Mighty mouse question as in alternative

[Change Agent]

I am using the brilliant mighty mouse with scroll wheel and USB cable. Apple no longer makes those. Does anybody know if a third party makes a similar mouse. I ask as I am not really able to work comfortably with other mice.

Thanks.

 

[smirking]

I am using the brilliant mighty mouse with scroll wheel and USB cable. Apple no longer makes those. Does anybody know if a third party makes a similar mouse. I ask as I am not really able to work comfortably with other mice.

Thanks.

Is there any reason why you're not just buying another Mighty Mouse? Used ones on eBay are plentiful and there are even listings for new in box copies that aren't exorbitantly expensive.

As someone who's had hand pain and also a former physical therapist, I can say that if you find something that is perfect for you, you shouldn't mess with the formula. Something that seems close can still be worlds apart. If you have pain or dexterity problems, even the slightest difference can completely alter how something handles for you.

 

[Change Agent]

I dd indeed look on eBay and co and have bought twice a second hand one that died soon after. So that option is dubious.

 

[smirking]

I dd indeed look on eBay and co and have bought twice a second hand one that died soon after. So that option is dubious.

I'm seeing some new in box copies available when I search. The cheapest new in box one I see is a wired version for $60US.

Are you looking for gestures or just the shape of the mouse? There were some other Apple mice with a similar device shape that came before the Mighty Mouse.

If you need similar gestures, but find the shape of the Magic Mouse too difficult, they make sleds for those that raise the height of the Magic Mouse so that it's more like the profile of the Mighty Mouse.

 

[Change Agent]

I'm seeing some new in box copies available when I search. The cheapest new in box one I see is a wired version for $60US.

Are you looking for gestures or just the shape of the mouse? There were some other Apple mice with a similar device shape that came before the Mighty Mouse.

If you need similar gestures, but find the shape of the Magic Mouse too difficult, they make sleds for those that raise the height of the Magic Mouse so that it's more like the profile of the Mighty Mouse.

Thanks I did see the ¢60 one but that be about a 100EUR before it is here (port and duties and VAT)

 

[JeffPerrin]

Also on the lookout for a wired mouse like the Apple's old Mighty Mouse (ie. a regular wired mouse with a tiny scroll ball). The ergonomics of this mouse are unparalleled, allowing me to work for hours on end over many years without worry of tendinitis.

 

[Change Agent]

No luck so far Jeff. Will post if I find a solution.

 

[seggy]

The mouse part itself is typical Apple garbage for people with zero hand-eye coordination, but the trackball... omg, to me that is LEGENDARY. It makes Excel navigation a joy and sooooo satisfying. In fact, I still use it as a left-hand controller on some of my machines.

Ironically the trackball was what was very unpopular when released because apparently Mac-first users a) never clean their mice and b) their diet consists of cheetos eaten at their computers.

I don't know what you value most in the mouse, but if it's the trackball as I suspect, I'm afraid I haven't come across a replacement. If it's the general shape / function of the mouse part itself... then you can do a hunderd times better, just depends on your priorities.

 

[Change Agent]

I don't know what you value most in the mouse, but if it's the trackball as I suspect, I'm afraid I haven't come across a replacement.

trackball indeed

If it's the general shape / function of the mouse part itself... then you can do a hunderd times better, just depends on your priorities.

and what would you recommend for a Mac user?

 

[smirking]

The mouse part itself is typical Apple garbage for people with zero hand-eye coordination, but the trackball... omg, to me that is LEGENDARY. It makes Excel navigation a joy and sooooo satisfying. In fact, I still use it as a left-hand controller on some of my machines.

I can appreciate how that mode of control would be a revelation to a heavy Excel user. Because I'm fascinated by how people develop novel ways of using unusual devices, how exactly do you use your Mighty Mouse with Excel? Is it something that could be done with a trackpad or does the ball give you some kind of pin point cursor control that you can't do otherwise?

I'm not a heavy Excel user, but do often have to look at large data tables in my work and I prefer to do that with a trackpad. If I'm at my desk, I have a Roccat Tyon mouse that I use all the time that has a thumb paddle that makes lateral navigation easy. This mouse is so critical to the way I work that when they stopped making it, I bought a brand new one to keep in storage. Thankfully I haven't had to open it yet after 4 years.

ROCCAT Tyon Review

The ROCCAT Tyon is a decent wired FPS gaming mouse. It has a ton of programmable buttons and a slightly slanted, ergonomic design. Its sensor performance is exce...

www.rtings.com

 

[seggy]

trackball indeed


and what would you recommend for a Mac user?

Trackball mice replacement wise, as i said it is very much a sadge situation
I use 3D mice on some of my computers which I have also mapped to do 2D things out of CAD but again, for fast 2D navigation nothing beats that glorious nubbin trackball for speed and accuracy.

In terms of a general Mac mouse, the world is your oyster - especially as it doesn't need to be a *Mac* mouse.

