[Eug Wanker]

OMG, hell has frozen over. Oh wait...

[Randman]

[TheBadgerHunter]

Its about time. There is absolutely no reason for a mouse to have one button.

[turtle777]

Pff, only two buttons ? That is so last centuriesh...

-t

[Mr Kino]

it will be interesting to see a two button apple branded mouse. It will look sweet.

[Millennium]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
Its about time. There is absolutely no reason for a mouse to have one button.

Sure there is: usability. The only way to force developers to ensure their apps are usable with only one button is to take away their ability to assume that users have more than one button, and the only way to do that is to ship with one-button mice. This has been proven time and again throughout the history of the GUI. If you don't do it, developers get lazy, and usability suffers big time.

[wdlove]

I'm so use to a one button, don't know if I would be able to take advantage of a two button mouse.

[Fiend]

Also, one button allows handicapped (those with crippled hands) to use a computer. When the entire mouse can easily be pressed down, as opposed to a small (compared to an entire mouse surface that clicks) area that clicks, it makes things a hell of a lot easier. Just because you have nimble fingers, doesn't mean everyone does.

[TheJoshu]

Originally posted by wdlove:
I'm so use to a one button, don't know if I would be able to take advantage of a two button mouse.

Quiet! If they hear you, they'll never release it!

[iREZ]

Let's just hope they don't forget the scroll wheel/button.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by iREZ:
Let's just hope they don't forget the scroll wheel/button.

What ? Are you crazy ? That is TOO MUCH innovation.
A scroll wheel is not scheduled before 2015 !!!!!111oneone

-t

[mitchell_pgh]

I use a five button + scroll wheel mouse, but insist the one button mouse is critical to the simplicity of OS X and applications designed for OS X.

The moment the one button mouse is no longer the default... is the moment programmers start expecting people know how to use it.

Not everyone is a guru... and Apple has in no way hindered people from buying and using a multi-button mouse.

IF ANYTHING they should offer it as an upgrade.

[Jan Van Boghout]

I couldn't care less about a second button, but they better add a scroll wheel (or maybe a touch sensitive surface like on the new PowerBook trackpads)

[Deimos]

I hope they do, and that it's an option when buying a new Mac.

About time they offered mice with more than one button.

[Goldfinger]

They need a mouse with Exposé buttons. I love having Exposé mapped to my mouse it's sooo much more handy than the F-buttons.

[RonnieoftheRose]

There was some news recently about how Apple had decided to make their own trackpads in-house. This might also lead to the mouse using the same technology as the new trackpads - infrared base and a touch sensitive area where one finger click equals left button, two fingers at the same time equals right button, two finger swipe for scrolling; and wouldn't it be nice for there to be gestures to control Exposé?

They better give it a rechargable lithium ion battery too.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by Deimos:
I hope they do, and that it's an option when buying a new Mac.

About time they offered mice with more than one button.

You said the magic words...

[Deimos]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
You said the magic words...

Always careful to. Wouldn't want to upset the natives.

[osxisfun]

if apple ships DUAL DUALS i could see this as another way to separate the powermacs by giving them 2 button mice as a show "of power"... another thing to convice pc dweebs etc...


that being said. i hope the imac retains the 1 mouse button design. Its aboslutely the best was to introduce people into computing the mac way..

[E's Lil Theorem]

Originally posted by osxisfun:
... another thing to convice pc dweebs etc...
...

This is probably one of the major reasons why they're thinking about it. I mean, Mac "Pro" users have been asking for a two-button mouse since the one-button mouse was introduced . My guess is that with the success of the Mac mini, they're getting a lot of requests from those PC people for a two-button mouse, and if you're Apple you're thinking, "why not make our own and make a few more bucks (as we keep selling more Mac minis to PC switchers) instead of recommending a Logitech or MS multi-button mouse?"

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by E's Lil Theorem:
This is probably one of the major reasons why they're thinking about it. I mean, Mac "Pro" users have been asking for a two-button mouse since the one-button mouse was introduced . My guess is that with the success of the Mac mini, they're getting a lot of requests from those PC people for a two-button mouse, and if you're Apple you're thinking, "why not make our own and make a few more bucks (as we keep selling more Mac minis to PC switchers) instead of recommending a Logitech or MS multi-button mouse?"

I agree... I don't see Apple giving up an opportunity to make a few extra bucks. Just say "+$29.95 for a two button option" and they would have a goldmine.

I bet they also hate giving mouse sales to Microsoft (unfortunately my mouse of choice)

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by Millennium:
Sure there is: usability. The only way to force developers to ensure their apps are usable with only one button is to take away their ability to assume that users have more than one button, and the only way to do that is to ship with one-button mice. This has been proven time and again throughout the history of the GUI. If you don't do it, developers get lazy, and usability suffers big time.

Isn't the second button only ever used for contextual menus? Aside from that I gather the applications are fairly limited.

[misnomer]

I think AI posted this story about 17 days early .

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
Isn't the second button only ever used for contextual menus? Aside from that I gather the applications are fairly limited.

