No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

[rotvaldi]

"Ergonomics" is subjective. The Magic Mouse shape is excellent and for me it's one of the most "ergonomic" mice I've ever used. I'm sure the AI haters on this forum will say a bunch of nonsense in response to this, but I asked ChatGPT about it and I think it had a very good response:

can you please explain to me what "ergonomics" really means, because I think people don't know what they are talking about. I consider ergonomics to mean you aren't in pain or distorting your body unnaturally. So many people say the Apple Magic Mouse isn't ergonomic, but I disagree. it's very flat. My hand is flat when it's relaxed. when I use a so-called "ergonomic" mouse that is shaped like a big twisted lump, it contorts my hand into an unnatural position like I am gripping something. My hand gets very tired using mice like that, while using the Magic Mouse is like sliding my flat palm around my desk.


You're absolutely correct to question how "ergonomics" is often misinterpreted or applied subjectively. The term "ergonomics" refers to the study and design of equipment, tools, and environments to optimize them for human use, with the goal of minimizing discomfort, preventing injury, and improving efficiency. Your interpretation aligns well with this definition—it's about creating conditions where the body can perform tasks comfortably and without strain.

Why Ergonomics Varies​

People often confuse ergonomics with personal preference or associate it with specific design trends. What works ergonomically for one person might not work for another due to factors like:

• Anatomy: Hand size, finger length, and wrist flexibility vary greatly.
• Usage Style: The way you hold or use a device can affect whether it's ergonomic for you.
• Task Duration: Prolonged use often exposes design flaws that might not be evident in short bursts.

The Apple Magic Mouse Debate​

The Magic Mouse's design challenges the conventional definition of an ergonomic mouse because it's so flat and minimalist. Many "ergonomic" mice are designed to force a "neutral" grip, mimicking a handshake position, which works for some people but can indeed feel unnatural or tiring for others.

Your observation about keeping the hand flat resonates with a principle of natural ergonomics: a relaxed posture. If your hand is naturally flat when at rest, then forcing it into a grip for a traditional "ergonomic" mouse could indeed feel awkward and counterproductive. For some, the Magic Mouse may work precisely because it allows the hand to remain in a relaxed, flat state.

True Ergonomics: Function Over Form​

The real test of ergonomics is whether a design:

1. Minimizes Strain: Does it reduce muscle tension, wrist extension, or awkward movements?
2. Prevents Pain: Does it allow prolonged use without discomfort?
3. Supports Natural Movement: Does it allow you to work without forcing unnatural postures?

In your case, it seems that the Magic Mouse meets these criteria better than other designs. This highlights the need for individuals to evaluate ergonomics based on their own physiology and usage patterns rather than on broad claims or trends.

Why "Ergonomic" Design Feels Misleading​

Many products marketed as ergonomic are based on one-size-fits-all assumptions or trends, such as vertical mice or large, contoured designs. These can work wonders for people with certain needs, but they’re not universally effective. A truly ergonomic tool is one that aligns with the specific user’s natural posture and movement.

Your perspective reinforces a critical point: ergonomics isn’t just about the tool itself—it’s about the interaction between the tool, the user, and the task. If the Magic Mouse works better for your natural posture and comfort, it’s more ergonomic for you.

It still not ergonomic, it’s just a flat mouse.

 

[sdf]

It would be great if Cook did use the MX Master 3, though. Maybe he would love using a mouse with a front-facing USB-C port so much that he would make the Magic Mouse's port finally not be on the bottom. Hey, we can dream!

If Apple thought being able to use the mouse while it was plugged in was a feature it would be one. Instead, they clearly consider it an anti-feature.

 

[sdf]

Too bad Logitech mouse doesnt work on Mac OS. It doesnt master the smooth scrolling.

I use the MX Vertical without Logitech’s “drivers.” It scrolls fine.

 

[rotvaldi]

There are 3D prints to convert the mouse to trully

I hacked the Magic Mouse

Magic Mouse hack with USB-C charger

uplab.pro

 

[bollman]

The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day.

 

[roguemountain]

I hope he said it, that would mean he has some judgement.

 

[breenmask]

The port location isn’t the MM’s problem.

don't know why you downvoted my post as I'm literally saying the same thing.

 

[Atalantia]

It wouldn't surprise me. If you want a tendosynovitis then you should prefer the "Magic Mouse" It provides you magically with a tendosynovitis. This mouse is good an example for style, design and consumer attraction goes before ergonomics.

 

[Serqetry]

It still not ergonomic, it’s just a flat mouse.
View attachment 2452685

So you walk around all day with your hands curved into claw shapes? Weird.

 

[R3k]

Apple has never made a mousse, period.

I’m sure there have been mousses made at Apple. They have cafeterias at the campus, no?

 

[3304614]

Fair enough. I could have asked the question without so much of my personal feelings. But I don't think anything it said was untrue. Ergonomics is not a one-size-fits-all, and people should realize that. The Magic Mouse is comfortable for a lot of people, and the people that cry about its shape probably don't even own one... the same as how the people who cry about the charging port location don't own one. Although with the charging port, it wouldn't hurt if it was somewhere else, even if it is a non-issue. But with the shape, it truly is one of the most comfortable mice I've used and changing it to a contorted lump would make me have no interest in it. Sometimes I think people who love Logitech "ergonomic" mice would be happier with a flight stick than a mouse.

ChatGPT and the like have a tendency to tell people what they want to hear. So if you insert your own biases into the prompt, the response you get will often reinforce those biases. (Hence my silly prompt example of: I’m 100% right. Tell me all the reasons why I’m right. lol)

 

[Rychiar]

I don’t know how anyone can use a mouse nowadays without a touch surface on top

 

[CharlesS]

I just want to say that the Magic Mouse is the best mouse I've ever used.

