Wherever I can, I tend to navigate my computer using a keyboard. It’s just faster.

But, sadly, that doesn’t work for everything - or, at least, not for all of the software I currently use.

For a while now, I’ve preferred a vertical mouse. I find it more comfortable for my arm/wrist, especially if I’m at my computer all day (which is not uncommon).

But my current vertical mouse - a not-massively-expensive Anker model - is only suitable for right-handed use, and since I’ve got a numberpad on my keyboard, I have to put the mouse a bit too far out to the right to be comfortable.

The Penguin Posturite mouse

So when someone mentioned the Penguin Posturite mouse in the fediverse, as an example of a wireless vertical mouse which I could use with either hand (just use the toggle switch on mouse to switch the scroll wheel direction), I was tempted.

But not at the full retail price of £99 + VAT.

Fortunately, eBay has a fair few at greatly reduced prices; low enough to make giving one a go a realistic option. If I don’t like it, I haven’t lost too much.

I paid £10 plus p&p for mine. Secondhand, but in good condition.

Compatibility with Linux

Perhaps as you might expect, or at least hope, it was plug-and-play.

No configuration or drivers needed to get it working (Debian 12, GNOME).

Increasing the DPI

Even with the mouse settings in GNOME set to maximum speed, I still needed to move the mouse on the desk too much for my liking, to traverse my desktop.

Using the button on the bottom of the mouse, I increased the DPI setting to max (4).

Now, I can move the pointer across my desktop with far less movement.

How it feels

It doesn’t feel quite the same as any vertical mouse that I’ve used before, yet nor is it massively different.

The buttons are well-situated, and easy to press.

It slides across the table easily, with its large base. Because it has a large base, it needs quite a lot of space, even with a high DPI setting.

The scroll wheel is horizontal, which is unusual to me, but scrolling with my left index finger works fine.

It has a rather annoying illuminated stylised “P” on the palm rest, which keeps catching my eye when I am not using it. I wonder if I am going to end up covering that up…?

Click to wake

I’m used to my mouse being ready to use.

With this mouse, if I haven’t used it for a few minutes - such as when I am on a call, or just navigating using my keyboard - or when I have rebooted my computer, I have to click the button to wake it up.

Not a major issue, but an oddity.

I wish it had USB-C

The mouse charges using a barrel connector. It is a shame that it is not USB-C.

So far - just over two weeks of daily use - I’ve charged it once.

What it is like to use

It’s… fine!

Neither amazing, nor dreadful.

It took me a few minutes to adjust to the different shape, and also to using it with my left hand, but after that, it was absolutely fine. I could use it like a mouse.

And that’s all I wanted from it, really.

I’m going to carry on using it, and see how I get on with it, so far, so good.

I really can’t complain for £10.

But it looks like an adult novelty item

Yep.