Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple debuting two-button mouse?

Just love the Mouse Wars!

For a long time I was firmly in the "love my one button mouse" camp. A few months back, my Apple mouse died at work. I came in one morning to find a cheap Macally iOptinet (WTF??) mouse, 2 button w/scroll wheel, connected to my Mac. The HORROR!! :eek:

I used it, quickly coming to appreciate the convenience of that 2nd button and, most particularly, of that handy scroll function.

Like it so much I replaced the Apple BT mouse on my PB with a Radtech BT500 mouse. Now I'm eyeing up the standard Apple issue mouse on my iMac at home.....BTW, my soon-to-be-four year old son is equally comfortable with both styles of mouse. He even goes back and forth between the two with nary a problem.

Single button mice are fine, and offer a rich user interface when combined with some timely keyboard shortcuts.
Multi-button scroll mice are equally fine.
People prefer one or the other.

Apple is smart if they offer the choice, particularly to switchers. Make the venerable one button mouse the default, and let people upgrade to a multi-button mouse for an upcharge. Sounds like the Apple way to me. ;)
 
Lack of a 2nd mouse button may be inconvenient (single-button mouse user for years), but a good scroll wheel is indispensable with the amount of effort it removes. My 3rd button is the equivalent of f9 for exposé.

It's probably safe to assume that most people here that are against a multi-button mouse (and especially a scroll-wheel), haven't used one for any length of time.

Apple-esque
 
Try using Maya with a one-button mouse, and you'll be ready to punch the screen in frustration. If Apple is serious about the pro market, they can't expect their users to go out and buy another mouse, especially after having spent $5000 for each workstation.
 
If I'm going to use a two button mouse I would rather buy it from Apple than another company. I want it to work well with my Mac and not act all sorts of crazy! Yeah some of us know some mice are not created equal or even very well and using Maya like stated in a previous post with a one button mouse isn't fun and cuts down on "being productive".
 
brap said:
I don't get it, though. Power users won't be happy with anything less than 6 buttons, and Joe email n' AIM will be just fine with the single.
Click to expand...
What the hell can you do with a multi button mouse that people don't already do with their other hand and key combinations. There will always be more key combinations than extra buttons on a mouse.

I'd guess at a touch sensitive single button that can sense scroll action.
 
Confused

I don't understand why the "one-button mouse" supporters are so forceful about their opinion. There have been multi-button mice that have worked with Macs for many years. Some people prefer them, others do not. Those who prefer them buy them from third party companies because Apple has not manufactored one so far. Now, if Apple offers a two-button scroll mouse in addition to their traditional one-button mouse, how does this adversely affect you? :confused:
 
Well I hope to see;

Battery level - on mouse or in my upper right finder bar

Power on/off button!

Rechargable - even better if uses rechargable AAs and recharges when plugged into USB...does anyone do this?

Frickin lazer - yeah, I know its not going to happen but thats what I would like.

A really nice up down/left right wheel or some sort of very cool and easy to use touch pad for same...they did patent that ipod wheel on the mouse remember...maybe this will be the new iTunes remote!

2 primary buttons

Expose/programmable smaller thumb buttons - yeah, probably not going to happen either

BT2.0 and backwards compatible - think theres a chance of this...

A choice of white or PB metal - yeah I know its going to be white but I want more choice than that
 
Your asking for alot of stuff there, I have only read that it is going to be wired, not heard of a BT 2 button mouse yet, There is already a sort of on/off switch with the BT mouse, better battery life i have to agree with though.
 
I think apple is going to release 3 diff. mice and keyboards.

-Basics (corded one button mouse w/ small keyboard)
- Intermediate (Bluetooth one button mouse w/ regular size keyboard)
- Pro Edition (Rechargable bluetooth 6 button mouse w/ rechargable keyboard, jumbo size keyboard with built in scroll wheel (like ipods) for pro apps, of course this will be all be cased in a sexy anodized aluminum casing.

But knowing apple they will only add an optional two button mouse along with the already existing one button. They should really have a keyboard geared towards pro apps though, like one for the studio package. I dislike the 3rd party fcp keyboards, they are outdated, not bluetooth, and cheezy looking (most of them).
 
kettle said:
What the hell can you do with a multi button mouse that people don't already do with their other hand and key combinations. There will always be more key combinations than extra buttons on a mouse...
Click to expand...

So essentially this thread has people split into two camps. Those in favor of Apple introducing a new mouse with two buttons and those who want to stick with the two-part 110 button mouse. ;)

For those who talk of intuitive UI's and how simple it is to use the command button to access 'right click' functions, my Apple keyboard doesn't have a command button.
 
jsw said:
But anyone who thinks single button mice are even remotely as productive as multi-button scrolling mice (God, I hope the new one scrolls...) must use applications very different from the ones I use.
Click to expand...

