Apple's new Magic Mouse disassembled with pictures

[AppleInsider]

The world's first multi-touch mouse, Apple's new Magic Mouse, has been pulled apart from all of the glue that holds it together, allowing a glimpse at its internal components.

The new Magic Mouse has a solid acrylic surface on a low-profile body. It lacks any physical buttons or the scroll ball of its predecessor, the Mighty Mouse. Instead, the hardware senses the movement of fingertips across its surface, in a multi-touch fashion much like the technology employed in Apple's iPhone, iPod touch, MacBook and MacBook Pro lines.

iFixit's look inside found an aluminum base covered by a smooth multi-touch panel. Inside, the hardware is held together by "copious amounts" of glue. It was disassembled with an iPod opening tool.

"The glue didn't want to let go, but we overpowered it with the flick of our magic wand," the solutions provider said. "Screws would have been a lot easier to get apart (and much nicer to put back together)."

Most of the hardware's weight comes its two AA batteries (47 grams). The plastic weighs in at 37 grams, while the inside is just 10 grams.

A single ribbon cable connects the top of the mouse to its internal board, and orange capacitive touch sensors line the translucent top to track individual finger movements. iFixit found that the mouse's entire surface, from the Apple logo up, is covered with capacitive touch sensors.



Currently, the Magic Mouse requires a software patch for the multi-touch functionality to work with Mac OS X. But the forthcoming release of Mac OS X 10.6.2 is said to have native support for the new hardware.

The solutions provider said that the average mouse board weighs in at 0.4 grams, while the Magic Mouse's "brain" is 9 grams.

The mouse uses a Broadcom BCM2042A4KFBGH Bluetooth chip to wirelessly communicate with a desktop machine. Broadcom advertises the chip as a "low cost component" that allows manufacturers to create new hardware at the same price points as older mice with less features.

"Apparently Apple missed that memo," iFixit said of the $69 mouse.



Disassembly of the new hardware is not recommended, as the sheer amount of glue holding it together would be difficult to repair once pulled apart.

"Another mouse killed in the name of science," they said. "We didn't break anything, but gluing it back together will be challenging."

For the full disassembly process, view the entire article at iFixit.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[teckstud]

Already a controversial product:

http://www.i4u.com/article27784.html

[Dlux]

The new Mighty Mouse has a solid acrylic surface on a low-profile body. It lacks any physical buttons or the scroll ball of its predecessor, the Mighty Mouse.

Should be: "The new Magic Mouse...

Sorry, but it's kinda distracting.

[BuffyzDead]

I would have to believe that, based on the huge sensing area on the top of the magic mouse AND the rails, Apple will continue to release software upgrades to add more functionality.

Right now, you are only using the forward half of the mouse.

With those rails, you might be able to lock the mouse in place and provide a more "multi-touch" interface, using the entire surface of the mouse.

Dare I think....

[Quadra 610]

Ahhh, a mouse dissection.

[Dlux]

Originally Posted by BuffyzDead

With those rails, you might be able to lock the mouse in place and provide a more "multi-touch" interface, using the entire surface of the mouse.

If this wasn't a forum of computer users, one might read that and think we're all a bunch of perverts!

[floccus]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

The mouse uses a Broadcom BCM2042A4KFBGH Bluetooth chip to wirelessly communicate with a desktop machine. Broadcom advertises the chip as a "low cost component" that allows manufacturers to create new hardware at the same price points as older mice with less features.

"Apparently Apple missed that memo," iFixit said of the $69 mouse.

Except, how much added cost are all of those touch sensors? Stating that the price should be lower simply because the bluetooth chip is "low-cost" is pointless if everything else is a premium component (for now).

Also, why Magic Mouse? Please, Apple (Steve), go back to using Pro Mouse, or even just Mouse. Using the name Magic Mouse makes it too toyish. Simply calling it the (Pro) Mouse gives it a little bit of a minimalist cool factor.

[ghostface147]

I won't be getting one until I see a wired version, which I doubt will happen ever. I already have to replace batteries as it is with a Wiimote, so now another battery infested device? No thanks.

