Apple debuting two-button mouse?

[maka]

I used to be a one-button zelot as well... until I bought a new iMac last December and had to finally switch from my old Apple Desktop Bus II mouse to the new style USB pill shaped mouse. That has to be the worst mouse ever designed. It's too small. It doesn't fit up into your palm. It's click it way to stiff even on the low resistance setting. And, with the bluetooth version at least, you CANNOT lift the mouse and keep it clicked while lifting (i.e. if you 'run out' of mousing space). Horrible, horrible, horrible mouse. Total garbage. It was designed with only ONE thing in mind, aesthetics. Functionally, it's junk.

Well, just to show different people have different preferences: I love the white Apple mouse. I didn't like the blue round mouse (but I managed to use it) but this design I find perfect. I don't know about the wireless one (other people said it was too heavy) but the standard is perfect for me. I can just rest my wrist on the table and with a very slight movement (holding the mouse with 2 fingers) reach the whole screen. I hate mice that try to fit into the palm of my hand, as I don't move my hand to move the mouse, mostly just move my fingers. Also it would alienate left handed people...

I think Apple's mouse is very well designed as a "standard" mouse. If anyone needs something more specific, they can buy exactly what they need...

(Edit: BTW, at least with the standard mouse you can click and lift the mouse by holding it by the sides where they are white and not part of the button)

 

[Takeo]

Well, just to show different people have different preferences: I love the white Apple mouse. I didn't like the blue round mouse (but I managed to use it) but this design I find perfect. I don't know about the wireless one (other people said it was too heavy) but the standard is perfect for me. I can just rest my wrist on the table and with a very slight movement (holding the mouse with 2 fingers) reach the whole screen.

Yah... I kept thinking that I would get used to it's smaller size but I just never did. It wouldn't even have to be that much higher... just 5 or 6 mm would do it. It's a really really shallow mouse at the back. The back is no higher than the front. I could just never get used to it. I like to mouse with a combination of using my fingers and also sometimes pushing the back of the mouse with my palm... and I could not do that at all with Apple's current mouse. The worst thing though was not being able to click and lift/reposition... that is only an issue with the Bluetooth version.

 

[Takeo]

(Edit: BTW, at least with the standard mouse you can click and lift the mouse by holding it by the sides where they are white and not part of the button)

Yah... doesn't work with the bluetooth version. And even if it did... I found the non-button portion (the while pads on the side) too small. You have to have your fingers just so... right on those little pads. I know it works for a lot of people, but honestly, from an ergonimics point of view it's just not a great design. It has a lot of flaws. It was designed primarily to look good... IMHO.

 

[maka]

The worst thing though was not being able to click and lift/reposition... that is only an issue with the Bluetooth version.

I know I'm not going to convince you but I've been reviewing the way I lift/reposition the mouse and find that just lifting the left side of the mouse (with a slight turn of the wirst) is enough for the optical sensor to stop working, then you can just drag it to the new position... And that can be done when clicking even if you hold the mouse by the moving cover.

But I haven't tested it with the wireless one (maybe it is too heavy...)

(edit: I wrote right when I meant left... seems I'm one of those that would have difficulties with multi button mice... he he...)

 

[gerlitzappel]

I can't wait! I love Apple mice but hate being restricted to only one button. I want to buy a mini but would not be caught dead plugging my Microsoft mouse into it. Will it include a scroll wheel, something else I can't live without.

 

[Takeo]

I know I'm not going to convince you but I've been reviewing the way I lift/reposition the mouse and find that just lifting the left side of the mouse (with a slight turn of the wirst) is enough for the optical sensor to stop working, then you can just drag it to the new position..

