Pacific Writing Instruments takes ergonomics to the extreme with its PenAgain line of products. The company has added to its line of wishbone-shaped writing devices, giving you funky-looking pens, highlighters, and permanent markers. One customer said the products look like "retro rocket-ships" when upside down.

The PenAgain is designed to reduce wrist strain. Its funky ergonomic shape lets you hold the pen without gripping, giving you a smooth, tension-free writing experience. The company boasts that PenAgain may help alleviate symptoms of writer's cramp, carpal tunnel syndrome, and so on, and it was featured in Arthritis Today magazine.

I tried out samples of the pens, highlighters, and markers, and they were pretty cool. It took a minute or two to adjust to the design, and I had to tell myself that I didn't need to grip when I was writing. But pretty soon, I was writing my notes and didn't even realized I had a ridiculous-looking pen in my hand. The ink in all of the products looked darn good on my notepad, too.

The pens write in black ink but come in all different different colors like green, silver, and pink for $3.99 or $6.49. The marker ($2.99) comes only in black, but the highlighters ($2.99) come in all of the traditional neon colors. PenAgain is now developing dry-erase markers and mechanical pencils.

But some good ole, traditional ballpoint pens still offer extra advantages.