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New Apple Mouse and Keyboard... Soon

Originally posted by meghop
It is kinda funny - the few times I have ever had to use a mouse with two buttons was pure hilarity. I have been using apple's one button mice since 1984, it's surprisingly difficult to teach your hand/brain to do something new after that long. I am one of those mac people that is totally lost in the world of windows and two-button mice - I get frustrated very easily with both of them. I knows what I likes, and two buttons ain't it. 😉 And I just put a new hard drive in my g4 tower, so I'm not totally all thumbs, just with two button mice, lol.
Click to expand...

This is an interesting perspective. We all know that those of us that prefer to use multi-button mice (personally, I don't like fewer than three- but then I do a lot of unix stuff) can easily buy a third party mouse and plug it into our computer. But, if Apple were to stop making one button mice, and switch over to two button mice, what would the people who want a one button mouse do? I'd guess that meghop is not that small a minority. Perhaps MacAlly or someone would continue to make 'Mouse-In-A-Box' one button mice, but I wouldn't be surprised if they'd love to offer nothing but multi-button mice, too. After all, a one button mouse is really only marketable to the Mac community, where as multi-button mice can be marketed to the entire computer world community, regardless of platform.

Anyway, my guess is that the i-models will always have just one button. That goes along with the target audience, in my mind. The Power-models may end up getting a BTO option to have an Apple multi-button mouse. If that is the case, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the new Apple Power-Mouse with at least three buttons, making it useable in Shake.

Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter...
 
Originally posted by redAPPLE
imo, a 2-button mouse is not the same as a 2-"button" trackpad. i got the chance to use a lot of pc notebooks and "right-clicking" the trackpad buttons is idiotic.

with which finger does one "right-click" a trackpad? tapping the pad for double-clicking s ok. left-clicking with the thumb is ok. but right-clicking?
Click to expand...

Ah, yes. I've used many Wintel laptops, too. I can't stand the split mouse button on the trackpad. It's uncomfortable, awkward, and just plain annoying. It's far too easy to click on the 'right' button when trying to just 'left click'.

Also, when it comes to clicking and control clicking on my iBook, I really don't have too much of a problem hitting the control key when I need it, just from the natural position of my left hand. So, please, no split button on the 'Books.


ontopic: my take is, apple would not mess with the one-button mouse design. the pro mouse looks! perfect. i would place a "ctrl" button where the thumb sits. so there is your "ctrl + click".
Click to expand...

Interesting idea... I wouldn't hold my breath for it's implementation, but it's interesting, none-the-less.
 
I would think Apple would release a two button trackpad along with a two-button mouse. Granted, the second button on a trackpad is not as easy to use as a standard mouse button, but is still useful. You are probably right, though. Sales would probably not go down considerably.

Ugh. Just brought back awful memories of using my trackpad on my Ti 550. The thumb button was so hard to press down that my thumb would be sore after 30min use.
 
No offense really, but I can't understand how some of you out there love a one button mouse. Seriously it totally decreases functionality, at least for desktops. Now I'll be straight forward. I'm a Mac newbie (long time PC user), got my 12" PB like about month now, and I dont have any gripes about the one button touchpad. Ctrl clicking is fine, but that's just because it's too retarded to attach a desktop mouse to a laptop and for me it would be a pain to carry all the time.
But for desktops, I think I would need a multy button mouse. It seriously increases functionality. And not just in stuff like word processing or web browsing, but especially gaming. I mean i guess if you dont play games, a one button mouse is the way to go but geez how hard is it really to put on an extra button? I mean if you have that big of a gripe you might as well mod your car to have just one pedal.
Well sorry if I offended some, but Apple would really benefit in selling multi button mice in stead of a freakin 50 dollar one button hockey puck.
 
I personally like the one button mouse ?especially the new "buttonless" mouse. I love to be able to keep the mouse in my hand however I like and it works. With 2-button mouses you always need to have it in your hand properly.

Still, I admitt that two buttons would be great for games, but that's almost everything it serves well. You mostly have your left (or right, the 1-butt. mouse works well for both!!!) arm free so what's the big deal pressing ctrl?

And the one button mouse really is an icon for apple. why should they quit making it? Maybe there could be a choise for the customer where he could choose from two options.. That's be pretty cool and people could stop whining about this.
 
I'm not offended, but remember that what Apple does with its products is about more than just what is more or less "functional", it is about being simple and intuitive.