Actually... yes... I did use it long enough to discover that trick. Still wasn't crazy about it though. It was a little too fussy a manuver when you're, for instance, trying to pan really fast across a huge photoshop image or something. I just would have preferred it if Apple had designed the mouse properly in the first place. The fact that one has to figure out little tricks like the click/tilt manuver does not speak well to the design of the mouse. And again, the changes would not have to be radical. I LOVED the old beige ADB II mouse. Tons of non-button surface on the sides (nothing but actually) to click/lift/reposition, nice easy click, and it was just high enough in the back to jostle (sp) it around between my palm and fingers. Great design. All that would be required to make the current mouse a good 1-button mouse would be to make the side pads bigger (maybe twice the size) and the back about half a cm to a cm higher.

Anyway, I can't wait to see this new mouse

 

[pizzach]

the up and down arrow keys or the spacebar. (shift-spacebar will scroll back)

get to know your keyboard shortcuts. they are your friends.

And don't forget page up, page down, home, and end. Not much of a man for moving my hand left and right and they perform the same function as the space bar. When I'm focused I have my fingers over those keys. If you have an extended keyboard, and a little keyboard agility, the home, end, page and arrow keys provide INFINITE POWER!

The combination of the spacebar and up/down arrow keys provide the lazy navigation. You can slouch in your chair unlike if you were using the scroll wheel.

The scroll wheel has the obviousness that the keyboard doesn't have. What this equals is people thinking that the scroll wheel is the miracle of miracles because they *cough* used to is the scroll bars in each window.

 

[mpw]

Don't have to go very far: in Windows, how do you create a new folder on the desktop without right-clicking?

From 'My Computer', Windows 'Finder', click the file menu and new-folder.

There may even be a keyboard shortcut but I can't check until I get to work in the morning.

 

[mpw]

...The combination of the spacebar and up/down arrow keys provide the lazy navigation. You can slouch in your chair unlike if you were using the scroll wheel...

With my MS BT multi-button scroll wheel mouse I can wander around the room scrolling through pages of MR and using any handy surface usually my thigh or belly as a tracking surface for cursor control. I only need return to the keyboard to post.

 

[ACED]

For years we've been told to 'think different' .... now if this is true, we're essentially being told to now 'think, the same' as PC users and accept a 2 button mouse...how underwhelming!

I'm thoroughly sick of the endless arguments in the Mac community about whether using two hands is easier (or not) than using two fingers ... how extremely pathetic!!!!

Mac users' fierce resistance to this 'simple' choice has made us a joke with many of the other 98% of computer users ... and helped keep the Mac in only 1 in 50 homes.

Apple's (Steve Jobs) stubbonness to accept what that the other 98% accept as 'just fine', has cost Apple the sales of millions of mice, AND millions of Macs that switchers would have purchsed. (It would have just amazed them that Apple can't see any advantage beyond one button)

I'd rate this doggedness as the most stupid in corporate history ... actually choosing to forego such a revenue steam must stand as a monumental Steve Jobs legacy. If this is true, I for one, will enjoy seeing him wear the egg all over his face as he bravely tries to re-enthuse us with his change of sermon. Yah Steve!

Ever notice that there is no movement within the PC community to move to a one button mouse? GO figure, you one button, soon to be dinosaur, Mac users! Accept your fate...

 

[pizzach]

Um, I always use my scroll wheel and right mouse button for efficiency. I have never owned a PC and never hope to. I started using a 4 button mouse with OS 7.5.3 and moved over to a 5 button wireless Wacom mouse under OS 8, entirely inspired by professional applications like Photoshop. Now, under OS X, I only use 2 button mice because so many programs on the mac rely on them.

It doesn't really bother me that some people love one button mice, I'm happy if Apple keeps them around. However, it is inconvenient for me professionally and causes a slowdown (even if others consider it slight, I notice it) in my productivity to have to purchase laptops with one mouse button. It's just unreasonable that I need to buy yet one more accessory to every pro machine I buy from Apple when they know how many pros want it in the first place. Hence the new mouse design.

