Healthy Keyboards, Mice

I recently visited an office and saw people using keyboards with their elbows and hands out of the correct position (think 90-degree angles). They needed keyboard drawers like my Adjustable Underdesk Shelf ($90) from Kensington. One knob lets me adjust the shelf so the keyboard's at the proper height--with my arms bent at right angles. The adjustable mouse tray attaches on the right or left side of the shelf. Fair warning: The shelf took me a good 45 minutes to install.

Finding a mouse that fits my hand comfortably was tough, but I like Logitech's MX700, an oversize mouse that costs $59. Still, I'm tempted to replace it with Contour Design's Perfit Mouse Optical, which resembles a steam iron and comes in sizes from small through extra large. The Perfit mouse fits my hand extraordinarily well, and southpaws will love the left-hand models. The downside? Perfit prices range from $90 to $140.

Hands (or derrieres) down, the best chairs I've tried are Neutral Posture's 5000 and 9000 series, which cost from $600 to $1000. They let you adjust backrest angle, height, and depth, as well as seat height, tilt, and tension. And their highly contoured seats distributed my body weight over more surface area.

Excuse me, but it's time for my afternoon office-chair nap.

Contributing Editor Steve Bass is the author of PC Annoyances (O'Reilly Press). Contact him at homeoffice@pcworld.com, and visit this link to read more Home Office columns.