We may have rounded the corner through winter. Yet, it’s still easy to become tempted by the overcast and perhaps snowy weather—at least in most of the country—and retreat inside our homes like hermits at our computers. Spending an extended amount of time click-clacking away can cause wrist, hand, and arm pain from repetitive use. If you’re feeling the pain, but can’t seem to quit the computer, look into these keyboard options, designed to help reduce repetitive stress injuries while typing.

The Smartfish ErgoMotion keyboard MOVES as you type on it. With its ErgoMotion technology, it monitors your typing speed and frequency to automatically adjust the position of the keyboard forcing your hands and wrists to adjust out of an otherwise fixed position. This periodic change in position and posture is designed to improve circulation and reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries. Announced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, the ErgoMotion keyboard will retail for $149.95; available in March 2010. You can even sign up for notification when the keyboard is available for purchase.

The Microsoft Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 keyboard was ergonomically designed to encourage a more natural posture for your wrist, angled at a 6 degree slope. If you’re a PC user, the Comfort Desktop 5000 supports Windows 7 through Taskbar Favorites, which enables you to access programs and common tasks easier and with greater speed. The keyword is wireless and has soft-touch palm rest for additional comfort. Otherwise, it is what you would come to expect from a keyboard. MSRP for the Comfort Desktop 5000 is $79.95 and is in stores now.

Something entirely different to consider is the Peregrine Glove. The glove registers more than 30 different commands (or keystrokes) by touching any of the 18 contact point sensors embedded along the fingers and three activator pads—two located on the thumb and one on the palm. The glove is promoted for gaming purposes, as it can increase your play speed when you are trying to conduct a series of actions quickly. However, beyond multi-player online gaming, it’s easy to see the Peregrine Glove being applied to help people avoid repetitive strain injury or carpal tunnel syndrome. There are many possibilities for integrating the glove with these keyboard shortcuts, and even the US Department of Defense has contracted with Iron Will Innovations to integrate the technology.

The Peregrine glove is initially available for the left-hand only, designed for people who commonly use a mouse in their right hand. There are three sizes: small, medium and large determined by measuring your hand. You can purchase it now via pre-order on the Peregrine website for $129.99 (a $20 discount off of the normal retail price of $149.99), and it will ship around the end of March 2010.

If you frequently travel with your laptop to writing locations or interviews, you may want to check out the Celluon CL800BT Virtual Keyboard as a good portable option. This device projects a laser QWERTY on any flat surface, allowing you to type on a virtual keyboard up to 400 characters per minute. The LaserKey retails for $199.99 and is compatible with most mobile devices and PCs.

Heidi Leder (@c2cmom) is a freelance writer with specialties in technology, travel, and family. Heidi (Coast 2 Coast Mom) mothered her son literally from coast to coast—Silicon Valley to the Chicago suburbs to North Jersey, where he is currently in pre-school—while keeping one foot firmly planted in the working world. She also contributes to Techlicious.com, NYMetropolista.com, and www.NewJerseyMomsBlog.com.

Earlier this month I attended the annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to get a first look at all of the exciting innovations set to hit stores in the coming weeks, months, and years. Thousands of companies from around the world showcased the latest in technology. I’ve narrowed down the list to feature five of my faves for gadget-loving writers and commuters.

1. Mikey from Blue Microphones: I was wowed by the microphone products from Blue Microphones, and am eager to try the portable Mikey, shown here. It attaches to your iPod or iPhone and offers professional-quality stereo recording capabilities. Blue also released a free high-fidelity field-recording app through the Apple App Store to complement the portable mic. The Mikey is already certified by Apple for iPods and is currently undergoing iPhone certification. The new second generation Mikey will be available this spring and retail for a MSRP of $99.99 

2. PenCam by Swann Security: If you’re seeking spy-worthy fun as you gather material or interviews in person  I suggest you check out Swann Security’s PenCam Mini Video Camera and Recorder. Just imagine what Ian Fleming could have written if he carried along one of these to capture inspiration. The pen has 2GB of memory allowing the built-in pinhole video camera to record over one hour of video. While the resolution is only 640×480, that’s still good enough to enable you to record some great on-the-street or in-person interview moments without the bulk of a handheld camera.

