best mouse for the new iMac

thegelding · February 6, 2002 9:55AM

as sexy as i think the new iMac's mouse is....i really miss a scroll wheel and right button.....what do you consider the best mouse to be for the new iMac....i have a XLR8 mouse for my old iMac...nice mouse but has a ball that gets gunked up....any thoughts on a optical mouse with 2 buttons and scroll wheel (maybe wireless) that works well with apple and would look nice with an iMac?? thanks g

eman · February 6, 2002 9:59AM

I've got the Logitech Mouseman Wireless Optical and it's pretty good. Cool looking too.

taq · February 6, 2002 10:11AM

I agree with Eman..the logitech wireless optical is a great mouse...but I'm not too sure it's cool looking. Still great mouse.

thegelding · February 6, 2002 10:25AM

if i can hold out a couple of weeks, do you think companies will come out with mice that match (at least somewhat) the new iMac? g

applenut · February 6, 2002 10:28AM

I have an old MS Intellimouse Explorer (optical). Great mouse. their new ones are even better and they have a wireless one.

highly reccomended

ender · February 6, 2002 11:00AM

Most comparisons and reviews I've seen put the Logitech MouseMan Dual Optical (and wireless variants) above the Microsoft Intellimouse offerings. I'd have to agree with them too. I tried all the mouses at Best Buy and Staples and liked all of the Logitech products much more than the Microsoft products. The MS ones felt really flimsy and loose (perhaps just display model abuse, but I don't think so...).

I picked up the corded Logitech MouseMan Dual Optical, and it has far better precision than the Apple Pro Mouse. It feels really great in my hand too. Kinda big, but a solid mouse.

I also thought that the wireless mouse options weren't that great, considering the relatively huge transmitter that you have to stick somewhere on your desk. I'd rather deal with the cable (although it is incredibly long, because many (most?) PCs don't have USB ports on the keyboard).

-Ender

serrano · February 6, 2002 11:26AM

3 points:

1) my 2x optical logitech (2 button, scroll) is amazing

2) don't buy a mouse to match, the plastics will never be perfect. instead buy a mouse to complement, check out the logitech (corded and optical) there are deep blue and red which would complement the white of the imac nicely (most colors besides beige would). the silver of the intelli mice would do well too, although i find them too bulky to be comfortable and to have sub par tracking. YMMV any mouse that is 'good looking' on its own will only serve to complement your imacs aesthetics. if it's butt ugly to begin with for sure the imacs style will only make it look worse

3) enjoy your new imac!

thegelding · February 6, 2002 6:56PM

how does wireless compare to corded in response and tracking/percision? g

and i am enjoying my new mac, thank you very much

rederic · February 6, 2002 7:13PM

I have to agree with the guys here, having tried dozens of mice.

I am only now truly happy. With the 2x Optical Logitech Wheel Mouse, I have finally found a superb replacement for the Pro Mouse.

I think you'll prefer it to the cordless because you don't want to clutter up that lovely looking empty desk with another box do you?

Thanks gelding for your info BTW. It has been great comfort to us poor relations in the UK who have to wait till the end of FEB for our new Macs. Keep up the good work and let us know whats happening.

thegelding · February 6, 2002 8:26PM

hey, someone has to be first

...i am enjoying it...os x is different, but starting to make more sense and, as i have said before, is amazingly stable....i have tried to never leave x and only have to use quark so far....if we can get quark to os X and photoshop and a few others, i will never think about os 9 again....hope everyone gets theirs soon....glad people have enjoyed my so-so photos and poorly written running commentary....boy you guys either have very low standards or are very forgiving....

g

will run by compusa and best buy to try out the feel of the logitech 2x....think i will go with wired vs wireless probably....wire doesn't bother me...but a station and changing batteries might...thanks again all....g

thegelding · February 6, 2002 9:57PM

thinking of:

<a href="http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=184"; target="_blank">http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=184</a>;

<a href="http://www.logitech.com/cf/products/productoverview.cfm/100"; target="_blank">http://www.logitech.com/cf/products/productoverview.cfm/100</a>;

looks very nice and has what i need (2 buttons and wheel)

or

<a href="http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=192"; target="_blank">http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=192</a>;

<a href="http://www.logitech.com/cf/products/productoverview.cfm/2820"; target="_blank">http://www.logitech.com/cf/products/productoverview.cfm/2820</a>;

not as pretty (to me) but has dual optical and a thumb button (i don't use a thumb button now, but maybe someday....what the hell is the th thumb button for?)....any thoughts?? who uses the red one, the optical SE? g

rederic · February 6, 2002 10:10PM

Gelding my dear chap....

I'd go for the

Wheel Mouse Optical Special Edition

I got the original blue one and as the guy in the reviews says:-

[quote] It can't be beaten....an ideal replacement for the apple pro <hr></blockquote>

Go for it my good man

ender · February 6, 2002 10:14PM

The thumb button isn't very useful in the Finder (I'm talking OS X only here... in OS 9, Logitech has drivers and a program that you can use to make any of the buttons do anything) or in other productivity apps... yet.

