Penclic Pen Mouse review: Change your mouse to reduce pain from RSI

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TA-ratings-80If you’re using a computer, you’ll almost certainly need to use a mouse at some point. You can do quite a lot by using keyboard shortcuts, but a mouse or some other input device is required for most any computer use. If a standard mouse causes you pain or discomfort though, or if you suffer from a repetitive strain injury (RSI), it can be an unpleasant experience. The Penclic D3 Corded Pen Mouse offers a different experience that just may be the answer to your problems. This review will take a look at how the Penclic Pen Mouse performs, and see if it can help alleviate your problems with the standard computer mouse.

Specifications

  • Supports both left and right-handed use
  • The supported platforms for Penclic Mouse are all operating systems that support HID 1.1. These include Windows XP or later, Mac OSX version 10.1 or later and most Linux/BSD flavors. No extra software/driver installation is needed.
  • Operates on almost any surface without any pad or tablet.
  • Implements a 3-buttons and scroll wheel mouse.
  • USB connection
  • 1.6 m cable.
  • Dpi settings 800-1200-1600.

What’s in the Box

  • Penclic D3 Corded Pen Mouse
  • Soft carrying pouch
  • User Guide
  • Technical Specifications
Penclic Pen Mouse Review WITB
The manuals are curled up in the base of the packaging, they don’t uncurl too quickly.

Design

The Penclic D3 Corded Pen Mouse looks, unsurprisingly, quite a lot like a pen. More specifically, it looks like a pen in a pen holder, though in this case the holder is slightly elongated and somewhat mouse-shaped. The top of the “pen” is a regular plastic, while the bottom has a rubberized grip as well as two buttons and a scroll wheel. The pen attaches to the mouse via a plastic ball that allows the pen to move in a complete circle around the base. The pen can also be twisted to allow you to find the most comfortable position for use. You’ll want to tinker around a bit, because by default what I’d probably consider the “right” button acts as your left click, while the left button (which would sit under your thumb) is the right click.

Penclic Pen Mouse Review Button Detail
Buttons and scroll wheel detail.

The mouse is small, only about 2 ½” x 1 ¾” with a rounded top. There is a very thin USB cable coming from the front, while the bottom has the laser sensor and a +/- switch that adjusts the DPI. There are also four very small feet to help the mouse slide around more easily. The pen does not stay completely upright when not in use, so that does make the mouse a bit top heavy. It would have been nice to have a bit of a sturdier design here, and maybe keep the pen more upright when not in use.

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Ease of Use

The Penclic Pen Mouse is exceptionally easy to use. There’s no software install needed, simply plug the cord into an available USB port and your computer should recognize it immediately. Any necessary drivers will install automatically. From there you can hold the pen portion of the pen mouse and move the base around as you would with a regular mouse. You’ll have access to a regular click as well as right-click and a scroll wheel, which also acts as a middle-click when pressed.

Performance

The Penclic is comfortable to hold. It feels just like holding a regular pen, and moving the mouse does feel an awful lot like writing or drawing. The mouse movement is smooth, and I didn’t have any problems navigating around the screen in general.

Penclic Pen Mouse Review Mouse and Cable
The cord is a bit thin.

The action I just personally could not get used to on this mouse was clicking. I do have large hands, which may have been part of the problem, but I constantly had issues with the mouse moving around when I was attempting to click, causing me to misclick. I was definitely holding the pen securely, and tested moving the pen to different angles and positions on the mouse base — even twisting it to try all available positions — and just couldn’t quite get it. A few other users seem to have the same issue, though not all, so your mileage may vary. This could also just be part of the learning curve, and a problem that goes away with more practice, I just couldn’t quite get there personally.

I can definitely see how this would be a very useful device for those with wrist or arm pain associated with regular mouse use though. As I mentioned, moving the mouse around was very easy and comfortable even for me.

Price/Value

The Penclic D3 Corded Pen Mouse will set you back $69.95 USD. That is just slightly outside of “impulse buy” territory, but for those suffering from repetitive stress injuries, or those who experience general pain from using a traditional mouse, this is a small price to pay for some comfort. The mouse performs well, aside from a few small quirks and an issue that only seems to affect me. As is often the case, you can save a few dollars if you purchase it on Amazon, where it is only $64.95 USD.

Penclic Pen Mouse Review Full
Front Shot.

Wrap Up

If a traditional mouse gives you problems, this could be the answer. Holding the Pen Mouse feels comfortable, and it definitely allows for a more natural hand and arm position. It’s a bit more expensive than some basic computer mice, but it offers a functionality that those basic mice just can’t replicate.

*We were sent a review sample of the Penclic D3 Corded Pen Mouse for the purposes of this review.
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