Hi all ...

I have been using a mouse for years and years ... mostly 2d drawing of architectural plans ... with occasional 3d models when the client could not visualize.

In recent history I have been doing 3d models for every project ... from very simple box like models to some pretty complex ones ... Using Rhino for both 3d and technical drawing (now and then forced to go back to AutoCad for some clients needs). I have tried SketchUp and for some obscure reason it never felt comfortable to me (though it is quick and easy for some things).

Then I discovered MoI and the 3d world is easier so I will be working there more often. MoI 'feels' right to me.

But I know it is more or less enhanced for tablet work and I can't help but ask the question ... "Should I be using a Tablet?" ... and I guess Wacom is the most practical for many applications.

Can those of you who use tablets give me some advice ... some words of wisdom from your experience. It would be most helpful ... I am hunkering in to a book on small houses which means a few months of intensive work and I want to use my time as well as possible.

thanks,
eric

Hi Eric - pretty much the main way that MoI is optimized to work well with a tablet is by trying to make things work with simple left clicks and not requiring having to touch the keyboard to do basic things.

That avoids a lot of the problem areas that many apps can have when trying to run on something like a TabletPC for example where there actually isn't a keyboard at all.

Basically those kinds of things make MoI run a lot more smoothly on a tablet, but they also work fine with a mouse as well.

It's not so much that MoI works "better" with a tablet than it does with a mouse, it's more like MoI works equally as well with a tablet or a mouse, whereas most programs don't work as well with a tablet as they do with a mouse setup.

Does that make sense?

So if you are not already accustomed to using a pen tablet, there won't necessarily be a benefit for you to switch over.

A tablet though is really great for giving a much closer "feel" to drawing with a pen or pencil since you hold the stylus in the same way. So if you have spent a long time doing pen or pencil drawing, using a tablet can be a lot more familiar and nicer than a mouse.

However, if you have been spending quite a long time using a mouse it could actually not be comfortable for you at all though.

If you have done a lot of pen and pencil drawing previously it is absolutely worth trying out to see if it works well for you.

- Michael

Hi Eric,

Regarding MoI Michael said it all. You won't get any specific gains in MoI from having a tablet like you would in sculpting/painting apps like ZBrush or Painter. It's just that MoI has been designed with tablet users in mind (unlike some other programs). There are some apps that really can't used well without a mouse.

I have been using tablets for years. I have had RSI in my wrist since the late 80's, and using a mouse can be quite painful. Using a tablet keeps the wrist and the shoulder in a more natural position and minimizes my discomfort.

If you don't have any problems with your current setup then you don't really need a tablet, unless you paint and sculpt on your PC. In this case a tablet will be very beneficial.

If you decide to go for a tablet then Wacom are the best. I highly recommend the Intuos 3. I have an A5 at work and an A4 are home. If you have a wide screen or dual monitor setup then look at the A5 wide.

There was another thread about tablets a while ago - http://moi3d.com/forum/messages.php?webtag=MOI&msg=2252.1

Hope this helps.

Thanks Michael and Tony ...

It sounds like I should probably stay with a mouse rather than investing the time and money on a new piece of hardware. I'll keep my budget monies for software upgrades, I think. Paying work may be a little short this year.

thanks again,
eric

Ash,
If it's been that long for you then you have probably traveled down all the roads but I thought I'de throw it out anyway.

For the mouse operations you may HAVE to do, a palm type trackball like the Kensington Mouse Expert Pro removes the finger cupping that comes from a normal mouse and eliminates the wrist issue. I lay the butt of my palm on the ball and use more forearm movements. The buttons can be hit with small movements, almost no finger tendon use. the feature that enacts "Precision movement" elimnates the need to strain the hand to be pixel precise.

JFYI.
Burr

Hi Burr, thanks for the info.

Yes, tried various mice and stuff - the tablet turned out to be the best.

However, strange to tell, I tried out a trackball just before Xmas. Unfortunately I have also developed shoulder problems (at work, I'm fine at home) and thought the trackball would help. I tried the Logitech trackball pro and it didn't help that much, plus it did make the wrist somewhat sore, though not as bad as the mouse. The HCI specialist and Occ Health nurse reckon it's because the keyboard is too wide and pushes my arm out too far. So I'll be looking to get a narrow keyboard without numeric keypad. I don't have this issue at home because I don't do as much typing and have the tablet much more in front of me (day job is technical author/illustrator).

I see that the Kensington Mouse Expert Pro is a very different beast from the Logitech, so I'll mention this to the experts at work anyway. I'm okay with the tablet at home and all my personal apps are 'tablet friendly'.

Anyway, thanks again.

Ash,
If it's an area you havnt tried yet, I have some valuable input regarding this.

I'll post some pics in a bit to illustrate what I mean. The main thing is to set "Speeds and Movment".

There are 2 settings. One for "When I move fast" and "When I move slow". Set these values at more extreme settings with "When I move fast" set to move the cursor fast, And "when I move slow" set to move the cursor slow. Then the ball is set in the palm instead of fingers. With just a "FLICK", the cursor can shoot all the way across the screen. Yet if you "MOVE" it, the cursor moves with slow precision. WHat you eliminate is "Click and hold" to "Scoot, Scoot, Scoot" so common with mouse operations (This is where most mouse stress comes from) Buttons that do the "click and holding" for you.

Not trying to get you off a tablet, just to replace ANY mouse work you may still need to do.

These settings can be found in regular shaped mouse drivers also, the benefit with the ball is the placment in the palm instead of the fingers. It allows you to just about "Relax" your arm and make very little movment or "Tension" in the arm, hand/wrist, fingers. Clicks are accessible with say the side of the thumb as a tap down.

Anyway, I'll see if I can get the wife to help with a short vid or something to illustrate so you get to experience what benefit I'm refering to.

Good Luck, talk to you later,
Burr

For my Arthur in the hand I find the Thumb Ball Logitec mouse very good.

Then, I also now find the Logitec MX Laser, with all those extra buttons built in--also very good.

I tend to swap between the two depending on the type of work I am doing and it's particular effects at the time on old Arthur!

Brian

Burr, thanks.

I think the problem I had was using the buttons on the logitech. They didn't seem in a good position and caused quite a bit of strain. I have the tablet set so that I hold the rocker buttons and press for double click/right click. All very easy, like using a pencil.

I really don't do any mouse work at all now, with a tablet both at work and at home. The main thing I have to do is to avoid bending the wrist back in any way and to keep the shoulder relaxed, down and pulled into the body. However, I am always open to options so any more info is appreciated.

Cheers.

When V2 comes out, I am hoping Burr will help me set up the "Brians UI" ideas.

Every sufferer of Arthur will be in envy!

I hope!!

Brian

Hey Brian......

CARRARA 7!!!!!!

Carrara7?

Well not much different from C6--both of which (like Hexagon) I modifiy a little the UI to become more "Arthur" friendly.

The thing about MoI is that one can REALLY work fast doing things and these little "glitches" that impede natural work flow seem to stand out a lot more.

I live in hope
(Keyboard users may not notice as much?)

Brian

Hi Brian, the tricky part is one man's "glitch" is another man's "feature"... Like being able to run on a smaller screen for example.

- Michael