The VerticalMouse 4 Small ($99.95 direct) is the next in Evoluent's series of ergonomic mice. Though its design may look intimidating to casual consumers, believe me when I tell you that this mouse's form factor is better for your overall hand health. Where some manufacturers use ergonomics as the mouse's sole selling point and stop all other features there, the VerticalMouse adds browser buttons, a nice design, and customizable software on top of a navigating experience that is not only better for you but one of the smoothest in the consumer category. It's for these reasons that we have awarded the Evoluent VerticalMouse 4 the Editors' Choice for ergonomic mice.

Design

Think about how you hold out your arm when you're about to shake someone's hand, or how about the way your arms fall naturally to your side. The VerticalMouse's design mimics this neutral hand posture, aligning the buttons vertically (as the name would suggest). The science makes sense: Rather than twisting your forearm to abide the requirements of a traditional mouse, the VerticalMouse lets your arm rest in a natural pose while you navigate. The mouse is part plastic, which makes up the mouse buttons and thumb rest, and soft rubberized material, which makes up the back portion of the mouse, helps with gripping. Above and below the thumb rest is two easy-access browser buttons, and on the right side of the mouse is the left-click, double-click (default), and right-click mouse buttons. In between the left and double click buttons is the scroll wheel. Behind the scroll wheel is an automatic dpi switching button, it allows you to increase or decrease your pointer speed. The speed is indicated by a series of lights marked HI, MD, LO, XL.

The VerticalMouse 4 is wired and connects via your computer's USB port. This mouse will likely stay deskbound, as it's quite bulky and won't make a good travel companion, especially for those who like to tote around briefcases or laptop messengers. Leave the traveling to thinner, more mobile mice, like the Microsoft Arc Touch ($67.95 list, 3.5 stars). The VerticalMouse 4 comes in two sizes Small and regular. The regular size costs the same, but has a unit for righties and one for lefties while the Small version is righties only (for now at least).

Features

The VerticalMouse 4 does have plug and play capabilities, meaning you plug it in and it works. However, for those who want to adjust their navigating experience Evoluent does have some software that you can download off of their Website. The user interface for the mouse customization software is fairly basic, nothing fancy like you'd see with the Razer Tron ($129.99 direct, 3 stars). Within the UI you can adjust pointer speed, button assignments, how many lines one click of the scroll wheel will go through, and a few other smaller properties can be customized.

The VerticalMouse 4 Small may take some getting used to, but take it from a person who has been using traditional horizontal mice her whole lifethis mouse will improve your navigating experience. I even gave one of our extra regular VerticalMouse units to Analyst Jeff Wilson, and he said it changed his life. In addition, where other companies, like Smartfish with its Whirl mouse ($49.95 direct, 3 stars), tack on "ergonomic" and leave that as the product's only selling point; the VerticalMouse 4 offers twice as many features on top of its ergonomical design. All this is why is earns our Editors' Choice for ergonomic mice.

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