Filed under: Hardware, Cult of Mac, Reviews
Mighty Mouse, first look
I didn't get a chance to run out to the Apple Store this morning; I've just been sitting at my desk drooling all day. c0nsumer was luckier; he ran right out first thing and picked one up. He says the layout is pretty intuitive, although there's a little learning curve for people used to traditional 5-button mice, and overall he likes it, even the scroll ball. And of course, you can't beat it for looks. Why it's taken Apple this long to get a 5-button mouse out, we still don't know. But it sounds like they've taken the time to get it right. Drivers weren't part of the 10.4.2 update, though (more of the surprise Laurie's enjoying), so you'll need to install the included drivers, which include a new pref pane for the programmable features, to get started.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joseph T. said 4:44PM on 8-02-2005
I guess it's only a matter of time until these drivers are in some type of "Software Update" update. Can't wait to get my hand(s) on one of these...Literally!
http://www.reviewsaplenty.com
Reply
Rock Campbell said 5:18PM on 8-02-2005
I've been waiting for a multi button mouse made by Apple for so long, I can't wait to get one.
Reply
schwa said 5:25PM on 8-02-2005
One of the commenters over there seems to be saying that because of the design you have to lift your finger *off* the "left" button to click the "right" button and vice versa. I *really* hope that isn't true, because that would be about the worst design gaffe I've ever seen.
I'm afraid to get one of these; the danger of life as a PowerBook user is that if you get too used to having two buttons, the single button on the chassis itself becomes maddening.
Of course, this *might* mean that the intelBooks will have two buttons at long last...
Reply
superman said 1:16PM on 8-03-2005
Has anyone tried this new mouse with USB Overdrive? Perhaps it will enable more options!
Reply
superman said 1:16PM on 8-03-2005
I just checked http://www.usboverdrive.com and it looks like the program is being updated as we speak for Mighty Mouse!
Reply
Andrew Burke said 5:34PM on 8-02-2005
It appears to have a trackpad/schrollwheel type array under the surface for left and right clicking.
Why not detect two fingers wiping the surface to do the schroll thing, and do away with the ball?
Reply
AHM said 5:39PM on 8-02-2005
Five buttons, but only four actions, at least as far as I can tell from the control panel. Too bad - it would have been useful to click the side buttons separately or together, which would give a total of six actions. I suppose someone will hack together a pref panel to do that eventually, though.
#3 - check out SideTrack. It enables you to specify zones on your touchpad to have right-clicks, left-click-and-drag, etc.
Reply
superman said 1:15PM on 8-03-2005
Has anyone tried this new mouse with USB Overdrive? Perhaps it will enable more options!
Reply
Andrew Kaufmann said 5:37PM on 8-02-2005
I was going to get one, but it's already sold out at the Dallas Apple Store...
Reply
Splashman said 5:48PM on 8-02-2005
I'll definitely want to test drive the Mighty Mouse before I plunk down my $50. It's possible that Apple made a functional compromise in order to preserve their precious form. And as some others, I'm leery of the ball controller -- I thought we were done with dust & grime collectors. But if they did it right, I'll be happy to give it a go.
A couple of notes on the blog entry:
1) Is the MM really a 5-button mouse? Based on the screenshot, I'd say it's 4, since the two side buttons appear to be functionally linked.
2) Last line of 1st paragraph: "can" or "can't"? Whatever you meant, I'd argue for "can" -- Apple's mice are too minimalist for me. And more importantly (given that I'm using the durn thing 8-12 hours a day), my Logitech fits my hand much better than the fashion-constrained Apple rodent.
Reply
UncleJerry said 6:05PM on 8-02-2005
Why couldn't they have made it wireless. Isn't Apple supposed to be an evangelist for Bluetooth products?
Reply
schwa said 7:38PM on 8-02-2005
#6 - Hot damn! I didn't realise it had been updated for the new trackpads in the 2005 PowerBook line; last time I looked it hadn't. That's something to do tonight, then...
Reply
mjalex said 8:50PM on 8-02-2005
You won't have to lift your fingers to click it. It's like the regular mouse, the clear one, but there are sensors underneath the shell that detect which side was pressed harder.
You're right, it would totall suck if the mouse was like a giant 3rd Generation iPod. I hope they have these at the Apple Store so I can check it out. Seriously, though, why no wireless?
Reply
mjalex said 8:54PM on 8-02-2005
actually though, I might be wrong.
Reply
Steve M said 12:21AM on 8-03-2005
Can't see the reason to switch to a $50 Wired mouse with and Apple Lable on it. I have a Logitech Wireless Optical Trackball with multiple buttons, cost me $40 retail. I guess some people can't resist paying Apple surcharges to get the logo.
Reply
Cyberwhore said 2:18AM on 8-03-2005
The name "Mighty Mouse" seems to have been around for a while at Apple.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/mightymouse.html
Reply
Steve said 7:28AM on 8-03-2005
I love the Apple logo as much as the next zealot, but I have to agree with Steve M (not the same guy despite our suprerior moniker and logic) $50 is a lot to plunk down for a mouse that does just a wee bit more than one I can get for under $20. I love the white Mac look, but doubt if I ever will buy one unless it comes with my next Mac.
Reply
Alexis said 2:01AM on 8-04-2005
A few things:
1. If you already have a mouse you love and you think $49 ($44 with an educational discount) is too much, don't get the mouse. Just because Apple makes it, doesn't mean you have to buy it.
2. from what i can tell, you do have to lift your index finger (if you're right handed) to right click. honestly, it's the nature of the beast. when I click, I automatically lift my index finger *slighty* and it seems to be enough. If it makes you feel any better, to activate the scroll button, all you have to do is have your finger on the scroll ball. your other fingers can be anywhere you please (on the mouse, that is).
3. my biggest problem with the mighty mouse so far is that USB Overdrive does not support it (yet?), and with Apple's drivers, you cannot bind the buttons to anything else besides the preset Expos?ashboard/Spotlight settings or Applications. If one, for example, wanted to bind the scroll button to command-[ for Safari or the Finder (the key command for Back), you can't do that. You also have no choice in Global or specific Application settings
Other than that, the Mighty Mouse is your pretty average mouse, but with Apple style. For me, it's the perfect size, the buttons are great, and it completes the picture for my iMac G5 (even though with the computer, Bluetooth Keyboard, and Mighty Mouse, there's too much white on my desk). You can control almost every aspect of the mouse easily, except, of course, for what's stated above.
By the way, the original Apple Wireless Mouse is $30 more than the Apple Pro Mouse, so don't start crying when/if the price of the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse is higher than $49.
..and you do have to squeeze kind of hard on the middle buttons.
Reply
Nick said 12:39PM on 8-12-2005
I've bought i mighty mouse and I'm having real problems. The cursor is very erratic - and I cant figure out what is causing it.
When I need to point near the edge of the screen half the time the cursor simply snaps to the edge of the screen and then scuttles down the side or across the top.
It might have somehting to do with expose.
Anyone else struggling wiht this?
Its getting on my nerves and is very disappointing.
Reply