Apple in two-button mouse shocker

August 2, 2005 7:21 AM

Mouse? Trackball? One button? Two? Now, thanks to Apple, you can have all four.
posted by Mwongozi (141 comments total)

Here it comes to save the day!
posted by ColdChef at 7:23 AM on August 2, 2005

Wow. They finally did something with the mouse. /stunned
posted by Rothko at 7:25 AM on August 2, 2005

Where can I get a mouse that's shaped like a pile of dogshit?
posted by eatitlive at 7:25 AM on August 2, 2005

It looks like it's only available in white, but I was sure it was going to be PepsiBlue.
posted by OmieWise at 7:26 AM on August 2, 2005

You'd think they would have built these things in the first place, instead of those near-useless one-click wonders.
posted by baphomet at 7:26 AM on August 2, 2005

jesus christ.
posted by jimmy at 7:29 AM on August 2, 2005

THIS IS BLASPHEMY.

THE END TIMES ARE HERE.
posted by keswick at 7:30 AM on August 2, 2005

Looks like a great product, as per usual. But I'm sure it'll have its flaws.

Before the typical MeFi I-love-Apple/Apple-sucks-and-is-overrated argument begins, I'll say this: Apple products are by no means perfect, but if you want to buy a given tool without putting tons of effort into researching which brand to finally purchase, you could do a hell of a lot worse than apple.

Now: Let the Mac-bash begin. I'll get you started: "(iPod/OSX/this new mouse) sucks because it doesn't have (ridiculously obscure geek-centric feature/feature only .01 percent of consumers would buy/compatability with another product only used by early adopters and regular Slashdot readers)."
posted by hifiparasol at 7:33 AM on August 2, 2005

So, first they developed a mouse with no buttons, enabling all fingers to click it and reducing the opportunities for RSI. Nice try. Never liked it myself, but it was a noble effort.

Now they try to undo that progress by providing
1) a trackball 2mm wide so that you can only manipulate it with the last 8 cells of your middle finger
2) two buttons concealed under the shell with no feedback response. Imagine that: they have two buttons but no clicks
3) a simple way to get back to your most precious widgets. So simple in fact that you'll keep doing it when you get the slightest bit anxious.

I hope it's better than it seems, otherwise it's about as clever as tattooing your own face.
posted by NinjaPirate at 7:35 AM on August 2, 2005

Why no bluetooth?
posted by ColdChef at 7:36 AM on August 2, 2005

ibid
posted by jmgorman at 7:37 AM on August 2, 2005

Actually, it looks like it does click:

"Mighty Mouse even sounds as good as it feels. The audio feedback built into Mighty Mouse provides an aural sensation that responds to your movements. A tiny speaker inside Mighty Mouse produces button-clicking and Scroll Ball-rolling sound effects."
posted by Mwongozi at 7:40 AM on August 2, 2005

I wonder if they had to license the name from Hanna Barbera or whoever owns the Mighty Mouse brand?

Still, elegant solution. I'm excited for my new wireless and batteryless mouse (uses induction or one of them fancy techs to power it) but this is pretty sweet.

I hear Apple also makes something called an iPod that plays music, I bet that should sell pretty well.
posted by fenriq at 7:45 AM on August 2, 2005

Where the fuck is the translucent wireless version? That button on top of it looks like a tit, albeit a grey, industrially designed tit.
posted by tweak at 7:47 AM on August 2, 2005

And why doesn't it have a built in universal remote control for my stereo and tv? I've written Apple like eight times requesting this feature and they keep ignoring me.
posted by fenriq at 7:47 AM on August 2, 2005

Well, that spoils a perfectly good metatalk post where I was seriously going to ask how long it would take the iFaithful to FPP the fact that Apple has just done nothing but release A NEW FUCKING iMOUSE.

Steve Jobs only has to iScratch his iArse for you lot to turn into iditiotic winged marketing iMonkeys.

Please, for the love of God, could somebody put this thread out of its iMisery. Before I take an iCarvingKnife to my eyeballs.
posted by seanyboy at 7:48 AM on August 2, 2005

From the bottom of the page: Mighty Mouse © Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

RTFA - this isn't SlashDot. ;)
posted by Mwongozi at 7:48 AM on August 2, 2005

I rather like this. Who is that person at apple that makes these designs? It is incredibly simple, yet functional.
posted by markesh at 7:50 AM on August 2, 2005

Seanyboy: You misspelled iBalls.
posted by The Bellman at 7:51 AM on August 2, 2005

seanyboy: iWantOne and iWillBeBuyingOne.
posted by mrbill at 7:52 AM on August 2, 2005

IBM introduced the trackpoint in 1992. It only took Apple 13 years to come up with something that might be a little bit better, maybe.
posted by Kwantsar at 8:00 AM on August 2, 2005

*stares at wallet*

Jesus. My excuses for not buying a Mac are really shrinking. I need some backup here.
posted by selfnoise at 8:01 AM on August 2, 2005

"Scroll Ball-rolling sound effects" seems particularly stupid. Why emulate an obsolete mechanism? Would you want to hear ka-ching-thud every time you hit the return key?
posted by Armitage Shanks at 8:01 AM on August 2, 2005

iWantOne too mrbill, but for crying out loud. A computer company released a minor upgrade to a minor piece of hardware. This isn't news and it isn't important.

