Let's face it: Mice, trackballs, and digitizers haven't evolved much since the 1990s. If you're looking for a better way to navigate, take a look at the 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator ($300 street). This keyboard/pointer combo, which you use in conjunction with your mouse or other pointing device, might pay for itself in enhanced productivity.

After a slightly challenging installation and configuration (better instructions are in order), it takes only a few minutes to get the hang of the motion controller, which is located at the left end of the Logitech keyboard. The knoblike device lets you pan by moving it like a joystick, rotate by twisting it, or zoom by pulling up or pressing down on it—all independently or simultaneously. We found it's a much faster way to traverse large drawings or documents than via the mouse or scroll bars.

The biggest drawback is that you must install a driver for each application in which you want to use the SpaceNavigator's more advanced features, and right now only AutoCAD and Microsoft Office 2000 or later are supported. If you're comfortable with your current pointer and keyboard shortcuts, you may not need the SpaceNavigator. But if endless scrolling through documents seems a waste of time, the SpaceNavigator is worth a look.