In a move sure to spark tons of heated “toldja so” debates, Apple has released a new mouse, Yahoo reports. Aptly named Mighty Mouse, it got a touch-sensitive top shell which works like left/right buttons, a pair of force-sensing side buttons, and a 360-degree scroll button which doubles as the third button.
Apple’s New Mouse
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cool! ^^
Looks very good, apple-style. Question is: does it work with Linux’ USB mouse drivers?
My thoughts exactly:
Does it run the ps/2 protocol? Otherwise… forget it, it’s crap
.
It looks very cool, I don’t know if I’d quite shell out $50 for it though. I mean, my mx510 was $30 (once the 518 hit the market).
I also wonder what the optical resolution on it is.
If Apple have released the hardware instructions it will be supported by the linux kernal, otherwise a wrapper could be used.
Hardware is never designed with the linux kernal in mind, its only if the hardware company release specifications that any non-windows/mac Os can use the device.
It works with a regular USB HID mouse driver.
From the Apple website:
Mighty Mouse uses the standard, multibutton mouse driver included in the Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems and plugs into any USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port.
So, my guess is that it works using the standard HID protocol, thus it should work just fine in Linux.
From 1 button to 5 – they don’t mess around do they ?
I don’t know about the touch sensitive thing – I kinda like microswitches, they don’t easily break and I think would provide more user feedback (both tactile and as a satisfying “click”)
I think the mouse still clicks like their one button mice but it detects whether it’s a right click or left click based on the touch sensors which would be a really neat idea.
Technically speaking a 2-button mouse with a scroll-wheel counts as a 5 button-mouse. Clicking the wheel upwards, downwards and just plain pressing it down are 3 different signals, to which you can map 3 different actions.
The Mac mouse’s scrollbutton integrates the pressing down and clicking upwards+downwards, and then adds 2 more directions. Pressing the middle-button down on PC-mice in Windows activates side-scrolling as well, but that doesn’t count towards the count. Plus it has 3 buttons, as pressing the sides is 1 button; you can’t press either side for a different action if the control-panel shown under http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/software.html is to be believed. 4 directions+pressing down+3 makes for an 8 button mouse.
If you don’t count directions as a button, it’s a 4 button mouse, where regular PC-mice have 3 buttons.
“which works like left/right buttons”
Apple offering a multi-button mouse, sure. The next thing you want to tell me is that they’ll be switching to Intel…
Looks pretty stylish though.
i get one when they put bluetooth in it. till then i’ll use their BT mouse
For a moment I read ‘Mickey Mouse’ instead of ‘Mighty Mouse’.
Wow, now there’s actually a good reason to consider Macs usable
What a turd! *Apple zealots tear me into shreds*
Im suprised that they have no bluetooth module?
-best
-greg
Very nice. Apple never fail to impress me. And FINALLY a glorious end of the whole ‘apples suck because they have only one mouse button’.
What about instead or rolling and squeezing, they put a second button on it so you can freakin’ righ-click on things!?! Wow, that would be usable, but hey Apple is about “cool” and “wow”!
I think you misunderstood. The mouse is touch sensitive and does indeed simulate two buttons (so there is a right-click).
Talk about confusing huh, now instead of explaining what a “right-click” is, you can now spend hours explaining to a user why he needs to touch the top right hand size of his mouse (but NOT the side), even though it has no distinguishing marks whatsoever.
i think the point is this can be either a single button or a multi-button.. if you have to explain to someone what a “right-click” is, then they would obviously only need to use it as a single button mouse..
youd only enable the full features when someone has a grasp on what it all means.. pretty clever reallly, a multibutton mouse that is also a single button mouse..
none the less, i imagine id still prefer kensington trackballs
Yea real difficult… Top right section of the mouse for the contextual menu, it’s touch sensitive, like, YOUR iPod scroll wheel, laptops etc. It’s the same as all other mice you’ve been conditioned to use over the past 10? years…
But a freaking Moron(WinTell user) will say
” Which right? Mind or yours!”
Yeah real difficult… Top right section of the mouse for the contextual menu, it’s touch sensitive, like, YOUR iPod scroll wheel, laptops etc. It’s the same as all other mice you’ve been conditioned to use over the past 10? years…
But a freaking Moron(WinTell user) will say
” Which right? Mind or yours!”
“What about instead or rolling and squeezing, they put a second button on it so you can freakin’ righ-click on things!?!”
They DID. What planet are you on? The thing has like FIVE buttons for god sake!
Again, why the neagtive votes??? Just because he made a mistake, or didn’t understand something??
I think *loads* o people that come around here need to LEARN how to USE the NEGATIVE VOTE.
READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE VOTING!
I think this is a great move by Apple.
For all those that have long touted the requirement for ‘only one mouse button’ on Apple Hardware, it appears on the frontend that those days are quickly disapearing.
The ‘Mighty Mouse’ now poises Apple for a larger potiental userbase with their new Intel based Computers… allowing users to ‘try’ their new computer/operating system out, while dangling out the safety net for potiental converters. I can already see the sales pitch..
‘Beauty, Poise, and Functionality with new Macintosh Computers, coupuled with ability to utilize Microsoft Windows… why not give it a shot’.
It should be apparent that I’m not an advertiser, but the idea should be there. Remember that Apple is essentially a hardware company: if they create a good looking computer, even if it’s sold with OSX… if Grandma Jones just can’t get on without Windows, she’s tried it, and lost no functionality… and she can quickly wipe OSX and replace Windows, and lose no ability. She’ll still have purchased Apple Hardware. Apple still wins, and Grandma Jones can still surf the net.. so she’s happy that she didn’t waste her dollars.
