Mighty Mouse or Mactel: Which is the bigger change?

I think the Intel switch and the Mighty Mouse are equal in weight, given how long their "newness" cycle will be. The news of the Intel switch started a buzz, but that has calmed down a bit, simply because no consumer Intel machines have shipped. Once they start shipping, there will be tons of hype, comparisons between Wintel and Mactel computers, and headlines that say "Yes, You Can Have a Secure, Reliable Intel Machine." (Just as an aside, I think the Intel switch will have a big affect Apple's bottom line. Intel is the only major processor company that has broad brand recognition; every Dell, Gateway, and HP ad ends with, "our computers are made with the Intel ... processor." That's a huge thing that Apple can take advantage of. Since Intel is so embedded in consumers minds with Windows and all its "schlockie badness," once it gets out that Apple can run a secure, reliable operating system on the same, basic, Intel processor, people are going to be calling Dell, Gateway, and HP, asking them for computers with "the apple OS." When they learn that only Apple made Intel machines run Mac OSX, a lot of them will switch. But there will be such a backlash from other consumers that the PC companies will be clamoring to make OSX machines. As a result not only will Apple license OSX, but will license and approve basic Apple hardware. This way, not only will Apple remain in the hardware business, but they can keep their prestige - boutique - status by offering their unique, one of a kind, designs and user experiences. Remember Dell, Gateway, and HP sell boxes, Apple sells well designed, and engineered, computers and equipment. Hell, it took more forethought to design the box that the iPod mini comes in than it took to make all the wintel computers from the above three companies.) - Boy, that was along aside! The Mighty Mouse, however, it a great little quick excitement generator, and Apple worked its introduction with masterful marketing skill. I mean the development of this mouse was under everybody's radar and then, BOOM, surprise! It's quick little stunts like this that Apple needs to keep pulling off to keep them in the buzz loop. Every time they do this, it pushes Microsoft a little more out of the limelight. M$ announces Vista, and all I hear are the crickets outside. Apple announces a mouse - albeit very cool - and it's mass hysteria! Don't be surprised if Apple has more things like this up their sleeve. And don't be surprised at the death of Windows in five to seven years! Amen.

I am waiting for the Bluetooth version of the Mighty Mouse. Regarding what is next from Apple as a further PC attacking move? How about Apple doing a version of a Keyboard with LCD key tops (as has been raved about on the Internet recently). Then it could (when connected to a Mac) have the Apple key showing and when connected to a PC the Windows key.

I think the multibutton mouse is a bigger deal. Yes, I know, it's just a peripheral device. But, the existence of the single-button mouse forced developers to simplify the interface of their apps so that everything could be done without other buttons. That set the standard for the Mac OS's much-vaunted ease of use, which did so much to "ignite the personal computer revolution" (in Apple's words). CPUs are CPUs to me. Input devices are where the rubber meets the road, so to speak -- they define how we interact with our machines. I'm actually a little concerned that Mac developers will become lazy in the future and just toss various necessary functions into contextual menus without duplicating them elsewhere. That's just not how things are done on Macs.

I can't imagine this is a change for *anyone*. Why anyone would have been using a single-button scrolless apple mouse is beyond me. Non-Apple mice do and have worked with Macs you know.

#6: Yea I know they wouldn't, unless Steve Jobbs goes crazy or something, I was pretending to be a conspiracy theorist in a joking manner. and thank you number 3

I think that Apple is trying to go more mainstream by intro-ing a mouse, and while the consumer may never notice either difference, we the power-users will notice.

The more I think about this mouse, the more it makes sense in the Mactel scheme of things. I figure, when the first mactel machines roll out, they'll be able to run XP, just like the dev boxes do. So you'll have a good number of people either dual booting, or running windows as an application through OSX, and they'll need a 2 button mouse. So how big of a step is it for Apple to work out a way to port applications from Windows to the new Mactel architecture? I'm guessing the change to 2-button mice is the first in a long line of actions to move more applications to Macs. After all, one of the biggest reasons people don't switch is because they can't take all their applications with them.

definitely the Intel switch. This mouse by default is handled like a single button mouse. Only if you configure it does it behave like a multi-button mouse. There have been multi-button mice on the mac for years. This is the idea of "progressive disclosure" where you keep it simple at first and as the users skill level grows you show them more capabilities and short cuts to get the job done efficiently. I only wish they had made it so you could control the actual positions of the buttons. The way I hold the mouse, is such that my left finger is pushing the right side of the mouse. This is far more comfortable an keeps the finger in line with your arm...better ergonomics, but maybe using the right button as the primary button will resolve this issue. The left button would act as the contextual menu and would not strain the finger as much.

re: Comment #8 Dude, a working HAND?!?!?! The Star Wars Fan Community would flip! A working HEART?!?!?! The Tin Man would flip! To me, the one-button mouse was the only thing Apple that really annoyed me. All that functionality lost because nobody wanted to look like a Wintel machine. It was the one aspect of Mac-Elitism I just didn't understand. This is good news. Bigger than the switch to Intel? I don't know, I'm still pondering that working fake hand.

As long as Apple keeps cranking out intuitive designs with clean lines and keeps it all running happily on an OS that actually delivers what it promises...that's enough product differentiaton to keep me satisfied. Frankly, I don't think most of Apple's market will give a toss about which processor is inside or whether the mouse has one or four buttons, provided that they deliver a better experience than using that *other* platform. As for your question...which is the bigger change? Heck this company has been in high gear on a one-way highway to Changeville for the last half decade. These are just the latest stops on that road.