I'm always amazed how developers use the right mouse button on Windows applications.

[PurpleGiant]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
I'm always amazed how developers use the right mouse button on Windows applications.

I had to use a Windows app yesterday for data-flow diagramming (no, I couldn't use one of my choice) that required being 'refreshed' often to display its graphics properly. Guess how you would refresh the view?

SHIFT-RIGHT CLICK

WTF?? Try figuring that out without looking at the manual.

[jasonsRX7]

Originally posted by Millennium:
Sure there is: usability. The only way to force developers to ensure their apps are usable with only one button is to take away their ability to assume that users have more than one button, and the only way to do that is to ship with one-button mice. This has been proven time and again throughout the history of the GUI. If you don't do it, developers get lazy, and usability suffers big time.

I totally, absolutely, 100% agree. I support hundreds of employees in a windows environment, and I guarantee you that 85% of them have absolutely no clue at all whatsoever what the 2nd button does. Some of them call for support if they accidentally click it because they're scared they did something wrong. Of the 15% that know what it's for, only 5% use it properly, and that 5% is the IT staff.

[PurpleGiant]

I'd support a 2 button mouse as an upgrade, or an option when purchasing. Of course I (and most of us here) use a two button mouse, because we know what we're doing.

However many people that aren't great with computers that I know who buy a Mac are thrilled that they have only one button because "I always got confused which one to press". I don't know how it can be so confusing, but fact is, some people really like Macs simply because of the one button mouse.

Dell couldn't start including a one button mouse with their PCs, because many functions in Windows apps rely on the right click to get things done. This isn't something we have on the Mac.

[ManOfSteal]

About.Damn.Time.

[Xeo]

Originally posted by iREZ:
Let's just hope they don't forget the scroll wheel/button.

Yes. I hope if they are going to make a two-button, then it really means two-button plus scroll, at a minimum. This will be for pro users (and should ship standard with Power Macs, IMO), so it should have pro-features.

I hope they do something cool with it instead of it just being another mouse.

[Mr Kino]

Originally posted by Xeo:
Yes. I hope if they are going to make a two-button, then it really means two-button plus scroll, at a minimum. This will be for pro users (and should ship standard with Power Macs, IMO), so it should have pro-features.

I hope they do something cool with it instead of it just being another mouse.

I feel the same way, but we are talking about apple here, not dell. =) i mean, if this is true, then that means that for the first time in apple's history we get to see a two button mouse from them.

what i propose is some ideas as to what apple would accept in a two button configuration. Pictures, ideas....

i have yet to see any computer mouse that looks better than any that apple has released, and im sure i never will.

(Bring back the puck!)

[turtle777]

Originally posted by Mr Kino:
(Bring back the puck!)

Hell no. I'd rather use any standard M$ mouse than that piece of crap.

-t

[MilkmanDan]

Hmm... they really need a wheel. OR two wheel. Heck, put on four or five wheels! That'd be super cool.

[willed]

Originally posted by PurpleGiant:
I had to use a Windows app yesterday for data-flow diagramming (no, I couldn't use one of my choice) that required being 'refreshed' often to display its graphics properly. Guess how you would refresh the view?

SHIFT-RIGHT CLICK

WTF?? Try figuring that out without looking at the manual.

That's nothing to do with the two-button issue though, as if it had been 'shift-click' for a commonly used task it would still have been a terrible piece of UI design.

[Mafia]

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
About.Damn.Time.

my thoughts exactly.

[Kenneth]

Shipped with an one-button mouse is just fine. If you need more buttons.. go get it yourself.

[nforcer]

Originally posted by Millennium:
Sure there is: usability. The only way to force developers to ensure their apps are usable with only one button is to take away their ability to assume that users have more than one button, and the only way to do that is to ship with one-button mice. This has been proven time and again throughout the history of the GUI. If you don't do it, developers get lazy, and usability suffers big time.

Similarly, it has been proven time and again that developers get lazy and rarely support the extra buttons on multibutton mice.

Also note that Apple does not have some kind of "be able to do everything with one-button" standard. In fact, Shake requires a 3-button mouse.

I agree that multiple mouse buttons should not be required to use an app, but extra buttons should be supported without requiring extra user-defined actions in something like USB Overdrive or some other mouse configuration driver.

[nforcer]

Originally posted by MilkmanDan:
Hmm... they really need a wheel. OR two wheel. Heck, put on four or five wheels! That'd be super cool.

What they really need is something like an analog stick instead of a scrollwheel. That way users could easily scroll a document horizontally without having to hold Shift or some other goofy modifier key. They could even add a click to the analog stick (like the Xbox and PS2 analog sticks).

NSEvent in Cocoa actually has deltaX, deltaY, and deltaZ properties for inspecting the amount of horizontal, vertical, or z-axis "scrollwheel" scrolling. Not sure about Carbon or anything else, but it seems NEXT had this in mind for a while.

[im_noahselby]

I can't wait to see this new wireless "2 button mouse". Apple has acted like a stubborn child who doesn't know how to share, with their so-callled one button mouse stance. It's about time they give their customers what they want.

