New Mouse at WWDC?

[arn]

YourDailyMac claims that Apple will introduce a new mouse at WWDC (on Monday).

In a suprise move where software rules the headlines, Steve Jobs will on Monday unveil during his keynote speech at the World Wide Developers Conference WWDC, Apples first two button bluetooth mouse.

They provide some other limited details including two buttons and a scroll wheel. Interesting if true... we only have to wait a few days.

 

[imspace2]

Power?

If this is true I'm interested in how they plan to power and recharge the unit also what about bluetooth bandwidth My usb camera freezes up on me when I usb-sync my sony clie. Say I have a blue tooth cellphone I'm syncing with entourage when I do that is it going to freeze my mouse for a second?

 

[whfsdude]

If this is true, is there anykind of lag with bluetooth. I know with my airport my sister will get higher pings than me. I don't like wireless because of this. I'm a gamer hehe, so good old Cat5e

 

[4409723]

If this is true my future g4 666mhz ibook better have built in bluetooth ;-)

 

[dricci]

If this is true, I hope it's optional.

They need to keep the one button goodness for new users.

 

[trinitishwar]

It makes sense. Techies and geeks are going to be the ones who will really be thrilled by this, so it's a good place to unveil it. I know I'll be getting one if Apple does release a blutooth multi-button mouse.

 

[icetraxxg5]

Maybe they could put the new 2 button bluetooth mouse on Apples Pro Macs and leave the 1 button
mouse on their consumer Macs.

 

[teabgs]

If it's true they will definately cost more then the current mice. So, it'll be a BTO option and probably cost 10-20 dollars more IMO.

This would be good for pro users and to get new converts. I know many people that WOULD get a mac if they had a 2 button mouse. I try to explain that they can buy one, but they dont want to HAVE to do that. if only apple would give this to them...

 

[cleo]

I don't buy it. Sure, Apple wants to show off its technology, but who's going to buy a Bluetooth adapter just to use a MOUSE? I would love to see an Apple two-button scroll mouse, yes. But I just don't think it makes sense for them to introduce a Bluetooth one right now. Even if all new Macs come with Bluetooth, that would still be leaving out a huge population of users who aren't going to upgrade any time soon and sure as hell aren't going to spend money on an adapter just for a mouse - when they could buy a third-party two-button mouse sans adapter for 25% of the cost. Also, what about education? Wireless mice will not fly in schools - they'll all be gone overnight! I think the logic of the situation points in the direction of 1) Bluetooth fancy device that doesn't have competition in the "wired" category, and 2) (I hope) a USB two-button mouse.

 

[unclepain]

about time-

I have to say that this has been a long time coming. At first, I really didn't care about extra buttons or a scroll wheel... until I got a mouse that had a scroll wheel and extra buttons. Now I'm hooked and I can't imagine ever going back to 1 button. I NEED the scroll wheel too. It has become way too convenient. Also, when ever an Apple product has been reviewed online, every reviewer lamented the fact that the mouse was one button. They all said to plan on buying an extra mouse with more buttons and scroll wheel and just throw away the Apple mouse as soon as you open the box. Add Bluetooth to the mix and I think they'll have a winner, assuming it works as advertised. (and assuming this rumor is actually true.)

 

[iGav]

Originally posted by cleo
I don't buy it. Sure, Apple wants to show off its technology, but who's going to buy a Bluetooth adapter just to use a MOUSE? I would love to see an Apple two-button scroll mouse, yes. But I just don't think it makes sense for them to introduce a Bluetooth one right now. Even if all new Macs come with Bluetooth, that would still be leaving out a huge population of users who aren't going to upgrade any time soon and sure as hell aren't going to spend money on an adapter just for a mouse - when they could buy a third-party two-button mouse sans adapter for 25% of the cost. Also, what about education? Wireless mice will not fly in schools - they'll all be gone overnight! I think the logic of the situation points in the direction of 1) Bluetooth fancy device that doesn't have competition in the "wired" category, and 2) (I hope) a USB two-button mouse.

I was just about to ramble on about something else.... then read your post, and PING..... I completely agree with you...... completely different to what I was going to say.... but u'r logic is spot on......

It'll be a 2 button USB mouse with scroll, but please Apple, don't make it standard, have it as an option..... a no cost option.... but and option all the same.....

 

[TyleRomeo]

its about time apple. one button is nice but let us have the option of a two button mouse especially for us who need to speed up our creative efforts.

you single button mouse people can stick with just one if you like but i highly recomend seeing how easier it is.

good job jobs

 

[oldMac]

WWDC Makes Sense

WWDC is the only event where Apple would get good mileage out of a ho-hum announcement like a 2-button mouse. Bluetooth is cool, too, but the mouse better come bundled with the bluetooth dongle.

A good mouse + a $50 bluetooth dongle ain't going to be a cheap package. Esp considering that Apple already charges something like $70 for their one button mouse.

Assuming this rumor is true and the numbers are what I think they would be (ie, a $100 mouse), I think I'll stick with my Logitech Cordless two-button scroll wheel.