Not saying that this scenario will happen, but it could… but by making sure that ‘in case of failure, don’t lock in the user (DRM aside)’, Apple’s sales team will be able to push new computers to the reluctant few.
I could be wrong, but my $.02 anyway!
I am very impressed, this looks to be VERY functional. The scroll ball if used well could be just as important as the scroll wheel was.
I agree. I’m already begging my supervisor for one.
…or it doesn’t look so nice as their latest two mice? Maybe it’s the photos, but it does seem to be made of the same bland plastic as iPod Shuffle (as opposed to the shiny, acrylic-like plastic of iMac G5 or iPod).
i think it is the same plastic, just not clear.
Mmm this is not too bad, a bit unconventional perhaps. I just wonder why Apple never bother making a more ergonomical design for it’s mouses. I’d prefer a logitech anytime to simple roundish mouse. (I can understand that some people like the MS mouses better, especially if you have smaller hands).
Interesting, I have large hands, and I find the the small form of the Apple Pro mice to be less stress on my wrist than that of the larger Logitech and MS mice. This is the same reason that I don’t use bluetooth mice, weight. What interesting here is that the shape of the mouse has very little impact, it’s the size and weight. The reason is that I don’t rest my hand on the mouse, I cup the mouse under my fingertips and move it with my finger tips, not the palm of my hand. This is something that I learned to do after fighting RSI in my wrist for a couple of years. These days, I won’t use a mouse that isn’t light enough, or small enough that I can do that.
Right now, I’m using a Logitceh MX-310, which is a nice mouse, and meets the criteria of weight, but it is about .5 cm too tall and the top of it’s bulbous rear end frequently interferes with my mouse movements, as well as the side buttons being 1 cm too high and easily bumped (to the point that I have them disabled rather than deal with inadvertant clicks. I am looking forward to playing with a mighty mouse. The scroll ball looks like it will be a nice addition. Hopefully, the added functionality will not impact the other criteria.
>What about instead or rolling and squeezing, they put a second button
>on it so you can freakin’ righ-click on things!?!
It looks like one button, but the mouse detects where you click: left or right. Read the Apple page about this mouse.
A four button mouse from Apple. I have to say, I’m looking forward to testing it in a store.
Hell has now finally frozen over… Next thing, that will happen is: Apple really goes out of business.
starts using a scroll ball instead of the tried-and-true scroll wheel?
Personally.. I think the scrollbar makes complete sense.. i just can’t believe no one implemented it before on a mouse… Or has someone and I just missed it?
[i]
starts using a scroll ball instead of the tried-and-true scroll wheel?
Personally.. I think the scrollbar makes complete sense.. i just can’t believe no one implemented it before on a mouse… Or has someone and I just missed it?
[i]
Well, Logitech has this
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=3,CON…
and IBM has had this
http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?cat…
for ages.
> starts using a scroll ball instead of the tried-and-true scroll wheel?
> Personally.. I think the scrollbar makes complete sense.. i just can’t believe no one implemented it before on a mouse… Or has someone and I just missed it?
A few minutes of googling reveals this
http://images.google.com/images?q=iogear%204d&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&ta…
they did, but unfortunally they built the mouse upside down – so what once was a scroll ball, was turned into a track ball. :/
Personally.. I think the scrollbar makes complete sense.. i just can’t believe no one implemented it before on a mouse… Or has someone and I just missed it?
Moron. IBM ScrollPoint
Moron. IBM ScrollPoint
Someone seems emotional… the green eyed monster has you I C.
Again someone has to say this, ScrollPoint is Vertical and Horizontal only, can’t do both at once, hence DIAGONAL movement is not supported. Also, ScrollPoint doesn’t use a “Ball” for scrolling the window.
Even if IBM chose to make ScrollPoint orthogonal-only, this is just an implementation choice, probably made in software. Plenty of other devices have a trackball for scrolling, but a non-spinning scrolling device has plenty of merits.
My work uses PCs…but I’ve been doing my best to make it look and feel (as much as possible) like my home Mac.
This new mouse would make a perfect addition!
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/specs.html
“Because everyone deserves a chance to experience the most elegant mouse on the planet, Mighty Mouse is also compatible with PCs. Mighty Mouse uses the standard, multibutton mouse driver included in the Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems and plugs into any USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port.”
yeah just make a black version too apple 😉
There will be a japanese website up in no time with directions on how to take it apart and paint it any color you want
Something that’s just briefly mentioned on the site:
“Mighty Mouse even sounds as good as it feels. The audio feedback built into Mighty Mouse provides an aural sensation that responds to your movements. A tiny speaker inside Mighty Mouse produces button-clicking and Scroll Ball-rolling sound effects.”
I skimmed the specs because it will be a long time before I cough up the money for this (not saying that it’s overpriced, I just can’t justify it right now when my mouse is working fine) but I have to say that the function you described is superfluous and yet at the same time, absolutely bloody awesome.
That is why apple hardware is so darn expensive. They add crazy things like tiny speakers inside a mouse just because it is cool.
They add crazy things like tiny speakers inside a mouse just because it is cool.
And what’s wrong with that?
— Lars
1) Increased price
2) Increased power requirements
3) As if there isn’t already enough electo-magnetic waves around our computers
4) Questionable benefit to the user, and possible annoyance. Probably (I hope) the user will be able to turn the speaker off. Thus leaving you paying extra $$, for a feature you didn’t want.
1) Increased price
Then don’t buy it.
2) Increased power requirements
3) As if there isn’t already enough electo-magnetic waves around our computers
Which is funny to read since other people are loudly complaining about missing Bluetooth capability.
