A Look Back at Mighty Mouse
August 2nd 2005, Apple Computer introduced a new multi-buttoned mouse with an innovative scroll wheel. The idea was simple, the reaction was plentiful but criticism was to come.
Many had mixed feelings about the Mighty Mouse. Some were critical from the beginning, saying that it was stepping away from what Apple originally stood for—simplicity—with the famous single buttoned mouse. Some criticized the overall genetics of the Mighty Mouse, saying the scroll ball would eventually get clogged with dirt and become virtually unusable.
Then there were people like myself who were fooled into thinking that absolutely everything Apple creates is going to be about 95% perfect. I mean, it had the look and feel of the famous single-buttoned mouse except that it did actually have two buttons on top. Not only that, but two buttons on the side that could be used for a variety of reasons and that sexy little scroll ball, well, come on, isn’t this something all Mac lovers were looking forward to? Yes, but eventually no.
I purchased the Mighty Mouse, eventually, with skepticism, chiefly from reading an equal share of both positive and negative reviews. I remember taking a trek down to the Apple Store in Regent Street, London, with a couple of friends—who had iPod issues they were looking to sort—to buy this little rodent of a computer device. I got home that day, plugged it in, installed the drivers and I was away.
My first reaction? Wow, excellent! I couldn’t understand why so many people were knocking this mouse, it was sort of a revolution as far as Apple products go, we finally had a two buttoned mouse.
However, that joy wasn’t going to last. I believe I purchased my Mighty Mouse around September 2005 and used it pretty much daily until about two weeks ago, when I finally decided enough was enough. I wasn’t fed up with any of the software functions of the mouse, nor was I disappointed with anything else the mouse had to offer, as such. I was actually fed up of using the little white piece of plastic because the scroll wheel had completely clogged up. It had ceased to function and I was angry and frustrated that I could no longer take full benefit of the £40 I paid for it. I’m now planning to return it to the Apple store this weekend to see if I can get a replacement, but then I got to thinking, is there any point?
The Scroll Wheel in all its grimey glory
I look after my computer equipment quite well, especially considering the amount of money spent on it, I think it’s only right. But no amount of cleaning could prevent the scroll wheel getting clogged up.
The Scroll Wheel sitting pleasantly out of its case - lets keep it there!
Another bone I have with the Mighty Mouse is the optical laser underneath it. The original single-buttoned mouse for Macintosh, known simply as ‘Mouse’, had a much more effective and reliable optical laser attached (this sounds like something out of Austin Powers, doesn’t it?) I’ve noticed that some of the cheaper mice tend not to work so well on reflective surfaces, although I’m sure that’s debatable. The original ‘Mouse’ worked brilliantly on a variety of reflective surfaces, although I never had the chance to test it out on a white surface. However, for £40, the Mighty Mouse can hardly be considering a cheap mouse, yet it’s absolutely rubbish when used on reflective surfaces, so much so a mouse mat is needed.
Here’s something I now fear. Every new iMac sold since January, I believe, comes equipped with a Mighty Mouse as standard, no more singled-buttoned ‘Mouse.’ I’ve had my Mighty Mouse less than a year and it’s already gone pear shaped on me, so what’s in store for all those iMac buyers out there? It’s a worrying thought for Apple if other users out there experience the same issues I’ve had with mine.
Chris Howard broke the news to everyone on Applematters.com the day it was announced with an article called The Mouse Roars. Without putting words into my fellow writers mouth, I’m sure he’s now eating his words of owing Steve Jobs a beer for introducing the deceivingly-clever Mighty Mouse.
Editor-in-Chief, Hadley Stern, also briefly covered a dissection of the Mighty Mouse in September of last year, merely a month after the Mighty Mouse was released. Sure, this could cure mine and other people’s problems of clogged up scroll wheels, but must we, as users, really have to crack open the case of a product in order to use it to it’s full potential?
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...though you can get used to anything, of course. -Ben
I have tried my best at keeping my tiny thumbs from bickering at each other for the privilege of tapping the wondrous MacBook trackpads to no avail. My leftie keeps “cutting-in” on occasion and destroys my creative train-of-thought and I have to silently say my curses….
