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Anyone else hate the Apple Magic Mouse?

Makisupa Policeman

Makisupa Policeman

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 28, 2021
502
361
I’m sorry for the following whiny post, but I just don’t like it.

I do like the form and feel, and even the smoothness of scrolling and gestures. But I just cannot get used to the lack of precision with the mouse pointer. It just never “feels” like it can point exactly where I want it to go. And I’ve tried adjusting all of the pointer and scrolling settings I can think of, as well as trying every kind of mouse pad.

I bought one from the Apple store for my 15” MBP which I basically treat as a desktop, but I got so frustrated with it that I got rid of it and ended up just getting a cheap USB mouse that I’m a lot happier with. If I ever end up getting an iMac (I’d like to upgrade to the 24” M1 someday) I think I’m going with the Magic Trackpad instead of the mouse.

Anyone else feel the same? Am I missing something?
 
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Yeah, it's not great. Like you, I think the form and feel are good, but the precision is terrible. However, unless you've used a high-quality mouse, I doubt people would notice, and that's the problem - you literally don't know what you are missing.

For years now I've used a Logitech gaming mouse (before that, Razer, but I found their own microswitches were too prone to failure). I can still remember the first time I used a good mouse, and was blown away by the accuracy.

But then, I evangelise about the value of a good quality mouse, and most people think it is crazy to spend £150 on one! But you really do get what you pay for.
 
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Makisupa Policeman said:
I’m sorry for the following whiny post, but I just don’t like it.

I do like the form and feel, and even the smoothness of scrolling and gestures. But I just cannot get used to the lack of precision with the mouse pointer. It just never “feels” like it can point exactly where I want it to go. And I’ve tried adjusting all of the pointer and scrolling settings I can think of, as well as trying every kind of mouse pad.

I bought one from the Apple store for my 15” MBP which I basically treat as a desktop, but I got so frustrated with it that I got rid of it and ended up just getting a cheap USB mouse that I’m a lot happier with. If I ever end up getting an iMac (I’d like to upgrade to the 24” M1 someday) I think I’m going with the Magic Trackpad instead of the mouse.

Anyone else feel the same? Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
This is something I can not understand. I have suffered pain in my right wrist two times in my life. When I first switch to Mac it was caused by the Mighty mouse. It took me a while to realize what was the actual cause.
Years later I upgraded my Mac and peripherals, and tried again using an Apple mouse and ... the pain came back. So now I'm using Logitech or Microsoft! mouses in all my Macs and the Magic mouses are sleeping in their boxes together with my old mighty mouse.
 
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Makisupa Policeman said:
I bought one from the Apple store for my 15” MBP which I basically treat as a desktop, but I got so frustrated with it that I got rid of it and ended up just getting a cheap USB mouse that I’m a lot happier with.
Click to expand...

I always disliked them in the past, but when I got my 2018 Mini, decided to give it another chance since it was a nice match with my space grey magic keyboard. I use some legacy Windows GIS software in Parallels and just couldn't get it to work acceptably with that however. First, there is no support for a middle button. Found a little app to address that, although it was a bit odd.

For me, the main problem was the lack of a physical scroll wheel and the touch scrolling just wasn't precise enough for my software, where you really need the tactile feedback of scroll wheel clicks. Finally ditched it for a cheap USB Windows mouse.

The other day, the cheap wireless mouse on my 2014 Mini media server died so I am now using the Magic Mouse with that. It's OK for that kind of light use. However, what really annoys me is that I often pick it up backwards - in a dark room it's hard to tell which end of the space grey mouse is which.
 
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Was a long time I used a mouse regularly. I play with them a few minutes, then I eat them up ?
Maybe not tech mice. ? I have one plugged in as backup in a basket on desk though. Not Apple mouse.
I have used trackpad a long time, lot better to me.
No difference in movements when I go from the desktop to the portable.
 
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Best mouse I have ever used. INCREDIBLE I how I would describe it. Totally love it however I do understand as my wife hates them and can't use them has she can't seem to control the touchpad on top! I find it amazingly easy!
Strange.
 
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My oldest child (15½) has a gaming mouse, and he hates the magic mouse, and I mean hates. It's visceral.

I use a trackpad on a Dell laptop for work (Insprion 17 inch, for the record) and I love the magic mouse. Having said that, I turned off all the gesture settings on my Dell touchpad, so all it does is move the pointer and does standard clicks. No "double tap to click" either.

