The Mighty Mouse Has Lost Its Tail 219
An anonymous reader writes "It's all over the place - Apple has just released a Bluetooth version of the Mighty Mouse for $69. It features a new laser based tracking system and gets it power from either one or two (you decide) replaceable AA batteries, but does not work with Windows yet (no words on Linux)."
Mighty Mouse! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:2)
I was supporting my father-in-law the other day, who has an eMacintosh or iMacintosh or something like that. In any case, his mouse had this annoying feature where there's no button (or heaven forbid, a scroll wheel) and you push down to click.
I couldn't wait to get finished so I could get back to a real mouse on my SUSE laptop.
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:2)
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:2)
The surface is pressure-sensitive. Can be used as a standard 2-button mouse just fine.
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:2)
No third button? No scroll wheel? Why not get a real mouse [logitech.com]?
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:2)
I am neither trolling or clueless. I just point out that the whole mouse has to be moved to click. Instead of simply moving one finger, I now have to make the whole hand move - much more effort. Not at all user friendly.
Oh, and if there's a right-click option, it wasn't obvious.
Next, you're going to tell me that my SE-30 mouse has right-click functionality built-in.
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:3, Informative)
I have been using the original mighty mouse since it came out. right-clicking is easy and comfortable. it also has a middle click (also easy and comfortable) and a 4th mouse button by squeezing the sides (easy for me, but a bit uncomfortable for some people who hold the mouse differently).
the scroll wheel works rotates in all directions - vertical, horizonal, and any angle in between all easy.
it's a fantastic mouse, much better than my MX900. get a clue before you troll again.
I'm a believer (Score:2)
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:2)
Just thank your lucky stars he didn't have a puck mouse. Forget clicking, just *pointing* with those things ga
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:3, Funny)
Because real mice need regular feeding, and they tend to crap all over the desk.
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:2)
Re:Mighty Mouse! (Score:2, Funny)
Bad link (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/ [apple.com]
Re:Bad link (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Bad link (Score:3, Interesting)
I thought the laser pointing was only introduced last year.
Re:Bad link (Score:2)
Well, if you didn't know, the wireless version was just released today; it's the "wired" one that was released a year ago. Or, if you're wondering why every product release from Apple becomes news on Slashdot, well, I don't know, but I, for one, find it interesting. :)
Re:Bad link (Score:2)
This news dissapoints me.
Re:Bad link (Score:3, Interesting)
Have you tried buying a bluetooth mouse without also having to buy an associated dongle recently? Bluetooth mice pretty much seem to have disapeared from the market. I'd like to buy the equivalent of my old Logitech MX900 except without the docking station for my Lattitude 810 that has integrated Bluetooth. However, bluetooth mice seem to have gone out of style and MK900 is no longer for sale by itself. I could only buy it if I was willing to buy their high end keyboard, USB docking st
Re:Bad link (Score:2)
So much for standards (Score:2)
Re:So much for standards (Score:2)
Re:So much for standards (Score:5, Informative)
Mouse is really designed to be plugged in to the USB hub of the keyboard next to it. You know, the Apple Pro with the 6 foot cable?
the ball sometimes doesn't work (push really really hard and roll to fix it)
Better way to fix it; Alcohol on the roller ball, copious amounts. Roll the ball on a clean cloth. You'll be surprised how much crap it has gathered off your fingers.
Best way. Slice the retaining ring off the bottom shell of your mouse. Pop the darn thing apart. Two press fit ribbons and a small phillips, then you can clean the scrollball better. It just snaps apart, and the magnetic rollers only go in one way.
the side buttons only act as 1 button.
Its only a four button mouse. Right, left, both, side button(s). You might be better off buying a 5 button mouse, the buttons on the Apple mouse are nearly impossible to get an accurate single side click on. It's more like a four finger squeeze. (Ring and thumb, middle and fore aloft)
I use a Mighty Mouse. Bought it launch day. Went in to see what a PPC Mini was running after 'partner' discount, as I wanted to replace an antique RS PPC machine. Love the damn thing to death. Second best mouse I have owned, and the first best is heavily colored by the fact it was my *first* one 25 years ago.
Re:So much for standards (Score:3, Insightful)
It's funny, however, the way that we finally got rid of all of the gunk-collecting balls on the bottom of the mouse by replacing them with a laser... now there's a gunk-collecting ball on the top!
