All iPads Am I the only one who ENJOYS and USES the mouse?

[Jxdawg]

Rocking the iPad 6th gen here...

Ever since iPadOS was released I ordered a cheap wireless mouse and hooked it up. I already had an Anker keyboard that I was using to type. I knew that the mouse support was shaky and not really intended to be a full blown feature, so I was expecting to just use it for a bit once and awhile as a gimmick but nothing else.

But here I am months later and STILL enjoying the mouse support for my iPad. I have edited word docs, written papers, browsed the web, and even play Rome Total War (fantastic throw back rpg) with my mouse.

Obviously, many of you use your iPads for professional use, so I would understand not wanting to have the mouse then. But I wanted to see if anybody else was actively using the mouse for thier ipads??? Or am I crazy?!

 

[Farrellcollie]

I tried it and absolutely hated their mouse implementation. It is half hearted and cumbersome. I want to use a mouse or trackpad, but not like they have it set up now

 

[rui no onna]

I use a mouse (trackball really) whenever I use the iPad with keyboard on a desk. As primitive as it is, it still beats having to reach out to the screen every time you need to interact with the touchscreen.

 

[sparksd]

I use the mouse on occasion as I am one of those people who they designed it for - I have essential tremors that can at times make it difficult to use a touch interface but a mouse is fine. I see it as a poor implementation, with the steps required to activate it, with inability to change the pointer to something other than a circular blob, to the inverted scrolling. I'd really like to know their thought processes on this one.

 

[ericwn]

As long as I can’t even adjust the scrolling direction I’m out.

 

[urkel]

I hate it. Its like they added mouse support out of spite and intentionally made it inconvenient, ugly and limited its function.

But I’m not too upset because this is how Apple does things. They refuse an obvious feature. People complain so they add it begrudgingly and unreasonably limit its function. People complain and they finally do it right. People praise Apple for being so innovative and forward thinking.

So it may take a while but one day my Apple mouse will work on my Apple iPad.

 

[aevan]

As long as I can’t even adjust the scrolling direction I’m out.

The only OSes that need this option are those that don’t have ‘natural’ as default!

But seriously, they should add the option to change it.
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Obviously, many of you use your iPads for professional use, so I would understand not wanting to have the mouse then. But I wanted to see if anybody else was actively using the mouse for thier ipads??? Or am I crazy?!

I use it sometimes and like it. I have one of the 3 bt modes on my MX Master 3 set for the iPad and when I’m using it on a desk, I use it with a mouse.

It’s good, but a few things would make this perfect, though:
- the option to adjust scrolling speed
- the ability to make right click do a long press (which you can) WITHOUT the long press pause (which you can’t and makes this useless to me)

These two would make it really good, though I like it as it is, too. It would also be cool if they didn’t burry it deep in Accessibility like they are ashamed of it, but ok, it’s there at least.

 

[AutomaticApple]

But seriously, they should add the option to change it.

Maybe in iPadOS 14?

 

[ericwn]

Maybe in iPadOS 14?

Probably. Always leave room to “innovate “.

 

[seadragon]

I love it. I have spoken.

 

[The Game 161]

I get the appeal but a mouse is a no go when on the sofa for me so trackpad is needed.

 

[rowspaxe]

Hey--This is MacRumors! The mouse is 'legacy technology' suitable for knuckle dragging
Surface Pro users. Its all about gestures and screen taps. And there really is no productivity
difference between using software with the apple pencil and a mouse. That gorilla arm thing--
get over it!

 

[aevan]

I love it. I have spoken.

This is the way.

 

[sparksd]

Hey--This is MacRumors! The mouse is 'legacy technology' suitable for knuckle dragging
Surface Pro users. Its all about gestures and screen taps. And there really is no productivity
difference between using software with the apple pencil and a mouse. That gorilla arm thing--
get over it!

And every app will be optimized for use with a mouse so touch users will be hosed. /s

 

[JD2015]

I tried it and absolutely hated their mouse implementation. It is half hearted and cumbersome. I want to use a mouse or trackpad, but not like they have it set up now

It is not intended as a mouse in the traditional sense. It is touch assistive feature which is why some get frustrated as they are expecting something different.

