Former Apple Engineer Recalls Steve Jobs' Great Displeasure with Multi-Button Mouse Concepts

[redscull]

For me personally, Apple has never made a mouse I enjoy using.

Apple's mice were my main point of mockery as a die-hard DOS/Windows user. Even to this day, having finally converted into a Mac user a few years ago, I do not use Apple mice. My iMac has a "normal" multi-button Logitech mouse attached and an Apple Magic Trackpad sitting to the side for the occasional gestures (usually just multi-directional scrolling in Pixelmator).

The Magic Mouse is an innovative piece of hardware that doesn't make using a computer easier. Just like using an iPhone as an eyes-free video game controller is nearly impossible due to lack of tactile feedback, the Magic Mouse requires too much attention to handle with quick precision. And that means it's not good for gaming or work activities, limiting it to casual users only (who to this day seem confused when they don't see the expected button). You just can't beat physical buttons, not until we see what capacitive surfaces are like.

 

[longofest]

Farag believed Apple was the first to create a mouse that used an LED for optical tracking in place of a rubber ball, as the team looked toward building a successor worthy of the Apple Pro Mouse.

That's complete and utter BS. I was using an optical mouse on a Packard Bell machine back in early 90's, and the optical mouse was invented back in the 80s.

http://www.geek.com/hardware/40-years-of-the-mouse-a-guided-tour-1369967/

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Wow that black pro mouse is beautiful. I want one now lol

I still have mine. In my opinion, it was Apple's best mouse, but that's not necessarily saying a lot. Looks nice, not necessarily a pleasure to use.

 

[urtules]

Plus they had multi-buttons so were far more user friendly.

I disagree. One button or no buttons at all is easier to use than multiple buttons.
As was said before me, OS X designed in a way you don't really need contextual menu for any operation.
I personally dislike mouses with more then 2 buttons. They getting on the way and I clicking on them accidentally.

 

[misterpip]

Magic Mouse + BetterTouchTool App FTW. Can control my many many aspects of my iMac.

 

[erinsarah]

Sketchup

Can't use Sketchup with any of them. I've got a collection of Apple mouses ) ) in a drawer somewhere.

 

[DisMyMac]

The Roswell craft was supposedly controlled by static palm plates with no buttons or movement.

 

[Fishrrman]

Apple has yet to design an ergonomical, functional mouse.
If one wants to see a well-designed mouse, look instead to Logitech. They have done for mice what Apple accomplished for a computer OS.

Regardless of Steve Jobs' personal genius, he seemed to lack something very fundamental -- that being, the perception that what was stylish to him, might not prove to be quite as "workable" once placed into the hands of the masses.

And to this day, this has permeated Apple design, insofar as their mice and keyboards are concerned.

If one wants a GOOD mouse or keyboard, one buys "third party".
You ain't gettin' one from Apple.

Style, yes -- LOADED with style.
But they flunk the functionality test...

 

[Atlantico]

The best Apple mouse ever:

Runner up:

The others are a just various degrees of bad. I never used any Apple mouse since the Hockey puck was introduced.

 

[imajez]

I disagree. One button or no buttons at all is easier to use than multiple buttons.

How on earth do you cope with a keyboards with all the freaky buttons on it then? Not so well judging by your final sentence.

As was said before me, OS X designed in a way you don't really need contextual menu for any operation.

Which completely ignores the fact that contextual menus are way, way more efficient. BTW you do not need them in Windows either. But in both systems contextual menus gives you only the relevant tool options, so rather than have to navigate to and then to dive down into menus to access the function you need, alt click move mouse a fraction and you're sorted. Contextual menus are even more ergonomic when using multiple large monitors. People faffing around through menus rather than using keyboards shortcuts or right clicking are only wasting their own time and effort.

I personally dislike mouses with more then 2 buttons. They getting on the way and I clicking on them accidentally.

Other people manage quite happily, maybe they are less clumsy.
Besides you can usually turn buttons off if not needed, so what is the issue?

 

[GeneralChang]

I’ve got a mac that came with each of those mice, and I’ve got to say, the only time I ever missed the second button was playing Diablo II on my G4 PowerMac. That being said, my hand was always resting on the keyboard to control hotkeys, so the Command button was never too far away. Otherwise, I’ve loved all of them. I especially enjoy using the Magic Mouse at work. The envious looks (and inevitable “how do you do that? Can I get one?”) from my coworkers as I flick back and forth between desktops and applications is priceless.

 

[imajez]

Apple has yet to design an ergonomical, functional mouse.
If one wants to see a well-designed mouse, look instead to Logitech. They have done for mice what Apple accomplished for a computer OS.

They are not so laudable if you want to use a mouse left handed. Last few times I looked Logitech had nothing and currently they have nothing. No-one seems to make a decent left handed mouse. About the only options are ones that are equally crap in both hands.
Besides most mice are way too small, making you have to grip the wretched thing which isn't good if you want to avoid RSI.

 

[Digital Skunk]

For me personally, Apple has never made a mouse I enjoy using.

True words.

Ive never cared for apples mouses. The one button thing was just annoying and unnecessarily. The magic mouse looks cool but not very comfortable for doing a lot of photoshop, video editing etc.

Tell me about it. Not to mention the mighty mouse, or whatever it was called was the worse mouse Apple has ever made. That super tiny ball was rendered useless within a few weeks of heavy use.