4) Questionable benefit to the user, and possible annoyance. Probably (I hope) the user will be able to turn the speaker off. Thus leaving you paying extra $$, for a feature you didn’t want.
Again, if you don’t want it, don’t buy it. Or are you really so desperate to have an Apple-branded mouse?
And I still haven’t seen an argument against doing something in technology just because it’d be cool to do it (just like running Linux on an iPod).
I don’t think anyone saw that coming…
touché
And it looks like it can be used by us Lefties as well. There are too many devices around these days that assume you are right handed. It is blatant discrimination.(Microsoft , Logitech are you listening?) So, congrats Apple for making something that looks good and will work in either hand.
It would be nice for the side buttons to have there own functions, instead of just having to press on both sides to create one action. i.e. have each side have its own function for example, allow it to program the buttons to act as a back and forward for web browsing etc.
I myself think this was a good decision and a better implementation than the mice that already do this. Most people grasp their mouse by the sides and for these people the buttons on the side get in the way. People shouldn’t have to work around their habits the mouse should work WITH their habits. It sounds like this mouse is using the sides just right, you have to want to activate the button and not accidentally trigger it.
Come on! Who needs mice anyway? Trackballs are far far superior and everyone who’s used one can tell you. I wonder how mice still survived until this day!
Take a look. http://www.kensington.com/html/1436.html
Come on! Who needs mice anyway? Trackballs are far far superior and everyone who’s used one can tell you. I wonder how mice still survived until this day!
Ehhh…I’ve tried em. They do give less RSI, but I score significantly less on flash-games with trackballs.
Neither is better than the other. It’s just a personal preference. I switch between a mouse and a Trackman Marble with no problem and can use both very capably in an FPS game. I can see how most people prefer mice…the fact that you move the entire unit gives you immediate positional feedback. When you roll a trackball, the ball looks the same from all angles.
I’ll stick with my Logitech…….thumbwheels rule!
I agree, TrackMan Marble was my 1st and last love.
Remeber the commercial it had in 1995? “Rests perfectly in the palm of my hand, never needs cleaning… I love you!”
Not as good for FPS games though…
Is the scrollball really a little, free-spinning trackball? If this is the case, I have to say that I’m a little disappointed. I’ve been a fan of the IBM scrollpoint mice since they switched from the eraser head to the bigger omni-directional scroll slider button, and I think that Apple made the wrong choice in tech for their new mouse. However, I do still consider either option better than tilting scroll wheels.
–Jeff
I don’t think this mouse has moving parts: it’s just a big touch sensor (just like the iPod wheel, or the laptop trackpads) with enough intelligence builtin to generate events based on the touch and movements of fingers.
My question however is: can I rest my fingers on it *without* it clicking?
I normally rest my index finger on the scrollwheel and the middle one on the right button, for example.
I reply to myself: it indeed has a freespinning trackball embedded as a scrollbutton.
And the “squeezing” action is performed by buttons, either, at least looking at the “design” page (this is however not very clear: they could be touch sensitive).
but why apple mouses are so ugly???
when i’m angry about code or a program, i often squeeze my mouse like that
I hope this does not evolve into two button mice being a requisite for dealing with OS X (except for certain apps that obviously need greater than usual control at hand, like 3d apps). I mention this because I see this eventually bundled in all computers, even if in years (since it CAN be configured as a single button mouse), and then developers will start expecting a second button being there, wether the user has it configured or not.
Oh good god, how gay do you have to be to get excited about the latest fashionable mouse?
It doesn’t have four buttons. The two side buttons act as one, by squeezing the mouse. RTFP.
Isn’t there still a copyright on the cartoon character Mighty Mouse?
They have honoured Viacom’s copyright at the bottom of the first page. ->
“Mighty Mouse © Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.”
From the beginning Apple bread and butter has been innovation. They have been on a roll since eMacs and the G3s and steadily building momentum. The Intel move might prove to be a turning point in computing history.
1) Apple has an opportunity to take back some market shares long ago lost to Microsoft.
2) Proof positive that a *nix is not only profitable but also dominant.
3) Through itunes apple also found a way to legalize and profit from video and audio downloads (soon to be: tv shows, movies, etc…) don’t be surprised if netflix or a company of a similar nature get gobbled up by Apple. hmmm An Apple eating the worm. Something wrong with that.
Point is that Apple is moving with innovation as their driving force. Apparently its not the cost of innovation people are concerned about or else people would not be shelling out the cash for $500 dollar ipods or $5000 Laptops. If only other companies would follow suite, then cost would be a minimal factor and choice would be the prime factor.
nice start, but wireless would be nice here. Also I prefer real buttons to touch sensitive.
At least its not right hand only. I’m right handed but use mouse left handed. It’s ergonomically better (since you aren’t always using your right side) and frees your better hand for doing whatever, like typing or writing which your dominant hand is better at.
But no one makes left handed mice, just both handed and right handed.
that Apple is going to release two button powerbooks and ibooks too?
I’m not sure about the touch buttons (could be another circle mouse fiasco), but the rest looks good. They’re not the first ones to do 2 axis navigation with a touch screen, but as their hardware design will fit their software design as well, it’s a good solution.
About the name… well… I do prefer it in the cartoon’s character them this pieces of hardware… but it’s not bad… at all… =]
As far as I can tell, the mouse is not being shipped with Macs as standard. Therefore, developers will still have to develop apps without depending on right click.
I don’t think that iBooks and Powerbooks will be seeing two button trackpads any time soon. I think that this mouse is aimed more at professionals who really need the functionality. I for one am happy with a one button trackpad (I don’t own a desktop Mac), it doesn’t hinder me in any way.
That said, the mouse sounds really cool. Touch sensitive goodness, scroll ball and that audio feedback sounds really nifty. I’ll probably test one out just for fun when I get around to it.