I'm actually using a two button mouse right now. The right click is useful. I don't normally use contextual menus unless it makes sense too. When you want to save an element of a webpage, what is normally the easiest way? I think right-clicking it. But on the other hand, when you create a new folder, what is the easiest way? To me it's command-shift-n.

Do I use my scroll wheel? Yes. Do I find it useful? Yes. Would my life be worse without it? Not much. It's more useful sometimes, but not THAT much more useful.

 

[maka]

About the poll

I'd like to see what's the percentage for each mouse individually. It's normal that if you group together all the multi button types they'll get more votes. And it doesn't help when deciding what a standard mouse should be like. I think the most meaningful information from the poll is that people that like more than one button usually like the scroll wheel (that could be a hint to Apple). But anyway, as always with these polls, they are not representative of the whole mac community, just a very small and specific group of users...

And 25% is a lot... if you divide the 60% between each specific type of mouse in the group, I don't think the numbers will be much bigger than the one button Apple mouse...

 

[chimerical]

"Afraid of change"? I could reverse the argument and say that Windows users are afraid of changing and trying to get used to a one-button mouse. More isn't necessarily better. There's nothing wrong with trying to keep things simple.

Besides, why would you want to encourage developers to stuff everything in the right-click menus? It's not necessarily better. We're just more used to that. Again, there's a fear of change, something different from what we're used to with Windows.

Anyway, I hope that Apple makes a mouse exactly like their one-button model, except that it would tilt left and right to left-click and right-click. A solid state "scroll wheel" would be a nice idea, if it could be done economically.

But to be honest, I was really hoping that Apple would find a way around the 2-button path, just as they did when they created that new scrolling function on the Powerbook touchpads (moving your finger in a circlular path to scroll). After all, their motto IS "Think Different", isn't it?

 

[auxplage]

For years we've been told to 'think different' .... now if this is true, we're essentially being told to now 'think, the same' as PC users and accept a 2 button mouse...how underwhelming!

I'm thoroughly sick of the endless arguments in the Mac community about whether using two hands is easier (or not) than using two fingers ... how extremely pathetic!!!!

Mac users' fierce resistance to this 'simple' choice has made us a joke with many of the other 98% of computer users ... and helped keep the Mac in only 1 in 50 homes.

Apple's (Steve Jobs) stubbonness to accept what that the other 98% accept as 'just fine', has cost Apple the sales of millions of mice, AND millions of Macs that switchers would have purchsed. (It would have just amazed them that Apple can't see any advantage beyond one button)

I'd rate this doggedness as the most stupid in corporate history ... actually choosing to forego such a revenue steam must stand as a monumental Steve Jobs legacy. If this is true, I for one, will enjoy seeing him wear the egg all over his face as he bravely tries to re-enthuse us with his change of sermon. Yah Steve!

Ever notice that there is no movement within the PC community to move to a one button mouse? GO figure, you one button, soon to be dinosaur, Mac users! Accept your fate...

If one does not buy a Mac because of one-button mouse, then I do not think he should even own a Mac; if he is too short sided to see pass a simple input device, then that is his problem to miss out on a great OS. It really is not that big of a deal. How much does a decent optical, two-button mouse actually cost if one really wants it? Not too much and since Apple does not even bundle their mouse with the Mac Mini (the switcher's machine), I do not even see the argument. (This is all coming from a person who adores the one-button mouse . . . so no biased )

 

[Eric5h5]

i appreciate the tip, but i've been using pshop for about 13 years, i've used the grabby-hand a few times (that didn't come out right). i just like not HAVING to use a 2nd hand to get the same effect. sometimes i have my Wacom pen or an ice cream cone or whatever in my left hand. it's just yet another way of doing things. no better, just different. my mouse gives me options...

But anyone who's seriously using Photoshop is going to have his or her hand on the keyboard 100% of the time ANYWAY, so using the spacebar is completely natural. (OK, unless you're eating an ice cream cone, then you'll not likely be using the keyboard, I'll grant you. But hopefully that's a rare occasion.)

