Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware
Mighty Mouse: First thoughts
I haven't been this excited about a mouse since I bought one of the first optical mice that Microsoft made available (and paid much too much for it). The Mighty Mouse for Apple looks very cool, despite the silly name.C.K. pretty much covered my initial reaction, but I calmed down and took a look at the tech specs and found some interesting things:
- The buttons are only customizable in Tiger (though you can use it with other OS's) in addition to get the most customizability out of the mouse you need to be on 10.4.2 or later
- It has a built in speaker that gives you audible feedback when you click and scroll (no word on whether you can turn this off)
- The two side buttons are really only one button (you can program them, but they have to do the same thing) that you squeeze
- According to Apple the Scrollball is 'the tiniest such mechanism ever used in an input device.' I guess that's good.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
George said 11:12AM on 8-02-2005
I can't be the only one trying to find the Bluetooth version..
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David Moss said 11:16AM on 8-02-2005
Hi Scott,
Did you notice the pretty subtle reference to Windows 2000/XP compatibility on the Tech Specs page, too? I think this is definitely a wise move by Apple, to get more of their hardware, besides the iPod on to the desks of Windows folks.
I guess I'll just have to upgrade to Tiger to take advantage of it now. Or should I wait for the Bluetooth version? Hmm...
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Drew said 11:19AM on 8-02-2005
A corded mouse for $50 should definitely include customization software for OSX versions prior to Tiger. Not to mention Windows for all the PC/Mac hybrid guys like myself.
Microsoft provides nice OSX software for their input devices, so I guess I'll be sticking with my Cordless Desktop Elite set for a while.
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Kevin said 11:20AM on 8-02-2005
I'll keep using my bluetooth mouse until they release a bluetooth version of this. Hopefully that will be soon, wires are for suckers. ;)
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Scott McNulty said 11:20AM on 8-02-2005
Hey David, you don't have to have Tiger to use Mighty Mouse (though it makes it a heck of a lot better), like you said you can even use XP!
As for a bluetooth version, I honestly don't see the big deal. I have a MS bluetooth mouse and I am not that thrilled with it. It just seems sluggish as compared to my wired mouse. And, I don't know about you, but I don't tend to mouse from 20 feet away so the cord is alright with me.
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Dean Shan said 11:27AM on 8-02-2005
That's weird that they don't have a Bluetooth version yet, if they had a Bluetooth model I would buy it today. I hope that this is a sign that Apple will include a right-click button in the x86 PowerBooks. Oh please let it be.
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David Moss said 11:48AM on 8-02-2005
hanks for the advice Scott. I received a Mac mini in March with a Bluetooth module, and Apple Wireless keyboard and mouse. Plus, I'm running my USB stuff via a 4 port hub, so I think I will watch and wait a few weeks. This mouse, plus the increasingly intriguing, and in fact useful Dashboard widgets are pushing me towards the Tiger upgrade.
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Scott McNulty said 11:52AM on 8-02-2005
Drew, I have a Microsoft bluetooth mouse and I don't recall any OS X software for it. It works, but I can't program all the buttons. Since Apple is making this mouse at least all the buttons are programmable (even the buttons that aren't really buttons).
Dean, I bet the next iteration of Powerbooks (whether they be Intel or not) will have some sort of new scrollpad. They already upgraded them with the 'scroll pad,' as they call it, so right clicking seems fairly obvious. I expect a major overhaul in the Powerbook's design as well.
David, no problem, that's what Apple pundits are for! I would say upgrade to Tiger as soon as possible. I know a lot of people are having odd issues with it *cough*C.K.*cough* but my installs of Tiger have been rock solid.
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brian said 12:16PM on 8-02-2005
My first thought: can I "middle-click" on links to open them in a new tab in the background? If not, I'll never use it. I plan to hit the Apple store ASAP and check one out.
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Eric said 12:22PM on 8-02-2005
Since I went through this this weekend, there are ways to get a "non-supported" mouse to work with OS X.
USB Overdrive: http://www.usboverdrive.com/
Gamepad Companion: http://www.carvware.com/gamepadcompanion.html
ControllerMate: http://www.orderedbytes.com/controllermate/
Any of these apps should be able to program the extra buttons saauming that it is HID compliant.
