198 of 206 people found the following review helpful:
An attempt at an objective review
Okay, I will say I'm very partial to this mouse, but I'm going to try and write an objective review here for kicks. I'm going to break this down into topical sections for easy digestion.
=== Tracking ===
Tracking is, surprisingly for a Bluetooth mouse, superbly smooth in everyday use. (I'm not an FPS gamer, so I can't comment on the performance for...
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
It's an OK mouse
After having this for a few weeks now and the novelty of it has worn off I can say it's an OK mouse. Not great, just OK. The scrolling action on it just rules. I keep using it just for that. There is a hack to make the momentum scrolling work in 10.5, do a quick google search and you can find it. The bluetooth does have quirks. Sometimes the mouse will just...
This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
Okay, I will say I'm very partial to this mouse, but I'm going to try and write an objective review here for kicks. I'm going to break this down into topical sections for easy digestion.
=== Tracking ===
Tracking is, surprisingly for a Bluetooth mouse, superbly smooth in everyday use. (I'm not an FPS gamer, so I can't comment on the performance for twitch gaming.) Pointer movement is very smooth and consistent, as with the best corded and non-BT cordless mice. Also, in my tests, the mouse tracked perfectly on a white laminate table and a brushed aluminum table -- both difficult surfaces for many laser and optical mice.
Many reviewers have complained that the tracking is too slow, even at the highest speed setting. Although I haven't experienced this problem, I believe it is real for those people; but I think it must be a problem that is specific to their particular software and/or hardware environment, by no means a universal problem. (The Magic Mice at the Apple Stores I've been to have not manifested it.) These users may find relief with a new third-party freeware called BetterTouchTool, which has a greater range of mouse speed adjustment than Apple's prefpane -- more on BetterTouchTool below.
=== Scrolling ===
The touch-based scrolling is a revelation. I leave the momentum option on, and scrolling through long web pages is a dream. So smooth! The scrolling action is similar to dragging the slider on a scroll bar, rather than clicking the up/down scroll buttons as it is with most other mice. After having used the Magic Mouse and its amazing scrolling talents for a couple of weeks, when I'm now forced to use conventional mice, the scrolling feels jumpy and crude. That said, I do sometimes miss the feel of turning a physical scroll wheel. I'd say that a physical wheel might provide more predictable scrolling. But the nearly pixel-precise scrolling action of the Magic Mouse just feels really luxurious. The only thing I would ask Apple to improve is to let users adjust the "friction" of the momentum scrolling with a slider in the prefpane. I would reduce the friction a bit.
=== Buttons/Configurability ===
As you will know already, this is a one-button mouse that can be used as a two-button mouse thanks to smart software. I have experienced zero problems with the mouse distinguishing between left and right clicks. It is true that the mouse does not recognize right clicks when your index finger is resting on the mouse. This hasn't been a problem for me at all, because for some reason I naturally lift my index finger slightly when I start pushing down with my middle finger. The other thing that is widely known is that there is no provision for middle clicks or other actions besides the ones mentioned in the product literature. Apple really has a lot of room for improvement in the device driver in this area.
But what is perhaps less known is that there is an excellent little freeware third-party app called BetterTouchTool (for OS X only) that addresses these shortcomings very well. For example, you can map a three-finger tap to Expose or any key combination. It is an absolute must. The app is still in a very early development phase and is frequently updated (sometimes several times in one day), and there are several features yet to be fully implemented, but already it has removed all cause for complaint about lack of configurability, as far as I'm concerned.
=== Ergonomics ===
The mouse's shape takes some getting used to. It's very low, which discourages resting your palm on it (or wrapping your whole hand around it). The sharp edges also detract from holding this mouse as you would rounder ones. The optimum way I've found to hold this mouse is to lightly grip its sides, with my thumb on one side, my ring finger and pinkie on the other, and my palm making no contact with the top. This is easy to do because the sides curve inward from top to bottom, providing a sure grip. It's a sort of dainty way to hold the mouse, but it works, and it also minimizes accidental scrolling, which happens sometimes when you inadvertently touch the top. As a bonus, the aluminum sides provide a nice, cool sensation to the fingertips when you grab it again after letting it rest for a while.
Another ergonomic quibble I have is that the smooth plastic top of the mouse produces too much friction when my fingers are not perfectly dry. The textured glass of Apple's latest trackpads is much better in this regard. As a workaround, I have taken to putting a little light oil on the mouse top to reduce this friction and make scrolling easier.
=== Conclusion ===
This is an unusual and innovative mouse that unfortunately demands some adjustment in usage habits to get the best results, but then rewards you with superior functionality -- especially with an assist from some third-party software.
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
The Bottom Line:
If you're a Mac owner and are looking to upgrade the lousy mouse that came with your system you will be very satisfied with the Magic Mouse. Those looking for more buttons and macro functionality should look at similarly priced products from Logitech and others.
