Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Peripherals, Bluetooth
Magic Mouse lands at many local Apple stores
I stopped by my local Apple Store (Tucson) today for a quick look around and saw many people playing with the new Magic Mouse. I tried a few 'moves' with in and it seemed a bit nicer and more responsive than I expected. My old Apple wired mouse was starting to wear out so I asked one of the Apple guys when they were coming in. He said "20 minutes ago," so I was snared.My first 'thrill' was opening the damned box. Like most Apple designed products, the plastic container is very pretty, but was a bit of a struggle to open. I needed a sharp knife, and then had to find the hidden tape that keeps the Magic Mouse attached to a little plastic base.
Since this is a Bluetooth mouse, I paired it to my Mac. It worked out of the box, but I knew there was a software update with new drivers, so I checked and downloaded the new software.
After a reboot, all was well. I have to say that the Magic Mouse has the fanciest control panel in system preferences I've ever seen. There is a little video illustrating how it works. I left the settings to the default, and started mousing away.
There were really no surprises. I have a 30 inch monitor, and can't get all the way across it with a single swipe because I have limited desk real estate. None of the settings would make it better.
The top surface is smooth and comfortable. The mouse does sit lower than a standard rodent, but I wasn't bothered by it. Clicking on the right side of the surface gives you the second mouse button with no pain or problem. You can switch the left and right 'buttons' if you are so inclined.
Scrolling was smooth, and you can adjust the momentum of the scroll. I especially like the 2 finger swipe for going backward and forward in web pages and iPhoto.
The only thing I think was missing is that I'd like the surface of the mouse to mimic the iPhone gesture of pinching and spreading for zoom in / zoom out. You have to use the control key to enable zooming, and I'd rather not have to go to the keyboard for that.
Otherwise, everything was good. I'll get used to the different feel. The mouse comes with batteries already installed so you're ready to go -- once you get the damned package open...
Some of my colleagues here at TUAW will be sharing their thoughts shortly. So far, even though this was a bit of an impulse purchase, the Magic Mouse seems fine.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
wase4711 said 5:41PM on 10-29-2009
So, they finally shipped the damn thing..Can the I7 Imac be far behind?
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Sam said 5:45PM on 10-29-2009
Individually packaged Magic Mice showed up at the Apple Store in Sydney yesterday morning -
I posted some pics of the display case as well as a 1 minute unboxing video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjEd3svM7dY
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Tom Wynne said 5:58PM on 10-29-2009
Not sure if it's specific to mine, but do you find the on/off switch too recessed to be accessed easily? On mine I really have to push in on the aluminum battery cover to access the switch at all.
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DistortedLoop said 6:21PM on 10-29-2009
Appears to be specific flaw in yours. Mine (and the ones I played with at the store) stick out just enough to flick on and off with your fingernail with no extra pressure on the base.
Chris said 6:10PM on 10-29-2009
Try MouseZoomX to speed up your cursor.
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Chase Rief said 6:15PM on 10-29-2009
I just got mine today via FedEx since I ordered it through the online store last week.
I really like the one thing I am missing and didn't know I used it so much until it was gone was the ability to sqeeze the mighty mouse and see the desktop. Am I missing something or is that gone? Is there are good keystroke to make that happen?
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DistortedLoop said 6:17PM on 10-29-2009
Picked one up myself this morning. It's a sleek nice little device, but in looking at it sitting next to my aluminum MacBook Pro, and imagining how it's going to look sitting next to my aluminum Apple Cinema Displays and aluminum Apple keyboard on my Mac Pro desktop machine, I'm thinking it looks a bit out of place with its shiny white plastic next to all that black and aluminum.
What I'd really like to see in either a third party app or an official apple update would be the ability to basically turn the top of the mouse into the same functional equipment as my MacBook Pro's trackpad...everything, including scrolling and all the 1, 2, 3, and 4 finger gestures. I love all I can do with the trackpad, and this mouse is far from being as functional.
No regrets acquiring one, though.
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theEsco said 6:31PM on 10-29-2009
I am really disappointed they got rid of middle click. It doesn't make sense to go from a four button mouse back to a two button mouse. Sure multitpuch scrolling would be nice but with a way to access expose, that thing is useless to me.
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snapper said 6:37PM on 10-29-2009
Yeah I kinda missed that too, but when I tossed my Mighty Mouse for the Logitech mouse that I used I trained myself to use the Function Keys. The newer keyboards have the labels on the keys for Expose and Spaces.
jennyp said 6:32PM on 10-29-2009
" 2 finger swipe for going backward and forward in web pages" ??
Odd: on my new MacBook Pro 13-inch the default is a three finger swipe for this.
Strange that it should differ.
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snapper said 6:40PM on 10-29-2009
Giving up a 3rd finger would give you less control on a mouse. Your pad is doesn't need support.
kevin said 6:47PM on 10-29-2009
can you access dashboard or expose like with the old mouse? or open link in new tabs on firefox with the mouse?
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Sunny said 6:48PM on 10-29-2009
My question is will it work with a PC?
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Joid said 7:49PM on 10-29-2009
There is a website by Apple where you can find the specs of their products. You chould check it out!
Answer to your question: no
http://www.apple.com/magicmouse/
Joanna D said 6:58PM on 10-29-2009
You still have to lift ALL of your fingers off the mouse apart from the one you are trying to click with in order to get it to recognise what you're trying to do.
Not so "Magic" at all if you have to retrain you hand just to use the thing. And they charge £55 for it!
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LookOutItsLeppy said 1:00PM on 10-30-2009
Well, that's a part of the touch sensitivity. I think it makes perfect sense in order to pick a finger up. If that's too much work for you...then continue to use your mighty mouse.
Joanna D said 1:11PM on 10-30-2009
Mighty Mouse is the same - you have to remove your fingers which are resting on other parts of the mouse or it won't know which finger is clicking because it doesn't have physical buttons.
This stuff all sounds great in the PR, but really it's a nightmare when you try to use the hardware for serious work. I'm very happy with my MX Revolution and will not be getting rid of it for any of Apple's mice.
talon46 said 2:55PM on 11-02-2009
Actually, you only have to lift your index finger if you want to engage the secondary click. Otherwise, it defaults to primary clicking, whether you've got one or two fingers on the mouse ( This applies to both the Mighty and Magic Mice).
Greg said 7:20PM on 10-29-2009
I picked one up today too.
First of all, I don't know why you struggled to open the box. It has the same elegant solution like with all Apple products. There is a convenient lift tab on the tape, you just peel it and it come off in one piece.
Secondly, I'm sure many of you will ask: will it work with Windows?
Yes and No.
I briefly tested it with an Acer laptop running Windows 7. It connected easily and worked right away. EXCEPT no scrolling. And the default pointer speed was so crazy fast (slider set in the center) that a slight nudge would move it all the way to the opposite corner.
So yeah, it will work on Windows but I would not recommend it. Yet. Eventually Apple will come out with drivers for Windows too.
Now it's back with my 20" iMac, where it belongs and I spent the last couple of hours just scrolling. It's so nice :)
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Mike said 7:42PM on 10-29-2009
Mine is due to arrive tomorrow sometime. I was rather impressed, it wasn't supposed to ship until late next week and coming to Canada usually takes longer than 2 days.
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