3. Planon’s DocuPen: For people who prefer to work with hard copies of paper while researching and writing, Planon’s DocuPen may be just the right thing for you. Disguised as a pen, it’s actually a powerful portable scanner. Scanning up to 1200dpi, you can easily scan a hard copy document with the DocuPen, email the created image to yourself, or connect the DocuPen to Planon’s PrintStik portable printer to make an instant printed copy.

4. SANYO Xacti: The full HD, slim type dual camera Xacti, VPC-CS1 was unveiled as the world’s lightest, smallest, thinnest dual camera. It captures video in full HD (1920 x 1080) with 10x zoom and 8 megapixel still images. It even—get this—includes sound zoom! Not only is it portable enough to fit in your pocket, it’s compatible with Windows 7, has an HDMI port, and is currently undergoing iFrame certification. It’s slated to be available in late February for $299 and will initially be available in the US in silver.

5. Lenovo U1 Hybrid Notebook: One of the coolest innovations to come out of CES this year was Lenovo’s hybrid notebook, which gives you the freedom to detach the screen entirely from the base. The multi-touch slate runs in landscape or portrait modes offering web gadgets for browsing, media play back, and E-book reader capabilities. Plus, both sections are capable of operating independently; you can use the base as a docking station and the slate as a portable device.

Heidi Leder (@c2cmom) is a freelance writer with specialties in technology, travel, and family. Heidi (Coast 2 Coast Mom) mothered her son literally from coast to coast—Silicon Valley to the Chicago suburbs to North Jersey, where he is currently in pre-school—while keeping one foot firmly planted in the working world. She also contributes to Techlicious.com, NYMetropolista.com, and www.NewJerseyMomsBlog.com.

Looking to treat someone special—or treat yourself—to some holiday cheer? Here are some fabulous techno gifts to enhance your favorite writer’s life this season.

1. The Otterbox Defender Cell Phone Cover ($49.95). The Otterbox is my favorite protective cell-phone cover for people on the move. With three layers of protection—including a screen protector and a hard polycarbonate skeleton shell ensconced in a tight silicon outer casing—you can definitely feel the substantial difference in protection. Plus, trust that your phone or blackberry will resist the scratches and dents that can happen to even the most careful commuter. If you travel frequently with your Kindle or gaming device, try a BodyGuardz cover to protect those gadgets.

2. Mic rosoft Arc Mouse ($49.95). This beautiful wireless mouse should perhaps be called the Piece of Art Mouse. It’s wireless up to 30 feet, uses laser tracking and easily folds into itself for frequent travelers who prefer to use a mouse over a laptop touchpad. Available at Best Buy or Radio Shack.

3. Portable Powermat ($99.99). Forget the cables, cord tangles and tripping obstacles, and pick up a portable multi-device charger. One of these charging stations can charge up to three devices plus a USB port and comes in a travel size version that folds into three parts.

4. Livescribe Pulse (starting at $169.95). Smartpens seem to be making a comeback, and now some even have downloadable apps for translating different languages and more. With larger storage space then ever before, that means hours of audio and plenty of handwritten notes that you can record and digitize for use on your computer. For my dedicated column on Digital Pens, click here.

5. HD Video Webcam (starting at $49.95). While many laptops come with webcams, nothing compares to the quality of an HD video webcam. With most retailing for less than $100 and available in fashionable colors, it makes this a fun useful gift. Many are compatible with both Mac and Windows, and I recommend checking out the Hue HD (below) ($49.95), Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 ($99.99) or my favorite, the Microsoft Lifecam Cinema ($79.95). Just make sure your desktop or laptop has the system requirements capable of handling high-def streaming.

