Razer Nostromo - Any good?

I'm thinking of getting one of these to reduce the strain on my left hand as it now has an RSI

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004G8QHFO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d3_g147_i2?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0PPJ9E0JV4DK8JWAYF7Z&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

Although its clearly meant for the gaming market, I've heard reports that they are used a lot by graphic designers as it allows them to put all their keyboard shortcuts at their fingertips.

Does anyone have one and are they any good in a non-gaming environment?

I'd also be interested in this, as I get wrist/arm ache from time to time after long coding sessions, and would really rather avoid any problems.

It looks the business thats for sure.

Liam, it does doesnt it. It does seem to be the only option in that price range for what I want. There are some very expensive devices for graphic designers but there are far too expensive and have too many features I dont need.

It should be teamed up with their gaming mouse

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Razer-Naga-5600DPI-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B002N2L6QU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337007177&sr=8-1

The number pad on the side is meant for quick in game weapon selection but if they can be programed as well, that gives me options as well.

Gents,

In a previous life I had the benefit of working for a very large multi-national which employed a lady to sort out our seating postures, desk and monitor heights etc. She also advised on the use of keyboards and mice etc. At the time she advised that I needed a £350 chair, which to this day I miss. I can still remember all the engineers in the lab suddenly sitting up straight in their chairs when she walked through. It was like a mini-chines wave!

One thing that stuck in my mind whenever I chatted with her was the simple fact that you need to be properly accessed and reviewed before any kit is purchased or used. Otherwise you could be making things worse or simply moving the RSI etc. problem to another area.

I don't know what advice you guys have received but I would seriously suggest that you talk to someone before jumping in.

Regards

Gary

PS. All the GDs I know use a decent graphics tablet with a short-cut area. I have the poor man’s equivalent for Photoshop and it does make a difference.

Hi Gary,

The solution is one I have discussed with my GP and she thinks its ideal for the condition I have. I can no longer extend the thumb on my left hand to tackle hard to reach keyboard combinations, when I do it causes massive pain in my wrist.

All those difficult keyboard combinations can be programmed in to those buttons, which I can then access using my fingers only, resulting in zero stretching with my thumb. The device also comes with an adjustable ergonomic support for my wrist, resting my wrist further.

I have been a heavy user of computer keyboards, mice and joypads since 1980. Thats 30 odd years of constant use with no problems, so it is no surprise that this has happened now and I think it would have happened regardless of training. (I had training every 6 months for the 10 years before setting up on my own so I'm aware of what I "should" be doing)

Well I finally picked up one of these for £49 from PC World, and it works a dream - far better than I expected and I'm coming up with uses that I had never thought of beforehand.

If you use software, like Photoshop, that uses lots of keyboard combinations and short cuts, this is a must!

Each of those 14 buttons can be programmed with any combination of key presses or macros. You then have 8 profiles which you can select by tapping the big button by the 3 LEDS ((the combination of LEDs lit up tells you what profile you are using). This gives you the ability to store 112 keyboard shortcuts!

The scroll wheel and thumb joystick can be reprogrammed for each profile as well.

I have yet to test it as the games accessory it is designed to be, but I'm sure it wont be long.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004G8QHFO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p147_d0_g147_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1QJ3YMAJZV5KMYEJS87Z&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294