Magic Mouse for a Graphic Designer?

[hoosker]

I am ordering a MP today and am trying to decide if the Magic Mouse would be desirable for Adobe suite work and Final Cut. I have never tried using one more that a few min. at an Apple store. I am tempted to just stay with the old scroll ball. Any graphic designers out there that like the touchy mouse?

 

[jbennardo]

It took some getting used to but now I prefer it. That said, there are a few times where the screen will scroll unexpectedly because I get lazy and swipe my finger too close to the mouse. Overall, I still like it better than cleaning out those little scroll boogers.

 

[eponym]

I am ordering a MP today and am trying to decide if the Magic Mouse would be desirable for Adobe suite work and Final Cut. I have never tried using one more that a few min. at an Apple store. I am tempted to just stay with the old scroll ball. Any graphic designers out there that like the touchy mouse?

I know some that do.

I personally don't bother with Apple mice. I tend to use Microsoft (gasp!) or Logitech mice.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I personally do not like it -- even for basic OS X use it's handy to have multiple programmable buttons which the MM lacks. It's also not hyper accurate like a lot of 3rd party mice. You might want to take a look at the Logictech mice.

 

[hoosker]

I know some that do.

I personally don't bother with Apple mice. I tend to use Microsoft (gasp!) or Logitech mice.

Yes I am using a Logitech mouse right now. Maybe I will just go with the ball and buy something later when if I don't like it or it gets gummed up.

 

[you39]

I am ordering a MP today and am trying to decide if the Magic Mouse would be desirable for Adobe suite work and Final Cut. I have never tried using one more that a few min. at an Apple store. I am tempted to just stay with the old scroll ball. Any graphic designers out there that like the touchy mouse?

Yes.

My only complain is that it eats batteries by the dozen. Otherwise it's fine. Yes, it's accurate enough, yes it's nice to not have to clean the scroll ball all the time and yes, I hate logitech mice...

 

[sboerup]

Get a nice mousepad and a Logitech G500. Blows the socks of the Magic Mouse. I had the MM for a couple weeks, but the bluetooth was skippy at some times. I've always preferred wired mice, but I do plan on getting a trackpad for the HTPC

 

[Hellhammer]

Magic Mouse is nice for surfing etc but it makes me see red if I try to do something with Photoshop. For anything work related, you're better off with mouse with REAL buttons.

 

[reel2reel]

I'm addicted to the Apple Trackpad now. You can zoom, rotate, scroll any direction way faster and easier than with a mouse. As far as mice go, though, I've always used Logitech.

 

[strausd]

I do a lot of graphic design stuff and also 3D animation in Maya and Cinema 4D. About a year ago I got a Wacom Intuos 4 and it was probably one of the best things I have ever bought. The buttons on the pen are easily accesible and can be set to do anything. The flip to erase is really nice, along with all other 8 buttons on it, and not to mention the scroll wheel. If you are serious about graphic design, you should look into a pen tablet.

 

[reel2reel]

I do a lot of graphic design stuff and also 3D animation in Maya and Cinema 4D. About a year ago I got a Wacom Intuos 4 and it was probably one of the best things I have ever bought. The buttons on the pen are easily accesible and can be set to do anything. The flip to erase is really nice, along with all other 8 buttons on it, and not to mention the scroll wheel. If you are serious about graphic design, you should look into a pen tablet.

Actually, I can't believe I didn't mention Intuos 4. I *can't live* without a Wacom tablet. Between the trackpad and pen, I rarely if ever touch a mouse. I just keep one around for other people who might jump on the computer and are terrified of the pen.

 

[hoosker]

Thanks for all the input. I went for the wired mouse with the order but I have been contemplating a tablet for Photoshop work and may get one later.

 

[OptimusP83]

Thanks for all the input. I went for the wired mouse with the order but I have been contemplating a tablet for Photoshop work and may get one later.

Tablets are tough. I got one and never really use it, of course I am a graphic designer not an artist (some would say thats a distinction without a difference but anyway...). I think what I did wrong though was get a small one. Its proven mostly useless, but I feel like if I had splashed out for a large one I would use it far more. The accuracy I am used to with a mouse is REALLY tough to replicate on a 6x9 pad. 11x17 is the way to go if you are serious about a tablet. Better yet borrow one for a few weeks and try it out.

 

[GadgetAddict]

If you want to use the Magic Mouse or a trackpad you will definitely need BetterTouchTool. It drastically expands usability.

Now, as a structural engineer I use Logitech's Performance Mouse MX. I think it's the best out there. Very precise, a few assignable keys but most importantly your hand rests comfortably on it which is vital when you're working for hours.

 

[hoosker]

Tablets are tough. I got one and never really use it, of course I am a graphic designer not an artist (some would say thats a distinction without a difference but anyway...). I think what I did wrong though was get a small one. Its proven mostly useless, but I feel like if I had splashed out for a large one I would use it far more. The accuracy I am used to with a mouse is REALLY tough to replicate on a 6x9 pad. 11x17 is the way to go if you are serious about a tablet. Better yet borrow one for a few weeks and try it out.

