Office Accessories to Make Work More Comfortable

December 22, 2011, By James Pilcher 0 comments

I'm all about my gear...and my own comfort. Fortunately, I don't have to choose between these two passions, because gear can make you comfortable.

And so, as I started a new job—one that called for me to be in front of a computer writing and typing pretty much all day—I undertook a mission to find out what could make me as comfortable as possible, knowing that comfort would lead to greater productivity.

That mission led to a lot of great discoveries. I have connections with two of the biggest office gear makers (Logitech and Microsoft) and took advantage to test out their best items for the office. If you don't want to be in pain or uncomfortable while at work, here are some items to consider—the best keyboards, mice, peripherals and headphones for use at the office.

One piece of advice: Pick one and stick with it. Each takes a learning curve, making it difficult to switch among them. But once you do make your selection, you should notice an increase in productivity as well as more comfortable wrists and fingers.

Typing typing...

I tried the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 (about $120 full price retail) and the Logitech Wireless Wave Combo MK550 ($80)

I liked both, but for different reasons.

The Microsoft ergonomic keyboard had the biggest physical learning curve. Because the keys are set at an angle, you feel as if you're typing on a hill. It is very comfortable, but you really need to change your typing style.

This keyboard has the best set of hot keys—or short cuts for different functions such as print, send (an email), launch programs and so on. I really liked the substantial wrist pad and the F -- functions that allow you to print at the touch of a button, or send an email or undo a mistake. The keyboard is also very responsive, if a bit noisier than its Logitech counterpart.

As for the Logitech keyboard, it is much sleeker but not quite as comfortable as the Microsoft offering. Its efforts at ergonomics are not as dramatic as Microsoft's, but that may be a good thing for those not looking to relearn how to type. It does have a different feel and is much quieter.

I'm not a fan of Logitech's hotkey selection, although this keyboard has nice launch buttons for most Microsoft Office programs built in. And it is pretty comfortable, although I found I had to prop mine up to give me a decent typing angle. But that is a personal preference.

And Logitech has a cool new advantage—a system they call "unifying" that allows you to run up to six different devices off one dongle (the little transceiver that plugs into your USB port). You can take your laptop with you and it will work with the set at the office AND with the device in your backpack if you have a qualified Logitech mouse.

If you want a set that includes a mouse, Microsoft (picture on the left) is the clear winner. The round ergonomic Natural Wireless Mouse 7000 is MUCH better than the M510 that comes with the Logitech set.

Verdict: Tie (both keyboards have pros and cons, with Microsoft's offering a richer experience but the Logitech set a bit more economical).