I have to agree about the Apple mouse. My mom got one with her iMac. The design looks nice on top, but the bottom is bad:it just dragged on any surface we tried it on. I gave her an extra optical mouse I had, scrollwheel and all, and her enjoyment of the iMac improved significantly!
I have a Kensington pocket mouse for my PB (works great, cord retracts) and a Logitech wireless for my -cough- PC (work-related, I'm so sorry...). The mouse is much nicer than the system deserves.
Anyone here think that Apple SHOULD be shipping new Macs with at least a two button + scrollwheel mouse?
Personallt I think once you've experienced a multi-button mouse with your mac, there's no going back. I love the design of Apple's pro mouse and would rather use an Apple multi-button mouse than being forced to buy a third party one.
[quote] I always figured wireless could work with docking stations that powered up the mouse/keyboard instead of disposable batteries.<hr></blockquote>
[quote]Wireless mouses at the moment are really unprecise, and will waste all the precition-related goodness of being optical.<hr></blockquote>
for a wireless mouse w/ a docking station, you could look at this one from logitech:
its the mx 700, the wireless reciever has a built in charger for the mouse. as far as wireless mice being uprecise, i have been using a wireless mosueman wheel (optical) for over a year and have never had problems (except when the batteries die about once every 6 weeks)
<strong>WOW, blue2kdave, an actually useful, simple, decently concieved future hardware idea. You sure you have the right board?
This is a much better idea than a wireless mouse. You'll be at your computer when you mouse (or type), you don't need the distance wireless provides. Apple's solution to cable clutter is a good one (if yo buy it all from them) -- Monitor to keyboard to mouse. Not three seperate cords. Adjustable cords would tweak this set-up to perfection, and you wouldn't need batteries! No docking, no recharging, no swapping. A properly managed cord beats all the wireless set-ups currently out there.
It's a good idea. Indeed, you are in very rare company here.
The only way I could see a wireless mouse working is with built-in bluetooth and a gyroscopic (self winding) mouse where in your movement of the mouse generates the power needed to transmit the signal. It'd be pricey though. And then do you really want more potential cancer causing radio/electric/magnetic/whatever signals traveling through your hand?
Cords are better, period.</strong><hr></blockquote>
i forget where i saw it. but i coulda swore i saw an optical mouse with a retractable USB cord. the cord wound up on a spool built into the mouse. and you could set the length to whatever you needed. or spool it all up for when you take your computer to LAN's.
<strong>i have been using a wireless mosueman wheel (optical) for over a year and have never had problems (except when the batteries die about once every 6 weeks)
and it will be just my luck that the batteries will go dead on me in the middle of an important game or when im in a hurry for directions and need to get out the door.
this is the main reason i dont do wireless.
but i got an idea. that docking station.. couldnt they make a rechargable battery in the mouse. and then every time your done with the computer you set your mouse on the docking station and it recharges it.. and the docking station also acts as the hub for the wireless mouse.
that would solved the dead battery issue. and how many ppl need to use their mouse 6 weeks straight.
Wireless mouses are unreliable depending on what you do.
My friend has one and during his diablo 2 days, those AA batteries could barely last a month.
The worse is there is no indicator of when it will fail you.
Also it has problems to anyone but the user as the signal can be distorted if untrained, too easily in my friends heavy electronic oriented room.
I have an MS optical too. The red light is so annoying, I painted it to keep it from annyoing me and everyone else. I suppose it can help you find it in the dark, but come on it's at arm's length.
And it is also not really all that good to the hands, CT syndrome is bound to happen. It more ergonomic the apple puck way...not the palm way as with the MS standard. It may feel comfortable now, but it's a really bad habit and you'll feel it after a couple of hours of prolong use.
Blame MS for promoting bad habits. It's made to hold it the way that will lead to pain.
Matsu, if you're going to have a detachable cord on a mouse anyway, why not make it a dual function wired/wireless mouse? It could possibly charge via the USB cradle, though USB really doesn't provide a whole lot of power. It doesn't have to rely on RF when attached to the cable, making it less pron to interference.
<strong>Wireless mouses are unreliable depending on what you do.
My friend has one and during his diablo 2 days, those AA batteries could barely last a month.
The worse is there is no indicator of when it will fail you.
Also it has problems to anyone but the user as the signal can be distorted if untrained, too easily in my friends heavy electronic oriented room.
I have an MS optical too. The red light is so annoying, I painted it to keep it from annyoing me and everyone else. I suppose it can help you find it in the dark, but come on it's at arm's length.
And it is also not really all that good to the hands, CT syndrome is bound to happen. It more ergonomic the apple puck way...not the palm way as with the MS standard. It may feel comfortable now, but it's a really bad habit and you'll feel it after a couple of hours of prolong use.
Blame MS for promoting bad habits. It's made to hold it the way that will lead to pain.
~Kuku</strong><hr></blockquote>
personally i like the red lazer. i think it looks cool. i still remember the first time i ever saw a lazer mouse. was for a unix machine. you had to have a special mousepad for it to work. i was like DUDE!! I WANT A LAZER ON MY MOUSE!.
and as for prolonged use with MS mice hurting your hand. thats just BS. i can play 12+ hours a day with my MS optical with no hand fatigue. i think you just have problems.
The reason it causes CT syndrome is because every time you lift a finger it makes a U shape between your wrist and your fingers. There is a vein there not to mention muscle tendents, that can cramp up pretty easily.
The MS mouse takes this a step further as it encourages the user's hand to "grip" it causing a higher "U" on mouse clicking, thus more stress
Anything more complex then that you'll have to find a specialist to explain.
The apple optical mouse now... was well design to combat just that. As we know it "rocks" down the whole hand, which is just wrist control. Thus the U is now a slope down.
