Gyroscopic mice compared!

Dan Ackerman, Senior Editor October 13, 2008

After years of ergonomically incorrect computer use, many people suffer from a tennis-elbow-like condition sometimes called "mouse arm," causing pain in the wrist and forearm. One solution is a gyroscopic mouse, held in the hand like a remote control, which is a much more natural position for the wrist.

Later on, home theater enthusiasts also discovered gyroscopic mice, and these devices have become a popular, if not exactly common, choice for controlling the functions of a Media Center PC from the living room couch.

The very latest version is the Gyration Air Mouse, a smaller $99 travel version of the company's standard Gyration Go model. Unfortunately, the Air Mouse feels flimsy and it rattles in your hand.

More satisfying, but also larger, is the standard Gyration Go. We've literally used one of these every day for several years, and found it an effective solution for wrist and arm pain.

Logitech got into the gyroscopic game with the MX air, which, while not cheap at $149, adds plenty of media-friendly features, such as playback and volume controls.

Finally, for travelers who find even the travel-friendly Gyration Air too large, there's the literally pocket-size Gyrotransport, which is essentially a small presentation mouse for controlling PowerPoint and the like, and lacks the optical mouse function found in each of the other gyroscopic products we've looked at.