Now if they somehow, with Steve’s blessing not discounting, allow their mechanical dudes to do their Mac duties then I can have a two-button trackpad on next edition, then that would be something.
Personally I would be disappointed with that development. Possibly as a build-to-order option though. And I think it’s quite obvious that it’s not the mechanical engineers who are responsible, as it’s a user interface decision. The engineers don’t decide what things do, just how they do them…
I don’t understand your “tiny thumbs” explanation of why you don’t like the new right-clicking. Personally when I right-click I put my 2nd and 2rd fingers on the trackpad and then click with my thumb. You’re not down on fingers are you?
*2nd and 3rd fingers
Well, Ben, the PB17 button is way oversized. I do use the other force’s laptops (Toshibas mainly) and gotten used to the two-button setup. I believe Toshiba came up with the “scrolling” trackpad idea years before Apple caught up.
So, I’ve gotten used to placing my left thumb on the left button and my right thumb on the right button. My left index do the horizontal scrolling and my right index the vertical. After many years of training your fingers this way it becomes a habit.
When I finally got my PB17 and now my MB15, the old habit dies hard and, to tell you the truth, I like my habits. I think it’s time for Apple to correct their “short-sightedness” on the two-button trackpads. OS X happily hosts multi-button mouse, right? Why the fuss on having multi-button on MacBooks?
Robotech can this be? Are you… CRITICISING APPLE?!
Fortunately the 12” Powerbook does not have problems with any of its components being oversized.
But, I’m not convinced that your force of habit from using one type of notebook translates into a definitive design standard in Apple’s notebooks…
I’d just like to clarify that, before I start a flame war, in that I’m not saying your standpoint isn’t valid about the trackpad. I’m saying that just because someone might personally prefer something, doesn’t make a good argument for Apple incorporating that change. To make that argument, I feel it’s necessary to show how the new way of doing things is intrinsically superior - that it is better for the majority of Apple’s demographic. I suppose you have to make claims of a statistical nature.
Because in one sense, if you think about it, the fact that this conversation so far only documents two people’s opposing opinions, means, objectively, its bearing on the issue of whether or not apple should change the trackpads is precisely, mathematically, nil.
Are you… CRITICISING APPLE?! -Ben
No, there is no need for flame war. And yes, I reserve the right to criticize Apple or Steve for I’ve “forked” my hard-earned cash to them.
It may be my own personal habits, let’s say, and I can cope alright.
But when you look deeper into the “idea”, Apple can keep the same trackpad look as-is. A minor change in the button mechanism [this is where my creative side comes in] is to create a “floating” button with perhaps 2 or 4 switches at the perpendicular points (i.e. 0, 90, 180, 270’).
This trackpad button would then behave much like the iPod’s click-wheel but in an oblong or semi-rectangular manner.
Now, don’t tell me that would impede to your prized and time-honored habits with a Mac laptop, does it? I think it is a genius evolution of the trackpad.
As for having the wireless Mighty Mouse, it sounds great in paper, but realistically it will end up more cumbersome and clumsy since you have to worry about batteries, distance, interferences, lost or switched mice [that can happen], etc. Stick with the wired Mighty Mouse and enjoy the many facets of its mechanicals. The optics should not be a problem on 99% of “opaque” surfaces.
But when you look deeper into the “idea”, Apple can keep the same trackpad look as-is. A minor change in the button mechanism [this is where my creative side comes in] is to create a “floating” button with perhaps 2 or 4 switches at the perpendicular points.
I’ve thought of exactly the same idea in the past, and I’m sure Apple has too, but actually I’ve since decided that would be far more confusing than having two separate buttons. Unless you besmirched the face of the computer with labels on each button, which would be a shame. So a floating trackpad would force apple to sacrifice form to achieve functionality already catered for in the 2-fingers-&-click generation. This, I think, they are very unlikely to do.
Personally I think unless you already have very deeply entrenched habits, the current system is really good, and Apple get to keep their minimalist external design. As I’ve also said in other posts, I like the idea of aiming towards a point-and-click, one-button-only interface, even if it’s not possible all the time in practise.