And this Kensington mouse really is quite sweet...

Anyway, I've been using macs since they had itty-bitty screens and were in black-and-white, and I've grown quite accustomed to being a two-handed user, personally. I would also like to point out that the two-button mouse has been a liability for a long time, in that developers could get quite lazy indeed on the PC and make commands very difficult to find at times because of the stupid contextual menus. It's only been recently that I personally have become more of a convert to the idea that a two-button mouse would be more highly useful.

But I don't (always) let what I want personally get in the way of what will be the best approach in my opinion for Apple. I stand by my opinion that a one-button mouse is great for the non-savvy user.

And they don't make the puck mouse anymore...

Plus, I don't care what anyone says, the Pro Mouse is a fine mouse for only having one button, IMO.
 
right click

you know, the big thing for me is that os x has always supported right-clicking on mice without the use of any extra drivers. so if they support the use of right-click into the OS and understand why people need it then why not give the people what they want?
 
Re: Re: Wow

Originally posted by inkswamp
How about Apple+I? Is that not simple enough?

Just IMO. Frankly, after having dealt with the half-baked crud that passes for the Windows interface for so long, the Mac's simplified approach works for me. I'm not eager to see Apple mess with it to please a bunch of people who have been taught to expect bad design.
Click to expand...

Coming from a Windows world, I don't see how looking down at the keyboard and looking for the Control key and using 2 hands to do what a second button on the mouse can do is more convenient or easier.
 
TOSS THE ONE BUTTON MOUSE, APPLE! It is absolutely ridiculous. If you are too dumb to figure out when to use the left and right buttons, then you don't even need to use a darn computer. Left click does what your precious single button did and the right button gives you contextual menus. I guess you prefer to have to use two hands to perform the task a single finger on a two-button mouse could do. If you can't figure out what a scroll wheel is for, then you should donate you Mac to charity and save yourself the stress of owning such a mind-boggling piece of equipment.
 
Originally posted by FelixDerKater
TOSS THE ONE BUTTON MOUSE, APPLE! It is absolutely ridiculous. If you are too dumb to figure out when to use the left and right buttons, then you don't even need to use a da*n computer. Left click does what your precious single button did and the right button gives you contextual menus. I guess you prefer to have to use two hands to perform the task a single finger on a two-button mouse could do. If you can't figure out what a scroll wheel is for, then you should donate you Mac to charity and save yourself the stress of owning such a mind-boggling piece of equipment.
Click to expand...

Thats constructive Flix, thanks 🙄

Now mice are a b*tch for me. I'm left handed so I can only ever buy ambidextrious mice and so that rules out more than three button mice. I currently use a wireless optical Logitech thing. Its okay but I secretly look forward to the days that my batteries run out so i can use my pro mouse. For a start this logitech thing horribly ugly, secondly it ways a ton with all its batteries. another thing I notice is that I get infinitely smoother mosue movement with my pro mouse than with this one. I love using m pro mouse, i've never seen a mouse thats as comfortable and nice to use before, its liek driving a nive mercedes or something using pro mouse. Th eonly reason I use the logitech is because of the multi-button issue. And after 6 months of use I don't see the advantage of wireless really, it jsut weighs you down with heavy batteries where before you were weighed down by cables.
 
Hey Arn, Is it true 🙁 🙁

Just how reliable are these reliable sources?

When I read the rumor my heart sunk. I have been waiting for an Apple branded scroll mouse for a couple of years now. I really would prefer to throw away the MS mouse I'm forced into using and use an Apple mouse.

Sigh. Hope this isn't true.
 
I don't think you have to worry...we should expect the new mouse to roll out with Panther and the 970, IMO. Come see why 2004 won't be like 1984! We love IBM! Anyway...gotta sleep sometime, NASCAR's on in the morning....
 
I have never understood the problem people make out of the 1 button / multi button mouse issue. I have one of each. I use my Apple Pro Mouse for my general work. I was taught to use keyboard short cuts for all my formating options when word processing, as this is far faster than using any type of mouse, as you don't move your fingers from the keyboard. When I play games however I use a Multi Button Mouse. Simple. No right or wrong way, just differnet ways of working.
 
