Before we get into whether or not the VerticalMouse 3 is the right thing for you, let’s first discuss the importance of using a vertical mouse. We’ll follow that up by comparing it with other vertical mice we’ve reviewed in the last two years.

Keep in mind that we didn’t hire any ergonomic experts, nor did we perform any clinical studies with RSI sufferers to measure the efficacy of this ergonomic mouse. This information is from our research and understanding, and is usually echoed relentlessly among mouse manufacturers and, often, people who have RSI or other ailments.

A Lesson on Vertical Mice

The horizontal mice that we’re all accustomed to require us to operate them in what is called a pronated position, in which we unnaturally twist our forearms with our palms facing down. Doctors say this is unnatural and unhealthy, adding extra pressure on the carpal tunnel, a “passageway in the wrist through which nerves and the flexor muscles of the hands and fingers pass” (The American Heritage Dictionary).

Placing the hands in a “thumbs up” position neutralizes the forearm and is considered more natural than the pronated position, thus alleviating the tension upon the carpal tunnel.

Comparison of Mouse Use

The vertical position also allows greater range of movement for the wrist. Rather than moving side to side as you do when the palm is face down, your hand can move up and down, or from left to right when your hand is in the thumbs-up position. (An example of this is when you’re knocking on somebody’s door.) Just practicing the difference between the two forms of movement will give you some insight on how different these ranges of motions are.

How the VerticalMouse 3 Stacks Up

In the last two years, we’ve reviewed quite a few vertical mice. Here’s a rundown on what’ we’ve looked at so far in order of the latest reviewed.

  • Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000
  • Wow Pen
  • Zero Tension Mouse
  • VerticalMouse 2
  • PistolMouse FPS

By definition, a vertical mouse is supposed to position the hand in the vertical, handshake position. We’re talking about 90 degrees here. Any mouse that doesn’t allow the hand to fully extend to 90 degrees—sitting somewhere between horizontal and vertical—is something we like to call a “diagonal” mouse, despite what the manufacturer will say. Microsoft’s recently released Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 is a good example here. Microsoft claims that its “breakthrough” design positions the hand in the “handshake position,” but our review saw it more as a diagonal, almost 45 degree hand orientation. Sure, they can argue that it’s more ergonomic for you, but they’re only halfway there.

When your hand rests comfortably on the VM3, you are using the mouse in a slightly diagonal position, not totally vertical. Because of a slight tendency to grip the mouse, and the mouse’s curvy design, it’s easy to lazily slump your hand in a somewhat diagonal position to operate the mouse easily. By fully turning your hand to 90 degrees, there’s a good amount of separation between the fingers and buttons and an even greater need to grip the mouse with the thumb. Some vertical mice makers claim that the idea is to eliminate the need to twist the wrist as you would with a normal mouse, but your wrist is really sharing the responsibility rather than completely avoiding side-to-side motion.

Here is an example of the VerticalMouse in action. We cribbed this picture from our VerticalMouse 2 review, but the grip and use is still the same for the VM3.

Using the VerticalMouse 2

Since it was not very long since we reviewed the Zero Tension Mouse (ZTM), it’s easy to compare the ergonomic differences between the VM3 and the ZTM. The biggest difference with the VM3 is that there is no support for the heel of the hand, so when you want to move the mouse away from your body, you have to slightly grip the mouse and even slouch your hand on the mouse, leaving the vertical position slightly. With a surface to cup the back of your hand on the ZTM, you can easily relax your hand and let your arm move in any direction without any grip at all while, most importantly, keeping your hand fully vertical in a true handshake position. It is quite possible with software like the GentleMouse and a a 90 degree vertical mouse to use a computer without moving the fingers or the wrist, at all.

Other, truer vertical mice include the Quill Mouse and the AirO2Bic mouse. These mice, like the ZTM, have a surface under your hand that allows your hand to move away from your body without gripping the mouse or turning your hand. Continued…