Hello Mark,<br>
<br>
First, to <span style="font-weight: bold;">everybody out there</span>: once you get RSI, the first thing you learn is the best way to get rid of it is to <span style="font-weight: bold;">not get it in the first place</span>
. Follow proper typing practices (<span style="font-weight: bold;">good posture</span>, hands more or less at a right angle, <span style="font-weight: bold;">get an ergonomic keyboard and mouse <span style="text-decoration: underline;">
now</span></span>).
Some people go so far as to say that once you have RSI all you can do
is manage it, not cure it, and while I'm not sure of that, preventing
it is definitely the best idea.<br>
<br>
Now for Mark and others of you who have it: I've used the Dvorak
layout for years, and gave myself a repetitive stress injury
anyway. Actually, the best way to avoid RSI is to not know how to
touch type, so I can blame the Dvorak layout for learning how to touch
type. Other than that, your fingers move less so it might help,
but faster so it might hurt. I advocate Dvorak but I wouldn'tcall it an RSI cure. <br>
<br>
The best affordable ergonomic keyboard I could find quickly was
Microsoft's Natural Ergonomic 4000. I hear some people swear by
an older MS ergonomic keyboard that isn't made anymore, but is
available and very durable.<br>
<br>
As for the new one, Microsoft screwed me on the rebate (sent in the UPC
and everything and they gave me maybe $5 for a mouse I did not buy
instead of $20 for the keyboard), <span style="font-weight: bold;">and now it mostly doesn't work</span>.
If the weather is at all humid, typing V causes V2 and typing A opens a
new browser window. Not a happy customer, just one with yet
another reason to hate Microsoft. Love to hear if others know of
better keyboards.<br>
<br>
My strongest recommendation is buy the <span style="font-weight: bold;">3M Ergonomic Mouse</span>.<br>
<br>
My RSI is under control, but mostly I'm back to typing directly on a
12-inch iBook with trackpad, and terrible posture, and can't explain
why I'm no longer freaked out about not being able to type anymore,
except perhaps that I'm stupid and have a high pain tolerance.<br>
<br>
Good luck!<br><br>
ben melançon<br>
Agaric Design<br>
<a href="http://agaricdesign.com/">http://agaricdesign.com/</a><br>
<br>
Featuring: <a href="http://power2exchange.com/">http://power2exchange.com/</a><br>
<br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 8/10/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Mark Fredrickson</b> <<a href="mailto:mark.m.fredrickson@gmail.com">mark.m.fredrickson@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Hello,<br><br>I've decided to give the pain in my left arm the boot, and I'm in the<br>market for a new keyboard anyway, so I thought I would see anyone had<br>recommendations for an ergonomic keyboard.<br><br>Additionally, does anyone use the Dvorak keymapping? Does it help with
<br>RSIs? Or is just for speed?<br><br>Thanks,<br>-Mark<br>_______________________________________________<br>consulting mailing list<br><a href="mailto:consulting@drupal.org">consulting@drupal.org</a><br><a href="http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting">
http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting</a><br></blockquote></div><br>