That is all
“Touch-sensitive technology under Mighty Mouse’s seamless top shell detect where you’re clicking, transforming your sleek, one-button mouse into a two-button wonder.”
As far as I can tell, and from what others have been saying. It still *physically clicks* i.e. you press on the mouse to click like Apple’s normal one button mouse. The only catch is that the touch sensitive technology determines where you’re applying pressure on the mouse when you click to see if you made a left or right click. Let’s all reserve judgement on this until we can go pummel our local Apple stores to use one or read a review :}
This is one of a few things that I truly hate about Apple. Seriosly, why do they have to make mice for ideological reasons, and to look “cool”. What’s so wrong about making a practical mouse that is comfortable to use and works. I am sad to say it, Microsoft has figured this out a few years ago, and there is a reason why their intellisense mouse that works on both hands is one of the most popular mice around. It’s big enough to be comfortable, in left or right hand, and it has 2 to 4 (or 5?) buttons + mouse wheel. Logitech also made pretty good (large and confy) and practical mice from what I remember.
First Apple had that completely circular one button mouse. I don’t know of anyone who could use that thing for more than 5 minutes at a time. It hurt your hand so bad…
Now we have this thing. If that picture on the front page is the actual size, then there is nothing mighty about it. It looks very similar in shape (and is actually smaller) to my stock Dell mouse here at work. And I don’t like this one all that much and it is not very comfortable.
Considering the mouse is the most used piece of hardware for interacting with a computer (along with the monitor I guess), when designing one, emphesis should be put on practicality, comfort, and overall usability, not ideology or some sort of artistic merit. That’s just plain stupid.
> Considering the mouse is the most used piece of hardware for interacting with a computer (along with the monitor I guess),
As a VIM user I’d have to disagree. :-O
Have you ever tried this new Apple mouse? Then how the hell can you say that it isn’t comfortable?
FYI, the circular mouse didn’t hurt my hand at all.
“FYI, the circular mouse didn’t hurt my hand at all.”
This is a statement in general, and not aimed at the original post directly.
The circular mouse was designed in the way a mouse is supposed to be used anyway. We Americans like to “heavy hand” our mouse and really lean into it, hence all the different “gel filled” wrist support mouse pads on the market. The problem is, the Puck Mouse is designed to force you to do what you are supposed to do, and is why everyone seems to hate it so much.
Lift your arm and use your regular mouse the way you’d be forced to use the Puck for a week. Not only will you find muscles in your wrist and forearm you had forgotten about, but you’ll also have less fatigue after using the mouse long periods. (I’m an IT Shift Worker, I sit in front of a computer no less than 12 hours a day). Part of what speeds up the whole carpel process is the way many firmly place the back of the hand on the table then contort the fingers down to grip the mouse and move it with as little arm travel as possible.
Also try taking the mouse off the pad (works best with the laser ones) and use as much of the desk as possible. Again, forcing you to keep from placing your hand on the desk and leaning into the mouse, the wrist and fingers are such that they tend to want to slight angle downward.
Sure your arm is going to hurt for a few days, but once your body readapts and gets used to you using your muscles in that area again, I promise you a lot of pain people associate with mouse use clears up.
At least, that’s been my observation.
“The circular mouse was designed in the way a mouse is supposed to be used anyway. We Americans like to “heavy hand” our mouse and really lean into it, hence all the different “gel filled” wrist support mouse pads on the market. The problem is, the Puck Mouse is designed to force you to do what you are supposed to do, and is why everyone seems to hate it so much.”
I think you are right, or at least that is my personal experience. People tend to “grab” their mouse, tighten their hand muscles. The Puck Mouse by Apple was meant to be “held” loosely. Just lay out your hand on top of the mouse with your hand spread out on the table, or use your finger tips. But people tend to cramp their fingers and make their hand small to adapt to the small shape of the Puck Mouse and the button. I’ve used the Puck mouse for a time using a friend’s Mac, and it wasn’t a bad experience.
I also threw away my mouse pad and now use the larger table surface.
I like small(er) mice. I don’t rest my hand on the mouse, enclosing it. I move my mouse with my finger tips and my hand and wrist stay relatively flat on the table and my fingers in a natural horizontal stretched out position. This is why I use the Apple one-button mouse. There’s not much pressure put on the flesh. This new Apple mouse looks like a welcome addition.
Geez, you haven’t even *tried* the mouse yet..how do you know it’s that bad?
I agree that the MS mice (as well as keyboards) are quite nice though.
You (and someone else said it as well) are right; I haven’t tried the mouse. And of course, mice are largly matter of personal preference. To me, I really need a comfortable mouse, that does not strain the hand and wrist. In my experience larger mice (such as from MS or Logitech) are a lot more comfortable and usable. Whenever I have used an Apple mouse, I’ve found it terrible to use, the puck shaped one being the worst ever. To me it just didn’t work.
I assumed that the picture on the front page is the actual size. I compared that pic to my current mouse (like put my mouse onto the monitor screen), and noticed that the Apple mouse is actually a little bit shorter than my Dell mouse. Considering I find this mouse a little too small and not all that comfortable, and it is similar in shape to the new Apple mouse; I can safely deduce that I wouldn’t like this new mac mouse. This is provided the picture is actual size. I know quite a few people who have this exact issue with apple mice. Usually I think bigger males (-> bigger hands) have a problem with Apple mice.
In my opinion Apple mice have always been more about look and style, than practicality and usability. And building hardware with greater emphesis on style, rather than substance, is usually wrong. And that really was the main point of my rant.
This isn’t a puck shaped mouse.
