Mighty Mess

[grapes911]

What you just saw is what pc lovers would call mac fanaticism--defending apple even in the face of legitimate criticism. No offence, but it seems like raven and zap2 haven't even used the mighty mouse and they're already bashing someone who has bought one.

Mr.Hostility was quoting me and I was in no way defending this mouse. I read people's impressions from other threads in this forum and then I tried it myself. It's a total piece of crap by Apple standards. There are hundreds of better mouses out there.

 

[AP_piano295]

Wow alot of you seem like you will defend apple no matter what they do... apple can make a substandard product.

 

[Lloyd1994]

hey, i think its good someone said something bad about a mac product. yes, there are many good things about mac products (far supirior to windows products) but lets face it, nothing can be perfect. and some people in these forums are too much in love with every apple product. i think a mouse is a very hard thing to get right because so many people like so many different aspects of mice. i havent seen or tried one, but im interested in it.

I agree. I tried it out at the local Apple Store today and wasn't completely blown away with it. I was dead set on buying it upon the arrival of my iPod battery claim check, but now I'm going to be looking for something else in the $50 range. Right-clicking was definitely more effort than I originally thought. Think about it, suspend one finder in mid air and keep it there while the finger next to it must depress until the button clicks. Any your middle finger is much less dexterous than your middle finger. I also had a hard time with the squeeze button, my thumb was well placed but my pinky finger couldn't quite find the right spot to get the leverage necessary to depress the button and using my ring finger was just awkward. I was blown away by the originality of the new features (and, by the way, I loved the scroll ball), but my first impression is that it might not be the best mouse for my set of hands, and I am definitely going to wait for rev2 or rev3 before I risk carpal tunnel to some cool gadget. If I can't type I can't code; if I can't code I can't get paid.

 

[danny_w]

I am sorry but I don't get what everybody here is so upset about in the original post. All except the last one (#5) have been mentioned in public reviews, and they all pretty much said the same thing as the OP. Understandably some people will have more of a problem with these issues than others, specifically those that have experienced any sort of mouse-related injury. The Mighty Mouse may be a giant leap for Apple, but come on, it IS just a mouse after all!

 

[zap2]

No offence, but it seems like raven and zap2 haven't even used the mighty mouse and they're already bashing someone who has bought one.

Well for me i did use the mouse and what this person is say it not true other then the gaming thing

 

[bousozoku]

Hey Music Producer,

As someone who has experienced carpal tunnel syndrome and has to use a computer 8 - 10 hours a day, I am not going to tell you just how angry your post makes me.

But I will educate you about one feature of the vBulletin software, the Ignore list. That is where you can put the usernames of MR members that you never wish to have darken the screen of your computer again. You're on it, babe.

I understand what you mean but it does seem that the original poster is somewhat weak. That's not to say that the Mighty Mouse is perfectly designed, though. I don't find their keyboards particularly good either.

 

[Mr. G4]

It's a serious issue for those of us with KVM's, non-Apple keyboards without USB outputs and/or large desks.

Then what is the point of KVM if you have to have 2 or more set of mouse and keyboard? Is it just for Monitor?

 

[AP_piano295]

Havent any of you people herd of repetative stress syndrome (butchered spelling) It doesnt take alot of motion to cause damage, you wouldnt think that using a mouse can cause damage but it can. It is very possible that lifting the finger every time you want to click causes more pain.

 

[CanadaRAM]

Then what is the point of KVM if you have to have 2 or more set of mouse and keyboard? Is it just for Monitor?

Ummm... the point is to have one mouse and one keyboard. Just that the keyboard may not be an Apple one (so no extra USB outlet for that short-a$$ed mouse cable) and where the KVM switch is positioned may not be within 2.5 feet of the mouse (mine is on top of my PC tower on the floor, and it's easily 5 feet around the desk and down to the KVM). So a short mouse cable is unworkable in those situations.

OTOH my CAN$26 Microsoft optical scroll mouse has a 6 foot cable and has been a reliable trooper for years.

 

[zap2]

Hmm.. Your truth trumps the original poster's truth, I presume that is your position.

Actually, I read a lot of direspect and precious little truth in the factual sense in that post.

Especially the part where you tell them they are wrong - they are not feeling pain in their forearm. That was a gem of truth telling, that was.