[Takeo]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Already a controversial product:

http://www.i4u.com/article27784.html

I agree wholeheartedly. The multi-touch thing seems brilliant... and it's nice that the mouse finally has sides again (instead of the button wrapping all the way down the sides)... but it's WAAAAAAY too small. Way too small and insanely thin. I'd like to try one before deciding for sure... but from the pictures... it looks like the ergonomics will be disastrous. As expected.

[Doxxic]

Apparently Apple missed that memo," iFixit said of the $69 mouse.

[Booga]

Originally Posted by Takeo

I agree wholeheartedly. The multi-touch thing seems brilliant... and it's nice that the mouse finally has sides again (instead of the button wrapping all the way down the sides)... but it's WAAAAAAY too small. Way too small and insanely thin. I'd like to try one before deciding for sure... but from the pictures... it looks like the ergonomics will be disastrous. As expected.

I'm not as sure about that. One of the least ergonomic aspects of most mice for me is the scroll wheel. Too much scroll-wheeling and my hand/wrist definitely starts to feel it. Despite a flatter profile I can imagine that doing away with the scroll wheel and allowing some more natural gesture to take its place could offset any problems with the height.

It's too soon for an ergonomic article. Use the thing for a few weeks then tell us about it.

[Wings]

The one thing that kills this mouse for me is its weight, all attributable to the use of 2 AA cells. I've tried wireless mice before but after using one for 8 hours the weight starts to become an issue.

(The other issue I have with this mouse is where am I going to rest my fingers? I've noticed that my fingers wander all over the top of a mouse while I'm using it, and this one is going to think I'm scrolling. Haven't tried one yet but that's the impression I get. We'll see.)

Wish they had put in a Li-Ion rechargeable in there along with a mouse pad with a built-in inductive charger. I'd try that.

[mbarriault]

Wait, so there's no physical click to it at all? That's rather disappointing (though I already have it ordered :P).

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Already a controversial product:

http://www.i4u.com/article27784.html

CNET don't have a clue, but they may be right on this one. I've ordered one, so it better be decent. The ergonomic factor isn't why I like the MX Revolution though, it's all the other stuff. I'll give an honest review when it turns up.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by ghostface147

I won't be getting one until I see a wired version, which I doubt will happen ever. I already have to replace batteries as it is with a Wiimote, so now another battery infested device? No thanks.

Of all the things Apple has that really NEEDS a non-replaceable, rechargeable battery with a charger is it's mouse! I'm sick and tired of changing batteries as well. And how exactly is this environmentally friendly? I'm supposed now buy an additonal battery recharger out of my pocket and draw more electricity with it? No thanks.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Ireland

CNET don't have a clue, but they may be right on this one. I've ordered one, so it better be decent. The ergonomic factor isn't why I like the MX Revolution though, it's all the other stuff. I'll give an honest review when it turns up.

Must be nice to have $70+ to burn.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by mbarriault

Wait, so there's no physical click to it at all? That's rather disappointing (though I already have it ordered :P).

Originally Posted by Ireland

CNET don't have a clue, but they may be right on this one. I've ordered one, so it better be decent. The ergonomic factor isn't why I like the MX Revolution though, it's all the other stuff. I'll give an honest review when it turns up.

I never understood why people buy things blind without reading a single review. Must be stockholders.

[teckstud]

http://gizmodo.com/5387229/magic-mou...l-found-inside

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Must be nice to have $70+ to burn.

I never said I was poor.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by teckstud

I never understood why people buy things blind without reading a single review. Must be stockholders.

Yeah, you can tell I'm a stockholder by how much I love the Mighty Mouse

My gut feeling says I'll like this mouse, as I love swiping, momentum-scrolling and wanted the ball gone for years.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by teckstud

http://gizmodo.com/5387229/magic-mou...l-found-inside

Gizmodo is great.

[steviet02]

Originally Posted by teckstud

I never understood why people buy things blind without reading a single review. Must be stockholders.

especially since Apples mice suck. why would anyone buy this next disaster without seeing and using it first hand.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by steviet02

especially since Apples mice suck. why would anyone buy this next disaster without seeing and using it first hand.

People are fools

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Ireland

I never said I was poor.

True that- to each his own. I hope it works out for you.
I have to check it and all the rest of the new stuff out at lunchtime today. I went Tuesday but nothing was out yet.