Where it is great is in games. Having the thumb button has made playing Giants half as difficult, just by taking one more control from the keyboard (i.e., left hand) and putting it more logically under the control of the right hand (if you've played Giants, I use the thumb button for thrust with the Meccs and I can't remember what I use it for with the other races).

Bottom line: if you play games, you will be very glad to have the thumb button; if you don't play games, it might be useful for you later (with drivers), but probably won't make any difference now.

-Ender

thegelding · February 6, 2002 11:12PM

thanks RedEric and Ender...and all the others too....Ender, does the thumb button work in X for Giants....silly question i guess, it must since Giants is only X....but i take it you have the MouseMan® Dual Optical and use it with X and can program the thumb button for games??...not a big gamer, but thinking of getting Giants and Black & White...if the thumb button is very useful, might swing be to Mouseman...if not, would get wheelmouse, as it looks nicer and is cheaper and very simple (just the way i like em)....g

know i'm making a lot of fuss over getting a mouse...but would like to buy one and not constantly think of getting a new or better one...had my XLR8 point and scroll mouse for 2 years....is a great, simple and cheap mouse...but it goes with the old iMac to the kids and would like to replace it with an optical mouse...g

mac's girl · February 7, 2002 12:48AM

hey gelding!

i just picked up a kensington 4-button optical mouse with scroll wheel two days ago. i didnt need wireless either. i got it from microcenter on sale for $23. the MS one was an expensive $59 and i really dont like giving my money to Microsoft whenever possible. the kensington mouse is silver, but if they ever come out with a nice imac-matching white one in the future, i might get it.

btw, do you have any old peripherals that you are still using? i dont know if i should buy a new scanner and printer. epson doesnt have drivers for OS X for my stuff, which is SCSI and serial/parallel respectively. Im wondering if you tried any of those converter cables and if it's a pain in the neck having to be in classic or OS 9 to scan/print.

thegelding · February 7, 2002 1:05AM

mac's girl...whatssss uppppp...

i have an hp 940c printer (usb) that works fine in X...my scanner is a Umax Astra MX3 (also usb) that does not have drivers for X yet...but Umax told me soon, whatever that means (kinda rarely use the scanner anyways)....if i was in the market i might look at the all-in-one scanner/printers from HP if they have drivers for X...then it would only take one USB port anyway for 2 devises and would also take up less space in the computer room....so, get rid of all those parallel/series and scsi connector periphs and start using usb or firewire ones....printers and scanners are getting cheaper...and the all in ones seem reasonible....of course money is not a concern right

....can't wait till i have all the needed drivers for X and quark for X...then i would never need 9 (only have use 9 twice on the new iMac...one to print labels in Magic Mouse and once for quark....dang, till quark is osX ready, i may use word more....of the two times in 9, once the machine froze....never has yet in X...so i really would love to use X for everything)....g

[ 02-07-2002: Message edited by: thegelding ]

thegelding · February 7, 2002 1:27AM

<a href="http://www.kensington.com/products/pro_mic_d1326.html"; target="_blank">http://www.kensington.com/products/pro_mic_d1326.html</a>;

this one also looks nice...g is this the one you bought mac's girl???

[ 02-07-2002: Message edited by: thegelding ]

eman · February 7, 2002 1:58AM

[quote]Originally posted by Ender:

The thumb button isn't very useful in the Finder (I'm talking OS X only here... in OS 9, Logitech has drivers and a program that you can use to make any of the buttons do anything) or in other productivity apps... yet.

<hr></blockquote>

Not true. Since the USB Overdrive beta came out for OS X I've used the thumb button for double clicking. Works perfectly.

eman · February 7, 2002 1:59AM

[quote]Originally posted by thegelding:

<a href="http://www.kensington.com/products/pro_mic_d1326.html"; target="_blank">http://www.kensington.com/products/pro_mic_d1326.html</a>;

this one also looks nice...g is this the one you bought mac's girl???

[ 02-07-2002: Message edited by: thegelding ]<hr></blockquote>

I had that mouse before I got the wireless optical. That's also a good mouse, but at time it hurt my hand, but most of the time it was good.

thegelding · February 7, 2002 2:09AM

janitor---is this the mouse you have??

<a href="http://www.logitech.com/cf/products/productoverview.cfm/100"; target="_blank">http://www.logitech.com/cf/products/productoverview.cfm/100</a>;

will run by chumpusa and check out the feel of the different ones....at least i now have an idea of what to get...thanks all g

ender · February 7, 2002 2:32AM

EmAn: Haven't tried the USB Overdrive beta yet. Keep meaning to, but things come up.

Yes, the thumb button works in Giants (only for OS X). In fact, that's pretty much ALL it works in right now (without the above mentioned program). I don't recall it working in Black & White, but I can't recall exactly. B&W works great with just the two buttons, scroll wheel, and scroll wheel click. That's pretty much all you need for the interface and actions.

I will find time to install USB Overdrive and report how it changes the functionality of the thumb button when I get the chance.

-Ender

best mouse for the new iMac

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