[muglo] Re: Mac mini & the mouse that Apple should also be selling

On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 16:12:43 -0500, Tee Cashmore wrote:

> > And, to boot, through BYODKM.net I found a mouse that looks like what
> > Apple *should* be making to offer an Apple-branded alternative to the
> > one-button mouse (I suspect university labs would be a good target for
> > these mice ;-).
> >
> > <http://www.dvforge.com/themouse.shtml> (40 USD)
> >
> > PS It seems like Apple has dramatically dropped the price for its
> > (still) grossly over-priced one-button mouse ($30 USD)
> >
> > Eric.
> 
> I have been using my Logitech cordless 2 button wheel mouse for years,
> but never found a need for the right button until O/S X. In mail it is
> neat to be able to press the right side & automatically add an address
> to the address book etc. or do WP details in compose etc. Wheel has
> always worked well.

Probably b/c OS 9 didn't support the second or third mouse buttons ;^).

PS In Safari (& Camino & FireFox & Mozilla) you can use the
scroll-wheel click to open a link in a new tab (provided you turn on
tabs in the settings and set the appropriate setting for open links in
new tab).

I'm divided on the issue of the one button mouse. Sometimes I still
think it's a good idea, and sometimes I wonder if it is an object
whose time has passsed.

Yes, for beginning users it *used* to be far easier to use, and, even
now I see "experienced" Windows users who don't use their right mouse
button. However, the number of 100% new computer users is limited,
and, the number of users who didn't grow up surrounded by computers
(i.e. developed dexterity/confidence with computers from an "early"
age) is also going down.

And, for the only demographic that will provide "new" computer users,
game systems are the norm at age 4 or 5 and they develop hand-eye
coordination that requires the use of more than just two buttons per
hand ;).

It's a slow and protracted process to fully switch from one to two (or
more) mouse buttons. I've been exposed to mouse buttons on and off
from 1987 but it wasn't until the mid 1990s that I developed a limited
appreciation for two button mice (the scroll wheel really got me
hooked), and even later a dislike for the one button mouse (the iPuc
that came with the B&W G3 was the last straw)).

I'm wondering if there's room for a one-button mouse with a scroll
wheel. The scroll wheel is such a useful feature that is relatively
simple to use (dexterity wise).

The one thing I do feel about Apple is that they were not looking out
for their users' best interests. As OS X shows it is perfectly
possible to have one and multibutton mice living side by side -- this
is something Apple should have done when they released System 7!!!
Kensington was having to provide software to do what Apple should have
built-in. Anyway, that's looking at ancient history, even before they
embarked on their (not-so-successful) PowerPC 601/603/604 projects.

Eric.
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