[Gazoobee]

Originally Posted by Takeo

I agree wholeheartedly. The multi-touch thing seems brilliant... and it's nice that the mouse finally has sides again (instead of the button wrapping all the way down the sides)... but it's WAAAAAAY too small. Way too small and insanely thin. I'd like to try one before deciding for sure... but from the pictures... it looks like the ergonomics will be disastrous. As expected.

I don't really agree, although I haven't tried the mouse yet myself.

Although I too often criticise Apple's ergonomics, especially about mice, it's fair to say that those articles are being a bit disingenuous. The fact is that there is no "ergonomic standard" or even rules when it comes to mice. There is no right way, and no wrong way, and different people use the mouse different ways.

As much as I totally disagree with him, Steve Jobs' answer to why he thought the iMac "hockey puck" mouse (that most hated), was good was that you were supposed to just hold it with your fingertips and not rest your hand on it. Personally, I can't hold a mouse that way, but if you are one of the people that does, he is actually quite correct and the mouse works well in that context. I'm more inclined to lay my hand across the top of the mouse and just move the fingers, (as are a lot of people).

I'd like to see Apple do what no one else has ever done and make mice in varying sizes to accommodate the fact that humans have widely differing hand sizes. My hands for instance are literally twice as big as a friend of mine, but we both use the same mouse.

However, saying that one mouse design or another is "not ergonomic" or words to that effect, as these articles do, is specious. The mouse may not work for the reviewer, but it's an individual thing.

To couch it in absolutes like these articles do is basically to be just making crap up.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by teckstud

True that- to each his own. I hope it works out for you.
I have to check it and all the rest of the new stuff out at lunchtime today. I went Tuesday but nothing was out yet.

Let me know what you think of the stuff. Like I say, no SSD option on the iMac is unforgivable. It's retarded. Steve Jobs is retarded.

[steviet02]

Originally Posted by Ireland

People are fools

The first step to recovery is admitting it

Considering Apples history with these devices, why not wait and use one at a store first?

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Gazoobee

I don't really agree, although I haven't tried the mouse yet myself.

Although I too often criticise Apple's ergonomics, especially about mice, it's fair to say that those articles are being a bit disingenuous. The fact is that there is no "ergonomic standard" or even rules when it comes to mice. There is no right way, and no wrong way, and different people use the mouse different ways.

As much as I totally disagree with him, Steve Jobs' answer to why he thought the iMac "hockey puck" mouse (that most hated), was good was that you were supposed to just hold it with your fingertips and not rest your hand on it. Personally, I can't hold a mouse that way, but if you are one of the people that does, he is actually quite correct and the mouse works well in that context. I'm more inclined to lay my hand across the top of the mouse and just move the fingers, (as are a lot of people).

I'd like to see Apple do what no one else has ever done and make mice in varying sizes to accommodate the fact that humans have widely differing hand sizes. My hands for instance are literally twice as big as a friend of mine, but we both use the same mouse.

However, saying that one mouse design or another is "not ergonomic" or words to that effect, as these articles do, is specious. The mouse may not work for the reviewer, but it's an individual thing.

To couch it in absolutes like these articles do is basically to be just making crap up.

Let me help you understand that there is nothing "specious" to the claim:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergonomics

Propping up your fingertips on a mouse like a ballerina and using your digits to dance is ridiculous and not the norm.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by steviet02

The first step to recovery is admitting it

Considering Apples history with these devices, why not wait and use one at a store first?

He told you he's a fool- now leave him be!

[anonymouse]

Originally Posted by mbarriault

Wait, so there's no physical click to it at all? That's rather disappointing (though I already have it ordered :P).

No physical clicking would, I think, make it much more ergonomic. Reviewers declaring it not ergonomic based on size alone, clearly don't understand ergonomics, which can't be judged so summarily. Besides, pushing buttons is so old fashioned.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by anonymouse

No physical clicking would, I think, make it much more ergonomic. Reviewers declaring it not ergonomic based on size alone, clearly don't understand ergonomics, which can't be judged so summarily. Besides, pushing buttons is so old fashioned.