Heidi Leder (@c2cmom) is a freelance writer with specialties in technology, travel, and family. Heidi (Coast 2 Coast Mom) mothered her son literally from coast to coast—Silicon Valley to the Chicago suburbs to North Jersey, where he is currently in pre-school—while keeping one foot firmly planted in the working world. She also contributes to Techlicious.com, NYMetropolista.com, and www.NewJerseyMomsBlog.com.

At a recent technology industry event, I learned research shows that one in four people are planning to purchase a computer. With the economy as it is, many are considering a smaller, less expensive Netbook computer. “Netbook” is a term coined by Intel for a mini laptop computer.

How do you know if a netbook computer is right for you? Let’s look at the elements to consider.

Portability: Typically Netbooks have monitor screens less than 12 inches in size (the majority are less than 11 inches), and weigh just over two pounds. Netbooks are easy to carry or pack when you travel or are on the move. I head into NYC from New Jersey several days a week and easily slide my Asus Netbook into its neoprene sleeve and put it into my purse to head to the train.

Price: The average cost of a Netbook these days is around $300. I picked mine up at a Best Buy in Thousand Oaks for $289 while on a trip a couple of months ago. The most expensive one I considered purchasing was $350. I bought a sleeve for $20 and got a free 60-day trial of Microsoft Office 2007 (with the option to purchase for as little as $149). When you purchase a Netbook, you don’t feel like you’ve drained your bank account.

Functionality: Netbooks handle simple tasks well (email, internet, word processing, photo editing, etc.), but they have less processing power, memory, and storage space than full-size laptop or desktop computers. Therefore, they cannot handle multiple large tasks as well. Most netbooks are Wi-Fi enabled, have three USB ports (enough to plug in a mouse, a camera, and an external hard-drive), a mini VGA connector (to connect to a monitor, HD television, or projector to give a presentation), and an ethernet connection.

I take a camera and an HD webcam along with me when I travel each day. While I can edit and download photos on the go, when I work in multiple windows online and run Office, my Netbook may freeze up if I were to try to Skype with HD video to the mix. An HD video call, plus working online and in Word, may be all that my Netbook is able to handle at once.

The keyboard is slightly smaller and more compact than a full-size laptop, it may be challenging for some folks to use. Plus, the smaller screen size means you need to scroll more. Until recently I was using my iPhone on the go. Believe me, a netbook is WAY easier than that. Overall, I love my Netbook and now use it as my primary computer. I just back-up my work and photos onto an external hard drive every couple of days.

Need to decide if a Netbook is right for you? Here are some additional resources/Netbook comparisons, if you’re in the market:

Cnet: “Best Netbooks”

Good Housekeeping: “Best Netbooks Under $499″

Squidoo: “Netbook Comparison”

Heidi Leder (@c2cmom) is a freelance writer with specialties in technology, travel, and family. Heidi (Coast 2 Coast Mom) mothered her son literally from coast to coast—Silicon Valley to the Chicago suburbs to North Jersey, where he is currently in pre-school—while keeping one foot firmly planted in the working world. She also contributes to Techlicious.com, NYMetropolista.com, and www.NewJerseyMomsBlog.com.

Before the advent of smart phones with Internet browsing capabilities, the only way to access the Internet while on the road was to tether your cellphone to your laptop—or invest in a subscription to a Riccochet/ Metricom service that was prevalent in the late 1990′s and early 2000′s in major cities across the US. (Yes, I was one of those loyal, yet doomed subscribers.) While browser capability on a cell phone is helpful, it can also be frustrating to use when you have to type long emails, notes, blog posts, story ideas, and/or edits. What you really want is a traveling, always-on, secure wireless connection on your laptop, to make things so much easier.

Do you spend a lot of time writing on the go? Do you often find yourself chasing down a WiFi connection? Do you get finger cramps from too much cell phone typing? There’s a solution, which can reduce the anxiety of finding that nearest hotspot, that literally fits into your pocket. Meet MiFi.

