A new design for a more comfortable peripheral
Although the modern mouse has gone through a number evolutionary stages – adding a scroll wheel, using a laser or optical sensor to track movement, and including a number of other useful buttons – the overall design hasn’t changed all that much.
One of the main concerns for the modern worker with regards to this design is the onset of RSI, Repetitive Strain Injury. Let’s face it, holding a mouse with your palm held flat for eight hours plus a day can lead to some painful and long-term problems. Thankfully there are ways to help prevent RSI, but a Swedish company, Penclic, may have a better solution.
The Penclic Mouse is a re-design of the traditional mouse without losing any of the peripheral’s functionality. There are a number of different versions available, with corded, wireless and Bluetooth connectivity covered, however, the model we have on test today is the Penclic Mouse R2, the wireless version.
The Penclic mouse has been designed to be a natural extension to the movement of the hand; a more comfortable and ergonomic solution that utilises the hand’s natural dexterity to create a healthier working position.
It looks and feels like a pen, which essentially it is, albeit one that's attached to a small base via a ball joint where it’s free to move around as you rotate your hand and wrist. The base is the actual mouse optical sensor part, and works in very much the same way as a normal mouse does. On it you’ll find a scroll wheel, with a triple-A battery compartment underneath alongside a power switch and connect button – to communicate to the wireless USB dongle that comes with it
The pen houses an array of buttons along the bottom half where it joins with the base. These include left and right click, middle click, back and forward, all encased and mounted on to a rubberised section.
In the box you’ll find the Penclic itself, along with a triple-A rechargeable battery, the aforementioned wireless USB dongle, a retractable micro USB to full sized USB cable, and a multi-language quick start guide and instructions.
The design is certainly unique, and in all honesty it does take a little time to get used to the movement of both the pen part and the base. As default the DPI settings are at the maximum 2400, but by holding down the left and right buttons for a few seconds the Penclic will drop through the other DPI values: 800, 1200, and 1600.
Setting a lower DPI to begin with is probably the best way to get used to the movement. After that you can slowly up the DPI settings according to how quickly you become accustomed to the device.
In terms of comfort, the Penclic is quite remarkable. The feeling of holding a pen is more fluid and completely cuts out the unnecessary wrist strain normally associated with a traditionally designed mouse. However, it can be quite awkward at times to get the same level of accuracy as a traditional mouse.
While an ideal solution for those who suffer from RSI problems, this design isn’t something you’d choose for everyday use. It’s a fantastic product, we like the fact that it’s OS independent too, but it’s probably just a little too inaccurate for detailed work. David Hayward
A superb anti-RSI mouse, but a little awkward.