As mouse- period, is so old fashion. I want one of those hand contraptions like in "Children of Men". Or just a portable bluetooth track pad but not that Bamboo Wacom disaster.

[bugsnw]

This is one of those items that reading a review won't help. Mice are very subjective creatures and everything from how they feel when you move them to how hard you have to press to register a click to the ratio of height to width affect how you perceive their effectiveness.

I loved the little nipple on the last mighty mouse for it's fine grit and satisfying rubbery texture. But I grew to hate the rest of the mouse. It brought back memories of a very light Kensington mouse I tried that had a pad for a scroll wheel. The lack of feedback while clicking and scrolling is a deal breaker for me. I just had to try them out for a while to discover this.

I broke with Apple and tried a Logitech VX Revolution. I was hesitant as I've had Apple's wireless mice before and went through batteries too quickly. Logitech's mice, however, don't drink as much juice. The thing I get the most satisfaction with is their rubber-stripped, metal flywheel. It's a scroll button without peer. You can set it to give you gritty feedback or not, where it will spin for several seconds freely.

I also found that I like having 7 buttons. I use 6 of them every day, hundreds of times, mostly for expose functionality.

I ordered the 27" and will try the mouse out, but it has a high hurdle to clear to replace my VX.

[anonymouse]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Let me help you understand that there is nothing "specious" to the claim:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergonomics

Propping up your fingertips on a mouse like a ballerina and using your digits to dance is ridiculous and not the norm.

There's nothing in the link you provide that would support the claim that the Magic Mouse does not have good ergonomics. Nor do reviewers who have used it for at most a day (and many of them probably all of 5 minutes) have any basis for the assertion.

"Using your digits to dance," may not currently be the norm, but it may turn out to be much more ergonomic than traditional buttons. Setting a trackpad to respond to touch and not using it as a button at all is, in my experience, much more ergonomic. The only problem there is that on MacBooks it's in a somewhat awkward position. Having a standalone touch device off to the side, in a more natural position, seems the best arrangement.

And, you don't, "[Prop] up your fingertips," on it, "like a ballerina." You hold it just like the hand in Apple's pictures does and just make small movements of your fingertips. In 3 months, everyone will be rushing copies of this design to the market. Some of them may work better than Apple's, which is fine, but I think the non-ergonomic charges will fade away like breath on a cold morning.

[Zandros]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Let me help you understand that there is nothing "specious" to the claim:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergonomics

Propping up your fingertips on a mouse like a ballerina and using your digits to dance is ridiculous and not the norm.

You're definitely wrong. There are many people who don't palm their mouse.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Already a controversial product:

http://www.i4u.com/article27784.html

Yeah, CNET complains about everything Apple. Maybe the reviewer's hands were too fat.

In any event, I am waiting for mine: will let you know how it works out.

[Postulant]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Propping up your fingertips on a mouse like a ballerina and using your digits to dance is ridiculous and not the norm.

The only way to operate any mouse is to prop your fingertips on top and make them dance like a ballerina. How do you use your current scroll ball? Jedi mind tricks?

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Postulant

The only way to operate any mouse is to prop your fingertips on top and make them dance like a ballerina. How do you use your current scroll ball? Jedi mind tricks?

I use the part of my finger where one would get a fingerprint taken for identification- not the actual tips adjacent to my nails as Gazoobee suggests!!! You're not playing a piano for crying out loud! That's why people use gelled wrists rests- for exactly as its held.

[anonymouse]

Originally Posted by Postulant

The only way to operate any mouse is to prop your fingertips on top and make them dance like a ballerina. How do you use your current scroll ball? Jedi mind tricks?

TS certainly does mind tricks, but they aren't Jedi mind tricks. They might be Creutzfeldt-Jakob mind tricks.

[Postulant]

Originally Posted by teckstud

You're not playing a piano for crying out loud!

Exaggerated, yet still funny.

[anonymouse]

Originally Posted by teckstud

That's why people use gelled wrists rests- for exactly as its held.

The reason many people use gelled wrist rests is that the mice they are using are too big -- i.e., too tall -- so they need the wrist rest to get their hand up to the right level. The low profile of the new MM seems perfect for eliminating the need for these. I'd say the new mouse is a knockout, except that it looks more transgenic.