Why I will send back my brand new iMac...

[trose]

Maybe my issue is different than what others here are encountering, since some said it's *not* acceleration.

As I said before, I prefer the Mac mouse control for *most* uses, but it isn't perfect.

Take a mouse in Windows and move it two inches, very slowly... the cursor moves a certain distance on the screen.

Take a mouse in Windows and move it two inches, fast... the cursor moves the same distance.

Take a mouse in OSX and move it two inches, slowly... the cursor moves a very small amount in comparison to if you had moves the mouse two inches in a fast manner.

To me, that's acceleration. And despite what software I've tried on OSX, I can't seem to fully disable it.

The way OSX handles the cursor is superior, but there are times when you want it to behave the other way.

For example, when gaming... on a Windows PC you jerk your mouse to fire on a target... it doesn't matter how fast you jerked it, as long as you aim fine you are on target.

On a Mac, it's very difficult, because the cursor control seems erratic when you're reacting to situations very fast. This is what made it nearly impossible for me to achieve proper control in a fast paced RTS like Warcraft III.

Also, some people are not understanding that this is *not* a hardware issue. You can't just get a new mouse to fix it. It's a software issue.
Though, I don't understand why the OP is claiming the issue is not resolved when he boots into XP... for me, when I boot into XP to play games, the mouse moves as it would on any other PC.

 

[gianly1985]

To me, that's acceleration. And despite what software I've tried on OSX, I can't seem to fully disable it.

Have you tried this software and the depicted mouse? (Razer Deathadder Mac Edition)

Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

 

[trose]

Have you tried this software and the depicted mouse? (Razer Deathadder Mac Edition)

Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

I have not, thanks for the tip. Is the software usable with another mouse?

Admittedly, it's been a couple years since I've tried to turn off acceleration under OSX. It's not that big of a deal to me, especially now that I do my gaming under Boot Camp.

 

[gianly1985]

I have not, thanks for the tip. Is the software usable with another mouse?

No. Just with the "Razer Deathadder Mac Edition" (white LEDs). Maybe also with the classic Deathadder (blue LEDs).

 

[seb-opp]

But something was really annoying. The mouse was kinda strange. I thought the feeling would pass after a while. But it didn't pass.
I learned a few days ago that the curve of the mouse sensitivity is different on a Mac. So I downloaded every software I could (like USB Overdrive) in order to change that.

Are you talking about the tracking speed, Ive never heard the term "curve sensitivity' before. have you looked in system preferences, all the mouse settings are there.

Also, the other things you mention about software, to me would not be such a big deal. Maybe you expect the apps to behave like windows apps. Apps on each platform are supposed to be different. I think they are just not what you were expecting, and if you dont think you can get used to the differences, maybe a mac isn't for you.

 

[arcadeforest]

While I'm not sure if there is more involved here in respect to the OP but there is a definite difference / feel between the mouse in windows and the mouse in OS X. I'm running both windows and OS X here and the mouse in OS X feels very sluggish and its a little more difficult to stop precisely. I installed a third party mouse application (USB Overdrive X) and I've got the mouse to just about where I like it.

 

[shvartsies]

I find it funny that you bought 4gb of ram for $1200
Apple owned you there. You can buy 4gb of ram online for around $150, and install it yourself.

 

[MacAndy74]

I find it funny that you bought 4gb of ram for $1200
Apple owned you there. You can buy 4gb of ram online for around $150, and install it yourself.

While Apple does overprice its memory, the $150 modules will likely be unbuffered / non ECC chips. Not the best for reliability.

 

[Luis Ortega]

LOL. Just because you don't know how to use something doesn't mean it's not a good product.

The default mouse curve for OSX is set for PRECISION WORK. It can be changed if you want the windows mousing curve.

Impossible to type code in Dreamweaver? What are you talking about? Why don't you contact Adobe? Adobe product has nothing to do with Apple.

Where on OSX do you set this mouse curve to precision?
I can't find any such settings.

 

[gianly1985]

I find it funny that you bought 4gb of ram for $1200
Apple owned you there. You can buy 4gb of ram online for around $150, and install it yourself.

LOL

You know we are talking about 4gb-on-a-single-module SODIMM ddr3 ram, right??

That modules are extremely pricey wherever you buy them, this time it's not "Apple's fault". Check on your favourite shops.

The only advice, for now, is NOT TO BUY, no matter where from. We must WAIT 2010 to buy them at a reasonable price.

 

[alphaod]

<snip>

Sorry to hear all this, and this may come a bit late.

Macs have a mouse movement independent to screen resolution, so the bigger the screen, the higher the sensitivity needs to be in order to move in the same proportional desktop space.

I personally hate the Office 2007 menu bar, so does many long time Office users I know. With Office 2008 retaining the original design, I was very content.

And Dreamweaver is just a failure of an app; please use a text editor like emacs.

 

[panzer06]

@ Sambo110; Jaw04005; panzero06; gainly1985

If you dont mind, I would like to know what you guys use your macs for?
I find it very hard that people will go out and spend a couple of thousand
dollars on which ever mac they fancy, just to post irrelevant silly posts
about a "phantom mouse" problem living inside the kernel of their macs.

If you use your mac for fine detail design than the problem is quite obvious
to photoshop users. There are many other forums and threads where ppl
complain about a similiar problem. THE MOUSE's (doesn't matter which mouse)
pointer is sligthly jerky...its not about acceleration! U can turn the acceleration
off with an third party driver...its the pointer of the mouse that is the issue for me. As I said before, mac has brilliant software that I love to use(mostly editing), but since I have moved to mac...I find it hard to design and produce the quality of work I use to with a mouse in windows(photoshop).