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Tim O. said 12:49PM on 8-02-2005
Kevin, George, David Moss, and Dean Shan... I agree with you. I will have to wait for a bluetooth version before I buy a "MightyMouse." I have a Powerbook, and it only makes sense to have a bluetooth mouse. I have been resisting logitech's MX1000 laser mouse only because it requires a huge receiver/charging station.
On another note, does anyone else think "MightyMouse" is a terrible name? I am looking for a great and functional mouse, not one that sounds like a child's toy. If I get one, all my linux and windoze buddies will tease me forever.
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Starxxon said 12:59PM on 8-02-2005
Aside from notebook users, why do people like you use wireless mice?
Weird, my mouse cable never affects its movement, and it never gets in the way, it's a light and flexible cable (Apple Pro mouse), I wouldn't be able to tell with eyes closed if there is a cable.
I think many of you buy wireless mice because it looks cool and futuristic.
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Dean Shan said 1:08PM on 8-02-2005
Yes Tim I do think Mighty Mouse is a terrible name. The First thing I think of, as most people will, is of the old cartoon. No one is going to connect 'Mighty Mouse' with Apple, at least not with out a constant bombardment of ads. Apple could have saved money if they chose a different name(i.e. no royalty fees to Viacom)and would have gotten a little more respect when releasing it.
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David Moss said 1:12PM on 8-02-2005
Starxxon,
Yes, I like the fact that my Apple wireless mouse looks "cool and futuristic", but what's so wrong with that? :-) More practically, USB ports on my Mac mini are at a premium, so a wireless solution makes perfect sense.
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random said 1:17PM on 8-02-2005
The one design feature I don't like about this mouse is the inset Apple. Features like that on mice are nasty collectors of dirt and dead skin. That and if you tend to press your palm against the mouse, you're going to have an Apple stigmata.
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Chris K said 1:29PM on 8-02-2005
It's too bad the two side buttons must be used in concert. If they were to make them independent I would buy it in a second. I don't want to lose a button over my current MS and Logitech mice. I use them for back and forward in my web browser, which is pretty useful.
I wonder if it's truly one button electrically, or if the software treats it as one button...
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Justin said 1:34PM on 8-02-2005
[quote]That and if you tend to press your palm against the mouse, you're going to have an Apple stigmata.[/quote]
if you're reading TUAW, you probably already do.
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Shlomo said 1:34PM on 8-02-2005
Since when does apple consider looks before common sense, functionality, and ergonomics? The ipod started the trend of minimalism and touch sensitive interfaces, 2 'features' I think are counterintuitive.
Let me explain:
1. The mac is known for ease of use, but a person who does not know about the mighty mouse will not know by seeing it, that it has 2 top buttons.
2. When using a traditional mouse, ones fingers rest on the buttons. With regular mice, this is fine, since there are actual buttons to be pressed. With touch sensitive buttons, they will be likely to be accidentally pressed.
3. clicking and dragging is difficult on current apple mice due to the button being the top of the whole mouse. this trend seems likely to continue.
4. the trend of apple creating its own design methodology based on aesthetics and tradition (both mac based and NeXt based) is not good for the user. All because the mac always used 1 button before does not mean it needs to hold on to that tradition via 'single button charm'. Apple is trying to hide the fact that it is becoming more like a pc. First there was no context menus, then ctrl click appeared in os 9 and os x, then apple tab task switching like on windows that allowed mouse input, then multi button compatibility in os x out of the box, now a pseudo 2 button mouse that looks like a 1 button mouse. Just admit it apple! Give users 2 buttons that are unambiguous.
5. This may very well be a great peripheral. I will try it out and if I like it, will by it. I'm just sick of the reasoning behind the design, and see apple's ergonomic choices putting users 2nd, which should never be the case.
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John B. said 1:55PM on 8-02-2005
In regards to *Books and right-clicking, iScroll2 (http://www-users.kawo2.rwth-aachen.de/~razzfazz/iscroll2/) adds that sort of functionality. You just rest two fingers on the trackpad then click the button to access contextual menus. Having used it for several months now, it's difficult to remember that there are actually two buttons when using a non-Apple computer.
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Daniel David said 2:11PM on 8-02-2005
I imagine that the Mighty Mouse uses the same touch sensitive technology that we've seen in the iPod, which opens the question: what else can we do with the Mighty Mouse? Will you be able to have touch-sensitive mouse gestures, can you draw both your fingers across the buttons to create some new form of input? Apple never releases something that is short-sighted, at least in my opinion, so I would imagine there is something more to this mouse than meets the eye.
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