Pro Mouse and Mighty Mouse are pretty much the same.. so they’ve virtually had the current design for 10 years.
I don’t really see which direction they should take the mouse though. If they make it simpler it will lack too many features. If they make it more advanced it won’t be a unique mouse anymore.
On the other hand, if there’s a company that can solve such a dilemma, Apple is probably it.
JD
on 02 Oct 09
A former co-worker of mine used a Kensington trackball. He refused to use anything else. Man, I really hated that thing.
I can’t stand the Mighty Mouse: side buttons don’t work, scrolling “nibbit” doesn’t work. Worst piece of hardware that Apple produces – it is desperately in need of of an update.
JR
on 02 Oct 09
Not sure what’s next… but I’ve eagerly been awaiting the replacement for the MMouse. I really dislike using it.
CRC
on 02 Oct 09
Don’t underestimate Apple doing something that appears quite radical like the end of the “mouse” (as we know it) and replacement with something resembling a track/touch pad. Maybe something that remains stationary on the desk, but that responses to a variety of touch gestures. Maybe with a subtle button responsiveness for click actions. Think of the latest track pad. Detach it. Set it next to the keyboard off to the side on the desk. Maybe make it Bluetooth (though the batteries that would fit in such a small, slim device probably cannot sufficiently powering BT without replacement once a week).
They are clearly evolving this approach to interaction with their various devices. The track pad has evolved quite a bit.
This seems like it would be consistent with other Apple design trends.
Robert Morris
on 02 Oct 09
@Jamie, the Pro Mouse and the Mighty Mouse look similar, but I’m sure you know they’re actually quite different. First, it includes a 360-degree scroll ball (though by default it does only vertical and horizontal); second, it has grips on the sides that can be squeezed to make a fourth button. And, of course, it has two-button potential on the top surface, making it Apple’s first more-than-one-button mouse (four, at that). I’d say it’s a radical departure from their earlier one-button efforts, but it’s neat they designed it so that people who were comfortable with the old one could continue essentially using it the same way.
I used to hate track pads until I tried the Multitouch Trackpad on my MBP. Now I want something like CRC described to use instead of a mouse when using the MBP at a desk with an external screen and keyboard. I’m addicted to the mouse gestures.
The Wacom Bamboo Touch looks like it might do the job.
JD
on 02 Oct 09
JF, I never figured you to be a trackball guy. But now I understand. It is all so telling.
@Robert Morris, you’re absolutely right. I was mainly thinking about the form, and not so much function. I actually thought the only difference was the scroll – forgot about the two-button feature and mistakenly thought Pro Mouse had the squeezable-grips-button on the sides (definitely looks that way, but apparently that is not the case..). However, while the two-button feature was a radical step away from Apple’s previous efforts, it wasn’t exactly revolutionary when looking at the mouse-market in general. That being said, I was a bit heedless with my first comment and I thank you for respectfully correcting me.
Masked Man
on 02 Oct 09
It’s no mystery what is next – a multitouch tablet, which will not only work as a standalone netbook, but can also double as a pointing device for any Mac.
Right now its really more a question of when, than what
Morley
on 02 Oct 09
I think I know why I hated the pro mouse—I’m a lefty, but I mouse with my right hand. So I couldn’t reliably generate enough squeezing power to trigger the click.
Though, now that I think about it, I’m not sure anyone can reliably generate enough pinky-squeezing power over a computing session, unless they play basketball or something.
It was really a poorly-designed piece of hardware.
Deltaplan
on 02 Oct 09
What is next ? Simply the end of the mouse. Because desktop computers are almost over, it’s becoming harder and harder to find reasons to buy one…
My company had bought 2 desktop PCs for new employees… Within 2 months, the direction had to face the fact that it had been a VERY poor decision : with only 10-15% more, they could have bought laptops of equal characteristics, which would have allowed improved productivity, less electricity consumption, less risks of being stolen (since laptops are never left in the building when nobody is there… and while they MAY get stolen at the employees home too, they won’t get stolen all at a time, ant this makes a HUGE difference…)
So they’ve bought 2 laptops… And the 2 brand new PCs are almost rotting… One has been converted to a makeshift server, the other one is left unused somewhere…
And for home use it’s even worse. I don’t know A SINGLE person who has bought a desktop PC for a while. While there has been at least a dozen people among my friends who have bought laptops or netbooks within the last year.