I have never felt pain in using a computer mouse and im sure there are ways people do, i talk from my use of the mouse, the moving fingers thing was not to much for ME, but it could be for some. And how can a mouse be too light, it would make it easy to move and if you have pain in your arm that would be a good to have a light mouse. To me those 2 comments do not add up pain in arm and to light of a mouse.

 

[JDOG_]

Meh...

I too was ready to throw down $50 and get one of these until trying them in an Apple store today. I mean they only had two of the things hooked up to computers in the whole store (take that as you will)!

I was completely underwhelmed and really had to train myself to use it, which was a total bother...I mean isn't Apple stuff all about being intuitive and easy to use? I totally agree with what others have said about the weight and difficulty of using the shoulder buttons. I also think moving the scroll ball closer to the left and making it a bit larger would do a great deal of good.

I also noticed pretty blatant issues trying to right click things and sometimes just not having my finger far up enough on the thing to register a click (which never really happens with regular one-button mice). I think if they popped out a $39 & $50 wired & bluetooth rev.A version (respectively) there would be a lot of happy people including myself.

/ducks

 

[Music_Producer]

Hey Music Producer,

As someone who has experienced carpal tunnel syndrome and has to use a computer 8 - 10 hours a day, I am not going to tell you just how angry your post makes me.

But I will educate you about one feature of the vBulletin software, the Ignore list. That is where you can put the usernames of MR members that you never wish to have darken the screen of your computer again. You're on it, babe.

Oh I'm so hurt that I'm on the 'ignore list'.. whatever RedMacMan posted his opinions.. and I found them highly amusing, so I posted mine. Its not that I specifically jumped on his 'forearm' anguish subject.. he seemed to have a lot of complaints about the mouse..ranging from the cord length to the weight of the poor peripheral!

As for educating me about how you feel regarding using a computer 8-10 hours a day and having experienced carpal tunnel syndrome.. let me tell you what a musician like myself has to do. Work with computers - 14 hours a day.. while at the same time play the keyboards (synthesizers).. mix.. master..etc etc. I experienced cts when I was 16..and I overcame it. If you're working with computers for 8-10 hours.. go to a gym at the end of the day.. and work your forearms out with various stretching and weight lifting excercises with proper nutrition. You can do two things when you're afflicted with an ailment - Complain and take no measures OR do your best to overcome it.

Anyway, back to the original post..its not as though I'm trying to defend a product simply because its made by Apple.. but its a bloody mouse!! Ahh now if it had bluetooth and wireless and could play mp3s..sure, I would check out every review there is.. but a mouse..

And if you get angry about someone's post.. you shouldn't be here in the first place. Its a forum, there will be conflicting messages, and some might be extremely annoying.. but if you go around putting people on your 'ignore' list you might as well stick to reading your own posts and ignore everyone else. "darken my screen".. lol never heard anything so childish

 

[Music_Producer]

That may not necessarily be the limiting factor-- it's about positioning, and it can be detrimental to your health aka carpal tunnel syndrome.

As he mentions in the original post:

Since the whole mouse IS the button, you cannot click both left and right butons at the same time. This eliminates an otherwise valid click combination which I use heavily in a certain game.


When I play a game that requires a lot of 'shooting' or 'clicking'.. I use a joystick. Its ridiculous that he uses a mouse and the left+right click combination 'heavily' in a game.. when he's predisposed to forearm discomfort.

If the post stated "Right clicking is really tough.. to the point that it hurts" ..that would be more than a valid complaint..I would appreciate that. But he goes on about other rather silly issues which just made me think "God.. this person just whines.."

Wonder if I made a post like "Mac Mini Monster:

1. ITs too small..I might step on it one day
2. Its too darn light.. is it really a computer? If its expensive, it should be heavy!!
3. The power cord is too short.. well, almost the same as every other product but i would like a 60 ft long one
4. I dont like the color.. they should have made it white..to match the ipod

 

[faintember]

5) The mouse itself is too light.

You're kidding right? I mean , you wouldnt want more forearm discomfort!!

So as a musician, as i am myself, i am sure that you prefer the feel of a weighted keyboard over a shoddy casio keyboard, right?
Maybe that is what the OP was referring to. I like my Korg microKontrol, but the sliders and keys do feel a bit cheap and "light" to me. That is a valid response to using a product, and finding, what one person might see as a fault.

Differing opinions are ok and even welcome, but be somewhat sensible about the way you express them. Sometimes a scream is better than a thesis, but this is not one of those times. Common courtesy goes a long way.

