Many left-handed people get a bit frustrated when they see the latest mice are designed only for right-handers. There are a few mouse designs that prove to be suitable for both kinds, but it’s clear that mouse makers don’t pay much attention to lefties. Logitech, on the other hand, thinks left-handed people shouldn’t be treated as outcasts and readies a pretty good laser mouse specifically designed for lefties.

The MX 610 Left-Hand Laser Cordless integrates an advanced laser engine, providing extreme accuracy and flawless tracking on most surfaces. It also sports the Tilt Wheel Plus Zoom feature which allows for simple side-to-side scrolling and effortless zoom in and out of photos and spreadsheets.

Just as the standard MX 610, this mouse integrates the Bluetooth wireless connection with 2.4 GHz transmitter. The Email and IM notification LEDs let you know about new messages and mails from friends. The mouse is capable of turning itself off when no movement is detected so battery life is extended. In addition the mouse turns off when you power down your PC. You also get fingertip shortcut buttons for Volume, Mute, and Web page browsing.

The ergonomic soft-touch Sides allow an effortless grasp and with the special contoured shape, lefties can enjoy a natural grip that reduces fatigue.
Amazon has this one for $58.91.

I don’t understand why mouse manufacturers keep releasing trackball digital rodents. A tried one a few years ago and it was pretty awkward, not to mention that it totally messes up the FPS and RTS games. Anyhow, trackballs also made the jump for the optical engines and it seems some people still favor this tracking system as opposed to the classic mouse design. The latest model from Logitech is trying to prove that trackballs can deal with common tasks as well as with games.

Logitech Cordless TrackMan Wheel is designed specifically for the right-handed people to deliver a decent all-day comfort. As far as control is concerned, this model features the latest optical technology adapted to the trackball design. This way, the Trackman Wheel is able to track smoothly and precisely all you slightest thumb movements.

This is the second trackball model to feature a Scroll wheel and also comes standard with a drag lock button so you can navigate online content more easily. In addition, you get customizable buttons, which let you personalize controls with button assignment via the included MouseWare software.
I’m sure you got the cordless part, as the mouse comes with its own receiver. In addition, the mouse features a battery indicator light that tells you when your battery is low. This way you’ll know in advance when to prepare some new ones.

If you are a trackball fan, you can get this one for about $49.95.

Is that Logitech MX Air mouse giving you a hard time with its buggy drivers? Don’t worry, that’s not the only air mouse out there. Gyration has a similar product that might be better than the Logitech solution.

The Gyration Go features the 2.4GHz wireless technology that is able to boost the signal over 30’ away. It also integrates the latest in RF technology and digital security signature that comes with an 800 channel radio transmitter/receiver. The mouse works fine in the air but can be used on plane surfaces, as well.

It includes a miniature USB dongle receiver and has quite a few buttons for you to program. In this sense you get the usual left and right buttons, a clickable scroll wheel, 2 user programmable buttons and a SWIPES button for motion activated control and effects, all of these allowing for more than 20 programmable commands.

The package contains a rechargeable battery, recharging cradle, power supply, plus you get the GyroTools Media Control software and mouse drivers for Windows and Mac OS.
CNET tested it and came to the conclusion that, although the air gestures still need some improvement, the Gyration Go mouse performs flawlessly on a desk and ideal for use in a conference room or with a Media Center PC.

Amazon has this for $38.83.

Returning to laptop mice, I thought I should let you know that Kensington has an interesting looking rugged-like mouse to go with you wherever you may roam.

Kensington Si670m Bluetooth Optical looks a bit sharky, if you know what I mean. It integrates a 4-way (horizontal and vertical) tilt scroll that lets you quickly maneuver through documents and graphics just by moving your fingertip. It features a mid-size body design with sculpted, rubberized grips so you can comfortably use this mouse in prolonged work scenarios. Being a laptop-oriented device, you also get an on&off button, which lets you shut off the mouse when not in use. This way you preserve power and you don’t have to recharge it too often. The wireless connection ensures that you won’t ever get tangled up in nasty cords.

Moreover, you don’t need a special receiver if you use it with a wi-fi laptop. .The LED indicators confirm your connection and warn you when your battery’s low, while he Bluetooth 2.0 Wireless technology gives you 30-foot effective range. The mouse is accurate enough, sporting a 1000 dpi optical tracking system. Si670m is suited for both right-handed and left-handed people and is compatible with Windows and Mac computers.

You can get this one online from Amazon for $44.24.

Most of the mice presented here are closely following the standard design issued back in the 1960’s. OK, the Zalman FPS gun-like mouse doesn’t count. Although mice makers have tried to tweak the original design in order to offer ergonomic devices, it looks like the RSI and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome still give people rough times in many cases. Evoluent thinks that their vertical mouse design could solve all these problems, plus it makes for a good wireless solution.

Evoluent Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Mouse 3 combines the convenience of a wireless mouse with the comfort of a uniquely designed ergonomic mouse to help prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) in computer users. Unlike any other so –called ergonomic mouse you’ve seen, the Evoluent Vertical offers full support for Mac or PC users and is fully customizable to fit your individual needs.

The Evoluent Vertical was tested, evaluated, and approved by the University of California at Berkley’s team of health services (including doctors, therapists, and administrators). The mouse proved to be comfortable and easy to adapt to for new users. The patented shape of this cleverly designed ergonomic mouse supports your hand in a fully upright position, which seems like you’re actually handshaking the mouse. This position is supposed to eliminate forearm twisting which can lead to Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI).

The design integrates a lip at the bottom of the vertical mouse, preventing your pinkie finger from rubbing as it is moved. All five buttons can be easily clicked without contorting your fingers. Additionally, you can program all of them using the free downloadable driver available at the websites listed in the instructions.

The package also includes a compact receiver that plugs into your computer’s USB port and enables the Evoluent Vertical to be operated from up to 30 feet away (the pictures actually show the wired version). The design itself seems a good idea, but Evoluent sort of exaggerates with the price. Amazon has the vertical mouse for $109.