Which leads me to another intriguing thing : regarding laptops, both for personal and professional use, I have systematically seen this incredible behavior difference between men and women : men use the integrated trackpad, while women ALWAYS use a mouse.
So what’s wrong with trackpads and women ?
Aleksandar
on 02 Oct 09
@Deltaplan Interestingly, I’ve been trying to like using a laptop for about a year now. There is now way that I can get used to it. Its just not practical for me. Limited power, limited desktop estate. It just doesn’t feel right. OK, it might eat less power, but thats about it.
Chris
on 03 Oct 09
Of all the reasons I dislike current Macs, the most significant one is that mice still lack a standard right-mouse button. Having read The Humane Interface I know the theory behind not having one, but I’m surprised (and perhaps appalled) that Mac designers have adjusted their theory given new facts. In fact, I’m now accustomed to using a mouse with a center button and a right button, so I feel like I’m forced to be inefficient when I use a Mac.
DRoss
on 03 Oct 09
My nipple scrolls just fine.
Roman
on 05 Oct 09
@Deltaplan
On the contrary, in my experience I notice that women use a trackpad more often than men, and men use a mouse more often than women.
Also, mice are very important in precision tasks such as video games. And perhaps graphical design? (but I don’t know much about graphical design). And even when writing code, it is much easier to target text or highlight text with a mouse than a trackpad.
And lastly – I disagree with the argument that laptops are more secure. Stealing a big computer tower (or multiple towers) is a lot more difficult than stealing a laptop (or multiple laptops). Furthermore, if the laptops are issued by the company and the employees do not work from home, then the laptops may very well be left in the building overnight (secured with laptop cable locks of course).
Jamie, Baymard
on 02 Oct 09Pro Mouse and Mighty Mouse are pretty much the same.. so they’ve virtually had the current design for 10 years.
I don’t really see which direction they should take the mouse though. If they make it simpler it will lack too many features. If they make it more advanced it won’t be a unique mouse anymore.
On the other hand, if there’s a company that can solve such a dilemma, Apple is probably it.
JD
on 02 Oct 09A former co-worker of mine used a Kensington trackball. He refused to use anything else. Man, I really hated that thing.
JF
on 02 Oct 09I used to LOVE my Kensington trackball.
Justin Jackson
on 02 Oct 09I can’t stand the Mighty Mouse: side buttons don’t work, scrolling “nibbit” doesn’t work. Worst piece of hardware that Apple produces – it is desperately in need of of an update.
JR
on 02 Oct 09Not sure what’s next… but I’ve eagerly been awaiting the replacement for the MMouse. I really dislike using it.
CRC
on 02 Oct 09Don’t underestimate Apple doing something that appears quite radical like the end of the “mouse” (as we know it) and replacement with something resembling a track/touch pad. Maybe something that remains stationary on the desk, but that responses to a variety of touch gestures. Maybe with a subtle button responsiveness for click actions. Think of the latest track pad. Detach it. Set it next to the keyboard off to the side on the desk. Maybe make it Bluetooth (though the batteries that would fit in such a small, slim device probably cannot sufficiently powering BT without replacement once a week).
They are clearly evolving this approach to interaction with their various devices. The track pad has evolved quite a bit.
This seems like it would be consistent with other Apple design trends.
Robert Morris
on 02 Oct 09@Jamie, the Pro Mouse and the Mighty Mouse look similar, but I’m sure you know they’re actually quite different. First, it includes a 360-degree scroll ball (though by default it does only vertical and horizontal); second, it has grips on the sides that can be squeezed to make a fourth button. And, of course, it has two-button potential on the top surface, making it Apple’s first more-than-one-button mouse (four, at that). I’d say it’s a radical departure from their earlier one-button efforts, but it’s neat they designed it so that people who were comfortable with the old one could continue essentially using it the same way.
Sam MacCutchan
on 02 Oct 09I used to hate track pads until I tried the Multitouch Trackpad on my MBP. Now I want something like CRC described to use instead of a mouse when using the MBP at a desk with an external screen and keyboard. I’m addicted to the mouse gestures.