I actually rather liked the puck mouse, once I learned how to use it. Mostly finger movement and very little wrist movement. It was nice. I do like my Logitech better though…
Inspite of googling I’m yet to come across a mouse with a scrollball that has 360 degrees of freedom. I think that’s the key thing here – 360. All the others just have up,down,left and right.
Correct me if I’m wrong.
Way to go Apple!!
Inspite of googling I’m yet to come across a mouse with a scrollball that has 360 degrees of freedom. I think that’s the key thing here – 360. All the others just have up,down,left and right.
Way to go Apple!!
Yey! Go Apple!
Now, when I try to scroll directly down the page, it will scroll anywhere between 240 and 300 degrees (i.e. diagonally)
“Way to go” my ass. There is a huge reason scroll wheels are still popular – tectile sensation (ribbed feeling on many of them) and straight directionality.
But there is no horizontal scrollbar on any well designed webpage – where is it possible to scroll to???
“But there is no horizontal scrollbar on any well designed webpage – where is it possible to scroll to???”
Good god, there are other applications on computers besides web browsers!
Then why not just use a a scroll wheel if you don’t need a horizontal scroll?
“Way to go” my ass. There is a huge reason scroll wheels are still popular – tectile sensation (ribbed feeling on many of them) and straight directionality.
1) Apple is not the only one to have a scroll device that does more than just “straight directionality”. Microsoft and other manufacturers have mice that provide equivalent functionality.
2) It’s a bit premature to judge a product or to infer it will do certain things or behave adversely until you actually use it. Let’s wait for the reviews.
You’re wrong
http://www.trust.com/products/product.aspx?artnr=12680
Look at the front page:
“Single button looks, multibutton charm.”
but I have to say that the function you described is superfluous and yet at the same time, absolutely bloody awesome.
That’s Apple for ya
. Can you live without: sure. Is it nice to have, damn straight!
I haven’t read a comment like it yet, so I’ll take mine as a first [unless someone posts first]: I’ve ordered mine.
“only used by professionals”. I don’t know.
I have a lot of faith in Apple design, I even liked the puck-shaped mouse that came with my iMac and I have used it for as long as I used the machine.
This looks really cool, has lots of functionality that I can make sense of and it will take some getting used to, as any new device does. This is not cobbled together, with lots of last-minute afterthought. Apple does have a reputation to uphold.
One of the first times I can consider myself an early adopter.
/Likes the one-button mouse just fine, thank you. Thinks this puppy is a full googolplex cooler
.
Rock on, Apple!
The shape of the Mighty Mouse seems identical to that of the mice Apple ships with their computers. In my opinion the mice that Apple ship with their computers are comfortable and very usable. I can’t say anything about the Mighty Mouse since I haven’t used it, but if it’s anything like Apples standard mice, it will be comfotable to use (for me at least).
Current powerbooks and ibooks already have 2 button functionality/360 degree scrolling.
> As far as I can tell, and from what others have been saying. It still *physically clicks* i.e. you press on the mouse to click like Apple’s normal one button mouse.
I don’t think so. Did you notice the sidebar on the right side of the Design page that mentions the embedded speaker? If the thing physically clicks, why would they need a speaker for clicking sounds?
You must not be familiar with Apple’s current mice. The entire mouse is a button. This mouse is no different. The souch-sensative part simply determines which funtion to apply the click. You’re thinking of it in terms of touch-screen iPod as the click. You still have to press down on the mouse for it to click… and it will indeed click.
This puzzles me, apple has refused to implement a second button and a scroll wheel for years for usability reasons and now they come up with a tiny trackball and a weird pinch button on the side. I think this is a clear case of being innovative just to be different, not because it’s better, but I’d need to use it first to be absolutely sure.
Apple has a terrible track record with mice, remember the puck shaped thing that whas shipped with the first iMacs? Their next mouse had some design flaws as well, I remember the button being jammed by the mouse cable when moving the mouse up, and the button feel wasn’t exactly nice either.
then a multi-button mouse…how long until they put Windows on their computers?
I bet MS are busy working out how they can have their next version of windows break on an x86 mac…
I grieve with you. This mouse would be totally useless. When the humidity here in Florida reaches over 80%, my girlfriend’s laptop touch pad ceases to work properly at all and requires a LOT of force to move around. I imagine that might be a problem for some users.
aivars
How could they not release a bluetooth version of this mouse!?
what we need know if a bunch of industry pundits discussing the hidden motives behind the new mouse. something that needs to be unmasked …
… how can you squeeze the mouse without accidentally moving it a bit (and thereore changing the pointed item)?
well, because when you press the side button on the mouse you dont remove your hand from the rest of it, so their is force and friction holding the mouse in place.. ive got a regular apple mouse here on the work computer, and if it feels like this and has the same amount of surface friction, i dont think it’ll be a problem, though i admit when i first read your post i hadn’t thought about that problem..
Wrong site, you idiot
“Apple has a terrible track record with mice, remember the puck shaped thing that whas shipped with the first iMacs?”
That was my all time favorite mouse because it fit my hand so well. My only draw back now would be it’s not a 3 button mouse. I use Shake.
Anyone here mouse with both hands? This one would be a great add to my keyboard, because I switch back and forth.
Might will go perfectly with my Mini!
KEn!
I have to agree with a previous comment, that generally I scroll up and down, and if not, it is usually orthogonal. So I worry about it being a ball, though I have wandered why no one has used a ball before.
I also worry about the tactile response of a ball. I like ribs. Also generally the bigger a wheel the faster it rolls. I would think it would hold true with this and it would be harder to scroll rapidly down a page.
I saw about middle click supported. Has anyone seen auto-scroll support for this?