Now I have no idea how Apple can turn that concept in to a 3 button scroll wheel type mouse, but then I'm not being paid the big bucks to think of it up.
And no I'm not talking about the laser under the mouse, I'm talking about that red light at the tail of the mouse.
Comments
I have a Kensington pocket mouse for my PB (works great, cord retracts) and a Logitech wireless for my -cough- PC (work-related, I'm so sorry...). The mouse is much nicer than the system deserves.
Personallt I think once you've experienced a multi-button mouse with your mac, there's no going back. I love the design of Apple's pro mouse and would rather use an Apple multi-button mouse than being forced to buy a third party one.
Who's with me?
[quote]Wireless mouses at the moment are really unprecise, and will waste all the precition-related goodness of being optical.<hr></blockquote>
for a wireless mouse w/ a docking station, you could look at this one from logitech:
its the mx 700, the wireless reciever has a built in charger for the mouse. as far as wireless mice being uprecise, i have been using a wireless mosueman wheel (optical) for over a year and have never had problems (except when the batteries die about once every 6 weeks)
[ 09-23-2002: Message edited by: ThunderPoit ]</p>
<strong>WOW, blue2kdave, an actually useful, simple, decently concieved future hardware idea. You sure you have the right board?
This is a much better idea than a wireless mouse. You'll be at your computer when you mouse (or type), you don't need the distance wireless provides. Apple's solution to cable clutter is a good one (if yo buy it all from them) -- Monitor to keyboard to mouse. Not three seperate cords. Adjustable cords would tweak this set-up to perfection, and you wouldn't need batteries! No docking, no recharging, no swapping. A properly managed cord beats all the wireless set-ups currently out there.
It's a good idea. Indeed, you are in very rare company here.
The only way I could see a wireless mouse working is with built-in bluetooth and a gyroscopic (self winding) mouse where in your movement of the mouse generates the power needed to transmit the signal. It'd be pricey though. And then do you really want more potential cancer causing radio/electric/magnetic/whatever signals traveling through your hand?
Cords are better, period.</strong><hr></blockquote>
i forget where i saw it. but i coulda swore i saw an optical mouse with a retractable USB cord. the cord wound up on a spool built into the mouse. and you could set the length to whatever you needed. or spool it all up for when you take your computer to LAN's.
<strong>i have been using a wireless mosueman wheel (optical) for over a year and have never had problems (except when the batteries die about once every 6 weeks)
[ 09-23-2002: Message edited by: ThunderPoit ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
and it will be just my luck that the batteries will go dead on me in the middle of an important game or when im in a hurry for directions and need to get out the door.
this is the main reason i dont do wireless.
but i got an idea. that docking station.. couldnt they make a rechargable battery in the mouse. and then every time your done with the computer you set your mouse on the docking station and it recharges it.. and the docking station also acts as the hub for the wireless mouse.
that would solved the dead battery issue. and how many ppl need to use their mouse 6 weeks straight.
My friend has one and during his diablo 2 days, those AA batteries could barely last a month.
The worse is there is no indicator of when it will fail you.
Also it has problems to anyone but the user as the signal can be distorted if untrained, too easily in my friends heavy electronic oriented room.
I have an MS optical too. The red light is so annoying, I painted it to keep it from annyoing me and everyone else. I suppose it can help you find it in the dark, but come on it's at arm's length.
And it is also not really all that good to the hands, CT syndrome is bound to happen. It more ergonomic the apple puck way...not the palm way as with the MS standard. It may feel comfortable now, but it's a really bad habit and you'll feel it after a couple of hours of prolong use.
Blame MS for promoting bad habits. It's made to hold it the way that will lead to pain.
~Kuku
The best of both worlds.
<strong>Wireless mouses are unreliable depending on what you do.
My friend has one and during his diablo 2 days, those AA batteries could barely last a month.
The worse is there is no indicator of when it will fail you.
Also it has problems to anyone but the user as the signal can be distorted if untrained, too easily in my friends heavy electronic oriented room.
I have an MS optical too. The red light is so annoying, I painted it to keep it from annyoing me and everyone else. I suppose it can help you find it in the dark, but come on it's at arm's length.
And it is also not really all that good to the hands, CT syndrome is bound to happen. It more ergonomic the apple puck way...not the palm way as with the MS standard. It may feel comfortable now, but it's a really bad habit and you'll feel it after a couple of hours of prolong use.
Blame MS for promoting bad habits. It's made to hold it the way that will lead to pain.
~Kuku</strong><hr></blockquote>
personally i like the red lazer. i think it looks cool. i still remember the first time i ever saw a lazer mouse. was for a unix machine. you had to have a special mousepad for it to work. i was like DUDE!! I WANT A LAZER ON MY MOUSE!.
and as for prolonged use with MS mice hurting your hand. thats just BS. i can play 12+ hours a day with my MS optical with no hand fatigue. i think you just have problems.
The reason it causes CT syndrome is because every time you lift a finger it makes a U shape between your wrist and your fingers. There is a vein there not to mention muscle tendents, that can cramp up pretty easily.
The MS mouse takes this a step further as it encourages the user's hand to "grip" it causing a higher "U" on mouse clicking, thus more stress
Anything more complex then that you'll have to find a specialist to explain.
The apple optical mouse now... was well design to combat just that. As we know it "rocks" down the whole hand, which is just wrist control. Thus the U is now a slope down.
Now I have no idea how Apple can turn that concept in to a 3 button scroll wheel type mouse, but then I'm not being paid the big bucks to think of it up.
And no I'm not talking about the laser under the mouse, I'm talking about that red light at the tail of the mouse.
~Kuku