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Originally posted by Abstract
However, I still wish there were more options from some of the other companies, like Kensington. They (supposedly) make a great small mouse for laptops, the Pocketmouse or something.
Yes, there's the PocketMouse, PocketMouse SE, PocketMouse Pro, and the PocketMouse Pro Wireless. I have the Pro, and it's great. The tracking is accurate, and the retractable USB cord is very handy when traveling. If they end up making a Bluetooth version, I'm going to beat the rest of you suckers and be near the front of the line :p
 
E-mailed Kensigton

I just e-mailed Kensington.

I'm guessing they are already working on a Bluetooth rev. at least SOME of their 20 or so mice. But I don't know this.

Isn't this what industry standards are for? So we can have great periferals at for the same price as PC users? with just a mac specific driver.

I'll post their reply when/if I get it. I stressed our (new AL PB users) need for a great multi-button, scroll-wheel Bluetooth mouse. And I said a small one would be good also.
 
I set my goals that the minimum I would accept was a 5 button (for expose) bluetooth mouse. After looking through the competition that produces something like this (read microsoft and logitech) I swallowed my pride and bought the microsoft mouse. 3 reasons behind this:

1) Microsoft has a reputation for building good hardware (ironic isn't it).

2) It was cheaper than I've seen the logitech mouse listed for

3) As far as I can tell logitech isn't selling the 900 in Canada yet (which is a pretty big problem).

The microsoft mouse was immediately recognized by my powerbook, and works perfectly. No tracking problems and all the buttons are recognized.

I may dislike Microsoft software but with any luck we can convince them to leave that business and do what they're good at being; a hardware company :D

So if you're looking for a good quality bluetooth mouse it's hard to beat the microsoft one.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with this useless bluetooth hardware that these outdated PC's seem to required. Anybody want to buy a bluetooth dongle and station? :rolleyes:
 
Microsoft Hardware

Part of the anti-M$ bias may be a tad unjustified. Last I checked, they subcontract the hardware out to other manufacturers (I think Logitech was making their keyboards for a while?) instead of having their own physical plants, so it isn't really "Microsoft" making the products. (Just my $0.02)
 
Originally posted by JimDog
It's not available yet, although supposedly will be available sometime this month. Price seems to be $40, and this place is taking pre-orders:

http://www.buypcdirect.com/product.asp?pf_id=bth-bt-bt500&dept_id=29
Wow, that is the mouse I want. Small, only $40, takes two rechargeable AAA batteries, and has an on-off switch so it won't drain itself in your laptop bag. I called BuyPCDirect because their website says it will be available in November. They said the manufacturer has shipped to them already, but it might not arrive until the first couple of weeks of December. They asked me to call back on December 1st. Let me know if you find anyone else selling this mouse because I want one now! :D
 
Bought MX900 as well...

I too bought the MX900 and just like 'richc' already told us, I too discovered that NONE OF THE "Other buttons" are functional except for using Expose commands, and that aint the only reason why you shouldn't even touch this pricey mouse until its made for mac. Even when you install the MX 700 mouse software (file "lccinstalldisk111.dmg") and try to use it for the MX900 bluetooth mouse, there is absolutely no communication between the bluetooth mouse and the MX700 settings you assign in the installed (MX700) preference pane settings found under system preferences. Trust me it doesn't work and it will not work! Don't even think about it. I do like the Bluetooth aspect of not having to rely on and connect via the big bulky wireless USB receiver sitting on my desk which although is RF, still requires a near line of sight conduit and for that reason alone I might consider buying the MX900 when Logitech finally, or should I say, eventually maybe will consider supporting the Mac market and get their shiite together and make it mac-compatible, but until then the RF version MX700 is superior. I also was quite disappointed in the "action" and precision of the MX900 mouse...that is, its not as smooth (in fact almost choppy) compared to the MX700, but this was before I accepted the fact that this device wasn't made for Mac and that is why they're not advertising it as being Mac-compatible, as it simply is not "optimized" for the Mac yet. Until then, it is definitely a NO-GO at this time! I was excited to know, however, that it worked via the bluetooth connection, and it did so seamlessly (recognized by hitting the "connect" button on the underside of the mouse or keyboard) and going into the "bluetooth preference pane" and checking 'discovered' devices and then "pairing" with the 'discovered' Logitech mouse and/or keyboard, but it is nowhere near acceptable cause it simply aint ready for primetime..... As you will quickly notice that it is only fairly accurate in mouse tracking, and without the ability to assign various commands made simple using the Logitech preference pane, why pay that kind of money to have a multifunctional bluetooth mouse just for the tracking. As for the keyboard, I didn't have the energy to go thru the plethora of assignable keyboard commands, but I would imagine these too would be incompatible with the MX700's pref pane.
AGAIN, I believe this will be the best Bluetooth mouse and/or keyboard out there when its ready, but accept it, its not ready cause it hasn't been optimized for Mac plain and simple. It aint cheap either. comp usa, ah-hem, ...conveniently.... stocked only the keyboard and mouse as a combo purchase rather than the mouse alone for a whoppin' $196 tax included.....ouch! I thought about the Microsoft bluetooth mouse and keyboard, but Microcenter said it was proprietary to PC as well, and it doesn't have as many command buttons as Logitech, not to mention a cheesy blue appearance (in my opinion) and monolithic receiver dock......what can I say, I'm sold on the Logitech and will hold out till its ready for Mac. Fortunately, I have a PC in dire need of bluetooth keyboard security and bluetooth range, and after taking it on a test run on my PC I think I'll keep this bad puppy and use it on the system it was optimized for thus far, the PC. The horror and irony that this dark-age system (PC) gets all the attention of cool peripherals. As far as performance on the PC, it totally ROCKS! Extremely accurate (same as wired mouse) and NO interference even nested in a pile of potentially interfering wires and completely hidden out of sight between huge magnet speakers and two large Cinema displays which would have sent my cursor into hyperspace when I was using the MX700 on the PC. As for my Mac setup, I use a G5 and simply plugged in a D-Link into the back of my Apple display's USB hub. (D-link is a tiny USB device that acts as your sole bluetooth receiver (D-Link model: DBT 120)
Darn! I really wanted this mouse for my Mac G5 and have written Logitech multiple times to get going on this thing. I also expressed to them that if they don't do something soon I'll buy from competitors and that they'll not only lose a Mac customer's business, but also a multi-PC customer equivalent to 5 sales, are you listening Logitech????
 