In reference to my first paragraph in that post, one aspect I like particularly of single-button trackpads is that you can click anywhere on the damn thing, you don’t have to think about it one bit.
So the thing about a floating trackpad as you suggest is that not only do you have to make sure you click on the right part of it, but you have to do so without a clear demarcation between which bit is the right bit. So in my view this would be a very poor alternative both to two-button trackpads, where it is clear, and to single button trackpads, where it is not even an issue.
I’m saying that just because someone might personally prefer something, doesn’t make a good argument for Apple incorporating that change.
Oh, but they are incorporating change. And the “right click” solution with the trackpad belies Apple’s supposed dedicated to intuitiveness and simplicity. In adding a right-click to the trackpad, Apple had a choice between enabling a two-finger solution in which you chant a solemn prayer while waving the left hand over the screen while simultaneously tapping the pad three times with your index finger and thumb of your right hand. Oh, and you have to turn this option ON in the system preferences just to get it to work.
Or they could simply add a goddamned second button like every other laptop in the known universe. Which is simpler? Which is more intuitive?
Apple’s real mantra is form over function - not simplicity or intuitiveness. They hide or take out features for the sake of design, not for the ease of use of consumers, although that is often a side benefit.
In some situations I think you’re right. ONLY TODAY HAVE I DISCOVERED HOW TO CUT AND PASTE FILES TO EXTERNAL VOLUMES! (By Command-dragging, if you’re interested.) And I only found out because Apple deigned to reveal this tidbit to me, humble user that I am, on their tips page.
But this isn’t a personality-disorder-like problem with Apple. They design computers to appeal to people who appreciate their aesthetic and buy them, in part, for their aesthetic. Or at least, that is a large part of the package they sell, which also includes certain superiorities in UI design (tell me it’s not true!).
But it’s not such a flame-worthy position to hold, that you like the single-button trackpad A. for its aesthetic and B. because it provides the same functionality in a work-around that you find acceptable (or more than acceptable).
I mean, Beeblebrox, judging by your description of the new right-click method, possibly you need to take another look at the documentation?
<i>I mean, Beeblebrox, judging by your description of the new right-click method, possibly you need to take another look at the documentation? rasberry</i>
Yep. And that’s the problem, innit? The fact that I need to look at the documentation in order to figure out how to *?%#! RIGHT-CLICK A TRACKPAD is not what I’d call user-friendly.
In some situations I think you’re right.
I think you’ll find this to be the case in MOST situations.
“Bleep…bleep” censure detector activated…Bbx, I understand your frustration, look at my posts so far. Just kinda swear silently like I am, OK? That would be better for all of us…
And that’s the problem, innit? The fact that I need to look at the documentation in order to figure out how to FUCKING RIGHT-CLICK A TRACKPAD is not what I’d call user-friendly.
We have a word for this, and the word is… LOL.
Right you are.
But notice Robotech Infidel’s strong desire, which I share, not to change the appearance to accommodate a second trackpad button. This matters to apple users! [pathetic as it may be.] I’d rather have a 2-fingers-&-click than something god-awful like a trackpad with invisible buttons, whose secret existence and location are only known to the Initiated.
But notice Robotech Infidel’s strong desire, which I share, not to change the appearance to accommodate a second trackpad button.
I don’t think a simple line down the middle of the button to divide it in two is so drastic an aesthetic difference, certainly not drastic enough to jump through the engineering hoops that it took to add the stupid, stupid, stupid solution they came up with.
I mean, just look at the MM. They went out of their way to keep the look of the single button mouse while adding a sort-of-not-as-good invisible right-click functionality.
And then what did they do with that precious aesthetic? They stuck a quarter-inch rubber track ball right in the middle of it. It looks like a grey leprachaun nipple that not only looks weird but feels weird (although I do love the functionality of it).
Jeebus, what are we hanging on to here? Apple is supposed to be a forward thinking company that abandons hard-drives and vaccum tubes before everyone else does. Why are they so desperately clinging to a single button mouse?