Trackballs are great for normal desktop use, because they are a lot less stressful than mice. However, drawing graphics, 3D-modelling, shoot-to-kill gaming etc. are pain in the wrist for 99% of people with trackballs. The other thing is that most people (including myself) don’t like to clean their mice anymore, but with a trackballs you have to have a small towel with you all the time. And you definitely can’t eat oranges while using a trackball.
sorry to say this but that sounds really stupid.
Oh wait its for the mac right.
Then thats genius!!!!!
While it remains to be seen if the technology works, at least Apple is trying to do something good for users and giving them a functional mouse.
Something more functional than the mono-button mouse is about 20 years past due.
At the very least it a sign that Apple is non-comatose enough to realize a lot of people do not like the one button mouse.
If anything disappoints me about the mouse it is the lack of ergonomic shaping. The current Apple mouse is not well shaped for use, just for looks. This new mouse looks to continue Apple’s form > function approach to design.
Not the first mouse with a scroll ball and not the first will lots of buttons+side buttons.More marketing than substance: TYPICAL.
You’re an idiot.
I love the entire thing. I’m getting one for everyone of my Macs.
n/t
Moron. IBM ScrollPoint
Someone seems emotional… the green eyed monster has you I C.
Yeah real difficult… Top right section of the mouse for the contextual menu, it’s touch sensitive, like, YOUR iPod scroll wheel, laptops etc. It’s the same as all other mice you’ve been conditioned to use over the past 10? years…
But a freaking Moron(WinTell user) will say
” Which right? Mind or yours!”
Clicking is required to activate the “buttons”. The touch-sensitivity is there to let the mouse know which virtual button you’re clicking. Resting your fingers on the mouse will not do anything until you click it down.
A picture on a web page cannot be “actual size.” Pictures have a set number of pixels, and different monitors display a different number of pixels per inch. Want to see that mouse get a lot bigger? Set your resolution to 800×600.
Years ago I saw an IBM mouse with a little joystick, like in the thinkpad’s between the keyboard (can’t remember it’s name) HP has them too besides the touchpad.
Of course BeOS had universal scroller and if it wasn’t for me who hinted at using shift+scrollwheel for horizontal scrolling… cheapest upgrade ever… : D
“Thus leaving you paying extra $$, for a feature you didn’t want”
Every product has extra features some folk don’t need. My toaster only needs one setting and not too many people ever get to the bottom of Photoshop… That’s why some use Elements.
If you don’t need the features buy the standard Pro-Mouse.
I like the feel of this mouse the left click, right click and scroll ball work perfectly. This is a step in the right direction, finally an apple mouse that right clicks now that’s functional.
Assume theres a white keyboard coming too then?
I just heard that the side buttons require both (left and right side) buttons to be pressed to be activated. For people who already bought the mouse, is that true? If it is, what possible reason could there be to not make them 2 seperate buttons?
Because it’s difficult to press only one side of the mouse at a time.
Got my mightymouse today. Its pretty sweet but seems to have some glitch in either the audio feedback or parts just sticking…random loud nosies delayed after clicks. Cannot determine symptom. Encouraging it with a couple smacks seems to help temporarily. Anyone else have this problem?
Almost at the level of “discovering” fast Intel chips.
This one after years of telling everyone that one button was enough…I wonder how they will spin this one?
I agree…does this mean all years with the single button was wrong…oh wait, Steve Jobs admit he was wrong?… that might be asking for too much…
Well, the right click (context menu) is already there intrinsically in Macs (and its programs) you can get there by holding down control when you click the mouse. So not really sure what else a programmer would add.
Does the new Apple mouse driver work with other mice? Or do you still have to purchase USB Overdrive to get a third party mouse to work nicely?
I’m generally not a fan of Apple mice and keyboards (for 10+ years they’ve been low quality), but it would be nice to have one good mouse driver for the Mac that works well with everything.
Today that is not the case as third party mice do not work quite as well as Apple mice. It is a shame.
Today that is not the case as third party mice do not work quite as well as Apple mice. It is a shame.
I am guessing you have never really used an Apple machine , ever. I have used a logitech wireless mouse and cheap third party bluetooth mouse and a normal USB mouse on my powerbook and they have worked flawlessly.
I just ordered the Might Mouse and it will be my first Apple branded mouse that I will have connected to my powerbook.
No, never used an Apple machine. Just that stuff… Apple II, Apple Fat Mac, Apple Mac SE, Apple Mac II, …, Apple Mac mini.
And Apple’s OS X mouse driver does not work as well with third party mice vs. Apple mice.
For the Logitech MX510 mouse of mine using both 10.3 and 10.4, I had to use USB Overdrive to get the mouse to perform adequately. With the Apple driver, the mouse moved too slowly.
It is my belief that every platform should make its mouse and keyboard drivers open source. It would improve quality dramatically.
And Apple’s OS X mouse driver does not work as well with third party mice vs. Apple mice.
Really and you base this on what exhaustive data exactly…
For the Logitech MX510 mouse of mine using both 10.3 and 10.4, I had to use USB Overdrive to get the mouse to perform adequately. With the Apple driver, the mouse moved too slowly.
Let’s see you took one mouse and decided that instead of Logitech providing drivers OS X’s support sucks. Or that a subjective benchmark like “it ,moved too slowly” is a valid complaint.
I don’t want to disturb your time of enjoyment in Steve Jobs’ underwear, but there wouldn’t be products like USB Overdrive if Apple’s mouse driver actually worked on mice other than Apple’s.
There is no technical reason Apple could not offer something like USB Overdrive with loadable modules for the particulars of each mouse, so any mouse would have a chance at working well with the OS.