1,2,... n buttons on a mouse

Hmm I think we can all agree on one thing: some people prefer one button, some prefer multiple buttons. And that's that. At least on Macs we have a choice, because second button click is a control-click. So people can choose what they want. That being said, I would rather use an Apple-branded multi-button-plus-scrollwheel mouse than a Microsoft (or Kensington, MacAlly...), because it would probably look nicer.

But I would not want Apple to abandon the single-button mouse either, because it would then alienate a lot of their users, and probably (notice the probably) would make developpers become sloppy in terms of user interface. Just a nice BTO option to get an Apple multi-button mouse...

Now the scrolling wheel, that's what we all need, even the single-button mouse users. I don't know how Apple would do it, but I'd really like an iPod-like wheel on my mouse or next to my trackpad on my laptop. If I had that and the option to get a second button (through that scroll-wheel thingy), then i would bin my Microsoft mouse...

My 0.02 ¢.

NicoMan
 
switching to a multiple button mouse would be saying "okay, windows world, you were right these past 25 years, we're going to become more like you to help ourselves survive". i dont think that's a statement apple is prepared to make at this point.
Click to expand...

They are right. I sit here with a 4 button + wheel trackball. I just for ****s and giggles tried using a onebutton mouse again. I'd get a nervous breakdown after a day of using it fulltime again as it takes much more movement to get things done due to having to move to the deskbar to access menus instead of pressing a right mouse button, move my hand about all the time as I can't scroll content by flipping a wheel and finally have to get back and forth to press the "back" and "forward buttons in the menubars instead of pressing one of two buttons to flip back and forth.
No, the one button mouse is a device shich every sane person would have replaced decades ago with more mature and userfriendly technology.
 
Just for the record I've always used the one button mouse. I do have a Kinsington multi-button mouse and it's ok. As far as right clicking being faster I think THAT is also a matter of opinion. I know the keyboard short cuts (and my own quick keys) so well it's pretty instinctive.

If apple released a 2 button mouse there would be some who would say "Apple's so stupid for not releasing a 2 button mouse with a scroll wheel!" Then if they released the scroll wheel 2 button mouse then there would be some who'd say "Apple's so lame for not releasing a 3 button mouse." It goes on and on. Keep the 1 button mouse and let those who want multi-buttoned mice use a 3rd party.

My 2¢.

BTW, why not include BT in this round of updates? That's what I'm waiting for!
 
Re: 1,2,... n buttons on a mouse

Originally posted by NicoMan
Hmm I think we can all agree on one thing: some people prefer one button, some prefer multiple buttons. And that's that. At least on Macs we have a choice, because second button click is a control-click. So people can choose what they want. That being said, I would rather use an Apple-branded multi-button-plus-scrollwheel mouse than a Microsoft (or Kensington, MacAlly...), because it would probably look nicer.

But I would not want Apple to abandon the single-button mouse either, because it would then alienate a lot of their users, and probably (notice the probably) would make developpers become sloppy in terms of user interface. Just a nice BTO option to get an Apple multi-button mouse...

Now the scrolling wheel, that's what we all need, even the single-button mouse users. I don't know how Apple would do it, but I'd really like an iPod-like wheel on my mouse or next to my trackpad on my laptop. If I had that and the option to get a second button (through that scroll-wheel thingy), then i would bin my Microsoft mouse...

My 0.02 ¢.

NicoMan
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats the dilema I have. I like using multipile buttons. Anyone know a multibutton mouse thats as comfortable and smooth running as the apple pro mouse? It has to be ambidextrous as well.
 
It's not the Apps it's the Software

I come from UNIX land where three button mice are the norm. I'm very comfortable with a multi-button mice and I personally always carry one with me, but...

When using Windows I regularly find myself having to play 'which button is it'. Things are pretty good when there is a clear selection action, but for instance in the task bar about half the controls ignore the left button the rest seem totally arbitrary about which button does what. As a result I have to remember this particular control uses this button, this makes the interface very non-intuitive.

On the Mac this doesn't happen very often at all. 1st there is a lot of pressure to put everything on the one button action (which would be fine for most of these controls - one control pops up a menu with two items for left mouse and a menu with one time for right mouse - talk about a waste!). 2nd the Mac OS provides stronger guidelines on how things should be done.

I think Mac made the right decision force software developers to seriously consider the one mouse button case, but when that fails Cmd click is always an option. People who care will get a two button mouse, people who don't can still do everything. The only real downside is laptops, which I own, but one button works well enough there most of the time and when you are doing lots of work just plug in the multi-button mouse.
 
