In case you missed the news, Apple today released Mighty Mouse, (no, not that one), the company's first-ever multi-button scrolling mouse! I haven't yet seen it in person (though I intend to visit a dealer today to check it out; they appear to be in stock at many places), but at first glance, it looks like (as is typical of Apple) the industrial design has been very well thought out.
No big huge scroll wheel, just a small scroll dot that enables scrolling in many directions (up, down, diagonally). Reversible buttons for left- and right-handed users. Touch-sensitive top buttons (left, right, and scroll), and a "force sensitive" side button -- note that though the images show two side buttons, Apple only claims four programmable buttons, so I think the two side buttons will act essentially as one button. The programming software is built right into the OS X Mouse & Keyboard control panel, and looks quite well thought out.
About the only downside I see is that this is not a wireless mouse (for now?); it's wired-only, which is a bit of a bummer -- I've grown quite fond of my wireless Microsoft Intellimouse. I'm not sure if this is a Bluetooth bandwidth limitation (as they don't want to introduce a USB-based plug-in remote device, I don't think), or just a packaging and/or time-to-market issue. Hopefully we'll see Mighty Mouse 2 with Bluetooth wireless connectivity sometime in the near future.
Even without wireless, though, this mouse looks like it could be a winner. I'll post an addendum here later today if I'm able to get some hands-on time with one in the store. And at $49, it's expensive, but not so much so that I'm not tempted to buy one!
But the real $64,000 question is ... when (if ever) will Apple make this the standard shipping mouse with new hardware purchases?
The mighty mouse link is dead; you're pointing to
http://www.robservatory.com/archives/2005/08/02/a-cold-day-in-hades/www.apple.com/mightymouse/
I hope Apple never makes the default mouse more than one button; Mac OS is the only major OS that can be used fully with only one button and, for the sake of novices, Apple should keep it that way.
I notice that the mouse can be configured to act as a one button mouse. The way it's designed, a novice would never be confused by the multiple buttons because there aren't separate buttons. If Apple ships this mouse with new computers with the software set to treat it as a one button mouse, that might be a good, flexible compromise.
Looks like it lacks the ability to program for modifier key + click (for example, command click or shift click).
I've been thinking, and I think that this scroll ball sucks. Nobody scrolls diagonally enough to want one. All it will do is make straight scrolling very difficult.
Alex has a good, point. Apple will probably make this a one button mouse by default if and when they ship this standard. Also, aren't those side things there to pick the mouse up? How are you going to do that?
From what I hear from people who've played with one first-hand, the side buttons need a pretty tight squeeze to count as a click, so clicking them accidentally won't be a problem.
Personally, I'm so fond of my trackpad that I wouldn't use a mouse even if it were offered to me for free (strange, I know), so this is pretty much a yawner for me.
Shipping with machines will be done at the next revision of an model, since there are huge warehouse stocks around the world, with the original mouse with 'em.
I played with, did not buy it. I was unimpressed. The scroll button is a lot like what many laptops of old with the “eraser†button in the middle of the keyboard. I review on my blog at http://www.reelsmart.com
The mouse certainly looks intriguing. The $49 price tag though, means I'll have to get to an Apple Store or retailer to "try before I buy". Knowing most Apple designs, though, I'm pretty sure I'll like it even more when I get one in my hands.
I myself have always had a bit of an aversion to the idea of wireless mice for the simple reason that I'd rather not have another battery to keep charged or (even worse) another cradle sitting on my desk.
The mouse is such a fundamental part of the computer experience that having it out of commission would be really disabling. Imagine: 2 hours before deadline on a project and you're looking for a set of AAA batteries.
My suspicion is that Apple has caught on to this shortcoming of wireless devices and for this reason will be keeping devices tethered wherever possible.
I think I would prefer a scrolling device more like the eraser button in the middle of some laptop keyboards to the scroll-pea. Scrollwheels, and presumably also scrollpeas cause painful repetitive stress symptoms really fast. If you could just lean on the pea in the direction that you want to scroll, instead of rolling it, it would probably be comfortable enough for long-term use.
The only thing I like about the ThinkPad I am forced to use it work better than my PowerBook is that eraser mouser (the ThinkPad T42 actually has both the eraser and the trackpad). The eraser knobbies give you really precise control, though trackpads are good for some other things.
That being said though, I do almost all my work on notebooks and even use the trackpad/eraser when docked to my desktop monitor/peripherals because I like it better. Except when I'm doing drawing, painting or precise layout, when either the Wacom or a mouse is a must.
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