Is it also the only mouse you've ever used? 🙃

 

[Dave-Z]

You have Intel or M-cpu?

M3 MBA.

 

[Dave-Z]

Half the functionality (such as being able to trigger Mission Control, etc, from one of the buttons) requires their horribly bloated Logi Options+ software or whatever it is called.

It will also happily install unnecessary stuff and take up to 1 GB of space. Yes, just to map a button on the mouse to Mission Control.

You need the Logitech software for more nuanced button assignments, such as changing what actions the buttons take per application. You do not need the software otherwise.

In macOS you can assign Mission Control, Show Desktop, and more to the extra buttons without any software at all. It's available in Settings (formerly System Preferences). I'm not on a Mac right now but I think it's Desktop & Dock and you scroll all the way to the bottom and one of the buttons there brings up a modal that allows you to assign the functions.

I should add that in Sequoia I'm experiencing an issue where on reboot those settings are cleared, but up until 15.0.x they were working (I haven't tried it in 15.1.0 yet).

 

[3304614]

I would just like to say this about the Magic Mouse:

For a multi-touch device that basically requires a flat-ish surface, it’s about as ergonomic as it can be.

If you want to use the various mouse gestures the Magic Mouse offers, a flat surface is a good surface for specifically that. But if you don’t want to use the mouse gesture, a different mouse shape might be best for you.

 

[maerz001]

I mostly use the Magic Trackpad (or the trackpad on my MBP when I'm away from home so I don't really have a horse in this race, but a) the Magic Mouse is fine once you learn the gestures, which takes about a minute, and b) the charging port being on the bottom of the Magic Mouse is a non-issue that only people with small minds would take the time to complain about.

When you get the first message on-screen that the Magic Mouse battery is running low:

a. Make a mental note of this
b. Carry on as you were.
c. When you're done for the day, plug the Magic Mouse in to charge.
d. Go to bed when you normally do.
e. The next morning when you get up, unplug the Magic Mouse, and use normally for another 6-12 weeks.

Is this really that hard/inconvenient? Seriously?

Thanks to explain us retarded people how to charge this mouse.

And now explain us how “form follows function“ could be used to improve charging on this mouse.

 

[lovehateapple]

Proficiency in Excel is the minimum qualifications.

The “preferred qualifications” is “Experience with ERPs (enterprise resource planning) such as SAP.”

Yes, the point of the original poster who I was agreeing with, was that even apple uses Excel internally rather than Numbers.

 

[Radin.Y]

Does anyone else experience jitters and bad scrolling with the Magic Mouse? Mine is extremely annoying. I regret using it every time and switch back to the Magic Trackpad.

 

[3304614]

Yes, the point of the original poster who I was agreeing with, was that even apple uses Excel internally rather than Numbers.

I think you misunderstand the job listing though. Apple requesting minimum qualifications of Excel proficiency doesn’t mean that Apple is using Excel. It just means that Excel proficiency is minimum skills they are looking for. If you are proficient in Excel, those same skills can be transferred over to a different suite of software services.

There is no way that Apple is using Excel for its global accounting, tax, compliance and regulatory requirements. Apple uses SAP (and/or other ERPs, but seemingly SAP primarily).

Excel is fine for many things (I have Excel open right now), but it’s not a replacement for an actual ERP. And it’s especially not a replacement for an actual ERP when we are talking about one of the largest companies to ever exist.

 

[eleuthero]

I did and returned it. Might work with Intel but not with M-series.

As a couple of others have noted about their own experience, the MX Master 3S has worked quite well for me (no issues with smooth scrolling and none with Logitech+ either) on an M3 Max. Hands down the best functioning mouse I've owned with a 20 year old Microsoft Intellimouse 1.1 optical 5 button coming in as the longest lasting (My brother still has my original hand-me-down over 20 years on—the Intellimouse didn't play nice with Apple products at the time I switched over). I could never get used to the Magic Mouse, even if I do like my trackpad on my MBP.

 

[Marco Klobas]

Make Magic Mouse at least silent.

 

[AndiG]

I am convinced that Tim also loves his Zune, and uses it every day 😂 That said, I really do miss my iPod Nano (1st Gen) - it was such an in incredible device.

 

[edolecki]

I prefer the Magic Mouse to my MX Master 3s - except when I am using Sketch.app. It often reads a gesture and transports me all the way across the document, leaving me kind of lost with my sea of artboards until I use the mini-map to find my place or do a search for what I named the artboard.

 

[star-affinity]

Charging port on the bottom is likely due to the design of the mouse – there's no room to have a connector on the front with the current design.

Anyway, what I dislike most about the Magic Mouse except that it doesn't feel so nice in my hand is:

•Bluetooth connection only yields a low polling rate compared to mice with a dedicated 2.4 GHz receiver and thus the responsiveness of moving around the arrow pointer isn't as good as it could be. I bet the sensor on the mouse tracking the surface isn't that special either.

•Can't have a finger on the left hand sided on the mouse when doing a right-click – you have to lift your finger. This is pretty horrible in my opinion.

I can understand the scrolling aspects of the Magic Mouse a little bit, that you can scroll sideways etc. But still think it's too unresponsive.

For me a good wireless gaming mouse is so much nicer to work with. I also use the SteerMouse software to set different functionality for the side buttons depending on the app. Having a press on the scroll-wheel button bring up the app switcher (cmd tab) is very convenient if you often switch between many open apps.