I have five different mice here. The MX510 sucked the least on the Mac and it sucked big time compared to Windows. Even USB Overdrive does not compare to the smooth and fast mouse movement available in Windows.
While some of this can be chalked up to Logitech, the bulk of it is Apple’s fault as Apple does not support third party peripheral vendors very well. Apple’s UI is also high latency so it is more difficult to write drivers without the intimate knowledge of the system that is available only inside Apple.
Apple has a serious control issue as they really don’t want anyone else to sell peripherals and so make it very difficult. It means the Apple peripherals market is always small and flaky.
I don’t want to disturb your time of enjoyment in Steve Jobs’ underwear, but there wouldn’t be products like USB Overdrive if Apple’s mouse driver actually worked on mice other than Apple’s.
Really…. USB overdrive doesn’t claim that it’s existence is because of Apple’s lack of 3rd party drivers.
Anyway.. You are an obvious troll on every Apple thread.. I reall don’t like feeding trolls.
It’s funny how people all jump to the wrong conclusions whenever Apple does something like this. Like Apple switching to Intel meaning Apple “admitting” that PowerPC was inferior the whole time, when Steve Jobs clearly was talking about future road maps.
Now we have a mult-button mouse from Apple and we see the same phenomenon. Mighty Mouse is suddenly an “admission” by Apple that the wrong button approach was all wrong.
BZZZT!
If you read the press release, Apple clearly says that Mighty Mouse works because:
“In the beginning, there was one button. Then there were two. Then there were clickable scroll wheels and programmable toggles and solid-state slides. But nobody made a mouse as easy to use as your Mac. Until now.”
Apple is still clearly opposed to unncessary complexity and for many users, the single button mouse works best. That’s why Mighty Mouse looks and acts like a regular single-button mouse by default! UI studies still show that multi-button mice are more confusing to ordinary people (including my parents).
However, Apple rather cleverly designed Mighty Mouse to work like a multi-button mouse for power users. Might Mouse is not a multi-button mouse! Because it has no buttons, see? It works like a multi-button mouse.
Think about that.
Apple manages to preserve simplicty while giving advanced users additional power. It’s an ordinary mouse on one level, but in a flash, it can unleash it’s multiple, hidden talents like a superheroic mouse.
If you can understand that, then you understand Apple’s entire industrial design philosophy. Make it extremely simple, but make the power accessible when needed. The iPod works that way, as does iTunes and Mac OS X.
So please, enough with the “this is a repudiation of Apple’s one-button philosophy.” It is nothing of the sort. It’s no wonder Apple’s competitors keep underestimating the company and misreading its moves.
How can someone believe everything Apple says…really sad…
Intel: Apparently it is the future roadmap that made them switch but “magically” they are able to run the current software run with an emulator or otherwise on the current Intel processor just as fast as. This was not supposed to be possible. Does that make sense to you? Which would you prefer,them lying now or earlier ?
The greatness of the mouse: According to your thesis, it is less confusing to have a mouse that looks like a single button but works like a two-button mouse…you need to think about this before you write it. But it must be true, it is an Apple.
And if so many UI studies show that single button mice are better, one wonders why they never sell (except with Macs)…and don’t tell me that you can’t work with Windows with a single button mouse; as someone commented above there is no real difference in the OSes, one just uses two hands (control-click) instead of right click in Mac to get the context menu. It might just be (gasp) that two button mice are really more user-friendly.
And while you seem to have taken in the company blurb so well, you need to wonder about why someone will buy this mouse and then use it as a single click mouse…it does seem a little stupid. (but that can’t be true, that’s not what Apple told us). It must be in case their friend (the geek) comes along, they can offer him/her a fully-featured mouse to use. Therefore, it must be “innovative industrial design philosphy”.
Excellent. You’ve got to hand it to Apple though. I’ve got two guys in my team that use Apples at home and they’ve both ordered the new mouse.
My first question was do you need a new mouse?
My second was did you look at mice made by any other company?
You’ve got to hand it to the company when it can get its users just to buy it’s stuff just because it’s Apple.
I’m not bagging Apple. Maybe just a certain portion of it’s users.
It’s the same for the Ipod. Another mate is buying a new Ipod. I asked him what was the price compared to the Iriver or Zen. He didn’t know and he hadn’t checked. Any company would give it’s left nut for customers like that.
Any company would give it’s left nut for customers like that.
Which should tell you -something- at least about the company and its customers, yes?
Obviously there are people who are zero-friction and they buy stuff from a company because it has the logo on it. But wait… don’t women spend like thousands of dollars on attire and accessories made by a poor sod in a sweatshop?
Not everything Apple does is an instant success. Apple customers are most vocal when it comes to telling the company what they don’t like and why that is [and I have complained with them on more than one occasion]. So it’s not as if we all face Cupertino and wait for the next ‘buy now’ signal.
If they never made anything worth the bother of buying all Apple customers would be stupid idiots. The fact that Apple maintains this loyal customer base and has done so FOR YEARS has to be an indication that the company does succeed in creating great products that capture the hearts of its customers. I’d feel really sad if I had no real idea why I bought a Mac.
I was having an iChat with a buddy from the local user group and as I’m sitting there I’m thinking “man, this thing just kicks ass”. You don’t have to feel that way, but it’s just great to work in this environment. Maybe you want to give it a shot as well?
All of you wondering if the picture on their site is actual size: How the heck could it be? Are you using a 14″ monitor or a 23″ monitor? What resolution are you running? Different size monitors and different resolutions will all produce a different size image, so you should probably skip holding your current mouse up to the screen to compare
gives the meaning lickable a new meaning
As I understand you don’t click this mouse but touch. If this is correct it should be ideal for people with RSI problems.
