M2 Air, wrist pain?

[flyfly]

Hi! I am considering buying the new M2 air, but i am worried that I would get some wristband pain because of the increased height of the front part of the laptop.

For those of you who already own it, could you share your experience?

 

[happyslayer]

I haven't experienced any pain, though I am coming from a 14" Pro which has a higher wrist rest height to begin with so for me it's kind of novel typing on the lower wrist rest height of the Air. I've not yet done hours of writing on it, but will be over the next couple days and can report back.

 

[chabig]

I would get some wristband pain because of the increased height of the front part of the laptop.

It's only minimally higher, and if your typing posture is good your wrists should be in a neutral position and shouldn't touch the keyboard. In fact, the higher front of the machine ought to promote better wrist position than the previous wedge shape.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

The tapered design of the old MBA gives the illusion that the front is much lower than the M2 Macbook, but the difference is almost negligable.

 

[StellarVixen]

If the new design is to blame for the wrist pain, then the people with Pros would have their wrists totally destroyed from all these years of using them.

 

[StellarVixen]

The tapered design of the old MBA gives the illusion that the front is much lower than the M2 Macbook, but the difference is almost negligable.

View attachment 2031269

I don't have protractor, the incline is like...what, 2-3 degrees? Unlikely to make that much of a difference.

 

[MajorFubar]

Literally no laptops provide sufficient wrist support (well certainly none that I've seen while watching the form-factor develop and mature over a period of 30+ years). It's even very rare with separate keyboards. Ideally you should use something that supports your wrist, like a gel wrist-rest.

 

[Skippymon]

Its literally only about 1mm higher. Its not going to be an issue.

 

[chabig]

Literally no laptops provide sufficient wrist support (well certainly none that I've seen while watching the form-factor develop and mature over a period of 30+ years). It's even very rare with separate keyboards. Ideally you should use something that supports your wrist, like a gel wrist-rest.

Your wrists should not rest on anything while typing. They should remain straight and neutral.

 

[MajorFubar]

Your wrists should not rest on anything while typing. They should remain straight and neutral.

Considering laptop computers commonly do not have adjustable keyboards, and considering that many users do not use their laptops in anything like ideal scenarios, the chances of you sitting at just that right position where your wrists are 'straight and neutral' are hit and miss without a little help. I know my opinion is just words on a page but IMO something that supports your forearms near the front of the laptop so your wrists are indeed close to that ideal position is a worthwhile investment to minimise the chance of short-term fatigue and long-term damage. You can choose to ignore or discredit that opinion, that is your choice.

 

[Spock]

Your wrists should not rest on anything while typing. They should remain straight and neutral.

Thats the way that I was always taught

 

[Slartibart]

isn’t that more something you have to address in the setup *where* you then place your laptop? I mean, if the use of e.g. a laptop or keyboard produces strain you probably can mitigate that by some ergonomical change in the place you put it (?!)

 

[DRachelle]

I use the wireless apple mouse and i have the laptop set on a lap desk with the wrist support ( the kind of lapdesk that has the beanbag back) it makes it much more bearable for me. just a suggestion. But yes, i dont get why the trackpad has to be so huge on the M2 Air. but..i am sure there are people that use it for its intended purpose and there is a reason. i use my M2 for all my work and I have my IPAD Pro that i use as a second screen

 

[Graham Caracas]

Wrist pain comes from an improper typing position. Likely you sit slouched, type with your elbows and arms on the desk, wrists resting on either side of the trackpad with fingers pointed to the center of the keyboard. This causes stress at the wrists and over time will cause pain and force you to wear those cute little wrist splints.
If you sit back straight, hold your arms off the desk and wrists above the base, fingers pointed towards the screen, they will be in a more natural position to do hours and hours of data entry without pain. Also, get a pair of those grip exercisers, you probably have the muscle tone of an egg yolk.

 

[fatpolomanjr]

This should be better for wrist pain. Flat or even inverted/negative keyboard tilt are a bit better ergonomically because they help you "hold the neutral wrist position and decreases the extension of your fingers". Imagine the position of your wrists with a large positive tilt.

 

[Sleix]

Just testing how I'm typing and I find that when I do rest my wrists on the spaces around the trackpad, the pads are pretty much center-low on it. No contact is being made with the edge of the keyboard space that I see or feel and the only time I ever feel that, if at all is when I'm propping the laptop up with myself while I'm lying in a nearly horizontal position. Not even sure where the pain would be, other than the slightly off neutral wrist position I'm taking. I had more contact issues with my previous laptop, a surface book 3, than I've had with this MBA M2.

 

[lambertjohn]

Hi! I am considering buying the new M2 air, but i am worried that I would get some wristband pain because of the increased height of the front part of the laptop.

For those of you who already own it, could you share your experience?

No pain at all, and I write for a living. It's truly a joy to type on.