Moss takes a look at the Mighty Mouse
posted August 5th 2005 11:20AM
Not that we should be so surprised by his subject matter or stance, but Unkie Moss took on the Mighty Mouse this week, and apparently came up a little short on nice things to say. Which is totally fine with us—hate on the thing as much as you please, but being a little bitter-sounding about Apple only now adopting the two-button clikkity-clikkity-clack is a little redundant. He does think it's "harder to use" than competing mice, interestingly, and says it's inferior to Microsoft's Wireless Optical Mouse 5000, which he hearts because it has an integrated zoom feature. His conclusion: "stop the presses: Microsoft has beaten Apple on hardware design, at least in this one case." Jury's still out over here since some of us have yet to play around with one, but we definitely have to attest that Walt's usual grumpy old man harshtitude's a little thicker than usual this week.
Check out Ananandtech's review (www.anandtech.com). Says almost the same thing. Very akward.
I know the Mighty Mouse is not perfect but why compare it to one of the worlds worst brands of mice, microsoft? Logitech is far better than microsoft, that's why most hardcore gamers use logitech.
no, hardcore gamers use touchpads :P
You guys sound grumpy about his grumpiness. Apple is allowed to make an inferior product... in fact, they do it all the time. Get off their junk.
I love mine!
I like Apple stuff, but if it wasn't good I would say!
It all works fine for me and I have had a few Mouses.
Oh yeah and it is just as good in the left hand.
"I know the Mighty Mouse is not perfect but why compare it to one of the worlds worst brands of mice, microsoft?"
Oh, c'mon now. Yes, Logitech is good but you certainly cannot claim that MS hardware one of the worst brands. It's fine if your one of those anti-MS zealots but you really should give them credit where credit is due. MS mice have been the primary innovators for a long time. Scroll wheel anyone? (vertical and horizontal)
Let's be honest, Walt has been hoping for a decent to mediocre apple product to come out because he always raves about everything they do. He has to look somewhat unbiased.
See... you have to look at this differently because mice just happen to be the only single thing Microsoft can make well. If Apple can do everything else better, I think thats fine. Personally, I use a Microsoft trackball on my powermac because they make the only non-doofy trackball around. But in all thats Apples first "real" mouse so for a first shot you have to admit its pretty awesome. Now compare that to Microsofts first multibutton mouse... I dont see anyone doing it that way.
#8, Rob:
Microsoft trackballs are still "doofy" in my book.
http://www.kensington.com/html/2200.html
There's a MAN's trackball right there...
#9 The last time I saw a trackball that frickin' large I was playing Pole Position on an Atari 7800.
P.S. I heard that trackball was approved by no fingered monkeys with MD.
Give it a break!! While Apple is pushing the design envelop, some reviews just try to pull their legs. When was the last time you see a mouse with touch sensitive technology? This is a brand new breed!! Why do we have to compare a push button, which has been on mouses forever since 1963, to this fresh idea? It will be refined and improved in the next round. It would be fair to give this technology a few years to grow, then compare apple to apple again. Let's just step back for a second, and learn to appreciate the initial concept.
Russ, that's hella insensitive! I'm a no-fingered monkey with MD!
some people....
Give it a break!! While Apple is pushing the design envelop, some reviews just try to pull their legs. When was the last time you see a mouse with touch sensitive technology? This is a brand new breed!! Why do we have to compare a push button, which has been on mouses forever since 1963, to this fresh idea? It will be refined and improved in the next round. It would be fair to give this technology a few years to grow, then compare apple to apple again. Let's just step back for a second, and learn to appreciate the initial concept.
#11:
Touch sensitivity is a disputable innovation. Many still miss the old keyboards because the newer ones don't provide as much tactile feedback. The majority of people would rather feel something move at a push, it's the reason why laptops have buttons (even PowerBooks) even if they aren't necessary as the touchpad is perfectly capable of emulating a button click.
What most anti-Apple zealots are having fun about is that Apple is not at all innovative when it comes to mice, unless you believe innovation literally defined includes radical designs like a push-down hockey puck with zero ergonomic value.
Perhaps the biggest in-your-face news for this mouse is the second button. Apple has never made any claim to the superiority of a single-button mouse. Their efforts tend to be purely towards maximum productivity with the most simplicity in design. Unfortunately, Apple really needed to accept the fact that the mouse as an input device really needs at least two buttons and a scroll wheel, and should have gotten around to a new mouse that meets this requirement back in, say, 1998, when the World Wide Web exploded.
It does all push and moves, it all works remarkably well.
This is a crappy product. Get over it.
Why are Apple fans sugar coating this difficult-to-use badly designed product? Without criticism products will never get better.
And somone said Microsoft made bad hardware, except the Microsoft intellimouse explorer is 10 times better than the mighty mouse, theres no buts, it just is. You can say all you want about opinions, but its just not like that in this case. The mighty mouse is clunky bad design.
