Given the amount of time that the majority of people spend at a computer each day (8 plus hours a day, 5 days a week, for a large percentage of the population), it stands to reason that making the desktop PC experience more comfortable would be a given. Yet while many players in the technology game move towards smaller gadgets, hybrid technology and more mobile devices, Microsoft is one of the few companies still focused on enhancing the overall desktop PC experience. The latest in their line of accessories is the Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop, a keyboard/mouse combo designed to ease the pressure on type-weary arms and hands.

The Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop bundle consists of a full keyboard, mouse and number pad. The keyboard itself is split down the middle, with a two-piece space bar and a convenient row of keys for common Windows 8 tasks. The numeric keypad is a separate wireless piece, allowing you to move it out of the way and therefore place the mouse closer to the center of your body, a position which aids in shoulder comfort while working. The mouse was designed to keep the right hand tilted at an angle, reducing the amount of dependence on the wrist for movement. The design of the keyboard is sleeker and thinner than its predecessors, and by far more stylish than the majority of ergonomic keyboards on the market. To up the sexy factor, the Sculpt is completely wireless, but does not rely on Bluetooth technology. Additionally, both the keyboard and mouse are compatible with Mac and OS X systems.

According to a Healthy Computing Survey recently conducted by Microsoft, roughly 85% of American Office Workers experience “computer-related discomfort” on a daily basis. With the Sculpt, not only can those people experience a reprieve from the back, shoulder and wrist pain associated with an ill-setup workstation, but Microsoft has created a keyboard and mouse combo that is just as easy on the eyes as it is on the body. Shipping at just under $130, the comfort and ease of operating make this little gadget well worth its cost.