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Jpeicott · Jul 30, 2004, 07:30 PM

Just moved back to the Mac after several years on the PC., a new Powerbook. Got the Logitech Bluetooth MX900 mouse to go with it. To my great surprise, it was horribly unresponsive, and when ever I tried to make small movements it would jerk and jum all over the screen.

"Crappy Bluetooth," I thought, and so I plugged in a Microsoft wired optical USB Intellimouse to use. But this was just as bad! Slow to respond, and jerky as all hell. Is this just the way the mouse works on a Mac (considerably less smooth than on a PC)? Or is there some setting I'm missing? I've tried fiddling with the mouse speed in preferences, but this just makes it jump and jerk quicker (no smoother).

X-Ray · Jul 30, 2004, 07:41 PM

In addition to adjusting the settings for your particular brand mouse, go into the keyboard and mouse pref pane and adjust settings there also. After that you should be good to go.

Jpeicott · Jul 30, 2004, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the quick response. The Mac pref was the settings panel I was speaking of. I didn't install any software with the mosue ( no mac drivers) but as it was a simple bluetooth mouth, which I read online many other Mac users were using, I figured it should be fine. And it was, I suppose. It's the basic Mac handling of mice in general that seems to be causing the problem...

MrForgetable · Jul 30, 2004, 07:53 PM

I noticed this too on the Powerbooks, but with the Apple desktops it is very responsive.

PeterKG · Jul 30, 2004, 09:00 PM

You need to install the Microsoft Intellimouse software to have your mouse properly work with you Mac. It will install in your System Preferences. The Logitech mouse has no software support for the Mac. But Apples own BT mouse works great.

ZAPsx · Jul 30, 2004, 09:50 PM

Since I have been using powerbooks for the last 9 months I have also found that mice do not work as well and as smooth as on a Windows PC. The best I have found is the Logitech MX510 cable mouse. And still to use this you have to use a accelorater program to get decent speed screen movement. Setting the speed in system prefs on the PB simply doesn't cut the grade.

I have also used wireless mice and almost always experience lag which can be annoying. Bluetooth mice are also terrible, even the Apple Bluetooth mouse is slow with lag, not good for precision fast movements around the screen.

I am sticking to cable MX510 for now and my t68i with Salling clicker for wireles control of apps, DVD player and iTunes.

Just my 2 cents.

Buck_W · Jul 30, 2004, 10:07 PM

For what's it worth. . . I've been using a USB connected Logitech mouse with my TiBook for over a year. I've had no problems at all. I just purchased a little Belkin mouse at Office Max today. It had software for the PC, none for the Mac. I plugged into the USB port and it worked fine. I did have to 'fine-tune' the preferences (in System Preferences), but it really does work well. It's smooth, fast, responsive... I'm very pleased

Ryan1524 · Jul 30, 2004, 11:16 PM

i've been using MS Intellimouse Explorer 4.0 for a month and it's been silky smooth. i got the MX900 but it was slightly less than silky, a very slight, barely feel-able, jumpiness was there. but since i'm so used to MX700's silkiness, it was unacceptable to me. but when i plug in my old MX700 via USB, it was perfect. just as good as my PC. so i blame it on the semi-compatible driver.

the MS mouse via USB has been great. so i'm hoping logitech would release proper drivers for OS X for the MX900.

f1000 · Jul 30, 2004, 11:37 PM

Originally posted by Jpeicott:
Thanks for the quick response. The Mac pref was the settings panel I was speaking of. I didn't install any software with the mosue ( no mac drivers) but as it was a simple bluetooth mouth, which I read online many other Mac users were using, I figured it should be fine. And it was, I suppose. It's the basic Mac handling of mice in general that seems to be causing the problem...

Have you installed the most recent Bluetooth firmware update?

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...reupdater.html

Maflynn · Jul 31, 2004, 07:09 AM

I have found that the Logitech MX900 mouse to be atrocious. The tracking as mentioned was horrible and I was unable to configure the buttons like I could with the MX700 (which I'm using now).

I wouldn't waste any more time on this and exchange it for a MX700.

btw I did load the BT update but no help there. Sad thing was I turned the tracking all the way up and it still wasn't all that sensative

Mike

urrl78 · Jul 31, 2004, 08:58 AM

Earlier versions of Panther rendered a jerky MS Bluetooth mouse. Only after updating to the later versions of Panther was there a great improvement. Now it's silky smooth. There is still an unexpected disconnection at times. I am waiting for this promising entry in September:

http://www.macmice.com/themousebt.html

f1000 · Jul 31, 2004, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by Jpeicott:
Thanks for the quick response. The Mac pref was the settings panel I was speaking of. I didn't install any software with the mosue ( no mac drivers) but as it was a simple bluetooth mouth, which I read online many other Mac users were using, I figured it should be fine. And it was, I suppose. It's the basic Mac handling of mice in general that seems to be causing the problem...

Try turning Wi-Fi off. Maybe it's causing interference.

ul1984 · Jul 31, 2004, 12:36 PM

id guess what you're feeling is the lag that comes with LCDs, especially if you were used to CRTs before you got the PB.

desktop LCDs like apples cinema displays, should have better response time then the ones built in to PBs, which might explain what MrForgetable said.

my suggestion, try connection your Powerbook to a CRT monitor, just so you know if it is the slow responsive time of the LCD thats causing the problem.

(i personally used to use my PB together with an old 17" CRT to get a bit more workspace, and the mouse was certainly more responsive on the CRT.)

Ryan1524 · Jul 31, 2004, 12:39 PM

i don't think LCDs delay the mouse movement enough to make it feel physically slower than CRT. for one, LCDs are not that bad in terms of refresh rate. second, i don't think apple would let something like this go by. they must've used the best LCDs.

i don't feel any lag with MX700, or IntelliExplorer 4.0

hldan · Jul 31, 2004, 02:06 PM

I don't know of any PC (desktop or Notebook) that worked better with mice than a Mac. Both Mac's and PC's work equally well with mice. Sometimes it appears that people make up things to complain about when it comes to the Mac. It's like they are looking for something to complain about because the overall experience with the Macintosh is very easy and user friendly.
Please don't blast me but there's no such thing as perfection on any product so we have accept some of the small things, and with Macs there really are "small" things to worry about.
Just be happy there are no consistant virus worries and hardware incompatibilities and constant driver issues and so on.
Again, please don't blast me but I'm trying to bring things to reality.

an0therdumbsn · Jul 31, 2004, 02:37 PM

I went and got the apple bt mouse with my powerbook and it works great.
I did have a problem at first with it automatically pairing to the pb after being asleep or off, but with the new bt update that someone posted here it works great.
I just couldnt stand to have such a pretty laptop and a nasty logitec or m$ mouse next to it.

Ryan1524 · Jul 31, 2004, 02:48 PM

MS maybe a bit. but Logitech makes great mouse. and the MX series looks great.

urrl78 · Jul 31, 2004, 05:04 PM

Like I said, my MS BT worked like crap until I updated Panther. It was skipping like crazy. Now it's smooth as butter. I love my 17".