The only good thing that more than one mouse button would accomplish in Photoshop would be left button: draw, right button: erase, like in Deluxe Paint...now those were the days....

--Eric

 

[floatingspirit]

surely it would appeal to switchers, no?

Two-button mice are for Windoze peeps.


*ducks incoming fire*

Dude/Dudes! I'm a die hard Mac-lover, but I'd have to say that a single button mouse is akin to a hand without a thumb. I've never even taken the plastic off the mouse that came with my new Mac. Sure it's distinctive, and that's cool, but so is a cat without whiskers and... I gotta have my Kensington mouseworks to give me several, very convenient options with several (simple) button actions.

To each his own though...

 

[pubwvj]

Haptics (e.g hand gesture recognition) and voice control will rule in 2020. We will be talking to our computer in most cases rather than using a keyboard, as it will be faster unless you are a mega typist.

GAK! No! A keyboard is far more precise, accurate and faster.
I only type about 135 wpm (I know someone who does 300wpm)
and I would never want to try talking everything to the computer.
Using illustrator with a voice control would be hell. A trackpad or
mouse and a tablet are very useful, but not voice. Also it would
interfere with listening to music and make the evironment noisier.
Besides my voice would wear out. Yuk. Aweful idea.

 

[ACED]

The 'simplicity' of a one button mouse is a huge deception...because to operate a Mac, you MUST also use the keyboard as well, and memorising the key 'shortcuts' ain't simple!!! PC users don't find they need to.

Since having to use a 2 button mouse and scroll wheel on the PC at work, I normally only have to touch the often, far away keyboard for data entry, because the mouse gives me the ease and funtionality to operate the OS, with comparitive ease.

I find I don't have to remember how the OS operates, menu wise, because if in doubt, I just right click anything and choose the appropiate action.

This is all such a big deal for Apple, if it comes to pass, so maybe even Steve has finally switched to the 2 button/scroll wheel mouse, and liked it, I wonder...

 

[caccamolle]

got to believe this

357 responses to this rumor, so far !!! is anyone bored ? I mean still debating 1,2,3 25 button mice ?

 

[sinisterdesign]

I used to be a one-button zelot as well... until I bought a new iMac last December and had to finally switch from my old Apple Desktop Bus II mouse ...

Honestly, I was so against multi-buttons... but once I got used to this new mouse (8 buttons BTW, plus up, down and left, right scolling)... I could NEVER go back to one button. One button is great for my Mom... but I could never go back.

welcome, my brother.

actually, you went from archaic to cutting edge, huh? i'm jealous. i want that mouse, but have been waiting for either my Logitech or my MS mouse to croak first (i may be waiting a while).

 

[itsa]

According to AppleInsider, Apple is readying a two-button, wireless optical mouse for release.

Further fueling expectations are the recent price drops for the current one-button mice. ($29 for the wired mouse and $59 for the wireless mouse).

I'm sure this has been said a million times but.. IT'S ABOUT TIME!
I have a shelf full of one button mice never used.

 

[mvc]

GAK! No! A keyboard is far more precise, accurate and faster.
I only type about 135 wpm (I know someone who does 300wpm)
and I would never want to try talking everything to the computer.
Using illustrator with a voice control would be hell. A trackpad or
mouse and a tablet are very useful, but not voice. Also it would
interfere with listening to music and make the evironment noisier.
Besides my voice would wear out. Yuk. Aweful idea.

You might be a specialist who WOULD use a keyboard, although bear in mind we are not talking about the slow flawed speech recognition that exists today. If typing yourself is better and faster for the average person, why do CEOs dictate to their secretaries?

In any case the vast majority of computer users do not need to enter vast screeds of text, they just need to read/view/listen/interact with stuff on screen and manipulate the interface as they do it.

