Mighty Mouse: First thoughts

There seem to be some confusion about the pressure sensitive buttons on the Mighty Mouse. The whole top of the mouse still physically click like the current no-button mouse, but depending on which side has more pressure it will send a left or right mouse click. You cannot activate clicks just by brushing your fingers on the top of the mouse, you have to make a physical click. The side buttons though don't really click physically, but have the little simulated click sound. So from the tactile point of view, it's exactly like a pro-mouse, with a scroll ball, but that can differentiate left and right clicks and detect pressure on the side buttons. If you have a no button Apple pro mouse now try this: alternate using the index and middle finger for clicking, you'll feel that without even lifting fingers, there is a good enough difference in pressure to be detected by modern sensors without any ambiguity. David Moss, about wireless mice there is nothing wrong with wanting something that looks cool and futuristic because it has no wires, but its not worth the annoyance of recharging or changing batteries IMHO, it's a waste of energy.

does anyone know the length of the usb cord ? because as anyone remembers/knows, the length of the first optical Apple mouse was WAY TOO SHORT (I never could use it on my ibook/powerbook without a usb cord add-on)

"Aside from notebook users, why do people like you use wireless mice?" I hate having wires all over the place. In my current workspace I don't have a desktop at all. I have a small table with my Flatpanel display on it. I sit back in a chair with wireless keyboard and trackball (one on my lap, the other on the arm of the chair. With a wired set of devices, I'd have to untangle myself every time I get up from my chair.

Has anybody that's been lucky enough to get their hands on one taken theirs apart yet? I'd be interested to know if there's even room in there for wireless transmitter/batteries... if there is, and a wireless version is a possibility, then i'll wait... if there's little to no space for it, i'd imagine it probably won't happen soon, and just go pick up the wired version.

I will wait for a black, clear or silver version, hate white, reminds me of the first pcs.

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.

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.

[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.

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...

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.