When Microsoft releases a new mouse, should we be allowed to post that. Dell Monitor Posts anybody. It's just a stupid waste of front page space.
posted by seanyboy at 8:01 AM on August 2, 2005

macsterbation.

Why is it that a site full of outspoken anti-corporate/anti-consumerists suddenly turns into capitalist groupies when it comes to this company?
posted by jonmc at 8:02 AM on August 2, 2005

Two words. RAZER DIAMONDBACK


Class dismissed.
posted by stenseng at 8:02 AM on August 2, 2005

Force-sensing side buttons? That should come in handy when Jedi are trying to assassinate me.
posted by selfnoise at 8:02 AM on August 2, 2005

iJaculate.
posted by seanyboy at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2005

The Diamondback kind of sucks, though. The side buttons are in exactly the wrong place for people with non-alien hands and the shape is... weird.

I have a Logitech MX518 which is ugly as shit but very functional.

Seanyboy and jonmc should perhaps lighten the fuck up.
posted by selfnoise at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2005

This is kinda hilarious. They found a way to add another mouse button without adding another mouse button.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
posted by poon at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2005

That was for jonmc.
posted by seanyboy at 8:05 AM on August 2, 2005

"Mighty Mouse even sounds as good as it feels. The audio feedback built into Mighty Mouse provides an aural sensation that responds to your movements. A tiny speaker inside Mighty Mouse produces button-clicking and Scroll Ball-rolling sound effects."

I'm so grateful that scientists have found a way to eliminate physical feedback and then replace it with aural simulation of same. Will they take on automobiles next?

The fact that you have to notify someone's ear to inform them they've accomplished something with their finger... well, I give up.
posted by cloudscratcher at 8:05 AM on August 2, 2005

I hope George Dennis isn't going to sue.
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:08 AM on August 2, 2005

Seanyboy and jonmc should perhaps lighten the fuck up.
What. Or what. I'll get an iVisit. Have an iAccident.
I think it's *you* should lighten the fuck up.

/off topic. But I love this iWhatever joke. I'm 100% confident you're all going to tire of it way before me.
posted by seanyboy at 8:08 AM on August 2, 2005

Oh, crap Armitage! Seriously: if there was a way to get that Ka-CHUNGK sound every time i hit the return key, you'd best believe my illustrious ass would already have one. Hell, I'd like it to go "Tk tk tk... tk tk.... tk tk tk tk..." while i was typing. But then again, i grew up on a typrewriter, so... there you are.
posted by indiebass at 8:08 AM on August 2, 2005

Do you think I'll be able to change the "audio feedback" produced by the mouse so that whenever I move it, it makes a sound like I'm licking Steve Jobs' arse.

Because that'd be iCool.
posted by seanyboy at 8:14 AM on August 2, 2005

I have a Mac and a Dell and as much as I used to prefer Mac over Windows, I've been increasingly displeased with the planned obsolesence tactics that seem to go along with OS X.

OS X and Windows XP were both introduced in 2001, XP has had one major free update and lots of smaller updates, also free. All subsequent software still works with XP, and many programs even run on 2000/NT/etc.

OS X, on the other hand, has had strategic updates every year since '01 and they all cost serious $$. Then with each new update come newer versions of iTunes, iPhoto, etc, etc all of which conveniently do not work on previous versions. This new mouse requires 10.4 for programmibility.

My trusty old pismo powerbook has not failed me for years, still on a G3, but beefed up with upgrades, and still able to run powerful graphics and audio programs. But it's still running 10.2.8, and I don't want to go any newer since the updates are increasingly resource hogging for my old beast. Too bad it will never see the wonders of the new iTunes or the mighty mouse :(

This is more of a personal rant than anything else, but for all the shit that Microsoft takes, at least XP is stable and is just as usable today as it was in 2001.
posted by p3t3 at 8:14 AM on August 2, 2005

My girlfriend says I have mouse balls and I have no idea what she means.
posted by chasing at 8:15 AM on August 2, 2005

Seanyboy: While a minor upgrade, it removes a significant pole of the "Windows mockery of Mac users" schema. And as such requires significant discussion; I will have to re-evaluate how best to make hip, trendy people angry.

And it allows you guys an easy target for your daily snarkfest. So be glad.

Did Steve Jobs iRape you guys or something? I'm sensing some iPTSD here.
posted by selfnoise at 8:18 AM on August 2, 2005

seanyboy:

Your point has now been thoroughly, voluminously and scatologically made. Not one reader here does not understand the content and intent of your statements.

Anything past this point on your part is, to my mind, a temper tantrum.
posted by argybarg at 8:18 AM on August 2, 2005

Well, there's something you don't see every day.

I thought that Apple weren't moving from a 1-button mouse as a matter of ingrained pride or stubborness... or perhaps as a kind of joke at their own expense.

I don't know if I'll be buying one, though - I'd have much rathered a BT one...
posted by Chunder at 8:20 AM on August 2, 2005

Do you think I'll be able to change the "audio feedback" produced by the mouse so that whenever I move it, it makes a sound like I'm licking Steve Jobs' arse.

Because that'd be iCool.

Depends on whether the speaker is at all software accessible. If it is . . . not only would it be great to change someone's mouse to swear constantly, but it seems likely one could use the programmable buttons to open up a goatse browser window with every click. Imagine someone trying to close said browser window only to add another one. Endless fun.
posted by Ryvar at 8:21 AM on August 2, 2005

What is the sound of a thousand Mac users iFapping in unison?
posted by Balisong at 8:22 AM on August 2, 2005

argybarg: iSpoilsport.
I am in the mood for a temper tantrum.
But of a self referential "ironic" nature.
posted by seanyboy at 8:23 AM on August 2, 2005

It's a bit pricey, no offense Apple, but for $50 I can get a top of the line Microsoft or Logitech mouse.
posted by riffola at 8:23 AM on August 2, 2005

iPurchase, and you too shall iBelieve, seanyboy and jonmc.

I use Windows all day at work, own a Mac at home, and the latter is (at least for me) literally a relief to use to do most stuff. I wish I could avoid Windows entirely.

Why is it that a site full of outspoken anti-corporate/anti-consumerists suddenly turns into capitalist groupies when it comes to this company?

Perhaps because Wintel is pretty much the epitome of monopolistic corporate consumerism, and Apple is the only real competition at this point (with the *nixes). And competition is good for everyone.

Then again, I'm a Red Sox fan and I tend to root for the underdog purely out of spite. Winners are for losers. ;)
posted by Lectrick at 8:24 AM on August 2, 2005

Well, it is an attractive piece of crap, isn't it? But I guess I've always been willing to sacrifice a few visible seams on my mice in order to have useful functionality like tactile feedback.

That little scroll ball might be nice for moving around big graphics, but it's a step backward for navigating documents where vertical scrolling is preferred. And again, I can't imagine they've managed to work any sensible tactile feedback into that scroll ball. Wasn't the 4-way scroll problem pretty well solved by those fancy tilting scroll wheels?

I will refrain from criticizing the ergonomics--at least it's not shaped like a hockey puck.
posted by Galvatron at 8:25 AM on August 2, 2005

Future (say 1- or 2- years from now) historians will pinpoint this product launch as the exact moment when Apple went manierist; they make a complicated product (4 buttons plus a trackball), then bend over backwards to make it look simple, by sacrificing usability (like buttons that look and feel like buttons, for example) and feedback, and then throw in a speaker (for fuck’s sake) to simulate feedback, that they lost in the first place because they didn’t want the four buttons to look like four buttons, because it’s suppposed to look simple, because, well, because it’s Apple, you know.
posted by signal at 8:30 AM on August 2, 2005

Wow, I was right, sort of. This all degenerated pretty quickly.

Mac users: Take the stick out of your collective ass.

Mac haters: Take the huge, spiked, red-hot stick out of your collective ass.
posted by hifiparasol at 8:31 AM on August 2, 2005

It's a bit pricey, no offense Apple, but for $50 I can get a top of the line Microsoft or Logitech mouse.

"For the same price I can get something... similar!"
posted by Robot Johnny at 8:32 AM on August 2, 2005

iPurchase, and you too shall iBelieve, seanyboy and jonmc.

In my house we have both a windows box and an iBook. I like Apple products fine. That dosen't mean the world needs to hear about it every time Steve Jobs passes gas.
posted by jonmc at 8:34 AM on August 2, 2005

Aha: Lectrick. I believe you have fallen into my semantic trap. I do own a mac at home. I've had ait a little while. It's not so hot. When I can ftp-upload files through Finder and when it stops randomly crashing I'll be happier. XP & Win2k are for the moment (and unfortunately) better operating systems.
posted by seanyboy at 8:36 AM on August 2, 2005

Then again, I'm a Red Sox fan and I tend to root for the underdog purely out of spite.

This is an image Apple has spent huge amounts of time and money projecting, but with their higher prices, upscale marketing to creative class/Bobos (aka yuppies), their actually more of an upper class status doo-dad, aren't they?
posted by jonmc at 8:36 AM on August 2, 2005

Whoa: I just released it's a touch thingy... so it doesn't click.

Fuck that. I need my mouse to click. I NEED THE CLICK!
posted by selfnoise at 8:38 AM on August 2, 2005

Or wait. The computer clicks.

That's even worse. I want to break this thing with a hammer now.
posted by selfnoise at 8:39 AM on August 2, 2005

First thought: Copyright lawsuit. Second thought: Clitmouse.

Third thought: It's about goddamn time you punkass art pansy godless heathen dirt hippies. Just because XEROX/PARC's prototypes had only one button didn't mean you had to stick with it for two fucking decades. Welcome to the 1990s.

Hey, the old Mac classics used to make typewriter noises. You could assign audio events to each key of the keyboard, including tk-tk-tk for the character keys and bing! for the Return/enter.

That being said, there better be an easy way to turn the audio feedback off on those suckers. It's like those digital cams that make a shutter noise. God damn it I hate those. Every time I seehear some POS Kodak or HP digital camera making a shutter noise I want to bash it to pieces with my all metal Nikon SLR.

And selfnoise and keswick win.
posted by loquacious at 8:42 AM on August 2, 2005

"For the same price I can get something... similar!"
Actually for the same price I can get a much better mouse.
posted by riffola at 8:48 AM on August 2, 2005

When I can ftp-upload files through Finder

afraid of Terminal?

$ sftp user@host
$ put file
$exit
posted by 31d1 at 8:48 AM on August 2, 2005

chill selfnoise it does click! It clicks just like the current Apple mouse. The touch-sensitivity just tells which side your finger was on when you clicked.
posted by derbs at 8:49 AM on August 2, 2005

Lectrick : "Why is it that a site full of outspoken anti-corporate/anti-consumerists suddenly turns into capitalist groupies when it comes to this company?

"Perhaps because Wintel is pretty much the epitome of monopolistic corporate consumerism, and Apple is the only real competition at this point (with the *nixes)"

In a similar vein, vegetarians love to eat puppies and small children, because the beef/pork/chicken industry is pretty much the epitome of corporate carnivorism, and puppies and babies are the only real competition.

Wait...that doesn't make sense. If they were vegetarians, why would they eat one kind of meat just because it isn't as popular as other meat?

And, for that matter, why is it an anti-corporate/anti-consumerist person would support corporatism and consumerism just because the brand they're supporting isn't as popular as another brand?

Sounds like a rather weak explanation.
posted by Bugbread at 8:50 AM on August 2, 2005

No, I mean there is no mechanical depression which results in an audible clicking sound.

Also: is the wheel roller actually a good idea at all? I mean, I really don't scroll diagonally and down, uh, ever. And I certainly don't want to have to CONCENTRATE on scrolling straight down.
posted by selfnoise at 8:53 AM on August 2, 2005

First thought: Copyright lawsuit.

IANAL, but:
a) Trademark, not copyright
b) Trademarks usually apply to a specific medium or type of product.
posted by Ryvar at 8:56 AM on August 2, 2005

Actually for the same price I can get a much better mouse.

This isn't meant to sound partisan, but how do you know? You have no basis for comparison other than your preconceived notions -- unless you're on the Super Secret Apple Peripherals Testing Team.
posted by me3dia at 8:57 AM on August 2, 2005

It looks cool, but seems kinda pointless. And I don't think I could get used to a touch-sensitive button, audio feedback or not.
posted by danb at 9:00 AM on August 2, 2005

Yeah, no shit, I'd probably try to use the mouse before making fun of its handling. As for iFilter, yeah it's kinda hypocritical for such a socially responsible body of users or whatever to be obsessed with gadgets made by capitalists to exploit their love of shiny, but at least it doesn't come up very often, unlike the posts that are about the time that one guy in Washington said something to that other guy in Washington.
posted by furiousthought at 9:01 AM on August 2, 2005

You naysayers know that Apple now does a lot of market research before they release products, right?
posted by Rothko at 9:02 AM on August 2, 2005

Ah...the religious wars never end.

"We have always been at war with iOceania...."
posted by Dunvegan at 9:03 AM on August 2, 2005

You naysayers know that Apple now does a lot of market research before they release products, right?

[ahem]
posted by jonmc at 9:04 AM on August 2, 2005

Yes?
posted by Rothko at 9:10 AM on August 2, 2005

This isn't meant to sound partisan, but how do you know? You have no basis for comparison other than your preconceived notions -- unless you're on the Super Secret Apple Peripherals Testing Team.

Because tactile feedback as provided by other mice are much needed when playing a game. The shape of the mouse is still the same as the previous version, which was rather uncomfortable to use after a while. For the same price one can get an ergonomic wireless mouse with 4 way scrolling.
posted by riffola at 9:10 AM on August 2, 2005

For the same price one can get an ergonomic wireless mouse with 4 way scrolling.

Where? /genuinelycurious
posted by Rothko at 9:11 AM on August 2, 2005

Here's the solution to any Mac/Windows flame war:

Take your opponent to an Apple store. For instance, the one in Soho, New York. And what will you find?

Really hot women. IN A COMPUTER STORE.

You think you get that in CompUSA? I don't think so.

Take that, Windows nerds.
posted by fungible at 9:12 AM on August 2, 2005

selfnoise : "Also: is the wheel roller actually a good idea at all? I mean, I really don't scroll diagonally and down, uh, ever."

It may be aimed at folks who work with stuff like Photoshop or the like. I know I tend to scroll around diagonally when working on a large image.

Jonmc, I think your [ahem] is misguided. Sure, they do lots of market research to develop their corporate image, but that's not what (I think) Rothko's talking about. I'm assuming he's talking about market research to see if there is a need/want for diagonal scrolling and the like. Perhaps "usability research" would have been clearer?
posted by Bugbread at 9:13 AM on August 2, 2005

Because tactile feedback as provided by other mice are much needed when playing a game.

You can't play games on a Mac. [hurr]
posted by keswick at 9:14 AM on August 2, 2005

So what you're saying is that Apples are for people who can't attract women on their own, right?
posted by Ryvar at 9:16 AM on August 2, 2005

fungible : "Take your opponent to an Apple store. For instance, the one in Soho, New York. And what will you find?

"Really hot women. IN A COMPUTER STORE.

"You think you get that in CompUSA? I don't think so.

"Take that, Windows nerds."

Unless they're in my room, it doesn't sway me much either way. If just being around hot women was enough to sway me, I'd go to a lot more gay house nights at clubs.
posted by Bugbread at 9:16 AM on August 2, 2005

afraid of Terminal?
No, but I don't think its much to ask (in this modern world) that I can open, edit and save my files from any program onto any piece of disk space in the world. And don't try and get into it. I've bored lots of people about this before. There's one thing I really want my mac to do, and it can't do it properly.
posted by seanyboy at 9:16 AM on August 2, 2005

Who is that person at apple that makes these designs?

Jonathan Ive is the head of Apple's industrial design team.

I'm so grateful that scientists have found a way to eliminate physical feedback and then replace it with aural simulation of same. Will they take on automobiles next?

Actually, it'd be nice if electric cars and buses made some noise. Once I was almost hit by a bus that was moving but completely silent.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:17 AM on August 2, 2005

Really hot women. IN A COMPUTER STORE.
OMG. IT'S THE EIGHTIES. I HAVE A COMMODORE 64. AND STRIP POKER.
posted by seanyboy at 9:18 AM on August 2, 2005

"Take your opponent to an Apple store. For instance, the one in Soho, New York. And what will you find?

Eurotrash?
posted by jonmc at 9:18 AM on August 2, 2005

you are aware that you don't need a GUI to do that, right, seanyboy?
posted by keswick at 9:18 AM on August 2, 2005

Eurotrash?

Bzzt! The correct answer is "wannabe Eurotrash."
posted by keswick at 9:20 AM on August 2, 2005

Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh use Macs. Hell, so does ParisParasmus.
posted by drezdn at 9:22 AM on August 2, 2005

seanyboy: When I can ftp-upload files through Finder

Yeah, yeah, I know Windows Explorer has that, but who the heck still uses FTP? I use SFTP or SCP. I use WinSCP on the Windows side to connect to my Mac box, and on the Mac side I connect to Windows with... oh, wait, there IS no out-of-the-box way to securely connect with Windows, is there? ;) Well, when I connect to a non-Windows machine from the Mac, I use Transmit, which is a million times nicer than every single poo FTP/SFTP/SCP client I've seen on Windows.

and when it stops randomly crashing I'll be happier

Mine doesn't, and I use it a lot.. It may help to occasionally repair disk permissions with Disk Utility, or boot while holding down command-S to run the CL tool "fsck" repeatedly till all the problems (if any) are fixed. And hey, at least you can boot off an external drive if necessary... last time I checked, Windows was still a neanderthal slave to the C: drive being present.

Recently I had a hard drive crash, and I was back up and running in 5 minutes off a nightly backup drive (I can post a how-to if you want to set this up using the built-in OS X facilities). Not as easy on Windows... time is money!
posted by Lectrick at 9:23 AM on August 2, 2005

keswick: Depends on the application.
This is the wrong place for this particular hobbyhorse of mine, but there are a bunch of apps I use with webDrive. Trust me. FTP built into the file system is great.
posted by seanyboy at 9:23 AM on August 2, 2005

rothko, Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer M03-00072 Cobalt 5 Buttons Tilt Wheel USB + PS/2 RF Optical Mouse - Retail for $33.00 + $4.99 FedEx Saver Shipping.
posted by riffola at 9:24 AM on August 2, 2005

No, but I don't think its much to ask (in this modern world) that I can open, edit and save my files from any program onto any piece of disk space in the world.

So are you saying Windows does this?
posted by 31d1 at 9:24 AM on August 2, 2005

I've tried Transmit, and let me tell you. Transmit is no webDrive.
posted by seanyboy at 9:30 AM on August 2, 2005

"Aha: Lectrick. I believe you have fallen into my semantic trap. I do own a mac at home. I've had ait a little while. It's not so hot. When I can ftp-upload files through Finder and when it stops randomly crashing I'll be happier. XP & Win2k are for the moment (and unfortunately) better operating systems.
posted by seanyboy at 8:36 AM PST on August 2 [!]"

Oooo a semantic trap!

What are you doing to your poor computer to make it crash? I can't seem to get mine to crash. I've used these windows machines--what an ugly OS! And talk about crashing! BSOD for real! If I'm going to look at something all day it better be pretty. And it better be stable. And not get diseases or worms or whatever you windows people have to deal with.

It's a kick seeing the reaction Apple gets after releasing a product. All they did was make a new mouse, a mouse that looks nice to me. I can't believe people get on here and say, "I don't like that stupid Apple mouse! It's so horrible that I have to tell everyone how awful it will make their life with it's annoying non-buttons that still make click sounds and it's offensive scroll nipple. I like my mouse with the REAL buttons and the non-sexual scroll wheel! Apples are for rich people who like sex mice!"

I bet most Bush Republicans use windows computers.

Now you can attack me.
posted by thebatmanager at 9:36 AM on August 2, 2005

oooh, I hit a nerve. (grins at success of first troll)
posted by fungible at 9:37 AM on August 2, 2005

Yeah thebatmanager. But, but, but I said it all as a joke. Yeah, a big clever joke, and you didn't get it. Right. ha, ha, ha on you. So, that means I'm smarter than you. 'cos you didn't get that I was, ermm, joking. Yeah. Joking and smarter than you. Right.

I don't know why I'm making it crash. I suspect I've installed and uninstalled something it didn't like.

31d1: In so far as I can buy some software to make it do it... Yes.
posted by seanyboy at 9:40 AM on August 2, 2005

KDE can use many network protocols transparently. If you don't use a GUI, you can accomplish the same thing with LUFS on Linux. If you can get features like this in open source operating systems written largely by volunteers, I think it's seanyboy is right to expect them in something you're paying money for.
posted by Galvatron at 9:41 AM on August 2, 2005

shit post
posted by mr.marx at 9:41 AM on August 2, 2005

Ok, I've never heard of WebDrive before today, but some googling leads me to believe it allows you to "map via WebDAV to a network drive, enabling you to open, edit, and save files directly on your encrypted storage space."

Right below where I found that it says something about "how to use Mac OS X's built-in support for WebDAV to mount remote WebDAV as another drive for full Finder integration."

I dunno, just thought I'd pass that along.
posted by 31d1 at 9:45 AM on August 2, 2005

Lectrick : "who the heck still uses FTP?"

I have no horse in this race (I use Windows, but have nothing at all against Macs), but: I do.

thebatmanager : "BSOD for real!"

What OS were you using? I haven't seen a BSOD in maybe 4 or 5 years (I think the last one I saw was on a Win98 computer, and my office is now entirely W2K and my home XP)

That's kinda like saying "Macs? Who the hell wants to use computers that only display black and white?!"

thebatmanager : "It's a kick seeing the reaction Apple gets after releasing a product. All they did was make a new mouse, a mouse that looks nice to me. I can't believe people get on here and say..."

It's a kick seeing the reaction Apple gets after releasing a product. All they did was make a new mouse, a mouse that looks nice to me too. I can't believe it got posted to the front page of Metafilter.

Again, I've got no horsie here. Macs are nice, and if anyone wanted to give me a brand new powerful Mac, not only wouldn't I say "no", but I would actually use it (as opposed to the folks who wouldn't say "no", but would go and resell it). Macs are good machines, from what I understand. A little counterintuitive to someone who wasn't brought up on them, but so is Windows. Has some superior features to Windows machines, has some inferior features to Windows machines (and, of course, the same with Linux machines or Solaris or pretty much any other OS). I do think it's silly that a mouse gets posted to the front page, though.
posted by Bugbread at 9:46 AM on August 2, 2005

thebatmanager: It's a kick seeing the reaction Apple gets after releasing a product.

It's not so much the product release that annoys people, but the tendency for Macintosh fans to become voluntary marketing drones over every little bit of peripheral or cabling released by Macintosh. "Ohh, Macintosh just unveiled a USB cable with this nifty new design. It's actually plaid to match their new Scottish look. Isn't this the greatest industrial design ever?"

Given the tendency for the most extreme Mac fanatics to gush over Apple trivialities, it is easy to become saturated and fail to see when they produce some really great innovations.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 9:49 AM on August 2, 2005

Trackballs, the MIL SPEC approved human interface solution since 1959.
posted by paulsc at 9:49 AM on August 2, 2005

I think this post is interesting given Apple years of freakish one button mouse holdout philosophy. The point is not just another product, the point is that that this mouse has MORE THAN ONE BUTTON, which just surprised a hell of a lot of people.
posted by 31d1 at 9:53 AM on August 2, 2005

31d1: I can't believe I'm still talking about this. As well as webDAV, WebDrive also has FTP, SFTP and GroupDrive(?). Also, the webDAV on OSX is a bind. It's slow, hangs finder and I've yet to find a host (other than Apple) that offers it in any way that is useful. TextDrive is a possibility, but there are issues of security when using webDAV to access space with Apache. LighTtpd is reportedly better, and when I've got it configured, I may be happier. In the meantime, webDrive is a supreme piece of software. I really feel like I can't live without it.
posted by seanyboy at 9:54 AM on August 2, 2005

31d1: When I see a "Microsoft Office now uses an XML based document format as standard" post posted on MeFi I'll agree with you. It's an interesting thing, surely, and I'd expect it to be posted to slashDot or any of the Mac Blogs. Within *my* context of Metafilter however, it's not that interesting, and if it were any other supplier it wouldn't be given shelf space.
posted by seanyboy at 9:59 AM on August 2, 2005

heh - Anyway - enough of the angry Seanyboy persona. I'm off to drink wine, eat marrow and talk poetry.
posted by seanyboy at 10:00 AM on August 2, 2005

31d1 : "The point is not just another product, the point is that that this mouse has MORE THAN ONE BUTTON, which just surprised a hell of a lot of people."

Good point. "Man comes out of closet" is not very surprising, and would seem pretty odd as an FPP. If you realize that that man is GWB, then the context all changes, and it makes a lot more sense as an FPP. I was focusing on the framing in the post: " Mouse? Trackball? One button? Two? Now, thanks to Apple, you can have all four.", and thinking "oh, great, an FPP about a new not-technologically-groundbreaking product, and it gets FPPed", but if I think of it in the framing of the post title: "Apple in two-button mouse shocker", then my attention will be on the fact that Macs, which have avoided multibuttons for yonks, are now going all buttony, which is a big change.

Note: I am not a Mac user. The above was written with the assumption, inferred from what 31d1 said, that Mac has not made multibuttoned mouses before, and that they were the exclusive domain of third party manufacturers. If that assumption is incorrect, please disregard the above
posted by Bugbread at 10:00 AM on August 2, 2005

Yeah, this thread is complete shit. I'm sorry I contributed to the complete shit. I apologize to all humans.
posted by selfnoise at 10:03 AM on August 2, 2005

This thread is filled with complaints about the usability of this mouse, and I'm wondering if I missed something... since all I saw was a web page.

Is there some sort of FireFox extension that will let me use one for a few minutes, right now, so I can form some sort of informed opinion?
posted by mosch at 10:03 AM on August 2, 2005

So much hate in here, boo hoo. Get over your platform bias. Its not what you use, its how you use it.

Don't like Macs and Apples? Fine, don't use them but quit the constant whining.
posted by fenriq at 10:05 AM on August 2, 2005

No the extension only works in Safari.
posted by smackfu at 10:05 AM on August 2, 2005

I knew I would get attacked. Thanks for ruining my day mean windows users. I don't even like mice...I use a trackpad.
posted by thebatmanager at 10:06 AM on August 2, 2005

WTF is it that Apple gets a free PepsiBlue pass on MeFi? If I were to post every new car design from Ford, I'd be banned. If I were to post every new S+ark design, I'd be in trouble. If I shouted from the rooftops every time Opera updated its browser, you'd all be pissed.

But Applebluefilter? No problems.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:13 AM on August 2, 2005

thebatmanager : "Thanks for ruining my day mean windows users."

Hey now, don't forget, Microsoft and Apple are not the only OS makers out there. "Opposed to Mac" ≠ "Windows". It might be a bunch of *nix, or PalmOS, or VMS, or (god forbid) AmigaOS folks.

fenriq : "Don't like Macs and Apples? Fine, don't use them but quit the constant whining."

Fenriq, I think a whole lot of the whining is just the garden variety "I don't like Macs" stuff, which definitely has to go. But I think there is a point in the people saying "Why is a relatively conventional multi-button mouse a post on the front page?" They may be right, and they may be wrong, but whether it's whining or actually pointing out a bad post depends on whether multibutton mice qualify as FPP material, and that's what the discussion should probably be about.
posted by Bugbread at 10:16 AM on August 2, 2005

What is it with these crappy little trackballs with absurd button placement?When I want to control a pointer easily, I use a top-down trackball with top-down buttons for rapid-fire response. How the hell else are you going to play Centipede and Robotron? Here is my trusty old trackball controller, scavenged many years ago from a CDi system. This controller is two feet wide and well-nigh perfect:


posted by meehawl at 10:18 AM on August 2, 2005

Looks like whoever wrote the Apple product page is a Robyn Hitchcock fan, judging from the embedded quote.
posted by scruss at 10:20 AM on August 2, 2005

That is awesome, meehawl. I want one for my work computer.
posted by Bugbread at 10:21 AM on August 2, 2005

So are you saying Windows does this?

I'm not sure exactly how or why people are geeking out, but I have any number of GMailFS, WebDAV, and plain FTP/SFTP remote stores mounted within Windows file explorer as network drives or shortcuts in a launch bar. When I want to copy something, I just drag and drop. I didn't really think about it much, I just did it. I'd assumed this was a solved problem in GUIs since 1999 or so. Am I wrong?
posted by meehawl at 10:25 AM on August 2, 2005

WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH YOU MAC FANATICS?

...couldn't resist.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 10:34 AM on August 2, 2005

Whinefilter: So I saw the post, went '!', and decided this iThing needed to get a test drive. I happen to live near an iStore so I called them up and asked if they had MMouse on the floor. They said yes!

So I went to the Store, lo and behold, and they don't! They all had pierced things and dreadlocks and were all very hip, but no damn Mighty Mouse on the floor.

They were nice about it, but still.... feh!
posted by cavalier at 10:34 AM on August 2, 2005

How do you right click?
posted by knave at 10:42 AM on August 2, 2005

FTP files from the finder:
* From the finder apple+K (or Go menu -> connect to server...)
* in the server address field type ftp://name.of.host
* a box will open for username password, and then you'll have an ftp server map in any finder window
posted by splatta at 10:50 AM on August 2, 2005

Oh dear. Apple groupies will now have to explain why a multi-button mouse is actually good thing having previously been "totally unnecessary". This reversal can join the previous ones such as "Multi-tasking? We don't need that!", "CISC is dead" and "Intel sucks!".
posted by bobbyelliott at 11:09 AM on August 2, 2005

31d1: I can't believe I'm still talking about this.

That's funny. No one else can believe you're still talking at all. You don't like Apple- we get it!
posted by mkultra at 11:38 AM on August 2, 2005

btw, this guy sez it'll have tactile feedback.

slashdot comment

but if that's so, why do they need the lil speaker?
posted by lbergstr at 11:41 AM on August 2, 2005

For all of those arguing about the ijokes and what not on this thread.......go get laid already.
posted by cpchester at 12:04 PM on August 2, 2005

whether it's whining or actually pointing out a bad post depends on whether multibutton mice qualify as FPP material, and that's what the discussion should probably be about.

Nailed it on the head, bug. I agree that the post itself was probably a bad idea. Any time there's an FPP about a new Mac product, it just degenerates into a retarded (and generally anti-Mac) flame war. Which is what I've been trying to say since the beginning of this thread. If I'm a Mac fan, I already know about this, and if I'm not a Mac fan, I don't want to. There have been very, very few informative posts on this thread, and I include my own snarky ones in that assessment.
posted by hifiparasol at 12:09 PM on August 2, 2005

selfnoise: "My excuses for not buying a Mac are really shrinking. I need some backup here."

This mouse works in Windows. It is therefore not a reason to buy a Mac. All of the other reasons, though, are.
posted by Plutor at 12:12 PM on August 2, 2005

seanyboy - When I see a "Microsoft Office now uses an XML based document format as standard" post posted on MeFi I'll agree with you.

Thats a good example, for if that ever happens, I would:

a) not be surprised or upset if it got posted to MeFi, and

b) certainly consider it on par with Apple releasing a multi-button mouse, because until today I thought it would be a cold day in hell for either.

If Microsoft had been pursuing a relentless in-the-face-of-all-reason anti web page strategy for years until today, I might even agree that their new Start Page Technology would deserve a Front Page Post.
posted by 31d1 at 12:16 PM on August 2, 2005

Well, ok. If this was intended to kick off questions about whether Apple is abandoning the one-button mouse concept (they've supported multiple buttons for years, keeping the one-button mouse as the design default) couldn't there have been some better links to THAT topic of discussion rather than to a page in the online Mac catalog?
posted by KirkJobSluder at 12:21 PM on August 2, 2005

Mighty Mouse?
I'm waiting for

posted by wendell at 12:22 PM on August 2, 2005

One more "Mighty Mouse" reference:
If Apple does a TV commercial with a re-created version of Andy Kaufman on Saturday Night Live, I'll...
I'll....
I'll...

...not be surprised.
posted by wendell at 12:24 PM on August 2, 2005

KirkJobSluder : "If this was intended to kick off questions about whether Apple is abandoning the one-button mouse concept (they've supported multiple buttons for years, keeping the one-button mouse as the design default) couldn't there have been some better links to THAT topic of discussion rather than to a page in the online Mac catalog?"

Assuming there are some good links about it (and I suspect there are), yes. I'm not a big fan of multilinked FPPs (some are great, but most of them seem to be trying to make the best of the web out of less best elements, instead of filtering some best that's already out there. A noble cause, and great when it works, but it usually doesn't), but this would be one of those posts where a good link to a good and interesting site/page about Apple changing their focus on mouse-button-quantities would be best, and having this link as a supplementary link within the same FPP would be a good idea.
posted by Bugbread at 12:40 PM on August 2, 2005

This will make dual-booting so much more convenient.
posted by VulcanMike at 1:14 PM on August 2, 2005

Hoo-Wee, Wendell! I'd plum fergot about that there fella!
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:55 PM on August 2, 2005

Other Apple peripherals I'd like to see:

- Batfink Digital Audio Interface
- Underdog Gamepad
- Heckle and Jekyll Speakers

And of course, the next version of OS X (code named Lippy the Lion and Har-de-Har-Har)
posted by Darkman at 2:13 PM on August 2, 2005

Do I still have to hold down "Option" to get a contextual menu?
posted by mrgrimm at 2:47 PM on August 2, 2005

bugbread: I actually like the multi-link posts if done well, especially if they collect all the best sources on a particular topic from multiple points of view.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 2:52 PM on August 2, 2005

KJS, I like them too if they're done well, but personally I find that they aren't done well all that often. But that's just a difference of opinion, neither here nor there really.
posted by Bugbread at 2:56 PM on August 2, 2005

signal: Jesus. My excuses for not buying a Mac are really shrinking. I need some backup here.

OSX hacked to run on bargain basement PCs will be available on alt.binaries.warez within a year.
posted by Chuckles at 5:09 PM on August 2, 2005

I can't help feeling that, unless you work in a clean room, that scroll nubbin's gonna get clogged up pretty damn quickly...
posted by kaemaril at 5:14 PM on August 2, 2005

I should have a sockpuppet named signaltonoise who posts trollish comments about the french. Thanks for the idea, Chuckles.
posted by selfnoise at 5:40 PM on August 2, 2005

Meh. I bet we're not done hearing idiots complain about the one-button mouse as the reason Macs are evil...

/not a Mac owner BTW
posted by clevershark at 5:49 PM on August 2, 2005

For the same price one can get an ergonomic wireless mouse with 4 way scrolling.

Where? /genuinelycurious

I just got me a Microsoft Wireless Optical Intellimouse Pro with the tilt wheel, $29.99 at compusa (after rebate!). It's a really awesome mouse. Only problem is the tiltwheel is not currently very customizable. Other then that, its got great ergonomics, better then every RSI-inducing apple mouse ive EVER USED.
posted by Mach5 at 10:25 PM on August 2, 2005

Late to the game but:

indiebass: Seriously: if there was a way to get that Ka-CHUNGK sound every time i hit the return key, you'd best believe my illustrious ass would already have one. Hell, I'd like it to go "Tk tk tk... tk tk.... tk tk tk tk..." while i was typing.

Try this - v cool and free too!
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:45 AM on August 3, 2005

p3t3 wrote "This is more of a personal rant than anything else, but for all the shit that Microsoft takes, at least XP is stable and is just as usable today as it was in 2001."

Yeah, I like XP a lot more than anything else I've used from MS. On the topic of mice though, I really, really wish that they would realize that we would like to perhaps have some control over how we use our peripherals. The newer versions of the mouse software do not allow the buttons to be remapped to specific keys any more. Sure, you can map them to a key combination - [CTRL]-C for example - but not just to [CTRL]. For a gamer, that's pretty useless. For someone who likes to use modifier keys in Firefox, that's pretty useless. At least I can still use my old 4.1 version of the software in Windows. If I was on OS X, I'd be forced to upgrade to the new, less-functional version whether I liked it or not.

That tiny trackball does look like it would be hard to use...
posted by caution live frogs at 7:23 AM on August 3, 2005