The title of this thread is right. The thread is a Mighty Mess!

 

[Rod Rod]

To the OP:

The whole mouse is a button. When you right-click, a finger has to be resting on the right front side of the ball, with nothing resting on the left side. You can apply pressure with your palm WITHOUT having to do the actual clicking with your "right click finger." This should answer your CTS / RSI concerns.

I tried out the Mouse Mini at the Apple store on North Michigan Avenue (Chicago) on Saturday. I had no trouble figuring out the right-click / left-click / middle-click. I didn't try the side button(s) though because I didn't care for them - although I am curious about whether click-and-hold works on the MM the same way as it does on the conventional Apple mouse.

 

[faintember]

I'm not going to repeat zap and Raven because they did a good job addressing the issues at hand.

Here are some examples of why I think this is dumb post:

The mouse isn't good for gaming. What would you say if I said I purchased a Dodge Neon and I'm disappointed because it sucks at off-roading? This is not a gaming mouse. 'nough said.

Most multi-button mice are able to be "gaming" quality. I didn't know that mice came with a rating that stated if they were for typical use, or for gaming use. Expecting the one-button mouse to be a "gaming" mouse would be much more in-line with your previously mentioned analogy.

The cord it too short. It's the same length as Apple's standard mouse. Why would you expect it to be any different?

Maybe because if you buy a mouse that did not come with the computer, they typically come with a longer cable than the standard one-button Mac mouse. My Kensington came with a longer cable than my standard one-button. This is the first new mouse design that Apple has released in years. Why wouldnt people expect a longer cable (or a BT option for that matter)?

The mouse is too light. WTF? Come on people. Doesn't anyone else "try before they buy"?

Some people do not live near a Apple store, nor have the desire to drive (time and money) to decipher if a $50 mouse feels right. This post tells us that some may find the Mighty Mouse needs to go off the Atkins Diet.

Agreed. That's why we have:
This thread introduction the Mighty Mouse,
This thread about people's first impresstions, and
This thread specifically about the mouse and gaming.
Most of (if not all of) the original complaints were covered before.


Maybe now you can see why I have a lack of respect for this thread.

See the first part of this second post of yours (with the links to the various threads discussing this topic) is what the OP should have been given as his 1st response. Yes some of his concerns have been covered time and again, but it is no reason to burn him at the vBulletin stake. Jeez!

Maybe now you can see why I have a lack of respect for your posts.


Now, back OT...

To the OP, sorry to hear about your experience. Might i suggest that you sell the Mighty Mouse on ebay or on the for sale forum here? The product is still new, and you should get a decent price for it. Personally, i think Apple dropped the ball with the MM. Using two pressure sensitive sensors that functioned independently of one another to replace the standard left/right click buttons would probably be the better way to go and give a much more traditional multi-button mouse feel, and operation IMHO.

 

[iMeowbot]

The whole mouse is a button. When you right-click, a finger has to be resting on the right front side of the ball, with nothing resting on the left side. You can apply pressure with your palm WITHOUT having to do the actual clicking with your "right click finger." This should answer your CTS / RSI concerns.

This is why I lurrrrrve Apple mousies, I can just lean into the things instead of forcing individual fingers. Conventional arrangements are painful with extended use. Click wheels are one of the worst parts, they tend to be tightly sprung.

None of this will mean much to people who don't have those problems, but the Mighty Mouse arrangement definitely does have function beneath the form.

 

[Diatribe]

Geez people, step away from the keyboard for a sec, calm down, breathe, relax and realize that this is only a forum. How do you guys cope with life, if you can't even cope with that on a online forum?

To the original poster:
There are enough threads on this already, posting there does suffice. You have valid points but please don't start even more threads for this.

 

[whooleytoo]

I have to admit, I always find it funny that discussions on mice seem to be the most fiery threads on Mac forums. That, and things like "metallic windows vs conventional "aqua" windows". By comparison, Intel vs PPC debates seem absolutely friendly!