 

[lucs]

bluetooth

I don't think Apple should release a bluetooth mouse so soon....I mean, you still have to buy that USB bluetooth receptor to have wireless peripherals, and most people are not willing to worry about buying more gadgets....i think Apple should wait till they have built in bluetooth in their machines

 

[iGav]

Originally posted by TyleRomeo
its about time apple. one button is nice but let us have the option of a two button mouse especially for us who need to speed up our creative efforts.

you single button mouse people can stick with just one if you like but i highly recomend seeing how easier it is.

good job jobs

Yep I tried a 2 button mouse..... did nothing for me........... One button and left hand does fine........

However when I'm creatively really on it...... I use my friend....... it's called WACOM and it it kicks the mouse into touch........

 

[djx18]

bluetooth and 802.11b?

I read somewhere that Bluetooth interferes with 802.11b networks and some places have restricted the use of any Bluetooth devices in their 802.11b-networked offices. If this were true wouldn't the wireless Bluetooth mouse interfere with the airport?

 

[eyelikeart]

Originally posted by dricci
If this is true, I hope it's optional.

They need to keep the one button goodness for new users.

why new users?

if anything...I'd feel it would be the ones who have grown up with the 1-button mouse...or who just have a love for it...would be the ones to least want this?

I still stand behind the 1-button Apple Pro...but I'm open-minded to the idea of something "different"

 

[jg3]

stowaway mice the least of the issues

I hear the "but schools won't want them because kids will steal them" reasoning all the time. But what's stopping kids from taking wired mice? It's not like anybody goes to the trouble of locking a mouse down. Kids steal mouse balls all the time, and that takes a little effort. It's not like it's hard to glance down the row and see that a mouse is missing before the kids file out.

The bigger issues in lab settings, grade school or university, are swapping and interference. How many wireless mice can you have in a single room (and how closely spaced) before they start screwing each other up? How does each computer know which mouse goes with it? If kids run up and down the aisles swapping mice that are each programmed to control a specific computer, then you have a real problem. Or if the computers just listen to the mouse with the strongest signal, what's to stop kids from fiddling with each others computers just by waving their mice near another kid's computer?

 

[ennerseed]

ooowwww

Raskin will be pulling his hair out. He's been so negative lately he deserves it.

 

[Choppaface]

hey this is pretty convenient seeing my mouse for my laptop just broke he he

but it better look nice >_<

 

[jail]

go apple!

i agree that wireless is not a good idea for schools. it makes me laugh what the kids could do!! but the logitech wireless mice don't interfere with each other, it's not that hard to generate billions of unike id's man. however swapping mice is a problem. but a threat to the kid's `swap the mice and we get single-button ones!` MIGHT keep them inline . but as for older macs not supporting bluetooth, come on guys! unless you have to have an apple mouse, you can get amuch cheaper third party mouse. the new mouse will ship with new mac's (a bto option of course), if you don't want an apple mouse and it's price, get a third party one, put up with the price of a bluetooth addapter. i agree it should be a BTO option, but it shouldn't cost extra.
jail

 

[alex_ant]

BTO

I don't agree that a BTO 2-button mouse is a good idea. All that extra inventory overhead just for a mouse.

I like the idea of a 2-button mouse. Why couldn't Apple just ship a 2-button mouse with every Mac and have both buttons set to do the same thing? Then, more "advanced" users could open up the mouse prefs pane and enable the separate second button function if they liked. Beginner or basic users would still be perfectly content with their 2 buttons functioning as one.

Alex

 

[TyleRomeo]

I like the idea of a 2-button mouse. Why couldn't Apple just ship a 2-button mouse with every Mac and have both buttons set to do the same thing? Then, more "advanced" users could open up the mouse prefs pane and enable the separate second button function if they liked. Beginner or basic users would still be perfectly content with their 2 buttons functioning as one.

way to go alex, forget bluetooth. lets first have it in the powermacs before we get all fancy with some space aged mouse. 2 botton is fine, and maybe throw in a simple scroll wheel but thats it. and make sure it looks simple and classy

tyler

 

[rdhazrd]

How 'bout this? Instead of a right and left button, take the Apple Pro mouse and add a scroll wheel in the middle. It's clickable, hense 2 buttons, and scrolls. That sounds more like an Apple touch to me. P.S. When you see the new mice, just remember who told you about them

 

[Rower_CPU]

Re: stowaway mice the least of the issues

Originally posted by jg3
I hear the "but schools won't want them because kids will steal them" reasoning all the time. But what's stopping kids from taking wired mice? It's not like anybody goes to the trouble of locking a mouse down. Kids steal mouse balls all the time, and that takes a little effort. It's not like it's hard to glance down the row and see that a mouse is missing before the kids file out.

The bigger issues in lab settings, grade school or university, are swapping and interference. How many wireless mice can you have in a single room (and how closely spaced) before they start screwing each other up? How does each computer know which mouse goes with it? If kids run up and down the aisles swapping mice that are each programmed to control a specific computer, then you have a real problem. Or if the computers just listen to the mouse with the strongest signal, what's to stop kids from fiddling with each others computers just by waving their mice near another kid's computer?

Funny you should bring up mouse theft...we had one stolen from our lab, along with 2 USB webcams. We're an open lab at the university level, so no teachers inspecting all the stations and wiping kids asses for them. We use cable ties to lock down the equipment, but all they needed to do was cut the tie to steal the mouse and webcam.

I agree that wireless mice don't belong in a lab setting just yet, but don't go shooting your mouth off about what happens in lab settings unless you know what you're talking about.