I'm sure our daily use cases make the difference in our opinions, which seems to be inferred from reading the prior messages.
 
esbardu said:
This is something I can not understand. I have suffered pain in my right wrist two times in my life. When I first switch to Mac it was caused by the Mighty mouse. It took me a while to realize what was the actual cause.
Years later I upgraded my Mac and peripherals, and tried again using an Apple mouse and ... the pain came back. So now I'm using Logitech or Microsoft! mouses in all my Macs and the Magic mouses are sleeping in their boxes together with my old mighty mouse.
Click to expand...
It depends very much on how you hold it. My Logitech MX Master hurts my hand because my fingers dig in too hard to the sides, even though many find that mouse quite comfortable. OTOH, the Magic Mouse is perfect for me because I can use it with fingertips alone. It just depends on you.

Of course, none of that addresses the precision issue OP is concerned about, and it's past time for Apple to update the Magic Mouse anyway.
 
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It was weird to me in the beginning , because it is a mouse to hold with your fingertips, not with the palm.

Once I got used to it I like it very much.

The speed I had to adjust from the terminal, as the fastest option from the settings was not fast enough for me.
 
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Angelinoff said:
It was weird to me in the beginning , because it is a mouse to hold with your fingertips, not with the palm.

Once I got used to it I like it very much.

The speed I had to adjust from the terminal, as the fastest option from the settings was not fast enough for me.
Click to expand...

Try out SteerMouse (link above) it will unlock even more cool stuff on the apple mouse.
 
the USB  Might mouse worked good in Mt Lion
not so good in El Captain
perfect in Mojave
all in 2 hours last nite.
but very happy i have one for emergencies!
but will get a  magic 2012 trackpad and box very soon!
 
Makisupa Policeman said:
I’m sorry for the following whiny post, but I just don’t like it.

I do like the form and feel, and even the smoothness of scrolling and gestures. But I just cannot get used to the lack of precision with the mouse pointer. It just never “feels” like it can point exactly where I want it to go. And I’ve tried adjusting all of the pointer and scrolling settings I can think of, as well as trying every kind of mouse pad.

I bought one from the Apple store for my 15” MBP which I basically treat as a desktop, but I got so frustrated with it that I got rid of it and ended up just getting a cheap USB mouse that I’m a lot happier with. If I ever end up getting an iMac (I’d like to upgrade to the 24” M1 someday) I think I’m going with the Magic Trackpad instead of the mouse.

Anyone else feel the same? Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
A lot of people hate it... personally, I've been using the Magic Mouse for years - the battery version and the rechargeable version - and actually quite like it... I have one for each of my Macs (3 machines)... but from looking through the forums, it appears to be a pretty polarizing issue.
 
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Hate it. And I tried for a couple years. The thing is an ergonomic disaster.

Logitech MX Master ftw
 
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All the Logitech MX Master love here reminds me how much I wish they made a left-handed version. :sigh:

Also, I despise the Magic Mouse. The only Apple hardware product about which I can truly say that.
 
I have no problem with hand pain with the Magic Mouse, although I know a number of people who do. Those who say "you are holding it wrong" are perhaps missing the point, as it's not typically an issue with other mice.

As for accuracy and precision - I have a brand new Magic Mouse here, alongside my wireless Logitech G502. If I could figure out how to take a video of my screen, I would, because the Magic Mouse is just fantastically inaccurate in comparison to the G502. I'm not sure how anyone does precision work with the Magic Mouse, but then I guess your brain and muscle memory would adjust over time to the inaccuracy?
 
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I really can't understand why it wasn't designed so it could be used when plugged in for charging.
I also don't like the battery life..... it fades really quickly.
I don't have any issues with accuracy though, seems fine to me in that respect..... maybe I just don't know better. :)
 
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vddobrev said:
I also love the Magic Mouse - all about it, there is no other mouse that can match it in terms of gestures, and I use all of the gestures daily.

People that complain about pain should evaluate their sitting position, hand position, desk height, etc.
Click to expand...
You make a fair general point about general desk ergonomics. But my discomfort with the Apple Magic Mouse is not due to wrong position, posture, etc. All is well set up and I have no discomfort with my preferred Logitech mouse.

It’s interesting to read the split of responses in this thread and very much a Marmite (sorry if non-UK people don’t get this) reaction - people either love or hate it. No reason why we all have to have the same preferences, as long as we have something that works for us.
 
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It seems a bit like a love or hate thing.
I mainly use my macbook for logic and the trackpad is not ideal for that imo.
I bought myself the magic mouse and love it due to the amazing gesture support.
 
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Steve Jobs initially said of the issues with iPhone 4 "you're holding it wrong". I don't believe there is a "right" or "wrong" way to hold a mouse, but in my observation, there are two separate and distinct ways that people hold their mouse - especially Apple's Magic Mouse.

Some "palm" the mouse - meaning that they lay the palm of their hand on the top of the mouse and maneuver it around their desktop. Others use more of a "finger" grip - they basically hold the mouse between their ring/middle finger and thumb and move the mouse that way. Neither is "correct", and one should be free to use their devices however they choose... but this alone could explain some of the love/hate leanings.
 
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