Apple's Mighty Mouse, Not So Mighty In Practice
Late last year I bought a new 17" iMac to replace my 3 year old eMac. Incidentally, the iMac is the first computer I've ever owned that features an Intel CPU.
Include with the iMac is Apple's latest mouse, dubbed the "Mighty Mouse". The Mighty Mouse comes in both wired and wireless forms, however the standard version sold with its computers is the wired version. Apple's web site extols all the virtues of the design of the Mighty Mouse. In particular:
The problem is all three of the features I've listed above don't seem to work well with my big and often clumsy fingers.
Firstly, the multiple "virtual" buttons lead to mistaken right-clicks when I want a left-click. Over 15 years of using single-button mouses/mice from Apple, and especially since the introduction of the "top shell is the button" designs around 2000, I tend to be a bit sloppy where I've clicked the mouse button. For example, sometimes I've even pushed the whole surface with the top of my palm. So now, with my new Mighty Mouse, I sometimes seem to click just enough on the right side of the Mighty Mouse when I actually want a standard left-click. Other times it seems I actually do click with a non-index finger on the right side when I meant a left-click. I say "seems" because I'm not always sure. Anyway, the point is that my fingers have become so used to one-button mice that I actually need to make an effort to retrain my fingers to use the new Mighty Mouse. This seems odd given that I've never seemed to have a problem when I've had to use multi-button mice with Windows and Linux. To prove this point, I've been able to use a basic Logitech multi-button mouse on my iMac without the clumsiness I've experienced with the Mighty Mouse. My fingers seem to need separate, tactile mouse buttons.
The second issue is the Scroll Ball. A great idea in theory, and the behaviour can be customised to restrict scrolling in one-dimension if you want. However, the ball itself is prone to dust or other gunk finding their way inside the mechanism that detects the scrolling, causing it to fail. This has already happened twice in only a few weeks. Apple has published a guide, "How to clean your Mighty Mouse", along with an accompanying tutorial movie. Personally I don't think the scroll ball is reliable enough, since I've found the standard scroll wheel mice that come with PCs to have far fewer problems.
The third problem I have with the Mighty Mouse is more of a niggle than the previous two. The fourth "squeeze" button is not really that practical, since it requires quite a bit of pressure to activate it. In fact, I need to lift the mouse up and give it an uncomfortable squeeze with my thumb and pinky.
I'm willing to accept that the first issue, namely my mistaken right-clicks, is more of a user problem. I'm sure a bit of patience retraining my fingers could overcome it. I've also admitted that the third issue is probably just a personal niggle. But the second issue, the problematic scroll ball, is potentially a fatal flaw. Its unreliability lets down the rest of Apple's hardware (and software). Some liken it to the Apple III fiasco. Hopefully Apple will address the Scroll Ball problem soon.
In the meantime, I've decided to invest in a Logitech MX 400 for my iMac. And to complete my transition from single-button mice to multi-button mice, I'm using an entry-level Logitech optical mouse with my old eMac. These mice can be used with downloadable drivers, but Logitech provides a monolithic "Control Center" for all its keyboards and mice. Fortunately, the devices can function with the standard drivers provided in Mac OS X. You don't get all the customisability, but I'm willing to forgo that to avoid having to install extra bloatware.
Include with the iMac is Apple's latest mouse, dubbed the "Mighty Mouse". The Mighty Mouse comes in both wired and wireless forms, however the standard version sold with its computers is the wired version. Apple's web site extols all the virtues of the design of the Mighty Mouse. In particular:
- The entire top shell is the actual button, but that the single button can actually trigger multiple responses, depending on where you press it: "Capacitive sensors under Mighty Mouse’s seamless top shell detect where your fingers are and predict your clicking intentions, so you don’t need two buttons — just two fingers."
- The Scroll Ball, unlike traditional scroll wheels, allows scrolling in two dimensions simultaneously. Clicking on the shell where the Scroll Ball is also acts as a third button.
- In addition to the three "virtual" buttons on the shell, "force-sensing buttons on either side of Mighty Mouse respond when you press in with your finger and thumb."
The problem is all three of the features I've listed above don't seem to work well with my big and often clumsy fingers.
Firstly, the multiple "virtual" buttons lead to mistaken right-clicks when I want a left-click. Over 15 years of using single-button mouses/mice from Apple, and especially since the introduction of the "top shell is the button" designs around 2000, I tend to be a bit sloppy where I've clicked the mouse button. For example, sometimes I've even pushed the whole surface with the top of my palm. So now, with my new Mighty Mouse, I sometimes seem to click just enough on the right side of the Mighty Mouse when I actually want a standard left-click. Other times it seems I actually do click with a non-index finger on the right side when I meant a left-click. I say "seems" because I'm not always sure. Anyway, the point is that my fingers have become so used to one-button mice that I actually need to make an effort to retrain my fingers to use the new Mighty Mouse. This seems odd given that I've never seemed to have a problem when I've had to use multi-button mice with Windows and Linux. To prove this point, I've been able to use a basic Logitech multi-button mouse on my iMac without the clumsiness I've experienced with the Mighty Mouse. My fingers seem to need separate, tactile mouse buttons.
The second issue is the Scroll Ball. A great idea in theory, and the behaviour can be customised to restrict scrolling in one-dimension if you want. However, the ball itself is prone to dust or other gunk finding their way inside the mechanism that detects the scrolling, causing it to fail. This has already happened twice in only a few weeks. Apple has published a guide, "How to clean your Mighty Mouse", along with an accompanying tutorial movie. Personally I don't think the scroll ball is reliable enough, since I've found the standard scroll wheel mice that come with PCs to have far fewer problems.
The third problem I have with the Mighty Mouse is more of a niggle than the previous two. The fourth "squeeze" button is not really that practical, since it requires quite a bit of pressure to activate it. In fact, I need to lift the mouse up and give it an uncomfortable squeeze with my thumb and pinky.
I'm willing to accept that the first issue, namely my mistaken right-clicks, is more of a user problem. I'm sure a bit of patience retraining my fingers could overcome it. I've also admitted that the third issue is probably just a personal niggle. But the second issue, the problematic scroll ball, is potentially a fatal flaw. Its unreliability lets down the rest of Apple's hardware (and software). Some liken it to the Apple III fiasco. Hopefully Apple will address the Scroll Ball problem soon.
In the meantime, I've decided to invest in a Logitech MX 400 for my iMac. And to complete my transition from single-button mice to multi-button mice, I'm using an entry-level Logitech optical mouse with my old eMac. These mice can be used with downloadable drivers, but Logitech provides a monolithic "Control Center" for all its keyboards and mice. Fortunately, the devices can function with the standard drivers provided in Mac OS X. You don't get all the customisability, but I'm willing to forgo that to avoid having to install extra bloatware.
posted by Bruno at 5:15 PM [permalink]
