all forearm discomfort for me. Hope to see optical and wireless versions in the future.

    Alien_Technology
    Member rating: 
    March 20, 2003
    After trying many mice and trackballs to help my repetitive stress injury, I found the 3M Renaissance mouse. It has been a huge help. My only complaint is that compared to my previous optical cordless mouse, this is old tech. Corded with a rolling ball. But it's worth the trade for the reduction in pain. I now have one for work and another for home. Now for a better keyboard...

    dannyhoffman
    Member rating: 
    March 4, 2002
    This product works-after using it for a few days my severe RSI pain subsided and after about 2 weeks it was almost completely gone. Drawbacks: the scrolling function doesn't work well. Because the device is arm (and not wrist) controlled, it is difficult to make delicate movements for accurate scrolling. Scrolling tends to "overshoot the mark." The scrolling button (like the scroll wheel on a mouse) doesn't work at all under XP. 3M says they are working on a new driver. Nonetheless, this device "saved" my wrist and I would buy it again.
     
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