Worth the Wait
Comments
As Derek said, it’ll work with a PC already.
The one thing I don’t like about it is that it’s only 4 buttons (left, right, scroll squeeze). The Logitech MX510 I use has 8 buttons and I use them all. In fact, whenever I finally switch to Tiger I’m sure I’ll want another button so that I can activate Dashboard. So, yeah, I complained when they only had one button and now I guess I’m complaining when they “only” have four. [grin]
Yes, that’s a notable shortfall, Chris. At the very least I hope that a software update will add the ability to add keystroke modifiers to the buttons, essentially allowing for an infinite amount of programmability, which would do a lot for those who are used to 8 buttons.
Speaking of 8 buttons, I’ve got the same mouse as you, basically, and I only use 6 buttons. The ones on the center strip at both extremes are just too far away from my rest position for me to use; I programmed them anyway, and have tried, but it just never became habitual.
Is it so bad that i want of these right now just because it is Apple?
The thing i don’t get is why wireless mice and keyboard unless you have a media center? You are sitting RIGHT in front of your computer. Not once have i ever needed my mouse “free” from the constraint of it’s tiny 6 foot cord.
I’ve got friends with wireless setups, and the most they do with it is set the keyboard in their laps, which i can do wired.
So what’s the deal?
Oh yeah, i want this friggen mouse.
It’s not the constraint, it’s the clutter.
Exactly.
The less wires I have to attach to abox, the merrier I am.
brem
With my current desk, using a wired mouse isn’t that big of a deal. However, with my previous desk, the keyboard tray (which also held the area for the mouse) was on a tray under the desk. The computer box sat off to the side of the desk. There weren’t holes in the back of the desk to pass the keyboard/mouse wires through, though, so they had to thread over the back of the shelf, under the back of the desk, and out around to the computer box. With the constant moving of the mouse and thus the constant moving of its cord, it was basically a “sawing” motion against one of the wooden corners on the desk and thus it started to wear away the cord itself. Thus, I switched to a wireless setup for both the mouse and keyboard for my PC so that I didn’t have to worry about routing any wires to that hanging shelf.
So, yes, there are certainly legitimate reasons to actually need them as opposed to simply wanting them. The reduction in “clutter-factor” is certainly very nice, too.
My only concern with it is the “touch sensitivity”. On cold winter days, I have tons of problems getting my iPod (3G) to “sense” my touches. I can see that happening to the mouse as well. That would really be a problem with gaming, but would also suck for launching apps or selecting text.
It’s interesting to see that they have finally given in to the pressure (people going out and buying MS mice to get more than one button) and given it the ability to have multiple buttons. It’s also interesting to see that, through configuration, the user can choose to have a one button mouse, or a two button mouse. I wonder if it can be configured for 3 buttons… After all, OS X does run over a Linux clone.
I’m not sure what the cold would possibly do to it, unless *other* parts of the iPod are losing function in extreme cold. Or maybe it uses something different. The mouse measures electrical resistance just like the power and brightness buttons on Apple displays. An electrical engineer with some knowledge of biochemistry would have to remind me, but I’m fairly certain that resistance of the human body doesn’t change with temperature.
At any rate, your iPod may go outside into the winter cold, but if you don’t have heat in your house, you have other purchases you need to make before thinking about a new mouse anyway…
I equate the problems I have with the iPod with the moisture in the air.
So are you saying that you have never had problems getting your iPod to “sense” your touches on the center button or the 4 upper buttons (assuming a 3G here)? No one else either?
I can sometimes get around this by holding the back of the iPod when using it. However, I usually set it in it’s docking cradle so there isn’t really a need to hold it while using it.
Don’t get me wrong… The new mouse is a huge improvement over the one they came out with before it where you click the mouse by pressing down on the mouse. I just wonder how well it will sense button presses, that’s all.
Also, I’m surprised that they used a small ball for the “wheel” instead of using touch gestures. Using the top of the mouse like a touch pad as it were so that a user could have all kinds of control.
I thought I’d point out that AnandTech has a hands-on review of the Mighty Mouse. From Anand’s descriptions, I can tell you right now that I would not want this mouse.
You have to lift your left finger before you can right-click? What kind of crap is that? And the default behavior for the new “right” button is—get this—to left-click. Clearly, Apple didn’t really make a multi-button mouse here. Instead, they made a single-button mouse that can do a little more.
The PR and such for the Mighty Mouse sound good, but it looks like fact isn’t nearly as rosey as the fiction they’d like to paint for you. Anyway, read over the review and see what you think for yourself.
Whelp, that pretty much convinces me that the people at Apple have issues. I totally forgot about the fact that people rest their fingers on the mouse. I do myself, and I am sure that Mac people do too. After all, what problem would there be with the old mouse resting your index and middle fingers on the mouse.
Now, you have to left your middle finger in order for the mouse to realize that the left side of the mouse is being clicked and lift your index finger to show that the right button is being pressed.
The question I have now is if you leave both fingers resting on the mouse when you “press” the mouse for a button press, does that act like the old Mac mouse and assume the right button or does it do both buttons like most Linux people would want.
I really had the impression that Apple designed the mouse like a “mouse pad” where if you “tap” the mouse on the right side, it would be a right click and if you “tap” the left side of the mouse it would be a left click.
I don’t think I’ll be running out to the store anytime soon to by one of these “mighty mice” to replace my MS Mouse.
Purrrrty neat!
Now. That would revolutionize the industry.
Thing is.
Will other companies be able to “copy” it so that it works for PCs?
Will it actually be ergonomical, and usable.
I’d really like to try one and see if it’s just hype or if it’s actually working nice.
brem
By brem on August 2, 2005 at 09:23am link