The Wacom Bamboo Touch looks like it might do the job.
JD
on 02 Oct 09JF, I never figured you to be a trackball guy. But now I understand. It is all so telling.
Jamie, Baymard
on 02 Oct 09@Robert Morris, you’re absolutely right. I was mainly thinking about the form, and not so much function. I actually thought the only difference was the scroll – forgot about the two-button feature and mistakenly thought Pro Mouse had the squeezable-grips-button on the sides (definitely looks that way, but apparently that is not the case..). However, while the two-button feature was a radical step away from Apple’s previous efforts, it wasn’t exactly revolutionary when looking at the mouse-market in general. That being said, I was a bit heedless with my first comment and I thank you for respectfully correcting me.
Masked Man
on 02 Oct 09It’s no mystery what is next – a multitouch tablet, which will not only work as a standalone netbook, but can also double as a pointing device for any Mac.
Right now its really more a question of when, than what
Morley
on 02 Oct 09I think I know why I hated the pro mouse—I’m a lefty, but I mouse with my right hand. So I couldn’t reliably generate enough squeezing power to trigger the click.
Though, now that I think about it, I’m not sure anyone can reliably generate enough pinky-squeezing power over a computing session, unless they play basketball or something.
It was really a poorly-designed piece of hardware.
Deltaplan
on 02 Oct 09What is next ? Simply the end of the mouse. Because desktop computers are almost over, it’s becoming harder and harder to find reasons to buy one…
My company had bought 2 desktop PCs for new employees… Within 2 months, the direction had to face the fact that it had been a VERY poor decision : with only 10-15% more, they could have bought laptops of equal characteristics, which would have allowed improved productivity, less electricity consumption, less risks of being stolen (since laptops are never left in the building when nobody is there… and while they MAY get stolen at the employees home too, they won’t get stolen all at a time, ant this makes a HUGE difference…)
So they’ve bought 2 laptops… And the 2 brand new PCs are almost rotting… One has been converted to a makeshift server, the other one is left unused somewhere…
And for home use it’s even worse. I don’t know A SINGLE person who has bought a desktop PC for a while. While there has been at least a dozen people among my friends who have bought laptops or netbooks within the last year.
Which leads me to another intriguing thing : regarding laptops, both for personal and professional use, I have systematically seen this incredible behavior difference between men and women : men use the integrated trackpad, while women ALWAYS use a mouse.
So what’s wrong with trackpads and women ?
Aleksandar
on 02 Oct 09@Deltaplan Interestingly, I’ve been trying to like using a laptop for about a year now. There is now way that I can get used to it. Its just not practical for me. Limited power, limited desktop estate. It just doesn’t feel right. OK, it might eat less power, but thats about it.
Chris
on 03 Oct 09Of all the reasons I dislike current Macs, the most significant one is that mice still lack a standard right-mouse button. Having read The Humane Interface I know the theory behind not having one, but I’m surprised (and perhaps appalled) that Mac designers have adjusted their theory given new facts. In fact, I’m now accustomed to using a mouse with a center button and a right button, so I feel like I’m forced to be inefficient when I use a Mac.
DRoss
on 03 Oct 09My nipple scrolls just fine.
Roman
on 05 Oct 09@Deltaplan
On the contrary, in my experience I notice that women use a trackpad more often than men, and men use a mouse more often than women.
Also, mice are very important in precision tasks such as video games. And perhaps graphical design? (but I don’t know much about graphical design). And even when writing code, it is much easier to target text or highlight text with a mouse than a trackpad.
And lastly – I disagree with the argument that laptops are more secure. Stealing a big computer tower (or multiple towers) is a lot more difficult than stealing a laptop (or multiple laptops). Furthermore, if the laptops are issued by the company and the employees do not work from home, then the laptops may very well be left in the building overnight (secured with laptop cable locks of course).
Tobias
on 06 Oct 09Have you seen Microsoft Research’s Video about multitouch-mouse prototypes? http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/LarryLarsen/This-May-Be-Your-Next-Mouse/
This discussion is closed.