Contour Perfit Mouse News and Reviews

Perfit Mouse News and Reviews

Click here to see Contour Perfit Mouse Press Releases

"buy a mouse that's the right size for your hand, especially if you have unusually small or large hands"

"The Contour Perfit Mouse comes with a built-in thumb support to ease your tendonitis-inducing death grip"

So comfortable, you'll dread having to reach for the keyboard. It comes in five sizes, for a near-custom fit; three are for lefties. All feature thumb supports and a wider shape than traditional input devices, so the hand lies open and relaxed rather than curved in a wretched claw.

The shape of the Perfit Mouse is designed to fit the hand so precisely that multiple sizes are necessary to maximize the total impact of the ergonomic design, which features sculpted elevated buttons that enable the hand to remain open with the fingers extended in a ready position for quick button activation.

Superb ergonomics; only mouse custom-sized to fit the user's hand, whether right or left.

As a sufferer of RQI, or "Repetitive Quake Injury," I long for the day when my right wrist will ache no more. Hoping for relief, I tested Contour's Perfit ADB mouse with its claims of "ergonomic benefits" for game addicts
like me. The body of the Perfit mouse is quite large compared to conventional mice, and I found resting my palm on its broad surface to be a definite relief compared with clamping my fingers on an ordinary mouse. The downside is that its bulky body is a chore to push around in fast action games like Q3Test. The Perfit is available in left and right handed versions in sizes ranging from extra small to extra large, so you can pick the size that best
fits your hand. The Perfit is equipped with three buttons on top and a curved plastic thumb rest on the side. The thumb rest, while comfortable, seems like it would be an ideal place for another button or a scrolling device.

I tested the Perfit using the latest ContourMouse control panel from the Contour web site and the InputSprocket Contour driver provided with InputSprockets 1.4, available here. The control panel does an adequate job of letting you assign key combinations to the buttons (for example, to allow you to open contextual menus with the right button) and adjusting mouse speed; the InputSprocket driver works with games that use Apple's InputSprockets for controller setup. (Many games, however, assume that you're using a one-button mouse
and do not support the configuration of mice through InputSprockets.)

While adjusting to moving the Perfit mouse with my arm rather than with my wrist, (as Contour suggests) I realized that my chair was far too low relative to my desk, forcing my arm into an uncomfortable position for
mousing. After raising the height of my seat using, among other things, two phone books, I found the Perfit to be very comfortable for everyday use.

Contour Design expects to release a USB version of the Perfit mouse for around $79 to $89 in time for July's Macworld Expo. Meanwhile, the ADB Perfit is a good value at $89.95 for owners of ADB-equipped Macs looking
for a comfortable multi-button mouse. While the Perfit mouse failed to cure my wrist woes, it is quite enjoyable to use and makes ordinary mice feel tiny and cramped by comparison. Serious gamers, however, may want to
consider other options.

Contour Perfit Mouse
Pros: Comfortable, a good value
Cons: Bulky to use with games, not a cure-all
4 stars (out of 5)

Product of the Month - September, 1998

CONTOUR MOUSE FROM CONTOUR DESIGN

Problem: Hand sizes vary from user to user, yet computer mouse sizes are "one size fits all" -- creating discomfort and strain.
Solution: Contoured, size specific computer mice can help minimize biomechanical load and reduce associated injuries.

The phrase "One Size Fits All" may be fine for mittens, but lefties and those with extra large or small hands are usually left out in the cold when it comes to mice.

At first glance, the Contour Mouse looks ungainly. Unlike most mice that call to you from store shelves with a sexy design, this one looks like the overweight, unsightly uncle of the mouse world.

At first it feels like a monster has taken over the mouse mat, but after a short while many users will find themselves falling in love with the Contour.

It's bigger, it's better and best of all, my wrist doesn't hurt anymore! I have no intent to go back to a regular mouse, either! Contour Design's Contour Mouse defines ergonomics in the workplace and at home.

Editors Choice Award 1996 -- Cadence Magazine
All mice are not created equal, despite what you may have heard. Likewise, all human hands are not created equal. Even Isotoner discovered that one glove does not fit all people. But only one company has ever applied that basic knowledge to mouse design. Until now, mice have been available in only one size--and most with poor ergonomics. Contour Design bucked that trend by designing a mouse in three sizes to fit a variety of hands, drastically changing its design to reduce wrist strain. The resulting design lets you grip the mouse with much less force and keeps your hand off the desktop entirely. In addition to this, the Contour Mouse has more software features than any of its competitors.

Input Devices, Drool or Tool?

One size does not fit all. To get a mouse that fits your hand, you need to scoop up one from Contour Design. The company offers mice in four (soon to be five) sizes from extra small to extra large. In addition to fitting snugly beneath your palm, the Contour Mouse forces you to move it with your whole arm, not just your wrist. Your triceps get a workout while your carpal tunnel is less stressed. There even are models for lefties.
By Kathy Tafel, June 97

no strain = no pain
Trackball or mouse? The debate goes on..... the Contour Mouse is a "traditional" mouse like none you've ever seen.

Declare Yourself Ergonomically Correct--- November 1996
For years, input device companies have tried to build ergonomic products. Now, an ergonomics company is trying to build a better mouse. For the most part, it has succeeded....

In Pursuit of the Perfect Mouse --- February 6, 1996
Contour Design is onto something with its Contour Mouse...

Contour Mouse Fits Like a Glove --- March 1996
Sometimes finding a good mouse can make you feel like Goldilocks choosing her perfect chair: This one is too big, that one too small. But a new line of mice from Contour Design could take some of the strain off tired wrist and elbow muscles....

Fancy mice and so-called ergonomic trackballs are all over store shelves, but I've found a pointing device that really works. The Contour Mouse - a humpbacked thing with three programmable buttons - glides across the desktop. When I place my hand on it, my thumb and fingers slipped comfortably into position (there's a special notch to support the thumb) and the sculpted design helped to ease tension in my wrist. The Contour Mouse comes in small, medium and large sizes for righthanders: a model for southpaws is in the works.
April 1996

Pleasing to the Touch... Carpal tunnel sufferers and those with tiny hands take notice: The ergonomically designed Contour Mouse comes in sizes that minimize wrist movement, thereby reducing the risk of repetitive stress injuries.
February 1996

Product Spotlight Contour mouse eases strain --- November 6, 1995 (Vol. 17, Issue 45)
One company is putting its mouth where its money is by touting the health-related benefits of an ergonomically designed mouse....

Key Solutions Journal
The Mother of All Ergonomic Mice
A severe case of "rodent elbow" a few years ago left me with a profound and ongoing interest in ergonomic input devices. During the ensuing years I noticed that many mice touted as ergonomic definitely were not created equal. Some had ergonomic features; others weren't even close. Now another new one, the Contour Mouse from Contour Design, Inc., is hitting the market. I had the opportunity to try the mouse recently and I now see it as a major step forward in the world of ergonomic mice.
November 95