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Best Ergonomic PC / Mac Mouse 2012

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Review of the Latest Ergonomic Mice

You know what they say about ergonomics: "It's not about working smarter; it's about working lazier." As someone who suffered from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for a while, I can tell you that ergonomics isn't about working lazier; it's about desperately reaching for anything that can help you accomplish your everyday duties when you are partially disabled. I really could have used an ergonomic mouse at work instead of a simple Dr. Scholl's gel desk pad (even the carpal tunnel wrist-guard I bought from the pharmacy wasn't helping enough). In this post we'll review the ten most popular ergonomic mice and give you a chance to vote on your favorite.

Top 5 Ergonomic Mice

#1 Evoluent VM4 Vertical Mouse

Evoluent's VM4 is is a pricier but very well rated ergonomic mouse. It features a vertical design, plugs into a USB port, and utilizes a tracking ball controlled by the thumb while the left- and right-click buttons are positioned on the opposite side for use by the fingers.
Evoluent VM4 Vertical Mouse Right Handed - The Patented Shape Supports Your Hand

Evoluent VM4 Vertical Mouse Right Handed - The Patented Shape Supports Your Hand

Amazon Price: $81.95 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

The vertical layout is intended to avoid forearm twisting, which looks and sounds sensible enough to avoid putting pressure on the carpal nerve, but I'm the kind of person that can't afford to spend this much money on something as small as a mouse. Also Available in a Left-handed Design.

#2 Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball

Logitech's M570 is wireless, a neat feature but not exactly a necessary one since it has a trackball controlled by the thumb. (To my way of thinking, wireless only makes it easier when one has a mouse that actually has to move around.) The setup is pretty similar to the Evoluent, but slightly less vertical.
Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball

Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball

Amazon Price: $44.00 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

Like the 3M, the you could expect to pay $45 to $50, depending on who you end up buying it from. So if you like the Evoluent setup but want to save $40-$45, the Logitech would be the best bang for your buck.

#3 Wow Pen Joy Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse

Unlike the Logitech and the Evoluent, Ergoguys' Wow Pen Joy isn't designed to occupy your entire palm width. I would normally think this design would allow the desk to place pressure on your wrist and the carpal nerve, but, according to one reviewer on Amazon, "The mouse feels like it should be held with a full palm, but my hand is too big and misses the buttons, therefore this is the only downside, I have found a position that is comfortable and doesn't set the side of my hand scraping the desk," so comfortable, healthy positioning is possible. From the picture, it looks as though the meaty part of the hand, the radial (or outside) side of the hand, not the palm, would rest on the desk instead of something delicate like the carpal nerve or the wrist.
Wow Pen Joy Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse Black By Ergoguys

Wow Pen Joy Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse Black By Ergoguys

Amazon Price: $25.95 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

The price ranges from $22 to $28, making it the most affordable mouse out of those herein reviewed. It's an optical mouse with a USB wire, so you slide it around on a mouse pad, but its ergonomic shape is designed, according to reviewers, to avoid Repetitive Strain Syndrome and/or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

#4 3M Ergonomic Mouse (EM500GPL)

The 3M Company has an optical ergonomic mouse, the EM500GPL. This mouse has a joystick-style grip to keep the hand in a vertical, neutral position but functions as a regular optical mouse, i.e., you plug it into a USB port and slide it around on a mouse pad.
3M Ergonomic Mouse, Optical, USB/PS2 Compatible, Large Size, Black (EM500GPL)

3M Ergonomic Mouse, Optical, USB/PS2 Compatible, Large Size, Black (EM500GPL)

Amazon Price: $51.32 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

The left- and right-click buttons are both accessed by the thumb, and scrolling is made simpler with a separate one-click button, though this scrolling is only usable in PC operating systems. It is available on Amazon.com for anywhere from $45 to $50 and has earned an Ease-of-Use Commendation from the Arthritis Foundation. It seems like a pretty good offering-it's about the middle of the road as far as prices go-but for my money I'd rather scroll with a wheel than click a button.

#5 Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000

Lastly, Microsoft offers an ergonomically-designed, wireless optical mouse, the Natural 6000. The price range for this mouse is about what you'd expect from a brand name like Microsoft, $58-$67 (though at the time of writing there was a used one for sale for $24.95). The specs provided by Microsoft e reveal a high-end product: it's wireless, it's ergonomically designed, and it has four-way scrolling, magnifying, and battery-saving features.
Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000

Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000

Amazon Price: $58.99 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

It has five customizable buttons, an Instant Viewer that shows you all open windows and selects the one you want, a battery life indicator, and no doubt many more applications. Being made by Microsoft, it will no doubt work well with whatever version of Windows you might have on your PC, but apparently it will also function in Mac OS X v10.2-10.4X. At four inches long, it's another one that won't cover your palm completely, but it's situated so that the radial side of your hand rests on the desk instead of the wrist or palm.

#6-10 Latest Ergonomic Mice

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