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New keyboard and mouse at MacWorld?

post #1 of 27
12/16/01 at 6:14am
Thread Starter 
Does anyone think we could see a new mouse and keyboard and mouse at MacWorld?

The iMac is Steves baby and it would seem plausible that he could introduce new ones with the new iMac.

I seriously doubt that they would be wireless though.

The current ones have been out since July 2000 so they are not real old but I give it a 50/50 chance on seeing new ones.
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post #2 of 27
12/16/01 at 6:44am
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
The keyboard and mouse is probably the least complained about products Apple sell so why change that? And no two buttons isn´t the answer.

Longer mouse cord is the only thing I can think of (esp. for iBook users)
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post #3 of 27
12/16/01 at 6:59am
I wonder how many years will have to pass until we see a two-button mouse from Apple
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post #4 of 27
12/16/01 at 7:08am
[quote]Originally posted by Anders:
<strong>The keyboard and mouse is probably the least complained about products Apple sell so why change that? And no two buttons isn´t the answer.

Longer mouse cord is the only thing I can think of (esp. for iBook users)</strong><hr></blockquote>

I ADORE my twin Pro mice. I've had an infinicrap exploder and would never go back.

As far as a longer cord, I can see why it might be a problem only with the iBook. You can plug it in to the keyboard of a desktop Mac, and the short cord is perfect for use with the PowerBook, with its USB ports on the back. IMHO the flaw is in the iBook, with its USB ports on the LEFT side. Apple should have designed the machine with one USB port on the RIGHT for the mouse.

Of course, if you're a left-hander, the iBook is perfect.
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post #5 of 27
12/16/01 at 7:15am
Will this do?


For loads of more mock-ups, go to: <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/benvp/" target="_blank">Apple Mock-Ups</a>
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post #6 of 27
12/16/01 at 8:10am
I would love to see a new keyboard, but I doubt it's gonna happen. I couldn't care less about the mouse, since it'd have to have two buttons and a scroll wheel (ok, technically three buttons) before I'd even consider using it, and I really don't see that happening soon.

Alex
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post #7 of 27
12/16/01 at 8:38am
Erm...what's that?

The current mouse and keyboard are actually very nice. I envy my sister's Pro Keyboard...flopping around in Q3 is just a little trickly with scrunched together keys.
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post #8 of 27
12/16/01 at 9:17am
Maybe a new optical mouse with optical wheel.
When you move your finger above a sensor it detects the movement.
Two sensors.
It would have a correcting method for ignoring the wheel moving you do for error. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
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post #9 of 27
12/16/01 at 9:46am
I know Apple's thing has always been the simplicity of a one-button mouse. And I've liked that.

To be honest, I've never even used a two-button mouse before (I'm still using the hockey pucks, both and home and work...), but lately I'm starting to use the contextual (did I spell that right?) menus and although it's not a HUGE deal to hold the control key with your left hand, sometimes it would be nice to...well, you know...just have the button to do that already on your mouse.

And yes...I'm completely aware of the 238 varieties of third-party mice out there.

But it's just odd that Apple themselves loads the OS X with those little context-sensitive menus, but doesn't produce a mouse to take advantage of it.

It's like Porsche relying on third-party manufacturers to provide access to the fourth and fifth gears.

Hey, that's a pretty bitchin' analogy!

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post #10 of 27
12/16/01 at 10:27am
[quote]Originally posted by Infinite Void:
<strong>I wonder how many years will have to pass until we see a two-button mouse from Apple </strong><hr></blockquote>

It'll be a LONG time
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post #11 of 27
12/16/01 at 10:32am
This probably doesn't mean anything, but I do recall many months ago (before the forums went down) the Naked Mole Rat had a report on the next generation iMac. He mentioned they would debut with a new mouse "Click" and a new keyboard "Clack." As to whether the report had any FACTUAL basis I cannot divine...
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post #12 of 27
12/16/01 at 11:25am
I read somewhere that new mouse and new KB would be wireless.
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post #13 of 27
12/16/01 at 11:39am
Oh ya, well I read somewhere that the new mouse would fit to the shape of your hand and it would look like an ugly shoe. oh, wait, that was here at Appleinsider, oops. (&lt;-- this really didn't turn out as funny as I had originally planned, sorry.)
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post #14 of 27
12/16/01 at 11:43am
[quote]Originally posted by Anders:
<strong>The keyboard and mouse is probably the least complained about products Apple sell so why change that? And no two buttons isn´t the answer.