I use a PowerBook trackpad and iScroll 2. I can scroll and right-click easily. Two fingers on the pad, click, and wham-o! Right-click. Two fingers allow me to scroll, too. Just works amazingly well.
 
Peyote said:
<snip> ... Those are your words, how was my understanding of what you said incorrect?
Click to expand...
Hey, if you want to take it as a jibe, go for it -- makes no difference to me.

The fact is, people will still complain unless the Apple mouse is as good as [whatever], has more buttons than [whatever], faster response time, etc, etc, etc. And those people will see themselves as "Power users", in spute of the UI guidelines. Search the forums, hell, search this bloody thread to see the arguments.

Whatever, I like my Wacom.
 
aswitcher said:
Well I hope to see;

Battery level - on mouse or in my upper right finder bar

Power on/off button!

Rechargable - even better if uses rechargable AAs and recharges when plugged into USB...does anyone do this?

Frickin lazer - yeah, I know its not going to happen but thats what I would like.

A really nice up down/left right wheel or some sort of very cool and easy to use touch pad for same...they did patent that ipod wheel on the mouse remember...maybe this will be the new iTunes remote!

2 primary buttons

Expose/programmable smaller thumb buttons - yeah, probably not going to happen either

BT2.0 and backwards compatible - think theres a chance of this...

A choice of white or PB metal - yeah I know its going to be white but I want more choice than that
Click to expand...

Isn't the mouse you are describing here the LogitechMX1000? That mouse rocks. I want it so bad. Especially the "LAZER".

I have been in the market for a wireless kb and mouse. Preferably a white one with Apple keys. I have fallen deeply in love with the Logitech MX Duo. Especially with the application switch button. I would love it more if it came in white and Apple keys.

This is why I want Apple to make multi-button mouse. So I never have to use the kb. It seems that the biggest argument that 'power users' have for a single button mouse, is that its faster to use the kb for shortcuts. I think that this misses the point of macs. What is the percentage of mac users that are 'powerusers'? Fairly small I would guess. Just like in the Windows
world. This same kind of argument plays itself out in Slashdot everyso often even among non-mac users about how many buttons are necessary. The thing is powerusers are going to get the most use out of whatever configuration they have. They have extensive practice, know all the short-cuts, etc. The average new user on the other hand, is not going to know where the 'command' key is. When I first switch I had a terrible time figuring out the when to use option and when to use the command key. I didn't even know that it was called 'command' I referred to it as the Apple key. What's more intutive: Telling someone to click the right buttton or click the nouse and hold the Command key. (conversation ensues asking which button is the command key). Yes, its easy to find after the first couple of time but you still have to explain it to them. To get people to switch you have to allievate as much stress of the switch as possible. A one button mouse cannot be too comforting to some one in the store who has never used a mac before. Its not really comforting when the salesperson say 'oh to right click just use the command key'. Wha?! Where is that?

My feeling is that Apple is really making the push to getting the mac more acceptance to potential 'switchers'. This is a good time because of all the bad press MS has been getting about security issues.

Unfortunately, I really doubt this plays out. As mentioned before, the one button, for better or worse, is iconic and for Apple to come out with a multi button mouse in any form is akin to the opening of the seventh seal. (actually I think that the book of revelations says something about it. Revelations 17: 29 Yea and the Heavens open and there descended a Mouse. A mouse with 3, nay, 4 buttons. And the masses knelt before the Mouse and worshipped and became productive. Yea, there was much rejoicing.
 
Mechcozmo said:
I use a PowerBook trackpad and iScroll 2. I can scroll and right-click easily. Two fingers on the pad, click, and wham-o! Right-click. Two fingers allow me to scroll, too. Just works amazingly well.
Click to expand...
Well, that's cheating! ;) I was talking about using a one button mouse vs. a multi-button one (esp. with scroll wheel or scroll pad). Trackpads rule.
 
2Sticky said:
I have only read that it is going to be wired, not heard of a BT 2 button mouse yet.
Click to expand...
????
Did you not read the article?

"the company is feverishly working on a two-button wireless optical mouse"
:confused:
 
jsw said:
Well, that's cheating! ;) I was talking about using a one button mouse vs. a multi-button one (esp. with scroll wheel or scroll pad). Trackpads rule.
Click to expand...


It isn't cheating! I still only have one button! It just beats all of your fancy-shmancy mice out, and it was free. :D
 
Appleinsider reports "jaws will drop" in describing this new Apple 2-button mouse. Any speculation what it may be? It might be a joystick like device.
 
I've been waiting for this for a while now. Even though there were third party 2 button mouses that worked on a mac, i wanted one from apple.

I think what's driving this is partially due to the success of the mac mini. Since it doesn't come with a mouse, they want everyone to buy a apple mouse. People who bought a mac mini probably didn't always buy a apple mouse, so apple wants a piece of that high margin sale. JMHO.

