The Contour RollerMouse Pro is an avant-garde ergonomic mouse that’s not for everyone, but it still proves itself to be a valid option for those on the hunt for pointer alternatives that aren't a trackball. If you laid eyes on the RollerMouse Pro and thought the device’s “roller bar” was too much to handle, you might be swayed by the SliderMouse Pro Wireless ($289) instead. This variant swaps the roller bar for a treaded, unique "slider bar." It shares much the same pros (and cons) as the aforementioned Contour device, but the SliderMouse Pro proves to be a smoother ride overall, with a more palatable learning curve.

Design: Changing to Sliding Makes a Big Difference

Like the RollerMouse Pro, the SliderMouse Pro is a computer mouse that looks like anything but. It retains the same striking, innovative design as its cousin, complete with a vegan leather wrist rest. Almost as wide as a keyboard, the SliderMouse Pro measures 0.9 by 15 by 4.9 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.15 pounds. Wider than any ordinary mouse, the SliderMouse Pro is meant to be tucked south of your keyboard, combining the mouse and wrist rest into one convenient device.

Five buttons surround the scroll wheel of this ambidextrous mouse, while the bar at the top controls the mouse cursor. The idea? Use both hands to navigate the page: one on the slider, the other on the buttons and wheel.

(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

The bar at the top is the only major difference between the SliderMouse and the RollerMouse. Instead of a long cylinder of a roller bar running across the top of the mouse, the SliderMouse Pro opts for a rubberized treadmill "bar" for your fingers. (It’s as daunting as the roller bar at first glance, but in my experience, it's actually easier to use.) The surface of the rubberized bar rotates forward and back (like a tank tread) for up/down movement, but the rubber also covers a touch-sensitive surface that allows for lateral cursor movement, too.

The tracking bar covers more surface area than the roller bar does, and it felt easier to control during my time with it. Plus, the gap between the bar and the wrist rest is nearly non-existent, so I felt like I had more control over my movements overall.

But while I did feel a noticeable difference between the RollerMouse Pro and the SliderMouse Pro, putting the mouse to use is still easier said than done. The learning curve will prove a challenge to newcomers, even if it's less than the RollerMouse Pro's. You have to rewire your brain a bit to make sense of using both hands to coordinate your movements. Interestingly, though, while I did find myself at times brushing against or pressing the roller bar while typing, leading to accidental input, I didn’t have that issue with the scroll bar. 

(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

The SliderMouse Pro’s learning curve comes with some ergonomic benefits, according to Contour. The SliderMouse Pro is meant to keep you in a comfortable, neutral posture while using your computer, while the combination of the bar and the scroll wheel is meant to reduce the repetitive motions that cause wrist strain.

The two-handed approach, with the device positioned below your keyboard, is just one way of using the SliderMouse Pro. I also spent time with it beside the keyboard, in the same position you would use a traditional computer mouse. Controlling with one hand felt intuitive to me, even if I wished the device were smaller. Could Contour take the SliderMouse Pro's ergonomic design and bring it to a new device the size of the Apple Magic Trackpad or the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball? If so, I'd potentially be a fan.

Using the SliderMouse Pro: It's Still a Reach

As mentioned, the SliderMouse Pro comes with some of the RollerMouse Pro’s drawbacks, too. The SliderMouse Pro makes use of the same type of risers that add lift to the device body—a welcome addition, but I wish that Contour included guides for optimal placement. Using the mouse as intended (situated at the bottom of the keyboard) was still a little clunky for me, but using the slim wrist rest (sold separately) did help reclaim some of my desk space lost by the depth of the mouse.

I discovered in testing the RollerMouse Pro that while the mouse claims to eliminate reaching, I did find it a little hard to type over, and I averaged 47 words per minute (wpm) with that mouse beneath my keyboard and 57wpm without it. But because I found myself not coming into contact with the slider bar as often as I did with the RollerMouse Pro, using the slider bar was a smoother and more enjoyable experience overall. The lined grips along the slider bar helped guide my hands while using it. At the same time, the wider base of the slider bar allowed me to more comfortably rest my fingers against it.

(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

In addition to sharing most of its advantages and disadvantages, the SliderMouse Pro features the same add-ons as the RollerMouse Pro. As mentioned, you can swap out the magnetic wrist rest for a slimmer version that takes up less space, and if you turn the mouse over, you’ll find the same indentation that allows you to hide the USB cable (though you'll find no dongle storage on the unit itself). Near the top left, you'll find a resolution toggle (the maximum is 2,800dpi) and power switch. If you opt for the wireless version I tested, you’ll get both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity options; a wired version is available for $20 less.

You can tweak the SliderMouse Pro further via the downloadable Contour Shuttle app, where you can swap button functionality and sensitivity, and even set application-specific settings across the six buttons and slider bar.

(Credit: Contour)

The software, like the hardware, is well-designed and easy to navigate. And as with the RollerMouse Pro, it’s compatible with Macs.

Verdict: Sliding Is Better Than Rolling

Overall, the SliderMouse Pro is an intriguing device, and one that's arguably better than the RollerMouse Pro, but don't forget how much both of these peripherals go for: a whopping $269 for the wired versions, and $289 for the wireless ones. Unlike the RollerMouse Pro, the SliderMouse Pro doesn't come in a bundle option that includes Contour's Balance Keyboard. The company does offer the same rather intriguing 30-day free trial, though, on both devices, which lets you try out the mouse and pay for it at the end only if you're satisfied.

Beautifully designed and useful for both the differently abled and those who suffer from computer-induced shoulder, wrist, and neck pain, the SliderMouse Pro is much easier to use than its sibling. If we had to choose between the two, our recommendation goes to the SliderMouse Pro. Meanwhile, if ergonomic mice are what you're after, but you’re unsure about a two-hand mouse solution, entry-level trackballs like the Kensington Pro Fit Ergo TB550 or the Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball could serve you well.