Longer mouse cord is the only thing I can think of (esp. for iBook users)</strong><hr></blockquote>

For iBook users, the length of the mouse cord is fine. If you are right-handed, simply plug the mouse into the first USB port (Nearest to the front), tuck the cord under the left-front corner, and you will have just the right amount of play. Any longer and the cord will get in the way.
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post #15 of 27
12/16/01 at 11:45am
[quote]Originally posted by Anders:
<strong>The keyboard and mouse is probably the least complained about products Apple sell so why change that? And no two buttons isn´t the answer.

Longer mouse cord is the only thing I can think of (esp. for iBook users)</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't have a problem with my iBook and the power cord. Of course, I use a logetech OptiJr mouse but I'm not sure it's cord is longer.
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post #16 of 27
12/16/01 at 12:04pm
[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>
But it's just odd that Apple themselves loads the OS X with those little context-sensitive menus, but doesn't produce a mouse to take advantage of </strong><hr></blockquote>

And any mouse that has a 2nd button automatically will work with contextual menus, even without drivers. Interesting that OS X picks up on the 2nd button by default...hmmmmmmmm
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post #17 of 27
12/16/01 at 12:24pm
[quote]Originally posted by Willoughby:
<strong>

And any mouse that has a 2nd button automatically will work with contextual menus, even without drivers. Interesting that OS X picks up on the 2nd button by default...hmmmmmmmm</strong><hr></blockquote>

...and scroll wheels...of course, without USB Overdrive, it damn well better.

Alex
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post #18 of 27
12/16/01 at 12:27pm
I think there will be no wireless unless they solve the problem of the batery.Apple uses to make devices the simplest they can.
If they use a ball based mouse they could take out the batery by the generated electricity.If they use the optical system they will continue wire.
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post #19 of 27
12/16/01 at 1:29pm
[quote]Originally posted by G4Dude:
<strong>Oh ya, well I read somewhere that the new mouse would fit to the shape of your hand and it would look like an ugly shoe. oh, wait, that was here at Appleinsider, oops. (&lt;-- this really didn't turn out as funny as I had originally planned, sorry.)</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ha ha ha... I was waiting for the beloved AI shoe-mouse to show up again...

But really, I don't think Apple will release a two-button mouse. I'm a Power User and all my external mice have multiple buttons and scroll wheels, but since my Ti only has one button I'm used to using only one button and the ctrl key for contextual menus. At first I didn't think I'd be able to deal with it, but suprisingly it has been a non-issue.
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post #20 of 27
12/16/01 at 1:55pm
  • Spart
  • Beloved Local Storyteller
[quote]Originally posted by KidRed:
<strong>

I don't have a problem with my iBook and the power cord. Of course, I use a logetech OptiJr mouse but I'm not sure it's cord is longer.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't see where he mentioned the power cord...
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post #21 of 27
12/16/01 at 2:10pm
[quote]Originally posted by Xool:
<strong> ...but since my Ti only has one button I'm used to using only one button and the ctrl key for contextual menus</strong><hr></blockquote>

Something I haven't heard speculation on before. If the Pro mouse goes 2-button, wouldn't the PowerBook and the iBook have to follow suit with 2 buttons?
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post #22 of 27
12/16/01 at 2:43pm
[quote]Originally posted by discstickers:
<strong>

Something I haven't heard speculation on before. If the Pro mouse goes 2-button, wouldn't the PowerBook and the iBook have to follow suit with 2 buttons?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't see why it wouldn't.
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post #23 of 27
12/16/01 at 4:48pm
Im happy with the current keyboards/mice, but what i always though would be a great step forward as well as being really f*cking cool, is a keyboard thats backlit. Good for typing in the dark on keyboards and laptops. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
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post #24 of 27
12/16/01 at 6:43pm
Apple would make me happier if they would:

- Elongate the mouse and keyboard cables
- Invert the colour of the keys so the letters are more visible
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post #25 of 27
12/16/01 at 6:45pm
[quote]Originally posted by James Flowers:
<strong>

I don't see where he mentioned the power cord...</strong><hr></blockquote>

I guess you have to read all the posts above again and you'll find this-
[quote] Longer mouse cord is the only thing I can think of (esp. for iBook users)<hr></blockquote>
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post #26 of 27
12/17/01 at 1:48am
A bit off topic but still.....
Has anyone heard anything new about the intellipoint-drivers for OSX that are supposed to be released in mid-december?? <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
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post #27 of 27
12/17/01 at 3:33am
KidRed, when you said power cord people thought you meant the iBook's power cord, not the mouse cord.
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