 

[3badjacksfan]

Ok. I tested (played around with) one:

- It's beautiful!
- It's usefulness is subject to the user's need, comfort, & expectations.
- Its little ball was nicely responsive, handling up/down, left/right, AND diagonal.
- I wanted all the buttons to have more of a "click" feel (but that's ME, doesn't make the mousie wrong.)
- I felt it was very zen: like the mouse & my conscience would have to be in harmony with each other, because it wanted a very sensitive, light touch, & I'm no mongo, I'm a 100 pound girly-girl. (Again, but that's ME, doesn't make the mousie wrong.)
- When going into System Prefs to set the right & left click buttons for your own prefs, it wasn't in System Prefs. I don't know if maybe it wasn't set up 100% yet at the Apple Store (Grove in LA), but it seems like the store would have had their new little gizmo set up 100% for us to demo it. Or maybe its set-up is somewhere other than in SysPrefs. That's a question for the Already Owners to answer.
- All in all, I wanted to buy it for its beauty, but didn't because I realize I just really like my little touch pad on my iBook, regardless of how many times I'm told how much easier Photoshop is with an actual mouse.
- It's going to be great for some people, and not for others. So far I haven't seen one mouse that satisfies every single user.
- That's why they keep trying to build a better mouse (trap).

 

[Mr.Hostility]

Ok. I tested (played around with) one:

- It's beautiful!
- It's usefulness is subject to the user's need, comfort, & expectations.
- Its little ball was nicely responsive, handling up/down, left/right, AND diagonal.
- I wanted all the buttons to have more of a "click" feel (but that's ME, doesn't make the mousie wrong.)
- I felt it was very zen: like the mouse & my conscience would have to be in harmony with each other, because it wanted a very sensitive, light touch, & I'm no mongo, I'm a 100 pound girly-girl. (Again, but that's ME, doesn't make the mousie wrong.)
- When going into System Prefs to set the right & left click buttons for your own prefs, it wasn't in System Prefs. I don't know if maybe it wasn't set up 100% yet at the Apple Store (Grove in LA), but it seems like the store would have had their new little gizmo set up 100% for us to demo it. Or maybe its set-up is somewhere other than in SysPrefs. That's a question for the Already Owners to answer.
- All in all, I wanted to buy it for its beauty, but didn't because I realize I just really like my little touch pad on my iBook, regardless of how many times I'm told how much easier Photoshop is with an actual mouse.
- It's going to be great for some people, and not for others. So far I haven't seen one mouse that satisfies every single user.
- That's why they keep trying to build a better mouse (trap).

Thanks for the down to earth review.

 

[Josh]

I'm not going to repeat zap and Raven because they did a good job addressing the issues at hand.

Here are some examples of why I think this is dumb post:

The mouse isn't good for gaming. What would you say if I said I purchased a Dodge Neon and I'm disappointed because it sucks at off-roading? This is not a gaming mouse. 'nough said.

So people should own one mouse for using normally, and another for gaming? Not likely. People only use one mouse, and what good is a mouse if it is only good part of the time?

The cord it too short. It's the same length as Apple's standard mouse. Why would you expect it to be any different?

Because people are hoping Apple would realize the mistake of making the other cords too short. Perhaps it was time for a change? Apple products' cords are way too short. Sure it saves space if you've got an iMac on a kitchen table, but many computer desks and set ups require a cord longer than the measely amount Apple gives you.

The mighty mouse is a disaster. Sure, lifting one finger is not hard, but it's something that is a)not a natural movement and b)something you shouldn't have to do. No one wants to 're-learn' how to use a mouse. If users can't use this mouse the same as they are used to, it's already failed.

It also may not be very hard to squeeze it. But a mouse is supposed to be clicked, not squeezed, fondled, and rubbed. What's next, a mouse that works better based on how happy it is as a result of being tickled by the user?

 

[Rod Rod]

So people should own one mouse for using normally, and another for gaming?

Yes.

Because people are hoping Apple would realize the mistake of making the other cords too short.

I think the mouse cord is too long. To each his/her own.

Sure, lifting one finger is not hard, but it's something that is a)not a natural movement and b)something you shouldn't have to do.

This is a matter of opinion, not fact. I happen to lift my left-click finger ever so slightly from the left-click button when I right-click. This is a habit I'd formed years before the Mighty Mouse came out. I can understand the difficulty of changing what amounts to an involuntary sort of motor skill.

It also may not be very hard to squeeze it. But a mouse is supposed to be clicked, not squeezed, fondled, and rubbed. What's next, a mouse that works better based on how happy it is as a result of being tickled by the user?

Next? The Tamagotchi Mouse!

 

[Lacero]

 

[Rod Rod]

Lacero, did you make that with MS Paint?