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General discussion

Mighty Mouse

Aug 2, 2005 3:29AM PDT

Any thoughts on the new Multi-button, progammable mouse from Apple?
I would have liked to have seen it be a Bluetooth device instead of the wired device that it is. External BlueTooth modules are very small, hardly bigger then than a USB (flat end) plug and are reasonably inexpensive.
Maybe sometime in the future we will get to see the BT version.


P

Discussion is locked

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Here's what it looks like
Aug 3, 2005 6:59AM PDT
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/

Peter, I hope you don't mind--I just wanted to reference the "Mighty Mouse" for those who may have not seen it yet.

I'm not a Mac user, but I like it!

Cheers!
-Lee
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Mighty Mouse concerns
Aug 7, 2005 5:28AM PDT

I haven't tried the mighty mouse, and I think it looks great and the features are cool, but I'm wondering if the buttons are a solid state thing. My hand and fingers tend to rest on the mouse so inadvertent clicking would be very annoying. If the top and side buttons require pressure, however, then this would be fine. The ball idea is an interesting idea also. Time to head down to the Apple store and try it out.

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Looks brilliant...and makes me MAD !
Aug 4, 2005 11:51PM PDT

Why oh why can't Apple create an inexpensive solution to the many years long demand by it's users for an inexpensive multibutton mouse capability...like something off the self ?

from the ad....

" Unlike any other mouse on the market, Mighty Mouse was designed specifically to work with Mac OS X Tiger. "... " So, if you haven?t already upgraded to Mac OS X Tiger, isn?t Mighty Mouse reason enough? "

A $49.99 tie in to a $130.00 software upgrade for a machjine I bought in February for a function that people have been asking for...nay, begging for...for years !

Question...since I don't have Tiger yet, I can't say myself, but does the assignable button feature work with a regular multibutton mouse. If not, then I think my rant is fully justified ! Macs are worth the extra money for the performance and the almost comprehensive software suite but how do I justify spending 180 bucks for something that my $19.99 logitech mouse does.

On the design side, it does look like something from Stanley Kubrick circa "2001- a space odessy" but the the question is if I buy it how do I show it off...park it in the drive way ? I know...I will replace my website splash page with a picture of might mouse and gloat everytime I see a hit on my web stats...Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !


Grim

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KISS
Aug 5, 2005 12:51AM PDT

Keep it simple, stupid...

Why not just make a right click button? Most people already are comfortable with that, and will help switchers from PCs make the adjustment (they are the biggest source of new customers for Apple anyway).

This sounds complicated to use, and potentially more breakdowns. I'll give it a try, but not hopeful...

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KISS
Aug 5, 2005 12:01PM PDT

I agree on the two button feature. Tiger has the features for squeese the sides. (Only what I call it. Will have to study about it more.)
I have used and own a PC, use the two-button mouse without any problems and use the PC just for my silly games and puzzles I play.
Sometimes I grip the mouse a little harder than normal. What happens if I were gripping the sides and activating that feature of the Mac mouse by mistake?
Thanks,

-Kevin

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mighty mouse squeezing sides of mouse
Aug 5, 2005 4:12PM PDT

I have a $30 mouse from Apple with those buttons on the edges. I don't know the name of it but I bought it last May. I don't use the ''squeezy buttons'' at all but you really have to press hard or purposely on them to use on the model I have. I also don't think they'd deseign it so poorly as to have features activated accidently. Maybe it depends on how intense of a gamer you are. I'm not sure about Mighty Mouse because I haven't used it but the buttons look identical to the ones on my current mouse. Just my 2 cents, I guess you'd have to check out a demo model at a Mac store. It does seem spendy for having a cord and all.

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Not the same
Aug 5, 2005 10:45PM PDT

Kathleen,
The mouse you purchased from Apple is not the same one as the one featured on their web site. The new mouse was released last week and is the first multi-button mouse that Apple have every released. The original mouse does actually have what looks like two side buttons and it is easy to see what was used as the design template for the new one. The ability to left and right click, scroll and have programmable buttons is long overdue.
It's as you say though, they would probably not have designed something with features that could be activated accidentally.
Now, if only it was BlueTooth! Happy

P

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Not the same
Aug 9, 2005 1:10PM PDT

Peter, what is a scroll wheel? Roller ball or optical on the Mighty Mouse? I am lost. Haven't looked into the Mighty Mouse that much. Checked out Lee's link.
I am happy with my optical so far at home. Have never used Blue Tooth.

Kevin

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What is:
Aug 9, 2005 9:47PM PDT

A Scroll Wheel: A device on the mouse that allows you to scroll up and down a page by moving the, wait for it, Scroll wheel backwards and forwards.
Does the Mighty Mouse use a Roller Ball: No
Does the Mighty Mouse use Optical Tracking: Yes


P

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Kevin...try a Wacom
Aug 10, 2005 10:26PM PDT

I've seen you express interest in digital tablets before now...while 50 bucks is a small percentage of an Intuous 2/3, it is a little more than half the cost of a wacom graphire so before you get what I feel is an exercise in upselling the apple crowd you might try something that is more useful, more accurate, and a more sincere effort at serving a need rather than creating a questionable product designed to seperate you from your money.

just my opinion.

grim

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An Alternative
Aug 5, 2005 1:02AM PDT

I like the looks of the Mighty Mouse too, but I just bought something I think is much better, even though its quite expensive (a couple of hundred dollars). Its the Contour RollarMouse Pro and I have never used anything like it. http://www.contourdesign.com/rollermouse/ The whole mouse unit is located in the pad which fits below your keyboard and upon which your keyboard sits. Its getting great reviews and I don't think I'll ever use a mouse again. I only wish it were wireless or bluetooth.

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looks groovy. Wish it weren't $40 tho......
Aug 6, 2005 6:32PM PDT

OT: how hard would it have been to bundle 2 button mice standard with Macs? It's not like M$ holds a patent on all 2 button mice (3 with the scroll wheel)

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"Looking" cool doesn't come cheap.
Aug 7, 2005 10:26PM PDT

Apparently, the price of Kool-Aid just went up.