[brecklundin]

Harry,

Great news about the new Gen3...I have been liking that style of design the more I look at it...

But in general to the thread I think this needs a bit of background about arthritis and the types of arthritis which exist. To the surprise of a majority of people, there are about a zillion types of arthritis. They come down to "wear and tear arthritis" (osteoarthritis, OA) from years of joint use and then there are the autoimmune arthritis diseases where your immune system is actually attacking and destroying normal tissue, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Fundamentally OA is a condition whereas rheumatic disease varieties are autoimmune systemic diseases which require autoimmune suppressive medications. Neither types have a true cure. The autoimmune variety is, as a rule, progressive. Even with aggressive treatment autoimmune arthritis can progress to affecting your organs and nerve (mainly peripheral) systems even potentially causing death if left untreated then again the meds can kill ya too. Both conditions can cause constant and amazing levels of pain which seems to defy even the strongest painkillers for many. And many folks cannot tolerate the pain meds in order to get sustained relief. So, avoidance of what aggravates the pain is paramount in both cases.

Anyway, in both cases, when the hands are affected as a rule the most significant problem tends to be gripping small/thin things. Even holding a pencil can be excruciating for a mere few moments. Weight as a rule is not near as significant. So thin is often (actually usually) not a good option. Nor is the amount of effort to push a button as significant though it can be in either situation. For me with my RA, even trying to hold my index finger and thumb together will cause pain after just a few seconds. Typing for me, however is painless. Many out there with OA might find typing painful to impossible. So there is a LOT of variation. Difficulty gripping though seems to be a commonality for people where hands are affected no matter the variety.

I mention allllllll of this because for those who don't have it or don't have their hands affected to a significant degree there is almost always a lack of understanding about what people with it need. So items which are thin, such as the Sony, are problematic simply because of their lack of girth.

I was Dx'd with RA at 9yrs old and have had to live with it my whole life. I am 47 now and look as strong and capable one might imagine of someone 20-years younger. But things as simple as moping the floor or making the 50-mile round trip to see my Rheumatologist can put me in bed for a week or more. Which is where my devices become the only way I can work or keep me marginally...ahem..sane? hehehehe...

Anyway, sorry to side track this thread a bit, I was simply hoping by giving a bit of background others better understand the difficulties people with the various varieties of arthritic diseases or conditions have doing what seems trivial and just part of day to day life.

Anyway, good thread with some good recommendations...glad it was created!