Optical 2 button scroll mouse?

mimac · February 4, 2003 4:58PM

Hi all.

I'm looking for an optical 2 button scroll mouse (corded or cordless) for my iMac.

I've seen a Belkin mini scroller, but it looks as if its windose only (drivers on floppy, no mention of Mac or OS X).

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

luca · February 4, 2003 5:02PM

Almost all mice should work in OS X. I don't know about OS 9, but OS X has drivers built in to control two buttons and a scroll wheel (it doesn't support scroll-clicking, though some applications do). In fact, if you connect a scroll mouse to a Mac, a little "Scrolling Speed" option will appear in the Mouse preference pane.

A good cheap one is the Logitech Wheel Mouse. I have one. It's comfortable, just the right size and weight, has good tracking, requires no drivers, and it costs under $30 (you can pick it up at any store that sells electronics, I got mine at an OfficeMax).

I personally like Logitech... a mouse that I'm dreaming of (and it costs a lot!) is the MX700. It's something like $80 but it's really cool, wireless with a charging station. Maybe I'll use my tax return for that

mimac · February 4, 2003 5:09PM

Thanks Luca!

I'm tiring of my Apple optical mouse and want more control.

I will check out your suggestion, by the way, whats the deal with "programmable" buttons on a mouse?

burningwheel · February 4, 2003 5:57PM

my wife has a Logitech MX500 very nice, not cordless though. been thinking getting one for meself maybe

eman · February 4, 2003 6:05PM

Logitech MX700.

der kopf · February 4, 2003 6:43PM

Anybody know how well the Kensington Mouse-in-a-box 3btn optical performs?

splinemodel · February 4, 2003 6:52PM

There are three mice that you may want to consider.

logitech MX 300

logitech MX 500

logitech MX 700

The 700 is the cordless version of the 500, and the 300 is of a different design. I hate most PC mice and love the proMouse, but I need something that would work with both platforms and Linux. I spent a long time in Comp USA, and came home with the 500. It has better buttons than the 300 (i.e. they depress over a larger range) a better mechanism than the MS alternatives, and great drivers for OS X that let you customize the bejeezes out of the little buttons. . . It also has a scroll whell that doesn't get in the way, yet has better feeling to it than do other mice.

spiffster · February 4, 2003 8:25PM

Yes the Logitech MX500 is a very good mouse - 8 buttons + scroll weel. It might be a little pricey for you though (~$50 IIRC). You could also try its little brother the MX300. It works out of the box in OS X but if you want to use all 8 buttons you must download the configuration software from logitech's web site.

towel · February 4, 2003 9:52PM

I love my MouseMan Dual Optical. The two tumb buttons on the MX500 would be cool, though.

kenneth · February 4, 2003 11:13PM

Just got my MX-700 mouse from MacMall.com for $55 after free ship and $10 rebate. I'm using it to retire my Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse Special Edition. It is very good. If you don't have any space on ur desk, don't go for the cordless model.

Of course, I have the wheel mouse here for sell in retail box and manual/CD.

luca · February 4, 2003 11:35PM

I just ordered an MX700 from Amazon... same deal as on MacMall, $55 including $10 rebate and free shipping. It'll be replacing my Logitech Wheel Mouse, which is good but kinda lacks the "oomph" of the MX700.

evo · February 4, 2003 11:51PM

I have a simple 2 button, optical wheel mouse from Logitech and it works very well. It's blue, and fits my hadn well. I never liked the Microsoft mouse that comformed to your right hand like a chair or something and had 10 buttons on it.

And you'll definitely want USB Overdrive to tweek the mouse speed. OS X has really crappy mouse acceleration built in. If I set it at the highest setting, it works ok if I'm moving my mouse pretty fast across the screen. But move the cursor just a little, and it has almost zero acceleration; the cursor moves at all. In USB Overdrive, I find that 140 dpi for speed and 6% acceleration work well.

breakdance101 · February 5, 2003 12:00AM

How do those compare to the Kensington studiomouse?

Wireless, optical, looks great, charger. Has anyone used this? I am curious myself.

Never mind, i just heard that this one is not quite up to par with the others.

[ 02-05-2003: Message edited by: BreakDance101 ]</p>

luca · February 5, 2003 2:10AM

I had a studio mouse for a while. It felt great... light, flat (which I kinda like), with a pleasant feeling rubber-like covering on the sides. However, the scroll pad really sucks. It's not sensitive like a laptop's touch pad... you have to press down really hard to get it to work. I went back to my Logitech wheel mouse for the time being but now I just ordered an MX700 so it looks like I will need to find someone to buy the wheel mouse from me.

stunned · February 5, 2003 9:32AM

Samsung Optic Mini

it looks very cuteand match my iBook!!

rhoq · February 5, 2003 9:56AM

I have a Logitech MX-300. It's a nice mouse, relatively inexpensive ($30) and it performs very well.

jcat22 · February 5, 2003 12:15PM

I've had a logitech MX 700 for a couple of months and love everything about it. The unit feels good and works even better than expected. Thumb buttons are great for web surfing (back/forward).

The only problem I've had is when waking from sleep. If I use the keyboard, the mouse and keyboard freeze. If I use the mouse to wake up, no problems. I would still highly recommend it.

Optical 2 button scroll mouse?

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