Which tablet are you not happy with?

I do illustrations in addition to traditional layout so maybe I could put it to use but I bet it will take some getting used to. I was thinking that 11x17 would take up too much room on my crowded desktop and hoping a smaller on would suffice. Really the appeal of the tablet to me is pressure sensitive brushes/line widths to achieve a more natural look even when using vector drawing programs. I am sure it only supplement the mouse and not replace.

Wish I knew someone to borrow one from.

 

[THX1139]

Tablets are tough. I got one and never really use it, of course I am a graphic designer not an artist (some would say thats a distinction without a difference but anyway...). I think what I did wrong though was get a small one. Its proven mostly useless, but I feel like if I had splashed out for a large one I would use it far more. The accuracy I am used to with a mouse is REALLY tough to replicate on a 6x9 pad. 11x17 is the way to go if you are serious about a tablet. Better yet borrow one for a few weeks and try it out.

I've owned large and small tablets and I prefer the 6x9 Wacom for graphic design. The larger the tablet, the more wrist and arm movement you need to do. I LOVE my tablet. If someone says that a mouse is more accurate, they don't know what they are doing and probably have the wrong settings. It takes awhile to get used to a tablet, but it's time well spent. The best combination is either a trackball/tablet, or a wireless Logitech laser mouse and 6x9 tablet. A larger tablet might be preferable IF you do lots of sketching or like to wave your arm around.

Two things I hate that are really old school is a wired mouse and any mouse that uses a rolling ball as sensor. I remember the old days of having to clean a mouse ball and I don't miss them. Wireless optical laser is the only way to go. And who in their right mind wants to be tied down with a wire running from their mouse? Arrrgh!

 

[strausd]

I have a medium Intuos 4 and its perfect. I think a large would be a little too big, especially on pen mode. And a small one is just a little... small haha. Plus the small one only has 6 buttons and no descriptions of them on side, whereas the medium has 8 and the descriptions.

 

[hoosker]

strausd

2010 12-core 2.93 GHz Mac Pro?

A bit premature for your sig line, me thinks or else you got some really FAST shipping from Apple?

 

[AppleCode]

I would recommend a tablet for graphic design. Intuos4, I have the small, I like it,it's not to big Its personal preference. but if you don't like tablets I would recommend a logitech mouse because of ergonomics

 

[Sleephartha]

Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman Trackball with the Intuos 4 Medium Bluetooth tablet. For ease of use and ergonomics you cant beat a large trackball. Less effort and better precision imo. But I know... u either love em or hate em. I got a cheap $100 Wacom Graphire with my old computer and Photoshop CS and Painter 3D became a whole new experience. I couldn't see doing graphic art without a graphics tablet and am ridiculously excited to try the new Intuos 4 with my new Mac Pro and CS5....

 

[OptimusP83]

Which tablet are you not happy with?

I has an Intuos3. When I need to draw or sketch on screen its invaluable, but thats so rare. Maybe I just have a different workflow, but I do primarily web design and its not terribly useful to me. I used a large 11x17 one at work a few years back and it was awesome, the small one just didn't have enough room for me to work with. I personally just prefer my MX Revolution. I've even got an extra just in case! Though for offsite work, I have a corded logitech MX400, mostly so I dont have to worry about batteries, and it has a similar footprint to the MX, which I love.

 

[strausd]

strausd

2010 12-core 2.93 GHz Mac Pro?

A bit premature for your sig line, me thinks or else you got some really FAST shipping from Apple?

Well considering I already ordered it and all my 3rd party stuff has arrived, I figured it would be fine to go ahead and put it up

 

[hoosker]

Well considering I already ordered it and all my 3rd party stuff has arrived, I figured it would be fine to go ahead and put it up

Thats cool. Hey if I had the cash to get that I would be wanting to put it up too. Where did you order your RAM from? I am planning on ordering from OWC. transintl.com is cheaper but I am not sure it is as good.

 

[strausd]

Thats cool. Hey if I had the cash to get that I would be wanting to put it up too. Where did you order your RAM from? I am planning on ordering from OWC. transintl.com is cheaper but I am not sure it is as good.

Ordered mine from OWC. They seem to be more popular than TransIntl. Also, they do the rebate on old RAM which is nice and will get me $54 back.

 

[dreamtenstudios]

I'm a designer and I tried the magic mouse for over a month hoping to get used to it, but found it too uncomfortable and imprecise for graphic work. It looks so much better than anything out there, but the ergonomics on it are atrocious (others disagree and if you can get by with it more power to you). I work quickly in Photoshop and found my productivity hindered significantly with the magic mouse. I ended up using a logitech g500 instead.