Crossing fingers for something aluminum, grey or black. Please Apple, no more white...

Noah

[xi_hyperon]

Originally posted by turtle777:
Hell no. I'd rather use any standard M$ mouse than that piece of crap.

-t

Heh, I was cleaning out some drawers yesterday and happened upon the hockey puck that came with my first bondi iMac. Funny thing, that mouse.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by nforcer:
Also note that Apple does not have some kind of "be able to do everything with one-button" standard. In fact, Shake requires a 3-button mouse.

Apple really didn't have much choice... considering they didn't build the app... they just purchased it.

[lavar78]

Originally posted by im_noahselby:
I can't wait to see this new wireless "2 button mouse". Apple has acted like a stubborn child who doesn't know how to share, with their so-callled one button mouse stance. It's about time they give their customers what they want.

I guess you're ignoring the millions of their customers who want a one-button mouse.

My take: a two-button mouse is a nice option, but I don't think it should be standard on any Mac. Well, I guess that would be OK for PowerMacs if "downgrading" to a one-button mouse is an option.

[funkboy]

Originally posted by jasonsRX7:
I support hundreds of employees in a windows environment, and I guarantee you that 85% of them have absolutely no clue at all whatsoever what the 2nd button does. Some of them call for support if they accidentally click it because they're scared they did something wrong. Of the 15% that know what it's for, only 5% use it properly, and that 5% is the IT staff.

Whoa Nick Burns. You have just said not a single of your users know what the second mouse button does. I don't mean to sound silly, but I think *some* of them know what it's for... SOMEone, certainly. Maybe not many, but some.

[Abnormal-Solder]

Originally posted by Millennium:
Sure there is: usability. The only way to force developers to ensure their apps are usable with only one button is to take away their ability to assume that users have more than one button, and the only way to do that is to ship with one-button mice. This has been proven time and again throughout the history of the GUI. If you don't do it, developers get lazy, and usability suffers big time.

Er... What developers???

The only company that seems to be developing mass software for the Mac is APPLE itself.

Most 3rd Party Apps are High End, like Photoshop and Quarks, and you'll be wasting your time with a 1-botton mouse.

[Superchicken]

I don't know how I'd feel about an Apple multi button mouse... I really like having only one button on my PowerBook... though I really do like the mouse that came with my tablet. I think Apple should just start selling tablets with their high end Machines...

[im_noahselby]

Originally posted by lavar78:
I guess you're ignoring the millions of their customers who want a one-button mouse.

No, I'm not ignoring the millions of customers who want a one button wireless mouse. Apple already makes this and sells this mouse to these customers.

Apple doesn't currently provide a mouse for the other half of their customers who need or want 2 buttons.

Apple is the one who is currently ignoring these millions of customers who want a two button mouse.

Noah

[ae77]

[lavar78]

Originally posted by im_noahselby:
Apple doesn't currently provide a mouse for the other half of their customers who need or want 2 buttons.

Apple is the one who is currently ignoring these millions of customers who want a two button mouse.

Apple isn't ignoring anyone -- the company sells third-party two-button mice at their retail stores and online. Besides, unlike Macs, you can buy a two-button mouse from just about anywhere (Circuit City, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc.). There are plenty of great mice out there; an Apple-branded one isn't a necessity. If this does happen, I'm sure people will come out the woodwork blasting Apple for turning its back on companies like Logitech and Kensington.

[Mastrap]

I think once you start using a two button mouse you'll never go back to one button. But that's a personal decision and for the novice a single button mouse is easier to understand and learn.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally posted by Millennium:
Sure there is: usability. The only way to force developers to ensure their apps are usable with only one button is to take away their ability to assume that users have more than one button, and the only way to do that is to ship with one-button mice. This has been proven time and again throughout the history of the GUI. If you don't do it, developers get lazy, and usability suffers big time.

Except, of course, that no software developers actually design for a one button mouse. Even Apple designs for a two button mouse by having a contextual menu in everything they develop. From a usability perspective, having to press the control key while simultaneously clicking your one button is far less usable (requires two hands) than simply clicking a second mouse button (requires one hand).

More than two buttons can further increase usability; forward and back buttons for surfing as well as buttons to control expose.

If Apple were to actually lead the way by designing a more usable way to access something of similar use to the contextual menu, then I would be inclined to agree with you, but Apple has not. All they've done is say that control-clicking is more usable than right-clicking.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally posted by lavar78:
Apple isn't ignoring anyone -- the company sells third-party two-button mice at their retail stores and online. Besides, unlike Macs, you can buy a two-button mouse from just about anywhere (Circuit City, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc.). There are plenty of great mice out there; an Apple-branded one isn't a necessity. If this does happen, I'm sure people will come out the woodwork blasting Apple for turning its back on companies like Logitech and Kensington.

This I agree with. I've always admired Apple's stubborn desire to stick with a one button mouse almost as much as I admire IBM's stubborn desire to stick with a 15 yr old laptop shell design.