A one button mouse on a notebook is brilliant. Its very simple and when you have to use a right button the control button is so close to the trackpad... I may not like one button mice but one button on a laptop is the best.
 
I REALLY hope apple has a multibutton mouse next. To some
people, right click is necessary. I use it to browse faster. Opera,
for PC, has 'mouse guestures' which you can control your browser
with, and they make my browsing experience so much faster
(safari needs mouse guestures). I couldn't live without a right
click mouse ever..... Every time I use my friends pro mouse, I
almost die. I'm sorry, but that mouse sucks anus. It is slow
moving (no matter what speed it is on in the control panels),
there isn't a right click, there isn't a scroll wheel, and it costs
as much money as a mouse that will actually be intuative. Apple
has a great design for their mouse, but they need to add a
****ing scroll wheel. If Steve Jobs keeps a 1 button mouse for
'simplicity's sake', then apple is going to go WAY downhill in the
next couple of years. If apple doesn't release an actually GOOD
mouse, then I will be just fine with my MICROSOFT mouse which
was a helluvah lot less expensive and works a helluvah lot better.

🙄 🙄
 
Originally posted by scem0
Every time I use my friends pro mouse, I
almost die. I'm sorry, but that mouse sucks anus. It is slow
moving (no matter what speed it is on in the control panels),
there isn't a right click, there isn't a scroll wheel, and it costs
as much money as a mouse that will actually be intuative. Apple
has a great design for their mouse, but they need to add a
****ing scroll wheel.
Click to expand...

Scem,

Dude you are contradicting yourself there...first saying it sucks anus, then saying they have a great design. Of course, you are a PC person...so then again? okay I am just joking.

Personally I LOVE the one-button mouse, but I don't do a lot of special things with my computers. For moving around the Finder, surfing the net, word processor, PowerPoint, etc. One button works great.
 
Originally posted by scem0
I REALLY hope apple has a multibutton mouse next. To some
people, right click is necessary. I use it to browse faster. Opera,
for PC, has 'mouse guestures' which you can control your browser
with, and they make my browsing experience so much faster
(safari needs mouse guestures). I couldn't live without a right
click mouse ever..... Every time I use my friends pro mouse, I
almost die. I'm sorry, but that mouse sucks anus. It is slow
moving (no matter what speed it is on in the control panels),
there isn't a right click, there isn't a scroll wheel, and it costs
as much money as a mouse that will actually be intuative. Apple
has a great design for their mouse, but they need to add a
****ing scroll wheel. If Steve Jobs keeps a 1 button mouse for
'simplicity's sake', then apple is going to go WAY downhill in the
next couple of years. If apple doesn't release an actually GOOD
mouse, then I will be just fine with my MICROSOFT mouse which
was a helluvah lot less expensive and works a helluvah lot better.

🙄 🙄
Click to expand...

I'm sorry scem, but I don't think apple is going to go down the pan because they sell one button mice. You buy a microsoft mouse, whoopy s***, doesn't mean you're not gonna buy an Apple Computer does it?

If somebody made a multi-button mouse that is as well engineered, and beautifully designed, as apples single button mouse, then I'll buy it, but right now I'm stuck with an inferior mouse because I can't resist scrolling and right-clinking, does anybody know a multi-button mouse that would work for me? I'm a mouse elitist and need smoothness and comfort and design but also need buttons, any suggestions anyone? Anybody actually use the kensington Studio? Whats it like?
 
why 1 button is vital

I've got no problem with people using multi-button mice if they want. I do have a problem with them ranting about why I should though.

I'm disabled. I can not use 2 buttons.

By supporting multiple buttons but only shipping 1 button mice, Apple is ensuring developers always code for the lowest common denominator.

If they started shipping 2 button mice pretty soon the OS and apps would need 2 buttons. Me, and thousands (or more accurately millions) then have to struggle with technology that is supposed to make life easier.

It's all very well you lot demanding Apple bundle 2 button mice, but don't forget not everybody sees it as a good thing.
 
Originally posted by paulwhannel
switching to a multiple button mouse would be saying "okay, windows world, you were right these past 25 years, we're going to become more like you to help ourselves survive". i dont think that's a statement apple is prepared to make at this point.

pnw
Click to expand...

Sometimes you need to admit your wrong, macs arn't perfect, and neither was the 1 button mouse.
 
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