Filed under: Peripherals, Features, Bluetooth, Reviews
Hands-on with the Magic Mouse
Well, I got my Magic Mouse a few days ago, and I've been using it for my everyday tasks for a few days (and I'm still using it), and here are my impressions.
Packaging:
This packaging is clear, showing the actual Magic Mouse, just like the packaging that Apple has been using recently for the iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch and accessories.
Downloading the update:
As we posted earlier, you'll want to to download the Wireless Mouse Update to enable the new features of the Magic Mouse, which is available for Snow Leopard and Leopard.
Set Up:
Once you've installed the Wireless Mouse Update, you'll want to go to the Mouse Preference Pane in System Preferences and click the new "Set Up Bluetooth Mouse..." button. You no longer have to use the Bluetooth Setup Assistant to pair, which makes it a little simpler. It will then search for your Magic Mouse, and make sure it's turned on, which is done by a switch on the bottom of the Magic Mouse. Once it's paired, you'll be all ready to use your Magic Mouse.
Read on below to see the how it was using the Magic Mouse....
Packaging:
This packaging is clear, showing the actual Magic Mouse, just like the packaging that Apple has been using recently for the iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch and accessories.
Downloading the update:
As we posted earlier, you'll want to to download the Wireless Mouse Update to enable the new features of the Magic Mouse, which is available for Snow Leopard and Leopard.
Set Up:
Once you've installed the Wireless Mouse Update, you'll want to go to the Mouse Preference Pane in System Preferences and click the new "Set Up Bluetooth Mouse..." button. You no longer have to use the Bluetooth Setup Assistant to pair, which makes it a little simpler. It will then search for your Magic Mouse, and make sure it's turned on, which is done by a switch on the bottom of the Magic Mouse. Once it's paired, you'll be all ready to use your Magic Mouse.
Read on below to see the how it was using the Magic Mouse....
Functions:
Clicking still feels mostly the same as it did on a Mighty Mouse. If you've used a Mighty Mouse before, you'll already be familiar in how clicking works. However, there's no side button or scroll ball that can be clicked. You can configure different actions for the two "buttons" in System Preferences, just like a trackpad found on a unibody MacBook or MacBook Pro. Scrolling works well, and again, if you've been using a Mighty Mouse or a mouse with a scroll wheel, there's little to get used to. Also, swiping works just like it does on a Multi-Touch trackpad, which can be used for many different things in your favorite applications. You can see a video of the gestures in the Mouse Preference Pane, just like it's shown above.
Overall, if you've used a Mighty Mouse, you'll need little time to adjust. It feels mostly the same, and I was surprised in how easy it was to get used to. To get a feel of what's it's like for yourself, you might want to find somewhere where you can use one.
Have you tried out the Magic Mouse? What do you think of it? Let us know and leave a comment!
Clicking still feels mostly the same as it did on a Mighty Mouse. If you've used a Mighty Mouse before, you'll already be familiar in how clicking works. However, there's no side button or scroll ball that can be clicked. You can configure different actions for the two "buttons" in System Preferences, just like a trackpad found on a unibody MacBook or MacBook Pro. Scrolling works well, and again, if you've been using a Mighty Mouse or a mouse with a scroll wheel, there's little to get used to. Also, swiping works just like it does on a Multi-Touch trackpad, which can be used for many different things in your favorite applications. You can see a video of the gestures in the Mouse Preference Pane, just like it's shown above.
Overall, if you've used a Mighty Mouse, you'll need little time to adjust. It feels mostly the same, and I was surprised in how easy it was to get used to. To get a feel of what's it's like for yourself, you might want to find somewhere where you can use one.
Have you tried out the Magic Mouse? What do you think of it? Let us know and leave a comment!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
KomputarGuy said 10:07AM on 11-03-2009
Still waiting for mine to ship from my reseller!
Reply
gittenlucky said 10:11AM on 11-03-2009
Mine shipped from Amazon last Friday, even though Amazon still claims it is on pre-order.
Brian Allen said 10:52AM on 11-03-2009
My dad just got his and he loves it. He says that is not the best for playing games.
I may get one, but $69 is a little high for replacing something that works.
But, Amazon does have free shipping and no taxes in most locations.
Tough call.
Agent_B9 said 10:09AM on 11-03-2009
I like my Magic Mouse, but I really miss a center click option. I like opening web links in a new tab using center click. It would be nice if Apple would let us configure how the right click was used.
Reply
Jason Martin said 10:59AM on 11-03-2009
Yeah. My biggest problem with it is that Apple has significantly limited the gestures you can use. Why can't we have a range of gestures similar to the MBP trackpad? Playing with the Magic Mouse in the Apple store showed me that I wouldn't have a problem executing those gestures. The software just doesn't support it yet. I hope they add more gestures soon. That would make this mouse a no-brainer for me.