Thats why installed XP on my mac pro...
Most designers use a wacom tool, and this over-rides their mouse jerky pointer problem...the problem seems to occure in 64bit workstations that has LEOPARD
installed...photoshop also doesn't run very smoothly on my mac in the LEOPARD OS....AM I making all this UP?????? For WHAT! I support mac
just as much as any of you do, because FINAL CUT PRO is awesome!!!

http://macosx.com/forums/hardware-peripherals/307860-jerky-mouse-my-mac-pro.html#post1472800

https://macosx.com/tech-support/mac/jerky-mouse-pointer-imac-g4-flat-panel/18867.html

There are many more....

You make a very good point. However, with the massive increase in Mac sales, the majority of Apple hardware customers are no longer creative professionals with such precise needs. I can't fathom the problem since my jobs as a technical sales engineer or technical writer do not require such detailed work.

Building proposals, assembling acrobat documents, surfing the internet, reading e-mail and working in MS Office for Mac don't require such fine control as has been discussed here. Perhaps there are photoshop forums where some users have found a workaround to this. Regardless, I hope the issue is eventually resolved for those who need it but with Macs moving more into the mainstream I wouldn't hold my breath.

Cheers,

 

[JustinDingle]

Deleted post.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Then, I installed the Adobe CS4 studio. Again, a nightmare to use. Impossible to type down my code in Dreamweaver... .

Impossible to type code in Dreamweaver? Are you serious

 

[AlexisV]

Mouse control is slightly different in Windows. But it takes about 5 seconds to get used to it.

Sounds like the OP was so ingrained in Windows, anything different is always going to be a disappointment.

 

[JustinDingle]

Kudos to the OP

Deleted post.

 

[harcosparky]

Years ago, my ex-girlfriend wanted to buy a computer. I told her about Dell and what she could buy, but she bought an iBook instead. I laughed at her and the only time I tried it, I found it so hard to use that I stopped after a few seconds.


But I kept thinking that it was just me and that after a while it would pass.

After 20 years of working in IT I think I can say " it is just you "

The Mac is one of the easiest computers I have ever used.

Have my entire family on Macs. 2 iMacs / 3 G4 Powermacs / 2 Macbooks / 2 Macbook Pros

NOT ONE PERSON HAS HAD THE PROBLEMS YOU HAVE HAD ---- It has to be you, not the computer.

After the first year on a Mac I cancelled any and all subscriptions I had with Micrososoft including MSDN. I also took the unusall step of sending back all my Microsoft credentials.

 

[JustinDingle]

Deleted post.

 

[cgratti]

Just to add something. I called a few minutes ago in order to organize the return of my iMac. The woman at the helpdesk was just insanely nice with me. She explained me everything, she just asked the reason and didn't try to tell me that I could do this and that to fix my "problem". Usually the customer people try to change your mind. She didn't.
She said that I will receive the exact amount of money that I paid. Everything will be free, including the transport.
So, the customer care was 120% great.

I still love Apple. I already miss Time Machine.

Damn mouse feeling!

I personally think its not a mouse issue at all and you have buyers remorse. You spent a lot of money on something you probably really didn't need and now your guilty about it. If that is the case then so be it, but if its really because the "mouse didn't feel right" then stay on Windows, its your loss not mine.

 

[RiverFox]

I'm getting close to call BS on the OP.

 

[jmpage2]

When I first got the Mac Mini I noticed right away that the mouse feel with my Microsoft gaming mouse was drastically different than it felt on XP or Vista.

However, after just a few weeks I got used to it.

I don't even notice it now, and have since upgraded to an iMac with 4850 card.

You just didn't give things enough of a chance.

 

[Wicked1]

Wow I feel the exact opposite, after being in the IT field for years and always working on Macs even back from Apple IIe and Lisa all the way up to the current Macs, I would not fathom going back, ever.

I chose the Mini so I could use my monitor, Apple Keyboard, the long wired version, and my lovely Logitech Nano mouse (which I can not imagine ever using another mouse) which makes for a perfect combination.

The fact that I can run windows faster on a Mac opposed to running it on a good PC shows me Apple figured out something Microsoft and PC vendors have not.

Good Luck

 

[harcosparky]

I'm getting close to call BS on the OP.

You smell it too?

 

[harcosparky]

SO my response to your comment! I dont care how many years you have been into IT, but this OP made a valid point, because trust me...the mouse phantom does exist! on 64 bit workstations!!!!

Best Regards

I guess if one must find a reason to dislike a product, the mouse could qualify.

But when you read the OP it's not just the mouse he was talking about.

My commentary was to his overall post, not just the 'mouse issue'.

When I worked at JHU/APL we all had 2 computers on our desks.

One Windows PC and one Macintosh.

I became BORED with the Mac within an hour as it was so simple to use. I mean there was no learning curve, you learned one program interface you learned them all pretty much.

It was not that way on the Windows machines - there was no standard for the User Interface.

Let's forget my years in IT.

I am well over 50 years of age, probably one of the hardest demographics to adopt/accept change. If an old fart like me can adapt to the difference in the mouse feel I'd think almost anyone could.

To be honest, at this point when I do get on a Windows machine I hate the way the mouse feels on them. Maybe that is why I ran back to Best Buy to return the Windows Vista notebook I bought to ' give Vista a try! "

 

[JustinDingle]

@ harcosparky

Deleted post.