Functionally, if you want to bind MacOS specific stuff to buttons in a more accessible way then Logitech mice are a logical choice since Options allows you to map controls via GUI - but of course, any mouse that exposes buttons to MacOS can do the same thing natively if more clumsily.

As for ergo, you choose whatever you want. I've easily gone through $30K in keyboards and $15K in mice over the last ten years and those have informed MY choices. There's no guarantee at all my choices will be yours since I have no idea what you're looking for / hand size / grip type / etc.

 

[seggy]

does the ball give you some kind of pin point cursor control that you can't do otherwise?

^

you can accelerate the [redacted] out of it and even then it'll screech to a stop exactly where you want it to

big spreadsheet go zoom hurr durr

 

[smirking]

Also on the lookout for a wired mouse like the Apple's old Mighty Mouse (ie. a regular wired mouse with a tiny scroll ball). The ergonomics of this mouse are unparalleled, allowing me to work for hours on end over many years without worry of tendinitis.

There's probably some kind of utility that will allow you to use an Apple Magic mouse in similar fashion to the Mighty Mouse... so that it turns the touch sensitive area into something like a trackpoint so you can scroll.

 

[smirking]

you can accelerate the [redacted] out of it and even then it'll screech to a stop exactly where you want it to

big spreadsheet go zoom hurr durr

Ah, nice! If you see my gaming story I just posted above, you'll see I have an idea what you mean. Tactile feedback is wicked awesome once you teach yourself how to leverage it.

 

[salamanderjuice]

There's probably some kind of utility that will allow you to use an Apple Magic mouse in similar fashion to the Mighty Mouse... so that it turns the touch sensitive area into something like a trackpoint so you can scroll.

That might actually be even easier on your hands... but there's something to be said for tactility. When I used to play FPS games in online leagues, my secret weapon was an old school roller ball mouse. The reason why I was so good at sniping off heads in arena games was because I learned to use the drag on the mouse ball as sensory feedback to aim better. It was like the difference between driving a sports car where you can feel the curve of the road and a luxury car where you can't feel anything.

The magic mouse works that way out of the box. Swiping on the touch surface will scroll in that direction. Both vertical and horizontal.

There's lots of choices for mice that scroll both horizontal/vertical. Just not specifically with a trackball. I do have a trackball that lets me scroll with a button press using the ball but it's not a mouse.

 

[smirking]

The magic mouse works that way out of the box. Swiping on the touch surface will scroll in that direction. Both vertical and horizontal.

Yup. I've had both, but the thing that's awkward about the Magic Mouse's scrolling is that it's like a trackpad and large trackpad movements are awkward on such a small surface with one finger. I'd find a trackpoint type of input to be more interesting because you could accelerate and keep scroll momentum with smaller movements.

 

[smirking]

There's lots of choices for mice that scroll both horizontal/vertical. Just not specifically with a trackball. I do have a trackball that lets me scroll with a button press using the ball but it's not a mouse.

My dream mouse (well one of them) would be if someone made THIS trackball into a mouse with a trackball scroller!

Pro Fit™ Ergo Vertical Wireless Trackball - White | Ergonomic Input Devices | Kensington

www.kensington.com

I really can't believe it hasn't been done. Every so many years I look around again and always end up disappointed.

 

[seggy]

That's becasue it would be unwieldy. The reason the Apple trackball works so well is it is truly fingertip and has no inertia

 

[smirking]

That's becasue it would be unwieldy. The reason the Apple trackball works so well is it is truly fingertip and has no inertia

If all you want is for spreadsheets to go zoom, what's missing with a trackpad? You can configure those to zoom just as fast.

 

[seggy]

The exact two reasons I mentioned.

Picture moving a tiny, truly fingertip trackball vs swiping

 

[smirking]

The exact two reasons I mentioned.

Picture moving a tiny, truly fingertip trackball vs swiping

OK. Just a preference thing, then. Legit.

 

[seggy]

OK. Just a preference thing, then. Legit.

I love how various people interpret things they can't actually experience (or intelligently extrapolate).

 

[smirking]

I love how various people interpret things they can't actually experience (or intelligently extrapolate).

I apologize for being dismissive. It wasn't intentional nor did I mean to insult you. I meant it as "if it works best for you, it's legitimate and valid."

My former career was related to ergonomics and I've done a lot of study in this area which is why I get so excited when people want to geek out about input devices. My apologies.

 

[seggy]

I apologize for being dismissive. It wasn't intentional nor did I mean to insult you. I meant it as "if it works best for you, it's legitimate and valid."

My former career was related to ergonomics and I've done a lot of study in this area which is why I get so excited when people want to geek out about input devices. My apologies.

NP.

I notice it a lot in terms of areas where subjectivity enters into the mix. I'm too used to things like audio discussions where someone will call me out for having a subjective opinion, I reveal my HMS + actually reference measurement gear as opposed to budget Chinese nonsense, then it turns to "well it's all about how I feel about it" from their side 🤣

In this case however, it's pretty clear cut. Economy of movement is king.