Most control of the interface will obviously be through gesture, not speech. You don't talk to your tools, or tell them what to do, you use them with your hands. The keyboard is a great tool for entering text, but its an inadequate interface into a general purpose toolbox like a computer - so is a mouse, but we are constrained by the current/past limits of technology

 

[Takeo]

welcome, my brother.

actually, you went from archaic to cutting edge, huh? i'm jealous. i want that mouse, but have been waiting for either my Logitech or my MS mouse to croak first (i may be waiting a while).

re: the Logitech Laser Mouse... Get it... you will love it. Honestly, just for fun, I put it on the shiny side of a CD and it didn't track great, but it DID actually track well enough to use! The laser technology is simply amazing. With a regular optical on my light colored wood desk top, it was zig-zagging and jumping all over the place. With the laser mouse, it's smooth as butter. And the ergonomics and buttons are awesome. I mapped Exposé to the thumb buttons and now, as a result, I actually USE Exposé Seriously, up until a few months ago I would argue about the superiority of the simple one button mouse 'til I was blue in the face. Now, since I've gotten use to my Logitech mouse, I will never go back.

Also, with regards to sentiments along the lines of, 'well... if someone's not going to buy a Mac because it only has a one button mouse, then they don't deserve to own a mac in the first place'... a tad elitest don't you think? Certainly that's not the way to run a successful company... by blaming the customers if they don't LOVE your CLEARLY superior design Thank you Apple for listening to what the market actually demands instead of what Steve Jobs' ideology demands.

I wonder how Steve will introduce this... that could be hillarious. "And now... one last thing... we at Apple have come up with something so far ahead of the curve that every PC maker in the world will soon be rushing to immitate it... it's a HUGE advance in how you interact with your computer... here it is... we call it... the two button mouse!!!! BEHOLD the two-buttoned wonder!!!!" And all of a sudden, all of the Mac faithful will be telling all their PC friends about this amazing new invention that Steve Jobs came up with... the two buttoned mouse!!!! Well... the shiny, white two-buttoned mouse

All kidding aside, it will be interesting to see if they actually DO do something innovative with the mouse. Perhaps they could incorporate trackpad/ipod clickwheel like controls/scrolling... so instead of a scroll wheel... you would just stroke the top of the mouse or something. That would be neat.

 

[Takeo]

welcome, my brother.

actually, you went from archaic to cutting edge, huh?

Oh, you don't know the half of it You know that ADB II mouse I loved so much?... it was connected to a beige G3/233 desktop running OS 9 with a 4 gig drive and 96MB of RAM. I went from that to a 20" iMac G5 with 250GB hard drive and 2 Gigs of RAM But yah, the Logitech Laser mouse is awesome. It's arguably the best mouse ever made I think. I should also point out at this point, since I keep talking about this mouse, that I have no relationship with the company... I'm just a satisfied customer.

 

[ACED]

I wonder how Steve will introduce this... that could be hillarious. "And now... one last thing... we at Apple have come up with something so far ahead of the curve that every PC maker in the world will soon be rushing to immitate it... it's a HUGE advance in how you interact with your computer... here it is... we call it... the two button mouse!!!! BEHOLD the two-buttoned wonder!!!!" And all of a sudden, all of the Mac faithful will be telling all their PC friend about this amazing new invention that Steve Jobs came up with... the two buttoned mouse!!!! Well... the shiny, white two-buttons mouse at least

Sounds like a good thread in itself ... suggestions to Steve on how he might swallow some considerable pride after decades of denial of the 'need' for more than one button...a paradym shift in Apple, no less...look at the number of emotive posts on this topic over the years...such a waste and a ridiculous head-in-the-sand situation.

One thing, I'm sure it won't just be like everyone elses, 2 button/scroll mouse ... it will have to be something different enough to enable the Mac faithful to latch onto, to justify to mocking PC users their new-found allegance over the decades old one button type.

Nah, surely Hell will freeze over, first.