Michael Ulrich (bio)

OBLIGATORY FEATURES LIST
This mouse has seven physical independently programmable buttons [with macros]: a Left, a Right and a Scroll Wheel button, two buttons in the thumb position and two in the pinky or ring finger position. You can choose between a right-hand or left-hand configuration [good for southpaws]. It is a 1600 dpi, 6400 fps mouse, which means it’s two to four times more sensitive and two times faster than a conventional mouse, plus it looks good on the desktop.

LAB WORK
I use a PC at home and have grown to like the two-button + scroll wheel mouse standard on a PC, but I had trouble keeping track of Razer’s seven, so I keep two buttons turned off.

I am a lefty so the first thing I did was change to a left-hand configuration—that’s nice. I set the Right button for selecting, the Left for the contextual menu.

I programmed the Scroll Wheel click to toggle between Normal and Preview Screen Mode in InDesign, but I only remember to use that button about half the time.

I set the two right “thumb buttons” to select the InDesign’s Solid Arrow tool and Text tool respectively, but I only remember to use those buttons about 25% of the time.

I originally set the Sensitivity at five [ten being the most sensitive] but had to reduce it to four because I kept moving text boxes when I clicked, and I turned the On-the-fly Sensitivity feature off for obvious reasons. I set the Double Click Speed at one—‘cause I’m slow, but the Scroll Wheel Speed to two—because I’m not that slow.

OBSERVATIONS
Ergonomically it’s not bad, but the concave primary buttons are an adjustment for me. As a way to alleviate my sore index finger I trained myself to click with multiple fingers on a single-button Apple bubble mouse. Consequently the ‘ole mouse finger is acting up again because I’m using my fingers individually. I also have a little trouble finding the right “thumb buttons”, but that’s probably me.

HOW MANY STARS?
If you are a person like me who is always looking for ways to increase your productivity [or at least feel like you are], this may be the mouse for you. I love the idea of being able to move a frequently used keyboard command to a mouse click. Seems faster.

Or if you are a person who needs the increased sensitivity—like an illustrator—this may be the mouse for you.

Or if you just want a cool looking mouse you can’t go wrong with this mouse.

AS FOR ME?
They tell me I’ll adjust to the sensitivity, but if all else fails I’ll switch it from 1600 dpi to 400 dpi—which I can do from the System Preferences window. As a way to lessen mouse finger, I’m testing various finger combinations [no pun intended], and I consciously soft clicking with my index. I like this mouse and I plan on keeping it.

If you’re interested in the mouse, check it out online at www.razerpro.com and while you’re there look at the Pro|Solutions ProPad.

If anyone has a legal and reasonable remedy for mouse finger, let me know.