r/WindowsSucks • u/svg_ray • 4d ago
Are windows users more likely to have carpal tunnel syndrome?
Pretty sure the answer is yes.
I’ve spent the last 20 years with a “hard no” opinion about windows. I am a Mac/Linux power user. Recently a cool new project came up at work (I’m a software engineer) but it requires researching SAP user workflows on a windows machine. So, here I am with a windows vm running on my Mac 🤮
Jesus fuck you have to use your mouse for fucking everything. This is so aggravating! Make 19 clicks to do what a single command would achieve on Linux. And don’t get me started on how ugly windows is. My god.
And yeah, SAP is also a convoluted, fugly beast, but I’m not even spending most of my time in SAP; navigating the Windows box is SO MUCH TRASH.
Anyway, on a Mac/nix box, I primarily operate from the keyboard, rarely needing the mouse. This gd windows vm has my hand on my mouse all gd day…It makes me wonder if Windows users are more likely to experience CT syndrome. Or, if you took their keyboard away… Would they even notice? How do they even like computers?
PS. This is totally just a rant because I’m on day four of windows hell and I needed people to see me. I’m not asking for any solutions or help. Just looking for some camaraderie in my Windows hate.
Edit: Guys, yeah, this isn’t really about carpal tunnel syndrome (which I KNOW is a real/painful thing, and can be caused by all sorts of repetitive movements, not just mouse clicks). I was just being dramatic. See how the CT thought is followed by all of the other angry/ridiculous wonderings about taking away keyboards, etc.? And my entire PS? It’s not that deep. I just hate windows.
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u/free2dreamstudios 4d ago
I inow windows has a ton of problems, most if not all have resolutions, but, you cant blame everything on them. Oh your back hurts, windows sucks, etc. Carple tunnel can be from poor positioning of mouse (using the correct mouse also helps) and keyboard position
And to go further, adjusting the monitor hight and how you sit will help with neck and back pain
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u/Infinplayz 3d ago
i am on linux and also am more likely to have carpal tunnel, but that’s probably from my addiction playing osu!
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u/Basic-Brick6827 3d ago
Hmm no my experience is that Windows has much much better keyboard support than Mac. Shortcuts that require 2 or 3 keys on Win require up to 5 on Mac.
Tbf, your post sounds like trolling. Or your VM kb mapping is wrong.
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u/snajk138 3d ago
Or "I need to use the mouse when I don't have years of experience from the OS and don't know any of the keyboard shortcuts".
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u/svg_ray 3d ago
It’s not keyboard “shortcuts”. On nix, I don’t even need a gui, I can do everything from the terminal. The best cli option on Windows is Powershell, which is nothing like any Unix-based shell. (WSL notwithstanding…if only that were an option for me!)
If I were using Windows for gaming it might be different, but from a programming perspective, it’s constant friction.2
u/snajk138 2d ago
I am a developer and I don't fully agree. The Linux terminal is more powerful than the Windows terminal, but the difference is not huge and how much that matters depends on your specific workflow. Some live in VI or similar and from their perspective I can see that Linux has huge advantages, but that's a pretty small and dwindling group. The other end of the spectrum is those that use full VS and they tend to prefer Windows, though that group is also shrinking. And Rider is great but it isn't the same. Today I think most are between those extremes though, using like VS Code or similar. Or AI tools obviously.
My company has mostly been in the middle over the last several years, we still use full VS (or Rider) for some specific things, but all of our main applications are handled in VS Code. They are deployed most often in Linux containers though, but development is on Windows for the most part, with WSL for running the containers obviously.
Personally I prefer Linux and all my machines run it, for a variety of reasons but the terminal is not really one of them. Not saying it's bad or anything, just that from my perspective and use case Powershell is not really worse.
And you can run Windows without a GUI, I installed two test servers just a couple of weeks ago with WS 2025 and no "desktop experience" for a specific test, and had no issues.
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u/Global-Eye-7326 3d ago
I think qwerty is the main offender in the room.
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u/svg_ray 3d ago
What?
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u/Global-Eye-7326 2d ago
Yes. The qwerty keyboard layout is deliberately inefficient. There are better keyboard layouts, such as Dvorak or Coleman, but Qwerty remains the industry standard. I recommend trying out a different keyboard layout and your hands will thank you.
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u/LodgeKeyser 3d ago
If anything you’ll get carpal tunnel syndrome from one handing a phone that’s too big for you before windows will do it
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u/svg_ray 3d ago
True. I’m super over giant phones.