Remember the first iMac puck mouse?
Go ahead, tell me Apple doesn't make mistakes...
I had no problem replacing my Intellimouse Explorer with the Mighty Mouse.
"Remember the first iMac puck mouse? "
So true. That has to be the worst mouse ever made.
-Matt
It all comes down to personal taste/preference. I've tried mice people have raved about and couldn't stand them. You have to take these reviews with a grain of salt. Until you fondle one you won't know if it's good for you or not :-)
Paultakeda is right, theres nothing wrong with pushbuttons. Just like theres nothing wrong with analog gauges or watches, in fact, they kinda work better.
With the exception of the new breed laser-mouse, M$ makes the best mouse, IMO
Comparing to a mouse that mac users rarely use is stupid...HERES A REASON not to buy...Bluetooth Mighty Mouse plus still some kinks
http://www.epicempire.com/computers/apple-mighty-mouse.html
#11:
"When was the last time you see a mouse with touch sensitive technology? This is a brand new breed!! Why do we have to compare a push button, which has been on mouses forever since 1963, to this fresh idea?"
your comment makes me laugh, really:
take this as a cue: if i were to get out of my front yard, i take the walk out of the front yard door - i don't strap myself into a space suit, blast my ass to outter space & beyond and then dive back to land on the road outside of my yard...you see what i mean? touch sensitive technology? give me a break...why the hell one will go through the whole nine yards just to get a simple thing done - and done worse - and in the name of technology? It's a shame to even think of this has anything to do with TRUE innovation.
#23:
Now, you talk big about "innovation" and whatever else...
But have you tried this mouse? Or are you making your opinions strictly from what you've read online?
Don't knock it if it works... especially if you've never used it yourself.
I just got one today. It is pretty awesome once you get used to it. Really intuitive, easy to customize in Tiger, ect.
Moss is just hating because recently he's been forced by obvious realities to say some good things about Tiger, and he doesn't want to stop getting Christmas cards (or checks) from Bill.
#24:
Very good point and you almost had me there - except I just HAPPENED to have THREE of those returned and get our $150 back for the office.
Our initial excitement & hope were high, but it DOESN'T work, plaint simple. There is no "partially works" for us and it's either "totally works" or "Doesn't"
Does it work for you?
Don't ASSUME, as they said it make an A** outta u & me. peace
typical apple product:
those who use it.. love it.. those who read about it.. scratch their heads and think 'wow.. totally overpriced garbage..'
now you know why apple has a retail chain...
From what I'm told, a major factor in Apple's decision to stick with the one-button mouse all these years is the effect it has on software design. Developers are forced to design their software in such a way that one-button mice users can easily manipulate the software in menus. There are a ton of Windows programs that rely on the context menus for key features and that makes them more difficult to use, especially for novices.
So there is a major reason that their first "two-button" mouse is still a one-button mouse by default. Personally, after playing with a bit at the Apple Store, I would never choose it over a comparable MS or Logi mouse, but if you're a zealot about using 100% Apple accessories, it seems to do the job.
I need to stop reading Engadget. The cute english-mangling has reached epic proportions.
"harshtitude"
"Unkie Moss"
"hate on"
"clikkity-clikkity-clack"
"which he hearts"
I get a better read out of a bowl of AlphaBits. How's that for harshtitude.
nerfgun,
Some people don't like reading the same 500 words rearranged a variety of different ways. Apparently you're not one of them--so why read this or any other blog? In fact, why even whine about it? Just stop reading.
Best,
Ryan
lol, well said Ryan. It sounds like nerfgun is a little bitter about something.
Personally I want to try it out. I was going to go to the Apple store to get a checkup on my iBook anyway. I have to say I would be surprised if it was as good as Microsoft or Logitech mice, but ya never know.
Either way, I can't (or rather, won't) afford $50 to a mouse. My MS Explorer does the trick right now.
Hopefully once they weed out all the standard one-button mice these will be bundled with each system (hopefully by 2006 w/ the intel machines).
The Mighty Mouse is a very unorthodox approach to what should be a simple tool. Though it may look simpler, the dynamics and ergonomics that come into play when it tries to demonstrate functionality make it an impractical investment. But let's get one thing straight: Microsoft hardware is crap. I have oned three MS optical mice that have all broke. I switched to Logitech and will never look back. So the guy Apple should be aiming for is Logitech, not Microsoft. It seems with the Mighty Mouse that Apple went overboard with their attempt to be revolutionary (at this point in time, a WIRED mouse for $50 is HERESY).
In case I sound biased, I assure you that I am not; I have been a dedicated Mac user all my life. I love them. I just don't see the point in this product release.
I definitely favour mac products over the competition because it just works for me. Unfortunately, the new mighty mouse doesn't cut it!
Notice the logitech mouse in my setup :)
http://homepage.mac.com/aleksivic/.Pictures/setups/display.jpg