I guess you could use a laser to track your index finger motions on TOP of the mouse, just like you do with the bottom. Manufacturers might be mo
Re:So much for standards (Score:2)
The amazing thing to me is that I've had no trouble at all with it, despite heavy use--I was sure that tiny ball would be a source of problems. Maybe it has to do with its composition. I remember in the old days when mice had balls (no, I didn't mean that as a joke, but it sounds kind of funny, doesn't it?) some ha
Re:So much for standards (Score:2)
Re:So much for standards (Score:2)
Ok, what is it about that first mouse that you miss in this thing? Or in a decent Logitech mouse?
Re:So much for standards (Score:2)
I'm disappointed. And it's expensive too.
It's probably a standard BT HID device. I'm 90% sure it works out of the box on both Linux and Windows. The scroll ball may be a problem in horizontal mode in Linux/X, but that's not something that'll stop me from buying one when my current MightyMouse dies to a fit of Guinness and rage when I spill a beer on it and get pissed it doesn't like the liquid.
They just haven't done all the testing to make sure it's supporte
Re:So much for standards (Score:2)
Re:So much for standards (Score:2)
Vintage IBM Model M Keyboard: $49.99
Human Interface Bliss: Priceless
Re:So much for standards (Score:2)
Any other bluetooth mice? (Score:4, Interesting)
Other than the Apple one, has anyone seen one that works with Linux? I did see a Microsoft made one *once* but never again.
Re:Any other bluetooth mice? (Score:2)
Re:Any other bluetooth mice? (Score:3, Informative)
It's small enough to be easy to travel with, but still a good size for a normal person's hand; it's not one of these tiny micro mice you often see aimed at travellers. It's
Re:Any other bluetooth mice? (Score:2)
Re:Any other bluetooth mice? (Score:3, Informative)
There's also the logitech MX900 if you fancy a more conventionally-sized mouse, and are a right-hander.
Re:Any other bluetooth mice? (Score:3, Informative)
Interestingly, the blinking bluetooth light actually illuminates the scroll wheel. Sort of like functional eye candy.
Bluetooth HIDs with Linux -- jump in, water's fine (Score:3, Informative)
RadTech BT500 (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Any other bluetooth mice? (Score:2)
* I had a couple hundred shekels left over, and one of the many duty free shops in the Tel
Too bad it doesn't work with the PC... (Score:3, Interesting)
TW
Re:Too bad it doesn't work with the PC... (Score:2)
Re:Too bad it doesn't work with the PC... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Too bad it doesn't work with the PC... (Score:3, Informative)
trust mi5300m [trustwebshop.com]
trust mi5400x [trustwebshop.com]
anycom btm100 [anycom.com]
kensington pilotmouse mini bluetooth [kensington.com]
level one blm3000 [level1.com]
logitech v270 [logitech.com]
sony vgpbms30 [sony-europe.com]
targus amb02us [targus.com]
targus amb03us [targus.com]
shall i go on?
Re:Too bad it doesn't work with the PC... (Score:2)
I've been looking for a large right handed bluetooth mouse without a dongle for my portable with integrated Bluetooth. Other than the tiny models like the logitech v270 that make my hands cramp or other models where I have to buy a dongle or a recharger caddy, there really isn't much choice.
You missed the Radtech BT500 (http://www.radtech.us/Products/BT500.aspx), but thanks for the other pointers.
Linky (Score:2)
Sheesh, how about a working link?
You can go straight to the Apple home page [apple.com] and see it.
a real link (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/ [apple.com]
kinetic model? (Score:2)
When people say it doesn't work with Windows... (Score:3, Interesting)
A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:5, Interesting)
* Too small and painful. I have pretty small hands, but the MM is still too short. My hand was falling off the back and causing me to adopt an awkward position.
* You can't press left and right buttons at the same time! Absolutely useless for gaming, although admittedly you don't need to do this anywhere else (that I'm aware of).
* Squeeze click is too sensitive. I'm a light touch but I kept triggering it. I ended up removing the functionality of that 'button' to stop it annoying me.
* Cable is ridiculously short. Fine with a Mac keyboard, but no good without an extension cable in most other configurations.
On the plus side?
* Mouse wheel. The middle wheel is very cool. It's great to be able to scroll in full 2D. And, um.. that's it.
Oh, it's also expensive, but that's not a reason why I'd avoid it. I'll pay for something good, but it's simply not.
