http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/ Engadget Comments for Doug Engelbart sez mice should have many buttons http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
I don't need a button to bring up my email app.

I don't need a button to bring up "Online Shopping".

I don't need a freaking scroll wheel, mouse buttons, and a stinking touch pad on my keyboard.

Just because there CAN be a button there, doesn't mean there SHOULD be a button there.

Isn't the point of all this technology supposed to be to make our lives easier? I don't think that 85 buttons on a mouse, each programmed to do something equally ridiculous, sitting there screaming "Accidentally hit me and regret paying money for this stupid mouse!" is making anyone's life easier.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
Everything uses USB these days. Multibutton mice are available for all platforms, if you want them. Single button mice are available for all platforms, if you want them (PC users, go try an Apple pro mouse. They're keen).

Use what you want. The debate is pointless.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
I agree with stupid, this is all an opinion thing.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
1 for the thumb
3 button on top plus a scroll wheel
2-3 on the pinky finger side

I like being able to program the buttons to do my bidding. You can even program the buttons to do different task if more than one is pressed at the same time. This feature can open up the mouse to many additional functions.
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
- jackasses throughout history]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/All these buttons may be nice to some people but try using the mouse with your other hand and see how ergonomic they appear then. Us left handers have to put up with the shape designed for the other hand. Sticking more buttons just means more things that dont align with the left hand.

]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
and his 'mother of all demos' was truly awe inspiring, but just because he invented the mouse doesn't mean he's the authority when it comes to user interfaces...

Have any of you actually seen Engelbart's "Mother of all demos" where he busts out the mouse and the graphical user interface?

It was amazing, but the setup certainly wasn't very easy to use. He had a 3 button mouse in his right hand, a full keyboard in front of him, and in his left hand was a bizarre 5 switch device that he used to issue critical commands.

The device in the left hand allowed for up to 32 different commands, but you'd basically have to memorize the different permutations and what they mapped to.

It was so difficult to use that engelbart himself made a few mistakes during his demo from issuing the wrong commands.

Not everything that Engelbart demonstrated that day flew... but the mouse was one of them.

That being said, I agree with #7 before that the debate is pointless... I use a rediculous 11 button mouse with my Mac, and i hardly ever use all the buttons, but hey, you're free to use whatever input device with whatever computer.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
But as far as what comes with a computer goes, left, right, and scroll wheel are as much as needed for most users--leave the 106-key mice for the users that want to spend a little extra on them.

Oops, forgot joystick targeting functions for flight-sim users...]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
Really, I don't know why the mouse is so entrenched as an input device. I've been using trackballs since the late eighties. I don't know why they aren't more popular.

1. They take up less space than a mouse and pad.
2. They are always in the same place.
3. They are less stressful to use. (You only need to move your fingers, not your whole arm.)
4. They don't get as dirty.

They aren't very good for activities that simulate writing - like drawing. But if you care about that enough, you're probably using a pen already.

- Jasen.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
Thumb buttons:
delete - i do a lot of media (rar files) and i find highling and deleting with the mouse simple
ctrl - useful for games like warcraft to highlight and select troops troops

top buttons:
maximize page
minimize all (love this feature)
undo minimize all
scroll down

These are all personal preferences, and I've changed them over time. But that's just the point, I'd rather have the options to tweak than want to tweak and be unable to.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
It looks fantastic but is impossible to use compared to a normal two button mouse with scrollwheel. Trying to make sure you aren't touching the touch-sensitive surface while right-clicking isn't natural or ergonomic. I don't take my finger off the buttons on a normal mouse, why would I do that on the Mighty Mouse?]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/It comes with a mouse w/ 3 buttons and a pen with two buttons. I use the pen mostly and find that it gives me the most freedom. I stopped using a mouse b/c my hand started to hurt something awful after getting tennis elbow a while back. Before that I used a trackball (didn't help my tennis elbow) and a logitech cordless mouse (really hurt my hand). In the few occasions that I had to use a mouse I found that the old fashion 3-butoon MS mouse didn't hurt so bad... Really now I wouldn't trade in my Wacom tablet except for another Wacom tablet.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
The only people I've seen using a trackball has been nut jobs. I"ve never met a sane trackball user.
I'm only saying.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
Something like the Logitech® MX™ 600 cordless laser mouse, but with only 2 buttons and the scrollwheel on the side to be used with the thumb whithout changing my hand position.
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
I understand the argument for gaming, howevery if you want more buttons for your games, get a gamepad, they're designed primarily for games.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
Can't some company (preferably Apple) create a mouse that will have NO BUTTONS...

One of those that when you TOUCH it, it will know exactly what it is in your head and will do accordingly...

For Example: You THINK you want to scroll upwards. Simply, as you have your hand touching the mouse, the mouse will know what it is that you want to do and will move the cursor upwards...

until that one mouse comes, i am satisfied with Mighty Mouse and I agree with #8 "Use what you want. The debate is pointless."

cheers...!]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/-Taylor]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
he told me this personally.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Im going back to the mighty mouse.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
Why hasn't anyone come up with good foot-based controls? It's not like organists and pianists haven't had foot-based controls for hundreds of years!

My left hand is often pained after a full day of stretching between the CTRL/ALT key and other keys. I can imagine using foot pedals for SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, and also some mouse buttons too. Although double-clicking would be difficult. :-)

On the mouse-button issue, I prefer 1 button per digit. I would prefer to have a mouse with the buttons on a ledge on the front side, so I could actually rest my hand in a more ergonomic manner. The current mice require my hand to be higher than the wrist. Which is worse for your hand than if the wrist is higher than your hand. At least that's what I remember from piano lessons.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
I don't agree that this is not an important discussion. Interface can be a bottleneck to utility. I look forward to #30's psychic mouse, but if button-count limits utility, then why not add more buttons. I think the counter point to "Use what you want..." is that some of us are wanting for a mouse that hasn't been made yet.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
I don't agree that this is not an important discussion. Interface can be a bottleneck to utility. I look forward to #30's psychic mouse, but if button-count limits utility, then why not add more buttons. I think the counter point to "Use what you want..." is that some of us are wanting for a mouse that hasn't been made yet.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
allso, if/when keyboards with oled displays become commonplace, how hard will it be to have a app change the keys so that as you press a modifier key (usualy shit, ctrl or alt on a wintel or similar) the keys themselfs change to represent their new function. this way keyboard shortcuts are much simpler to learn :P

or maybe make the future keyboard into a single sheet of trouch sensitive lcd. then display a diffrent layout based on what is currently being done. very star trek in a way.

still, basic feedback will be a problem...]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
Program the buttons and scrollwheel for each individual application.

For example, I have the scrollwheel programmed for both volume control and playlist track selection under iTunes.

]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/
For scroll wheel, just want simple up down motion mainly, for horizontal motion perhaps I could click Cmd (or something else) and the scroll whould move horizonatally? Who needs diagonal motion?? for that I think most programs have something like the hand tool (photoshop) right?

The Mighy Mouse is complicated, I think for this design Apple definately broke the "keep it simple" rule for aesthetics sake ... those biaches.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/16/doug-engelbart-sez-mice-should-have-many-buttons/Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM