Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

DBursey · Apr 25, 2003, 11:48 AM

I have a 2-button microsoft optical mouse with scroll wheel (intellimouse?). While the software for the mouse works with OSX, some of the features previously available in OS9 don't. Specifically, I'm thinking of the feature that automatically places the cursor onto the 'default' choice button when a choice is presented to the user. This was very handy, eliminating the need to move the cursor over to the button of choice.

* Are there other mouses (mice?) that mimic this feature?

* Does anyone have an opinion as to the best mouse/driver for OSX in terms of general features and support for contextual menu's?

Axo1ot1 · Apr 25, 2003, 12:02 PM

I have a wireless Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer. It's the nicest mouse I've ever used. The drivers don't do a default cursor placement, but I've never seena mouse in OS X do that.

Support for contextual menus? Tht's built into the OS. It has nothing to do with mouse drivers.

Appleman · Apr 25, 2003, 12:22 PM

This link says it all:

"To take a frequently mentioned example, the Snap-to-Default feature is, unfortunately, just not possible to implement without further changes from Apple. As Mac OS X develops and matures, additional features will become possible"

ratlater · Apr 25, 2003, 12:30 PM

Logitech Mx700. The only choice.

-matt

dampeoples · Apr 25, 2003, 12:41 PM

I like my Macally optinet

7Macfreak · Apr 25, 2003, 01:31 PM

i would get a bluetooth optical mouse since all new macs are bluetooth enabled.
i think MS makes one with multi-buttons as well, but again, i'd wait for apple.

fetopher · Apr 25, 2003, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by Axo1ot1:
I have a wireless Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer. It's the nicest mouse I've ever used.

I second the vote on the MS mouse. Its simple, pretty cheap, and has all the buttons you will need.

-Q- · Apr 25, 2003, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by ratlater:
Logitech Mx700. The only choice.

-matt

Or the 500 if you don't like wireless mice...

Musti · Apr 25, 2003, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by -Q-:
Or the 500 if you don't like wireless mice...

I second that. Fantastic mouse. Second only to Apple Pro Mouse

Macanoid · Apr 25, 2003, 03:47 PM

I'm going for the kensington wireless studio pro. Simply amazing!

clarkgoble · 06:01 PM

I really like my MS Intellimouse. However be aware of one problem. The tracking speed is very different from the Apple mouse. They have excellent software to deal with this and give you options for the extra two buttons (which I never use). However the driver is run as a login item. That means that at the login prompt it hasn't loaded and so the speed of the mouse is always off.

Further if you have both a MS keyboard and MS mouse it appears that they must be loaded in the proper order to set the mouse speed correctly. If you have problem just reinstall the drivers. The only other problem is if you have multiple people using the machines. Sometimes their login items won't be updated right. So you'll have to add the login item for the mouse yourself. (It is an application *inside* the MS Mouse application)

With those caveats in mind, I've yet to find a better mouse than my MS Mouse. I like it considerably more than equivalent mice I've used from Logitech.

CheesePuff · Apr 25, 2003, 05:14 PM

I also have the Logitech MX700 - what a wonderful mouse!

juanvaldes · Apr 25, 2003, 05:24 PM

biggest technical gripe I have about my MS Mouse (aside from the whole early revs dying all of a sudden and the phone # never works) is you can not change the name of the software. It MUST be "Microsoft Mouse" or it will not launch.

DaedalusDX · Apr 25, 2003, 05:49 PM

Kensington Turbo Mouse Pro...

http://www.kensington.com/html/1159.html

count-em... 11!! 11 Buttons... Muhahaha... You all bow down before me and my mighty mouse!

Cipher13 · Apr 27, 2003, 12:23 AM

When it comes to mice and keyboards, I wouldn't go for anything other than Logitech.

unlinear · Apr 27, 2003, 07:44 AM

At home I use a dual optical Logitech.. at work an MX300 (don't care for 5,000 different buttons, and I'm a lefty so the form factor has to be unihand).

ARENA · Apr 27, 2003, 11:17 AM

I really like my Microsoft wireless blue mouse.

dawho9 · Apr 27, 2003, 11:21 AM

I love my MS IntelliMouse Optical (5 button). Why, you ask. Well, I have one for both my Mac and my PC.

It simply works. Plus when you play Age of Empries and Age of Mythology, using the left-side click brings you to an idle villiage and the right-side click brings you to a town center.

Must haves.

dw9

jamez bond · Apr 27, 2003, 11:43 AM

I still think my logitech trackball is pretty good, with scrollwheel plus 7 buttons (8 if you count scrollwheel click). It has good config software, and is wireless...

It would be perfect if it had bluetooth...but hey, at least it is no wires, so I can sit back from the screen, have the trackball on my lap and surf away..

Also, consider a tablet for navigation. I use my wacom tablet all the time for this. It's great!

sushiism · Apr 27, 2003, 11:49 AM

i have a logitech traveller thing, tiny and black/metal suits the Tibook really well

i cant stand those microsoft mice, they're like holding kidneys

Luca Rescigno · Apr 28, 2003, 12:33 AM

I use an MS Intellimouse Optical - it's not the recent gray Explorer version, it's an older white one that is symmetrical. I really like the scroll wheel on it, it's very loose instead of clicky like most.

I had an MX700 which I loved but it was a hassle with all the cords everywhere. Sure there wasn't a cord connected to the mouse itself, but there were many others, and it often took a bit of effort just to get the mouse to start working. I ended up with this MS one because it was cheap.

From experience, I can say to avoid any version of the Studio Mouse - the amount of pressure required to scroll is too much and it hurts my finger over time. If it were like a laptop's trackpad, that involved a light touch to get it to scroll, I'd love it... but it's not like that at all. You have to press down really hard for it to register and even then, it sometimes doesn't work.

I'm thinking of picking up an MX500 myself... this MS one is fine but the MX700 was so nice, I just didn't like the wirelessness of it.

EDIT: One other thing I wanted to mention is that the MS mouse has much better software than the Logitech - I can have different settings for different applications. So in Finder, the right and left buttons are equivalent to command-option-down and command-option-up, for quick navigation, while in iTunes they navigate songs and clicking the scroll wheel pauses and plays. Very cool. Logitech's software only has one global setting, unfortunately.

RGB · Apr 28, 2003, 12:58 AM

I had two of MS's original Intellimouse Opticals. Both died within months of usage. I'll never go back to a Microsoft mouse again. I'm now using my Logitech Cordless Mouseman Optical, and I absolutely love it. Never a problem with it! And it leaves funny Hitchiker's Guide quotes in my console too!

Today I bought the Kensington PocketMouse Pro for the TiBook on its way to my house. It's the one with the retractable cord for travel usage. My first impressions: I like the cord. But the shape of the mouse feels a bit uncomfortable for my hand. I plugged it into my G3 and it works, but very slowly. I'm sure the Kensington mouse drivers will bring the speed to a useable level though.

The Sheik · Apr 28, 2003, 02:55 AM

Originally posted by ratlater:
Logitech Mx700. The only choice.

-matt

Stratus Fear · Apr 28, 2003, 07:40 AM

I love my Logitech Dual Optical. Been using it for over a year, always works nice and smooth.

wulf · Apr 28, 2003, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by RGB:
Today I bought the Kensington PocketMouse Pro for the TiBook on its way to my house. It's the one with the retractable cord for travel usage. My first impressions: I like the cord. But the shape of the mouse feels a bit uncomfortable for my hand. I plugged it into my G3 and it works, but very slowly. I'm sure the Kensington mouse drivers will bring the speed to a useable level though.

Have to say I love the Logitech Mouseman Traveller for my TiBook. My boss was so impressed, he bought one for his Dell...

KeyLimePi · Apr 28, 2003, 09:30 AM

Wanna put in my vote for Kensington. I've got the Optical Elite and it works great with OSX, plus the MouseWorks software gives you a lot of options. I think this mouse looks better than the MS Explorer...soft blue glow really goes well with Aqua.

edddeduck · Apr 28, 2003, 10:19 AM

If you ever play FPS or need very accurate mouse control (i.e drawing packages etc) get a Razor Boomslang 2000.

It runs at 2000 Dpi and it is the most amazing mouse I have ever used. The scroll wheel is great as well. The only issue it is is ball not optical so you need to clean the ball ever once in a while.

But it is the most accurate and comfortable mouse I have used.

Edwin

P · Apr 28, 2003, 01:20 PM

It's way old now, but I still think that my Logitech Mouseman Wheel is the best mouse I've ever tested. Some of the recent Logitech mice, Mx 700 at least, come close, but they're still not up to my standard.

And yes, I like the cord, and cleaning the ball is quite enjoyable...

And BTW, there are several good reasons why the snap-to feature is a very bad idea ergonomically. The good way of doing this is of course to move the dialog box to the mouse pointer instead of the other way around, but I've yet to see an extension that implements this on the Mac (saw it on some X11 wm once or twice). Does anyone know of such a program?

[edit: I cnat spel]

DBursey · Apr 30, 2003, 09:52 AM

Thanks to all for your input.

... BTW, there are several good reasons why the snap-to feature is a very bad idea ergonomically.

My curiosity is piqued. Please elaborate on your ergonomic concerns.

In addition, I have another minor concern. When my emac wakes from sleep my MS Intellimouse optical's wheel scroll function does not work on windows (ie: turning the wheel has no effect, does not scroll the page, regardless of application) left open prior to putting the unit to sleep. New windows opened following waking scroll normally. Has anyone else experienced this? To what might this be attributed?

bgmccollum · May 1, 2003, 12:05 PM

i got some IBM optical 2 button mouse with scroll wheel at walmart. it was an impulse buy, but at 9 bucks, you cant go wrong. great shap. the top of the mouse sweeps down and meets the table top, sorta like the profile of a porsche or old school beetle, just not so tall...

bgmccollum · May 1, 2003, 12:12 PM

looks like this, but the top is a dark metallic blue, and the bottom is black. it has a scroll wheel and it optical unlike this photo.

Bobby · May 1, 2003, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by ratlater:
Logitech Mx700. The only choice.

-matt

That's the one I have... I was getting sick of worring about batteries in my Wireless MouseMan Optical...

The drivers for X aren't that great though... Most notibly, you cannot specify different actions for the buttons in different apps...

I want to be able to assign buttons with different tasks in WarCraft III, but WC3 doesn't support them directly and the logitech drivers only allow 1 global set of button actions...

Big T · May 1, 2003, 06:16 PM

Get USB Overdrive, you can program any button for whatever program to do about anything.
www.usboverdrive.com

Originally posted by Bobby:
That's the one I have... I was getting sick of worring about batteries in my Wireless MouseMan Optical...

The drivers for X aren't that great though... Most notibly, you cannot specify different actions for the buttons in different apps...

I want to be able to assign buttons with different tasks in WarCraft III, but WC3 doesn't support them directly and the logitech drivers only allow 1 global set of button actions...

teszeract · May 1, 2003, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by KeyLimePi:
Wanna put in my vote for Kensington. I've got the Optical Elite and it works great with OSX, plus the MouseWorks software gives you a lot of options. I think this mouse looks better than the MS Explorer...soft blue glow really goes well with Aqua.

That goes double for me. I got rid of the Intellimouse, returned the Kensington Studio Pro (too small) and am very very happy with the Optical Elite by Kensington. It is one of the most ergonomic mice I have ever used. And the 5 buttons don't hurt either. One for click, another for control click, another to make launchbar come up, another to make all panels disappear in Quark, InDesign, Freehand or whatever, back buttons, forward buttons, new finder windows, ... I think I need to go outside now and calm down.

MilkmanDan · May 3, 2003, 12:51 PM

Listen, a Bluetooth mouse would be cool, if it worked. My roomie got a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse for around $80, and was using it with his new 12in. The only problem was the mouse was slow, and unresponsive. He could mouve his mouse around a bunch, and than stop, and the curser would keep going. He took the mosue back and bough a Kingston wireless wifi mouse, that all though has a plugin via USB, its a much better mouse.

My personal ideas on a mouse are this: Get a mouse that fits your hand. I have very large hands, so I enjoy a larger mouse. One of my good female friends has very very small hands, she hates my mouse and I hate hers, because hers is so small. As long as it is optical, has two buttons, and a wheel (which is about every mouse these days) you should be fine. Just get a mouse that YOU like. (No hocky puck mice for me anymore!)

RGB · 01:52 PM

Originally posted by wulf:
Have to say I love the Logitech Mouseman Traveller for my TiBook. My boss was so impressed, he bought one for his Dell...

That does look like a very sleek mouse. How comfortable is it in your hand? And how easy is it to pack up into its carrying case so that the cord isn't flying loose around my bag?

Also, how small is it?

moonmonkey · May 4, 2003, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by Bobby:
That's the one I have... I was getting sick of worring about batteries in my Wireless MouseMan Optical...

The drivers for X aren't that great though... Most notibly, you cannot specify different actions for the buttons in different apps...

I want to be able to assign buttons with different tasks in WarCraft III, but WC3 doesn't support them directly and the logitech drivers only allow 1 global set of button actions...

I just bought this mouse yesterday, its fantastic. Dont use the logitech drivers, use USB Overdrive, it lets you program functions for different apps.

Very cool.

Kenneth · May 4, 2003, 09:08 PM

Logitech MX700... but no sure about its software..

Kensington StudioMouse?.

RGB · May 5, 2003, 11:36 PM

I'm going to return my Kensington with the retractable cord. Anyone have any experience with either of these Targus mice?

Wireless Optical Mini Mouse

Ultra Mini Optical Mouse w/ Retractable Cord

I'll get one of those, or the Logitech mouse mentioned in an above post:

Mouseman Traveler

Dale Sorel · May 5, 2003, 11:44 PM

Originally posted by Kenneth:
Kensington StudioMouse?.

That's what I use with my FS iMac and I like it plenty

Peter · May 6, 2003, 02:01 AM

Macally Wireless Icemouse, white, cordless with 5 buttons and a scroll wheel

The best mouse you can get IMO

Appleman · May 6, 2003, 02:53 AM

This does NOT belong in Software-forum.

Should be in Peripherals-forum.