Re:A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:3, Interesting)
I actually like a small mouse - the key is not to rest your whole hand on it - just your fingers. This cuts down on arm and wrist strain (IMO)
Agreed. Plus I find that I keep right cl
Re:A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:2)
* Right size and not painful. I have I guess average hands, and the mouse fits fine, as does my MS Intellimouse etc etc.
* You can't press left and right buttons at the same time! I've never had the need to do that, that I can recall. Ymmv. In X11 I use the option and cmd keys. But I think you're right, I'm trying it now and I haven't been able to click both at the same time.
* Squeeze click is just fine.
* C
Re:A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:2)
Re:A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:2)
I gave up a cordless mouse for the Mighty Mouse, and the wire has been my only complaint, because it occasionally impedes motion, so I've been looking forward to a wireless MM.
Re:A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:2)
Re:A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:2)
Re:A warning: And the batteries will suck (Score:2)
* Mine is sitting upside down because the little bit of metal on the battery compartment popped off
* When it did work, the last five days before the batteries ran out the bluetooth icon would blink incessantly.
* You could turn it off... if you didn't want to use that menu for anything else.
That might not be an issue for most people. When I went to the store to get a battery charger and some rechar
Re:A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:2)
Re:A warning: It's not a good mouse (Score:3, Interesting)
I have larger hands than most people (though not compared to my size since I am 6'6"). The Apple mouse has been great for me. The thing about the Apple mouse is that you don't grip it like other mice. I don't (can't actually) move the mouse around on the pad with my hand squarely on top of it. What I do is re
One OR two batteries? (Score:2)
Re:One OR two batteries? (Score:2)
From The Apple Mouse page
Kind of an interesting concept - anybody know of any other electronic device that takes optional amounts of batteries?The cord is the lesser of its problems (Score:2)
So this is how I get my Stories accepted (Score:2)
Update (Score:2)
Does it fix the right-click? (Score:2)
Does this new o
Re:Does it fix the right-click? (Score:2)
Here's the other problem. Don't forg
*sigh*, more cordlessness... (Score:2)
I get it about wireless game controllers. If you
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:2)
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:2)
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:2)
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:2)
For a long time that's what I did too. When I got my current iMac I didn't have an old mouse to spare (my MS Intellimouse broke). Using the mighty mouse was frustrating at first but I'm quite keen on it now.
Each to his own of course.
Third Button? (Score:3, Insightful)
Second button? Where's the third button? How am I supposed to friggin' paste?!@
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:2)
IMarv
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:4, Insightful)
I've always wondered if the Mighty Mouse doesn't violate a lot of Apple's user design principles. I don't mean with the one-button vs. multi-button design, per se... one of Apple's reasons for having a default of one-button (Macs have supported multi-button mice, and programs for graphic designers, etc.) is to ensure that software designers didn't hide functionality behind right-clicks, etc. Everything should be visible, and accessible through menus at the top of the screen or icons on the screen.
So Apple has this principle of visibility... then they HIDE the buttons on the mouse? This may be excusable when you only have one button - people just get used to pressing the top of the mouse, and it clicks - but when there are multiple buttons that you can't see on the top of the mouse? That doesn't make any sense. I mean, even experienced computer users (Mac users) who weren't familiar with the mighty mouse could end up right-clicking without realizing that they COULD right click.
Now, it IS just a mouse, and so you do get used to it very quickly... it would have been cool, though, if Apple could, say, have had small LEDs for each button. They could be activated (or de-activated if activated by default) to emit a small light for each button. You could even make them multi-coloured and it'd be an easy way to explain operation of a computer - or for that matter, you could code icons/menus so that to use function X in photoshop, highlighted in red, you press the red button.
But alas, Apple doesn't seem to think so.
Tim
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:5, Interesting)
I've always wondered if the Mighty Mouse doesn't violate a lot of Apple's user design principles.
I think their design principals are well represented in this mouse. By default it is a simple one-button mouse anyone can use with no training and which encourages app designers to behave properly. With a small bit of knowledge (for more advanced users) it can be a five button mouse. Simple by default, more complex and powerful for those who want it. The best part about this design is on a multi user system a grandmother and the kids can have a single button mouse, while the more advanced users can have multi button mice, without swapping out any hardware. Of course I don't have kids and am addicted to trackballs, so I'm not going to use this anyway, but it sounds great for other people.