Developed by Novatel, the MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot delivers your own personal WiFi network that connects anywhere you are. The device is sleek and small (about the thickness of six credit cards) and piggybacks off of the 3G network of either Sprint or Verizon, two of the carriers that sell this device. (You do not have to subscribe to their cell phone service to use the MiFi.) The best part is that you can share the connection with up to five devices—friends, co-workers, or use multiple WiFi enabled devices, acting as a wireless router. If you want to use it solely for yourself, the MiFi 2200 has a USB mode that allows you to hook it up directly to your laptop and use it as a wireless modem. Either way, MiFi is password protected and features WEP and WPA encryption, so you don’t have to worry about other people picking up your network and logging on without your permission.

The biggest downside to MiFi is the cost—and not necessarily the cost of the device itself (right now both Verizon and Sprint offer the MiFi for $100 after rebates with a two year contract). Service plans start at $40 per month for up to 250MB (Verizon)/300MB (Sprint) of data, and $60 for 5GB. If you’re a frequent traveler and heavy internet user, or have friends willing to split the cost of the service, then it becomes a more affordable solution. Sprint has posted a chart on their website that shows an approximation of what you can do with either 300MB or 5GB per month, but be careful, because if you run over your monthly allotment, you’ll get charged $.05 per MB, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but can add up quickly. If you can manage within your data plan, and need the ultimate in mobile connectivity when you write, this could become a nice replacement for even your home broadband-connection. Just be sure you don’t sit on the MiFi

Heidi Leder (@c2cmom) is a freelance writer with specialties in technology, travel, and family. Heidi (Coast 2 Coast Mom) mothered her son literally from coast to coast—Silicon Valley to the Chicago suburbs to North Jersey, where he is currently in pre-school—while keeping one foot firmly planted in the working world. She also contributes to Techlicious.com, NYMetropolista.com, and www.NewJerseyMomsBlog.com.

As writers, we never know when or where inspiration will strike.

Modern technology makes capturing unplanned moments of brilliance easy. I keep my iPhone or netbook near me at all times to jot down notes or phrases. Plus, the advent of the digital pen means never worrying about having your laptop by your side. This is a much smaller device to rely on for recording written—and in some instances, spoken—words. As an owner of the original Logitech IO digital pen, I can say from personal experience that this technology evolved nicely over the last several years. Digital pens have become more advanced and easier to incorporate into your lifestyle, while—depending on the need for optional features—the cost has become more manageable.

If you’re in the market for a digital pen, there are a couple worth considering:

IOGEAR Digital Scribe ($109.95) In the past, one of the hidden costs for consumers using this type of device was that the pen required special digital paper. The Digital Scribe has moved past this hurdle, allowing you to attach a device to the top of your own regular paper that tracks the movements of the pen, which records your written words. You then connect the receiver (via a USB cable) to your computer to upload your files, which are easy to upload into a Word document. If you wish, you can keep the receiver connected to your computer and the pen can double as a mouse. IOGEAR provides basic features, at a reasonable price point, and, since it can be used on any surface without extra cost, is worth exploring.

LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen 2 GB ($169.95) If you’re looking for a device with more capabilities, the Pulse provides the same functionality as the Scribe AND includes some fancy features. The coolest is its audio capabilities, allowing you to simultaneously write and record audio, linking the two together. Can’t read your notes from a celebrity interview? Click on any point in the text you’ve written and you’ll be linked to the correct point with the audio. To use these additional bells and whistles you do need special paper. In the past this meant an additional expense. Now LiveScribe offers the option to print out your own digital paper, as long as you have a printer with a print quality of 600dpi or higher.

Whether your a journalist, a creative professional, or hobbiest, it’s great to have a options for capturing inspiration on the fly.

Heidi Leder (@c2cmom) is a freelance writer with specialties in technology, travel, and family. Heidi (Coast 2 Coast Mom) mothered her son literally from coast to coast—Silicon Valley to the Chicago suburbs to North Jersey, where he is currently in pre-school—while keeping one foot firmly planted in the working world. She also contributes to Techlicious.com, NYMetropolista.com, and www.NewJerseyMomsBlog.com.