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Using a mouse on a Mac is disappointing

J

Joemero

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 30, 2009
172
0
I’m a first time Mac user, long time Windows/PC user, and I feel that using a mouse on a Mac, just sucks. I love the trackpad, don’t get me wrong, but as soon as I plug in a mouse (various mice) on my 15” MBP the tracking is simply not as sensitive as a Windows PC, period. I’ve tried Steermouse and “tweeking” the speed and sensitivity options, but yet to no avail when I want to zero in on a small piece of text I need to make an extra motion to get it to line up correctly to the beginning of the text in order to highlight it (for example).

I’ve read numerous threads about this issue on the web, all you have to do is Google it, and you will see that many mention issues with OS X’s acceleration, which is “different” than windows pc.

I know A LOT of you will say “I’ve never had a problem”, and I can only assume that you have always been a Mac user, or you’ve been a long time Mac user and that’s why you can’t tell the difference. It’s disappointing that Apple, which is renowned for being a graphics machine would not put an emphasis on accurate and precise tracking of the mouse. I hope (haven’t given up on Mac yet) that the situation is much better on a Wacom tablet. And, I don’t think it’s my particular MBP that has the problem, because I’ve been to a few Best Buys’ and tried out all the machines with a MM and it’s even worse.

Hopefully someone here will guide me to a solution, whether it is a different mouse (I’ve tried Logitech LS1, an older Logitech optical, and a BT MM) or a different app other than Steerdrive, which might make the mouse tracking better. Seriously, it got to the point my wrist started hurting and I rather use the trackpad instead. Also, I prefer scrolling on the trackpad which is much smoother than on a Logitech scrollwheel which is “choppy” when scrolling.
 
I know exactly what you're talking about. Trackballs are great, though. But, my Logitech is pretty nice, the way the driver works is noticeably different when I'm using the mouse in plugnplay mode on a mac other than my own and a computer with Logitech Control Center installed. I just can't put my finger on how it's different. I like it a lot. It's a VX Nano for my 13" Macbook.
 
installing the mouse drivers sure helps. I am new to mac too and I found some mice suck and some are fine. but having the drivers installed helped quite a bit.
 
steve knight said:
installing the mouse drivers sure helps. I am new to mac too and I found some mice suck and some are fine. but having the drivers installed helped quite a bit.
Click to expand...

I installed the Logitech mouse drivers and they didn't help one bit. What actually helped a little bit was installing steermouse which indicated I should uninstall the Logitech driver in order for it to work correctly. Cmon people, please stop drinking the Kool-aid and admit there is a flaw in OS X as far as proper tracking of the any mouse is concerned.
 
Joemero said:
I installed the Logitech mouse drivers and they didn't help one bit. What actually helped a little bit was installing steermouse which indicated I should uninstall the Logitech driver in order for it to work correctly. Cmon people, please stop drinking the Kool-aid and admit there is a flaw in OS X as far as proper tracking of the any mouse is concerned.
Click to expand...

Nah, it's not a flaw, it's just different. Mac OS handles tracking differently than Windows since forever. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it a flaw.
 
ravenvii said:
Nah, it's not a flaw, it's just different. Mac OS handles tracking differently than Windows since forever. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it a flaw.
Click to expand...

THANK YOU, first of all for admitting that it is different, I'm tired of hearing people say, "I have no problems", etc. However, I do believe that if you get a first time computer user and have them try both PC and MAC mice, he/she would say the PC mouse tracking is better. However if you a get the same person to try only a Mac, with no reference to anything else, well they would say the mouse tracking is awesome. Soooo, compared to a PC style tracking, I think it is a flaw.

Any suggestions on how to get it smoother like a pc?
 
you did play with the settings in the logitech app right? I have used three mice so far and one really sucked and two act just like in windows. but the sucky one was a pretty old wireless mouse and I don't know how it worked in windows.
 
How do you think graphics people do work on a Mac?

Mac tracking = more ACCURATE
PC tracking = faster, less precise

Just because you are used to something doesn't mean it's better. (For example, hitting start to shut down in windows)
 
Consultant said:
How do you think graphics people do work on a Mac?

Mac tracking = more ACCURATE
PC tracking = faster, less precise

Just because you are used to something doesn't mean it's better. (For example, hitting start to shut down in windows)
Click to expand...

I disagree, all I have seen so far is Mac tracking = Faster, less accurate...OR if I slow it down, it's like mousing through mud
 
Mousing in Windows, moving the mouse a certain distance will move the cursor a proportionate amount on the screen. On a Mac, how quickly you move the mouse affects how much it moves. The cursor moves less when you move slowly and more when you move quickly. This means that it's possible to achieve fine precision without a significant mousing surface just to get across the monitor.

It's not broken, just different. It definitely does take some getting used to, though. Personally, when I use Windows, the cursor feels clunky.
 