After reading reanime's post, which is a darn good one btw. I am pleading with anyone one who is reading this to please contact logitech support via the e-mail link below and ask for Mac support:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?countryid=19&languageid=1&page=support/contactcs

It takes less than a minute to fill out the form.

If you feel like going the extra mile, here's Logitech's Public relations address:

Logitech Inc.
Attn: Public Relations
6505 Kaiser Drive
Fremont, CA 94555"

I've already written them a letter last week.
 
I can't get my Microsoft Bluetooth Intellimouse explorer to work well with OS X. When I try to browse the device, I get a message that the "device lacks the proper services"--it then works ok, but when it powers down after not being used for a few minutes, It cant be brought back no matter what
 
Originally posted by craigkal
I can't get my Microsoft Bluetooth Intellimouse explorer to work well with OS X. When I try to browse the device, I get a message that the "device lacks the proper services"--it then works ok, but when it powers down after not being used for a few minutes, It cant be brought back no matter what

Which version of OSX? On 10.3.1 with the most recent bluetooth update it worked flawlessly.

If I leave it alone long enough that it powers down, I do get a "connection lost" message on the laptop. When I move the mouse it takes a second for the mouse to react, but it wakes up and reconnects with no problems.

As for the "Device does not have the necessary services", I don't think a mouse has the necessary services -- there is nothing to browse.
 
Just to clear this up, and for future potential users--It does seem to be working fine now. Don't know what I was doing wrong before--I could swear that I set it up properly at first, but when it subsequently lost contact I was trying to reconnect with the Bluetooth device browser--probably not the way to go. But now I can confirm, The Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer for Bluetooth works flawlessly with Mac OS X 10.3.1!

Thanks--I was almost ready to give up and sell it on ebay, then wait for the Belkin or get the Logitek.
 
where's the best place to order the microsoft mouse?

i would like it for the powerbook that i just ordered.

thanks in advance:D
 
I just got the MX900. It works flawlessly. I use the internal bluetooth connector in my powerbook, and the included dock to charge it. It connects easily and rapidly, and tracking is great. Plus I think it looks tons better than the MS one...
 
Originally posted by Prabz
Just heard that Jaguar would be having hot key support for multi-button mice. So a five button mouse is finally gonna be usable:D

...And having it bluetooth makes the deal even better!

where did you hear that?
 
CORRECTION: 4 buttons work on the logitech MX900

________________________
But ONLY the left, right buttons, and scroll wheel works. All other buttons DO NOT work, except with Expose`(They can be programmed from the Expose` pref pane).
_______________

This is untrue.
The button above and below the scroll wheel work just fine. Sure they pretty much do the same job as the scroll wheel and you can't program them, but hey it's something right?
I have a new 15 in pbook with the bluetooth module built in btw.
 
Logitech MX900

I just returned my MX900.

It was too big, too slow and the worst part is that it had no switch to turn it off. It's drains continuously while not in it's cradle. Also, the lack of Mac Drivers made all it's nice buttons worthless. The search goes on for the perfect notebook bluetooth mouse. Kensington, please don't fail me.

Rechargeable, Small w/wheel and on/off switch. Back/Forward buttons are nice too.
Please.
 
what?

how is this relevant in a BT post? PS: don't settle for a small RF mouse, I just bought the IOGear mini RF and it sucks ass. It skips worse and more consistantly than when the rollerball mouse on my old Performa got really dirty.
 
Logitech continues to ignore Mac!

I was disgusted with Logitech for putting out another specialized Bluetooth product.......for the PC!!!!! Ridiculous! For gods sakes man, listen to your customers! There is NO competition for a decent bluetooth mouse for Mac, and yet you morons continue to ignore a loyal clientelle and direct your R&D towards a Bluetooth multimedia keyboard mouse for the friggin PC. Enough already. I can deal with the Bluetooth keyboard made by Mac, but I'm sick of this dinosaur of a mouse you left us with, MX700. Chaps my arse. Sod off Logitech.
 
Take this LOGITECH

I'm praying that rumors of new Mac Mouse will include BT capability:

Tuesday, March 16 Afternoon

Big things may be happening to the Apple Mouse this year. Bolstered by the recent detailing of patents applied for by Apple on March 11th of this year for just such a device, sources have been coming out of the woodwork this week to solidly confirm what MOSR has been periodically showing the world in mock-up images and broadly sourced reports since early 2003.

Taking cues from the iPod's highly successful wheel-based touch interface, Apple's new mouse will use a wheel-like optical trackpad on top of the mouse to act in the place of a traditional scroll wheel and may be used in concert with other mouse design changes to mount an effective response to ever-intensifying criticism of Apple's single-button mouse design (readily available after-market options notwithstanding).

If these latest reports prove true, we might just be lucky enough to get our first look at this new mouse at WWDC on June 28th -- after all, a mouse with such revolutionary potential would very likely bring with it significant corresponding developments with Mac OS X itself.
 
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