Ryan Trevisol said 12:47PM on 11-03-2009
Yeah, I'm holding off until you can use two-finger horizontal swipes to trigger expose/show desktop, which is what I use most on the MBP trackpad.
Dorian said 4:44PM on 11-03-2009
agreed, that's the main reason i'm going with another bluetooth mouse or the magical logitech mouse that works on glass.
vandil said 10:09AM on 11-03-2009
I thought it kind of sucked for what they're charging for it. As a free mouse, it's okay. But the lack of a "button 3" (pressing in the ball/wheel) is a huge loss.
http://stabbedwithapen.com/?p=358
Should have been true multi-touch touchpad instead.
Reply
gittenlucky said 10:09AM on 11-03-2009
Mine is coming today. :) I probably should have tried it out before buying it, but I will need a mouse for when I set up a macmini media center anyway.
My TomTom car kit should arrive tomorrow too. I am excited about the fact that it functions 100% with other navigation apps, not just the TomTom one. I don't intend to use it for turn by turn, but handsfree, charging, audio out, and a holder all in one docking solution is worth the $120 for me. I hope I can find a nice place for it in my Smart. The dash/windshield are a little funky.
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AleksB said 10:17AM on 11-03-2009
omg
i just vomited a little into my mouth
DoTheEmptyHouse said 11:03AM on 11-03-2009
I like my Magic Mouse. I hated the Mighty Mouse, it was always registering clicks in the wrong places, even after months of using it. The Magic Mouse does not have this same problem. I don't really feel the need for a 3rd click option, I just appreciate that this mouse works elegantly and does everything I need and a couple things that hadn't occcurred to me.
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Kelmon said 11:09AM on 11-03-2009
Sold! The only thing that I didn't like about the Mighty Mouse was its mis-reading of right-clicks. If the Magical Whooshy Mouse doesn't do this then I'm all in because I loved the click action of the Mighty Mouse.
ChillyWilly said 6:19PM on 11-03-2009
Thanks for the feedback, EmptyHouse.
I currently use a Mighty Mouse and there are several things that I've never had work right like the right click and having to clean the little ball several times a week.
I'm anxious to try one out at our Apple Store before I plunk down almost $74 (incl tax).
julian said 10:17AM on 11-03-2009
i liked your review a lot more than the unboxing.
i guess ill wait to get the mouse when i get my imac. not really buying one for the laptop and will stick to the mighty mouse
Reply
walkerjs said 10:25AM on 11-03-2009
I've been using one for a few days now, and like others lamented the loss of the middle click and 'squeeze' button for Exposé is a disadvantage, and I sort of miss. However the lack of the mouse 'nipple' in the form of the little ball kind of makes up for it. No longer do I have to make sure my nipple fondling finger is immaculate before using the mouse.
I've set up the secondary click as my Exposé invoker, and have trained myself to use Command-click to work as my middle-click-to-open a tab. This means I need to use two hands to get a middle click, but if I only have one hand available (like, when eating a sandwich; my post is innuendo filled enough as it is) I can always just use the trackpad command-click with one hand anyway.
Ergonomically I have no problems since I don't use any mouse as a hand-rest like some complainers seem to do. Light gripping and movement with delicate finger moves works well with little strain and the touch to scroll is brilliant.
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Buckingham said 1:30PM on 11-03-2009
What about the weight distribution? In my case the wireless mighty mouse feels uneven because of the batteries weighing down the posterior end, and I do quite a bit of mouse lifting most of the time.
brombl said 2:24PM on 11-03-2009
Buckingham - Ugh! Set your tracking speed up so you don't have to lift the mouse… Really a much better solution… Magic Mouse fortunately tracks a bit faster than Mighty Mouse as well, Mighty Mouse was never fast enough…
If you really don't think you can adjust to it… Overall Magic Mouse is quite a bit lighter feeling. Unlike Mighty Mouse, you must use two batteries, so you can't lighten it up further. Batteries & therefore weight are still toward the back of Magic Mouse, but are definitely closer to center.
Shunnabunich said 10:23AM on 11-03-2009
Not having been a Mighty Mouse owner, does this mean that you can't right-click a Magic Mouse without lifting your other finger(s) first? (If so, I've got one finger I'll be lifting to it.) I think we could've done with a bit more in-depth explanation for people who aren't already accustomed to Apple mice — I haven't really seen it so far in any one place.
Reply
vandil said 10:27AM on 11-03-2009
If you are using a Mighty/Apple/Magic Mouse and your index finger is touching the mouse surface, you will need to lift it in order for the "right click" to register with your middle finger.
You get used to it after a while. But this obviously causes problems for game/applications that have functions for pressing "left click" and "right-click" together.
Shunnabunich said 10:54AM on 11-03-2009
Man, that's too bad. It looks like the bomb diggity otherwise.