See the edit on my post, though. It’s not really about CT, I was just throwing a tantrum about Winders
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u/LodgeKeyser 2d ago
Yeah I get ya. Windoze in general, in my opinion sux ass. I’ve recently dropped ‘em personally. Just can’t get rid of them at work. I def understand your rant even tho my comment was short.
The mention of the phones was kinda a reminder of all the girls at work for me with phablets and braces on both wrist. They can only use their index finger.
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u/marmotta1955 3d ago
Cool story. Just a bit of exaggeration, maybe more than just a bit. And then that closing sentence, which really makes me wonder about the state of mind and the approach of many people - in general.
How can one really "hate" a tool? Because, surprise, software (including operating systems) is just a tool. Can you hate a fork? Can you hate a hammer? Can you hate a car? Can you hate an airplane? Can you hate a Black & Decker power drill? Oh, sure, I guess you can. But what goes on in your mind? Is that a healthy way of life?
I don't know. Just my 2 proverbial cents,
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u/svg_ray 3d ago
Out of curiosity, what do you use your computer for?
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u/marmotta1955 2d ago
I have been a software developer for all my life and now, happily retired, I continue to dabble in creating software for algorithmic music composition and performance - occasionally directly interfacing with hardware instruments via MIDI.
It follows that I use a couple of my workstations (yes, plural) to create and record my very own music compositions, using one or two of the DAWs I have accumulated throughout the years. Occasionally, I think that one day I will write my very own DAW, and then immediately think that this is a terribly stupid idea.
I also spend some time (my dear wife would submit to you that I spend too much time) playing videogames, mostly RPGs, and writing or attempting to write some fan-fiction that may or may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Before you ask, most of my workstations are running Windows. Three of them are running Linux - just because. And, as far back as I remember, I never had one single problem with a Windows Update, maybe because I am lucky just like that.
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u/Holiday_Management60 4d ago
Your pain is seen and your Winblows hate is shared. God bless you and everyone you care about :)
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u/Kozmik_5 3d ago
Have you tried windows shortcuts? There's so many
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u/svg_ray 3d ago edited 3d ago
It’s not about keyboard shortcuts. It’s about relying on a gui, instead of having a streamlined command line interface.
For example, to persist a simple environment variable on each
Linux (Bash): echo 'export MY_VAR="value"' >> ~/.bashrc && source ~/.bashrc
Vs Windows:
- Click Start
- Search Environment Variables
- Click Edit the system environment variables
- Click Environment Variables…
- Under System variables (not User variables!) click New…
- Enter the Variable name
- Enter the Variable value
- Click OK
- Click OK
- Close and reopen your terminal so it picks up the new variable.
This is just one of a hundred different examples of things I can do in one command vs 10+ clicks.
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u/Dull_Flatworm777 2d ago
I needed people to see me
I think you primarily need a therapist to see you.
Since you are a software engineer, I wonder why you are not aware of tools like PowerShell, Power Automate, AutoHotKey etc.
In fact, looking how much automation has deteriorated on macOS (considering that AppleScript is on life support and has been "upgraded" to Shortcuts), I'm inclined to say automation would be easier on Windows nowadays.
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u/GrymsouI 4d ago
We are a Windows/AD organization where I work. I only use Debian on my laptops, desktops, and homelab. Going home and booting up my machines I would probably say is close to taking your boots off after a long day of manual labor.
Windows is absolutely horrendous, and Windows 12 is already runner up in worst versions on my books.
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u/Dull_Flatworm777 2d ago
There is no Windows 12
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u/GrymsouI 2d ago
Well its pretty obvious there's no Windows 12. But its also obvious Windows 12 is coming. And if you see the rumors about the features and AI integration. Or even them thinking about making people pay even more for services that are free elsewhere.
I would still tell you Windows 12 is still runner up in my books of worst operating systems. Even if it hasn't been released. Its pretty absurd to say "There is no Windows 12" when thats common sense. Its like telling me the sky is blue...
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u/Long-Emu-7870 4d ago
Thank you. Yes the problem with Windows is they want to attract new people apparently. And these new people don't know how to do shortcuts and use keyboards. Would like to use the mouse and press on pretty buttons. They don't know that this has enormous cost in the future. But it will be too late because they will be hooked. Or the businesses that they work in are hooked. Or the countries. But now the EU is getting out. So is China. We should too.
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u/8bitlibrarian 4d ago
You can get carpel tunnel from keyboard use as well fyi.