Every system I ever specc'd had to include a mouse from Logitech or RazorTech because no Apple mouse could hold up.

Now, the touch mouse Apple has now is nice for general use. Feels great and all, but it's too finicky for some.

 

[jeremyschultz]

The choices made by the "marketing team of one" is why I use a Logitech MX Revolution.

 

[Rog210]

The Magic Mouse concept is groundbreaking in theory. In practice, it's extremely painful to use for extended periods of time - too small, too shallow, no place to take the weight of my hand and arm so I'm always having to carry the weight myself or use the table which presses on a tiny point in my wrist, leading to health problems.

I'd ditch it in a heartbeat if I could get the multi touch functionality elsewhere.

 

[alexgowers]

I understand what Steve was trying to do but there is a need for secondary clicks of targets in 99% of situations. If you click something you want it to open or do something, a secondary click is a change or alter command to remove etc the button or app in questions.

Long clicking or double clicking could have been an answer but not as quick as a secondary button.

In tablets this secondary button has been replaced by long holding or swiping on a target instead which is intuitive compared to with a mouse.

I don't think apple would have suffered by offering two button mouses at all but simplicity is a key to apples success and so jobs must have thought it part of the process.

I still encounter the older generation who still find using two button mice confusing so he was right but even if he wanted one button there needed to be a second. I remember when you had to keyboard and mouse click for almost everything it was painful.

Even the current mouse is horrid and too flat for comfortable use, apple makes the best trackpads and possibly the worst mice.

 

[winston1236]

Nice story and all but Apple has never made a comfortable mouse. After every Mac purchase I go straight to the Windows store to buy a mouse, for some reason Microsoft is excellent at mouse building.

 

[imajez]

The Magic Mouse concept is groundbreaking in theory. In practice, it's extremely painful to use for extended periods of time - too small, too shallow, no place to take the weight of my hand and arm so I'm always having to carry the weight myself or use the table which presses on a tiny point in my wrist, leading to health problems.

I'd ditch it in a heartbeat if I could get the multi touch functionality elsewhere.

Here you go - I have the trackpad next to my mouse and use them interchangeably. Plus I have a Wacom tablet to use in other hand and a CAVS Shuttle for when doing video work. Pen/tabliet isn't much use then.

 

[roadbloc]

One of the things Steve was undoubtedly wrong about. Every single one of Apple's mice have been truly awful. Nothing beats a mouse armed with two buttons and a scroll wheel.

 

[imajez]

I don't think apple would have suffered by offering two button mouses at all but simplicity is a key to apples success and so jobs must have thought it part of the process.

Apple weren't so successful during their single button days though.

I still encounter the older generation who still find using two button mice confusing so he was right but even if he wanted one button there needed to be a second.

He wasn't right, those folks who still use a simple button are luddites who are simply punishing themselves. The whole single button nonsense is shown up by the fact you have a keyboard next to it which has 100+ keys on it. One of which was then used to make the mouse less crap.

Even the current mouse is horrid and too flat for comfortable use, apple makes the best trackpads and possibly the worst mice.

Indeed they do.

 

[macproredux]

Mice are a personal thing though, what's great to me may not be great to others.

 

[winston1236]

Mice are a personal thing though, what's great to me may not be great to others.

Thats true except when it comes to Apple mice, they are universally hated.

 

[KimJonNumberUn]

bought my apple magic mouse back in 2010. still working like new since then 4 years later. really a nice innovative mouse and the touch scrolling and tapping is a real plus

 

[Cyborg21]

Interesting piece of history. I'd also like to hear more development about Apple's modern-day trackpad. It's a joy to use on my MacBook Air, and for productive work I think it blows a touch a touchscreen right out of the water. It makes using my a mouse on my Windows PC painful to use by comparison.

I agree! I just switched to a Mac and trackpad on my rMBP is very good. I use multi-touch gestures a lot, they are very useful and Apple trackpad has a very good feel in hands.

 

[imajez]

One of the things Steve was undoubtedly wrong about. Every single one of Apple's mice have been truly awful. Nothing beats a mouse armed with two buttons and a scroll wheel.

One! He also wanted to remove cursor keys on the keyboard as he didn't like them either. Thankfully somebody had enough spine to prevent that. Still he got his crazy way on the iPhone/iPad and it's probably the single most annoying and frustrating thing about the otherwise great products.

Apple's idea of simplicity often involves making the item more streamlined so it looks nice, but this then involves the user having to do more complex actions to make up for it. One button mice and removed cursors being prime examples.
No delete key on the wireless/laptop keyboard is another braindead idea. Having to use two hands rather than one to delete something is an improvement how? Not to mention many people don't even realise the cack handed alternative exists [Fn+Backspace], so they may have to cursor back and then backspace to delete a word/letter.... Imagine if the cursors had gone too.

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bought my apple magic mouse back in 2010, a really a nice innovative mouse and the touch scrolling and tapping is a real plus

Do you have really small hands then?

 

[octothorpe8]

No delete key on the wireless/laptop keyboard is another braindead idea. Having to use two hands rather than one to delete something is an improvement how?

Am I missing something? My MacBook Air and my Apple bluetooth keyboard both have delete keys on the upper right corner. Pressing them moves the cursor back, deleting what was just typed.