Yes, there is a difference between how windows and the Mac track. I've noticed it as well, personally I think that it is much more accurate on the Mac. Windows feels way too jumpy and not accurate IMO, although that is because I am so used to it. Although you could try this though, I've used it in the past for when I've worked on large monitors and it works well.
 
Joe wrote:
{{ THANK YOU, first of all for admitting that it is different, I'm tired of hearing people say, "I have no problems", etc.}}

Let me offer you a 180-degree perspective:

I've been a Mac user exclusively since 1987.

When I've tried using Windows, one of the first things I notice is that "the mouse doesn't work right." It seems all jumpy, rather than the smooth tracking I'm used to on the Mac.

So your sensibilities are correct - mouse tracking on the Mac DOES seem different than it does on the PC.

My guess is that you'll just have to grow comfortable with those differences. I'm guessing you can tweak things, as you've already done. But you probably can't get things to feel exactly the way they do on a Windows machine....

- John
 
Joemero said:
THANK YOU, first of all for admitting that it is different, I'm tired of hearing people say, "I have no problems", etc. However, I do believe that if you get a first time computer user and have them try both PC and MAC mice, he/she would say the PC mouse tracking is better. However if you a get the same person to try only a Mac, with no reference to anything else, well they would say the mouse tracking is awesome. Soooo, compared to a PC style tracking, I think it is a flaw.

Any suggestions on how to get it smoother like a pc?
Click to expand...

Since I'm a Mac user ... anytime I have to use a Windows machine the way Windows handles mouse tracking is flawed.
 
I totally agree with the original poster, I hate the way OSX handles the mouse and it is NOT something I get used to. I've been using only macs for over 3 years now and it still annoys me. it's not nearly as fast and accurate as on pc.
I've tried installing drivers, changing the mouse speed and acceleration etc, nothing helps.
On the plus side I love the mac trackpads, so I use the trackpad on my mbp all the time now even when I have a mouse nearby.
 
The way Macs track the mouse is not a flaw. The way Windows tracks a mouse is not a flaw. Or maybe they both are flawed. "Flaw" is not a universally defined word, it's almost always a matter of preference.

No matter what you think has a flaw, someone is always going to disagree with you, and no one is right or wrong in the matter.
 
Of course it's not a flaw, it's just that microsoft and apple have a different view on how mouse acceleration should work and I happen to prefer the way microsoft does it.
In an ideal world there would be an easy setting in the mouse menu where you can switch between common mouse acceleration settings.
 
lamadude said:
I totally agree with the original poster, I hate the way OSX handles the mouse and it is NOT something I get used to. I've been using only macs for over 3 years now and it still annoys me. it's not nearly as fast and accurate as on pc.
I've tried installing drivers, changing the mouse speed and acceleration etc, nothing helps.
On the plus side I love the mac trackpads, so I use the trackpad on my mbp all the time now even when I have a mouse nearby.
Click to expand...

I agree about the trackpad, how come the trackpad tracks so nicely and scrolls beautifully on my MBP and the mouse can't do the same? Also, when highlighting this text for example, why is it I get a cursor sometimes and a pointer sometimes?
 
Rich1803 said:
For graphic design the Mac mouse is far superior to a PC. Just my personal opinion.
Click to expand...
Are you a long time mac user? What's your point of reference? For example, now I'm totally messed up, after working on my mbp with the logitech Mouse for a couple days, I went back to my PC and now it feels screwed up too! So both feel funny...go figure!
 
Joemero said:
I disagree, all I have seen so far is Mac tracking = Faster, less accurate...OR if I slow it down, it's like mousing through mud
Click to expand...
Nah, Mac tracking is faster and more accurate, due to the almost instantaneous deceleration, and precise movements that can be had by moving slowly. Despite saying this, I still prefer Windows mouse movement, even though I believe Mac movement to be technically superior. Windows movement just seems more natural.
 
This is funny, because I've always been acutely aware of how different the default acceleration curve and tracking speed is on Windows vs the MacOS. The difference is that I HATED the old default Windows curve--drastically too twitchy for me to do anything functional in, and it made me cringe every second I sat in front of a Windows box.

The modern default XP/Vista acceleration curve seems to have been changed to the point it doesn't bother me nearly as much, but the first thing I do when I install LCC on the Mac is still screw with the tracking and acceleration speed until it feels right.

And I will agree that whatever your preference is, it's inefficient and annoying to use something even a little different. The trick is finding the optimal balance of speed vs. acceleration in the driver of your mouse.

I'll also agree that, depending on the DPI, many 3rd party mice are nearly unusable without drivers, because they're just too slow. Certainly I wouldn't wish my preferred mice, Logitech MX Revolution and 1000, on anyone without Logitech's drivers balancing the curve. Of course, Logitech's crappy drivers are a whole different matter, and they can't currently handle Expose stuff on 10.6 yet, either...
 
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