The “click” is the same as the current Apple mouse — the entire mouse clicks.
The sensors detect what button is “pressed” and when you push the entire mouse down to “click”, the mouse sends the appropriate “click”.
Here is a first impression review:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=141492
BTW, for mouse RSI you may wish to investigate the mouse from Humanscale ( http://www.humanscale.com ). Like many other “ergo” mice, it is under-featured, but does relax the hand.
The word from early adopters is this mouse is pretty amazing. Another huge win for Apple.
Personally, I will wait for a bluetooth model. But I think this is great news for Apple and windows users and Mac people.
… But I told ya so. (Actually, quite few people here have really spit that line so far… 🙂
I´m amazed that some people here which were working perfectly happy with their previous rodents just felt that they absolutely have to acquire this one. Just because it comes from Apple?!?!?
I could see a spark of interest if I had to replace a mouse TODAY but some people here act as if they´d throw their mouses against the wall in no time just to have this reason to go out and buy this mouse.
I´ll reserve my judgement until I see the reviews. I don´t know, but I think that that “squeeze” feature is somewhat weird.
DeadFish Man
“I´m amazed that some people here which were working perfectly happy with their previous rodents just felt that they absolutely have to acquire this one. Just because it comes from Apple?!?!?
I could see a spark of interest if I had to replace a mouse TODAY but some people here act as if they´d throw their mouses against the wall in no time just to have this reason to go out and buy this mouse.”
So you would only buy a new computer when the old one broke and was inrepairable????
I’m a Machead, have been since 84…
I’m one of these sad individuals that loves most things Apple does, not sure why, probably religious more than anything else.
Here’s the thing. I have never liked Apples mice since the iMac (bondi) came out. The puck was less than inviting, and their transparent mice are not much better, I gave one away rather than use it. I love MS’s mice, have for ages.
I’m hoping the new mouse from Apple will be as good, if not better than the Intellimouse, but that will be a big ask IMHO…
By the way, the best thing about all this is that Apple has finally moved away from a one button mouse. The Mac OS has been a two button OS for a long time, since contextual menus came in around OS 8 I guess… I have never understood how pressing the Control key wasn’t considered a second button (just not on the mouse), I’ve had sales guys tell me how pressing the control key was intuitive and easy… Anyway, coding in cocoa won’t change all that much, it has support for multibuttons, always has…
Because Apple has never condoned a second button until today, the button support across the OS and apps in OS X 10.3 and 10.4 is haphazard at best.
It will take around two years before two buttons works smoothly across the Mac user experience.
Because Apple has never condoned a second button until today, the button support across the OS and apps in OS X 10.3 and 10.4 is haphazard at best.
It will take around two years before two buttons works smoothly across the Mac user experience.
That’s a misinformed statement. Most Mac users, myself included, have been using multibutton mice for years. It’s been supported from well before OS X.
My concerns about clicking has been solved! It HAS clicking sound and feel:
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/mightymouse.ars
Not perfect, but it’s very good product.
(Left and Right buttons defauls to a single-button mouse… so my hopes for OnMouseUp instead of OnMouseDown in right clicking is a no go… as right click drag’n drop… well, maybe in the future… an apple’s multi-button mouse is an advance already! =] )
don’t have an orgasm over it
PC Watch, a Japanese online tech news site is reporting about inner hardware of Mighty Mouse.
See it in the photograph. “Mighty Mouse”
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2005/0805/apple.htm
It will be 20 more years and then Apple will support double click.
That’s right, “Mighty Mouse” can’t even double click. What a sad little rodent it is.
And the “Mighty Mouse” is an ergonomic nightmare:
Scott K
My Son and I stopped in the local Apple store this afternoon and took a few minutes to try out Apple’s new mouse. I had high hopes for Apple’s first effort beyond the single button, but find their design favors form over ergonomics. I have RSI (repetition strain injury) problems in my right arm/hand from years of computer use, so mouse selection is a serious thing for me, and I am cognizant of the design errors that make constantly used devices dangerous.
Right button sensing doesn’t work reliably unless you lift your index (left button) finger completely off the mouse, which will quickly generate strain. As there is only one “clicker” in the mouse, you cannot tell if you have actuated the right button without looking to the screen for confirmation. Closing a feedback loop visually has long been known to cause more stress than tactile/audible methods right at the actuation point.
The scroll ball produces a faint cogging sensation when rolled, regardless of pressure, but scrolling does not take place until you depress the ball slightly. The result is hesitation in scrolling that is quite frustrating.
Your finger drags on the smooth surface of the mouse while rolling the ball, as the ball is very small, and mounted low in the surface of the mouse. There is no feedback through the scroll ball to indicate when it has been depressed as a “click”.
The force sensing pads on left/right have no tactile feedback (I have heard that audible feedback may be possible through an internal speaker, but this was not enabled in the store unit), and require you to reposition your hand from normal mousing position to apply enough (significant) force to actuate. The delay in activation of Expose’ when pressing the side buttons cause you to press even harder than necessary.
My Son (11) follows my lead in the analysis of things, but before revealing my opinion, I did have him try some basic operations with the mouse while I watched. He was unable to do a right click without lifting his left finger from the mouse, and was unable to actuate the left thumbswitch without moving his fingers around to the right to balance the applied force.
I realize that my particular RSI problems may be unique, but I cannot recommend this mouse to anyone with existing RSI injuries or a concern over developing them. While it may not be stylish to use little switches that click when gently pressed, or larger rolling wheels, I’ll gladly pass on the clean lines of the Mighty Mouse to protect my health.
The few awakened among the Apple sleepers will want to choose a different mouse — from a real mouse company not an art house.