 

[JDnLex]

I like it. I could love it if it was fully enabled and automatically activated when a mouse is attached instead of requiring assistive touch to be enabled.

i think even the current implementation demonstrates that touch and mouse input can coexist and be complementary. I‘m also a Surface Pro user. While I appreciate the touch and mouse support, it does seem that adapting an operating system designed around mouse input to touch is much more challenging than enabling mouse support on a touch-based operating system.

 

[sparksd]

I like it. I could love it if it was fully enabled and automatically activated when a mouse is attached instead of requiring assistive touch to be enabled.

i think even the current implementation demonstrates that touch and mouse input can coexist and be complementary. I‘m also a Surface Pro user. While I appreciate the touch and mouse support, it does seem that adapting an operating system designed around mouse input to touch is much more challenging than enabling mouse support on a touch-based operating system.

It's not that challenging - Android has supported it well with a good implementation for years.

 

[rowspaxe]

And every app will be optimized for use with a mouse so touch users will be hosed. /s

The vast majority of users will still be touch users.

 

[sparksd]

The vast majority of users will still be touch users.

It was sarcasm - /s.

 

[Jxdawg]

Will developers (or should I have have they) begin to implement mouse support on their apps? I would assume some might. Microsoft Word needs it BADLY.

 

[rui no onna]

Will developers (or should I have have they) begin to implement mouse support on their apps? I would assume some might. Microsoft Word needs it BADLY.

At this point in time, mouse implementation on iOS is pretty much just a fingertip simulation. Can't add mouse support if it isn't actually available in iOS yet.

 

[Abazigal]

Rocking the iPad 6th gen here...

Ever since iPadOS was released I ordered a cheap wireless mouse and hooked it up. I already had an Anker keyboard that I was using to type. I knew that the mouse support was shaky and not really intended to be a full blown feature, so I was expecting to just use it for a bit once and awhile as a gimmick but nothing else.

But here I am months later and STILL enjoying the mouse support for my iPad. I have edited word docs, written papers, browsed the web, and even play Rome Total War (fantastic throw back rpg) with my mouse.

Obviously, many of you use your iPads for professional use, so I would understand not wanting to have the mouse then. But I wanted to see if anybody else was actively using the mouse for thier ipads??? Or am I crazy?!

I don't think you are crazy, but I also think it's largely a case of self-selection.

People have had years to get used to the iPad's limitations and idiosyncrasies, and I would assume that for those still using their iPad for work, they have either learnt to work around those issues, or simply haven't been impacted by them. Meanwhile, those do who need a mouse for their work would likely have already given up by now and gone back to a laptop by now.

For example, I have been storing my files in dropbox and syncing them to my iPad via the documents app, and thus haven't really felt the need for external storage support. Likewise, my use case as a teacher involves walking around the classroom with the iPad in hand. Because I annotate on notability with my Apple Pencil, a mouse is redundant, and impractical as I can't bring it around the classroom with me or use it while standing up.

When iOS 13 was released, I did buy a USB-stick with both USB-A and USB-C ports, but haven't found a need to plug it into my iPad yet (airdrop is that convenient). I did also try connecting my mouse to the iPad, but again, my use case simply doesn't require it.

I have found an Apple Pencil handy for editing videos in lumafusion. That might be a scenario where a mouse could be useful. We will see.

 

[paulmeyers42]

I very quickly adapted to it, and I actually quite like it. It’s not a Mac or Windows mouse paradigm; it really is just a simulation of your finger, once you get used to that it’s fine.

It’s made Office and iWork type apps very usable actually. Now, anytime I’m sitting at a desk for any amount of time for that kind of work, it seems natural to use the mouse with it. Honestly, I am very surprised at how much I like it.

 

[MandiMac]

Will developers (or should I have have they) begin to implement mouse support on their apps? I would assume some might. Microsoft Word needs it BADLY.

Some, yes, but it can't be mandatory.

 

[sparksd]

Some, yes, but it can't be mandatory.

Like what Apple tells developers for use of game controllers -

Controllers Must Be Optional on iOS and OS X
Even though controllers are intended to enhance gameplay, not every person who purchases your game is going to own one. Therefore, never require the use of game controllers in your game. If a controller is not available, your game must provide alternative controls.

Apple provide Accessibility design guidelines to developers -

Accessibility | Apple Developer Documentation

People use Apple’s accessibility features to personalize how they interact with their devices in ways that work for them.

developer.apple.com