Never the less, a two button mouse would make a lot of mac heads happy.
 
PEOPLE, stop the madness! Clearly, Apple JUST NOW realized that you can in fact place more than one button on a mouse. This SHOCKING REVELATION finally made its way into the antechamber of Great Lord JOBS and he fittingly declared that henceforth Mac users will enjoy the fruits of their dogged research into the matter. May we all bow our heads in solemn THANKS for this amazing gift from on high. If only someone had told them about these wonder-mice sooner, might we have all been SAVED!

- - - - -

and now back to reality ...

Lacero,
I think the "jaws will drop" thing was just about them breaking tradition, but I'd like to be proven wrong by the revelaion of some truly innovative features. At least, pleeeeease let it be rechargeable out-of-the-box.

iGary,
Yes, I do think this is largely aimed at Windows users. Mac "power users" or whatever weren't stopped by having to buy another mouse in the past, and they still wouldn't be. But all kinds of PC users I've met have weird ideas about Macs and mice (and Macs and the Internet, and Macs and viruses, etc.). They don't want to lose a button or three on their mice, and tend to be suspicious of the one-buton crowd. So yes, like "PC + Mac" on the iPod box and the USB2 flap you know so well, this is a nod in their direction. However, I don't at all think this is a bad thing in anything other than a deep-Mac-purist-ideological perspective. It may all prove part of a slippery slope, but I'm still far from convinced it's worth much worry.

And hey, didn't the old 1XX-series PowerBooks have 2-button trackballs? I don't know what the 2nd button did, though.

Me? I like my trackpad.
 
mcgarry said:
And hey, didn't the old 1XX-series PowerBooks have 2-button trackballs? I don't know what the 2nd button did, though.
Click to expand...
That's true, they did. A big curved button and a smaller one. I can't remember what the other one did either, considering the OS didn't support multi-buttons back then. Probably only worked with Excel 2.0 or something.

As for the thread. How's this for wishful thinking? Gyroscopic. They should at least leave room for it, if they ever debut a TV-based product it would be the perfect Apple way to control it. Maybe I'm just obsessed with the gyroscopic pointers we have at work. 15 years ago, Apple would have made one... they made anything back then, just to say they did. Drop-loading CD-ROM drive/player that can run off of 8AA batteries? Sure! It's COOL! I miss all those random Apple-branded toys, even if they were market failures.

I think I'm going to go buy a gyro pointer now.
 
I am one of the most loyal die hard Mac users. I have used Macs my entire life!! I however don't understand how some Mac users out there are so pro one button mouse! I have been using Multi-button mice on my macs for Over 10 years now!! Way back in the day since the 68040 Motorolas and ADB Mice. Really it's time to come out of the dark ages if you die hard single mice fans just tried and used a multi-button mouse for a few months I think most of you would not want to go back to using a one button mouse.

As far as apple making their own Multi-button mouse, I hope that it has a scroll wheel and will be made available in a wired version as well. I reallly don't see the point of wireless mice. IMHO more batteries are the last thing I want to worry about when computing.
 
decksnap said:
Lame comment. How dare I use a one button mouse and be a professional power user, right?? I hate how I have to feel like I need to defend the single button mouse every time someone makes one of these comments, but many power users are fluent in key commands and as such prefer one-button mice. Different strokes for different folks, but you can't say 'oh I'm faster cuz my mouse has more buttons'. There's more than your way to get the job done quickly.
Click to expand...

I'd like the Apple wireless mouse to gain a Logitech MX1000 style laser optical technologty (very precise compared to other optical mice), a tilt-wheel (vertical/horizontal scrolling basically) or two-button mouse to have the features I mentioned.
 
The boy who cried mouse

I've heard this one a few too many times :D But Apple does change its patterns sometimes--just look at the Mini--so it's possible.

A one-button mouse has obvious advantages, and may people like them. Myself included.
A two-button mouse has obvious advantages, and may people like them. Myself included.

For some things, like many games, two buttons is VERY nice. And two buttons are supported by the OS for context menus. I find myself using Apple's mouse more than my 5-button mouse, but that's largely due to preferring Apple's shape.

An Apple-designed 2-button mouse with Bluetooth would be a tempting companion for my PowerBook!

If this is true, then I hope the part Apple is "working on" is a really good scrolling solution. Mouse scrolling is nice, but I've never seen a mouse that really did it well.

I'd suggest combining the scroll function and the second button maybe. Normally a mouse wheel is button 3, but 3+ buttons is beyond the needs of most. Simplicity IS good, and Macs that can be ordered with 2 buttons and scrolling might be a good compromise.

(Or leave the low-end machines with 1 button. But if Apple really does have a new and better mouse designed, I bet they just ditch the old mouse. Too bad, in a way: the zero-button mouse may be the coolest-looking input device ever made!)

Anyway, glad to see "real rumors" are back... it got a little dry in these parts last year :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back