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:3, Informative)
Actually, it doesn't function like a control-click, it actually sends in "button 2" (and you can configure button1-button4, no action, or various things like Exposé, for any of the four "buttons": left, right, scrollball, and side button). Control-click is taken to mean the same thing as "button 2" in most places, but the difference can be clearly determined in the software.
I've seen a few people have problems with the Mighty Mouse - they rest both fingers on both sides of the mouse, sometimes liftin
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:2)
By default the right button is disabled (or set to act as a left click at any rate). You have to specifically set it to "right click" in the system prefs. From me
Re:Mouse Morality (Score:2)
Re:Mouse Morality (Score:2)
Re:Mouse Morality (Score:2)
No. The existence of standards is what makes an OS and its associated applications useable. Maybe your idea is better than the standard, but is it really so much better that doing it your way will make things easier for users even though your program doesn't behave the way they expect it to? The answer is almost certainly no. There is value in consistency of inter
Re:Mouse Morality (Score:2)
Absolutely not. There are a lot of ideas that sound good--like putting menus at the top of the window instead of the top of the screen, or having important commands accessible only from pop-up menus--but turn out to be a real pain for most users. Part of the Mac's appe
Re:Great Cycloptian Mouse Batman! (Score:2)
Re:"Squeeze to Expose" ??? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:"Squeeze to Expose" ??? (Score:2)
Yep, indeed you do. I'm a pretty light touch on the mouse, but I kept triggering it all the time. I undefined that 'button' and it was fine. A month later I ditched the Mighty Mouse (for other reasons), I think it's a crappy mouse (too small, painful to use for long periods of time due to the shape, can't press left AND right button at the same time..)
Re:I never understood the point of the wireless mo (Score:2)
Actually, I do need the extended range. (Score:3, Interesting)
Distances, and Cleanliness is godliness (Score:2)
Sure they are. And it may just be a matter of desk height. I'm 6'6", and wanted the desk to be comfortable seated or standing. So in my case, the tower lives on the floor and my desk surface is mounted at 42". The keyboard cable doesn't reach (bought an extension), the iPod dock only does because I moved it forward on the desk, and the mouse thankfully lives on the keyboard hub. That's to say nothing of institutional uses,
laptops (Score:2)
Re:One or two batteries??? (Score:2)
Re:Why do they even need batteries in the thing? (Score:2)
Re:Why do they even need batteries in the thing? (Score:2)
Re:Why do they even need batteries in the thing? (Score:5, Interesting)
The engineeer within me wishes to digress. There is an electronic component inside the Mighty Mouse that takes +1.5V and a -1.5V-- it is called an Operational Amplifier (Op Amp) and they are extermely efficient for signal processing especially at the 2.4Ghz range bluetooth works on. But the real question is: how you get that + 1.5V and - 1.5V from two batteries?
Take 2 AA batteries put a wire between them. The center will measure 1.5V, the top 3V, and the bottom 0V. In this case, 1.5V is actually your "ground."
There are several advantageous reasons for making a mouse this way, but the foremost is that, having a pseudo "split" supply, you make wireless communication and amplification much easier on the device.
Re:Why do they even need batteries in the thing? (Score:2)
I don't see what difference a split supply makes to efficiency. However, it seems unlikely that the new mouse is working this way anyway, since if you RTFA, it shows that the two batteries are optional - you can run it on one, trading weight for battery life.
I also suspect the laser LED is one of the biggest power drags on the batteries, not the bluetooth.
And yes,
Do you? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Wow, Apple is such an innovator (Score:2)
It's not that it hasn't been done before. It's that it hasn't been marketed by the best smoke and mirrors artist in the industry before.
Re:Wow, Apple is such an innovator (Score:2)
Re:Are wireless mice really so much better? (Score:2)
Maybe that's why they released the first version with such a short cord... frustrate everyone with that damned too-short cord so they'll buy the wireless version when it's released. Now that's marketing!
Re:cordless mice (Score:2)
Agreed. Since I "switch"ed to wireless optical mice, I will never, ever go back.
Can't imagine what bluetooth would improve!
I see you missed that part about "does not work with Windows yet (no words on Linux)". Why go with a USB dongle-based wireless mouse that will work on just about any machine made in the past decade, when you can return to the glory-days of platform tie-in even for something so minor as a m
Re:cordless mice (Score:2)
Re:can i zap.. (Score:2)
That depends... Do you look like a frikkin shark?