Review:
Apple is known for elegantly designed products, but unfortunately its input devices have fallen short over the last decade or so. That all changes today. The Magic Mouse is the first Apple mouse in probably twenty years that lives up to the elegance of the products it will be connected to.
The entire mouse is touch sensitive, and surprisingly it actually works without many 'false' reads. The mouse is smart enough to detect finger movement for scrolling even when my palm is resting on the device.
A 'momentum' setting in the software driver gives your Mac the same type of scrolling behavior as the iPhone. Fast flicks of the finger scroll faster, while slower movements give finer control. It gets a little flaky when a scrollable form is embedded on a webpage, but these are things that can get worked out with future driver releases. Best of all most of the mouse behavior works in virtual environments like VMWare and Parallels.
Magic Mouse also has a very satisfying mechanical clicking system. Like the trackpad on the new Macbooks, it just feels right. Right clicking is available, but it must be configured first in the control panel.
I am puzzled that while Apple prides itself on designing non-replaceable rechargeable batteries into its products, the Magic Mouse runs on AA's! Batteries are included, but they are not rechargeable. You'll need to get your own charger and batteries if you wish to use rechargeables. Battery life is decent, and after three full work days I'm still at 90%.
PROs
====
Beautiful design with an innovative touch sensitive surface
Satisfying clicking mechanism
Seamless bluetooth connectivity
CONs
====
Only has two possible button combinations (click and right click)
Apple software update required before the mouse is fully functional (as of 11-3-09)
Right clicking needs to be configured in the control panel first
You'll need a seperate battery charger if you wish to use rechargeables
Windows users won't get the same functionality as Mac owners at this time
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
Alright, I was going to return this mouse an hour after using it. THAT IS UNTIL I installed MagicPref from the Apple website. The tracking was S-L-O-W. My arm was killing me because the even with my small hands my hands felt uncomfortable. Worst yet was the 3rd button is now gone and I couldn't use Final Cut Pro or Maya.
I now can do everything I can with my Mac Book Pro track-pad. Apple is an innovator.
The design is slick and I can maneuver the magic mouse with little effort. I enjoy working on my graphics with this mouse. I am about to play a first person shooter (FPS) game to see if there are any lag, and how this performs on rail games.
So here is my break down: (I took the format another GREAT reviewer on Amazon)
Tracking--
Tracking VERY smooth in everyday use and for FPS games. For having no cords and using solely Bluetooth.
Install "MagicPref" on the Apple website or just google it, and your tracking problems will be solved. Not only that, you will discover MANY MANY other features your magic mouse can do.
Buttons --
This is a one-button mouse that can be used as a three-button mouse thanks to smart software. I have experienced zero problems with the mouse distinguishing between left and right clicks and middle click.
Configuration --
There is so much you can configure on this mice. Things such as:
Clicks and Taps, Swipes, Drag, and Pinch, touch sensitivity, and Extra track speed.
You can also configure for Expose, Space, Dashboard, ect.
Scrolling --
All I can say about this is I LOVE IT!! I love momentum scrolling and with touch sensitivity adjusted, I can control the friction and speed of the scroll.
I can scroll in a website, scroll to another page, scroll to another program, scroll, left right up down with speed and little effort.
Ergonomics --
Don't expect to wrap your hand around this skinny mouse. Even with my small hands I can't get my whole hand around it, let alone rest my palm on it as I maneuver the mouse around. Fortunately, I don't have to manuever the mouse around since I was able to configure it to play games, do graphics, and everyday use settings.
Overall - - I think this is a great mouse for having absolutely NO cords. Great on FPS games, just not as great as my $200 gaming mouse though, but equal to my mid-end gaming mouse. Do note that it will taking a little bit of getting use to.
Great desgin and functionality. I can now have other uses with my Function keys and USB ports open for other things.
LOVE IT!!!
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
After getting the chance to use this mouse for a full day, I can say that it was well worth the wait. As a die-hard apple fan, I have grown fond of the mighty mouse - now called the apple mouse - but the one thing that I loathed was the scroll ball located on top of the mouse. After only hours of use, gunk would build up rendering the scroll useless unless you wanted to perform mouse surgery using an exacto knife. Through incorporation of multi-touch technology, Apple has eliminated this problem, and created a device which is truly revolutionary.
I, like many, was worried about the ergonomics of the mouse given its low profile however I am happy to report that I have been quite pleased at how solid it feels in my hands and the overall ergonomics of the device. I also have not had any troubles with scroll or tracking speed, in fact I've found them to be significantly better than the mighty mouse. I also have not had to adjust either of these settings higher as others have said, the magic mouse truly worked straight out of the box with no adjustments. All in all, this mouse was well worth the wait and I can only imagine the possibilities future updates will bring in terms of gesture support!
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
After having this for a few weeks now and the novelty of it has worn off I can say it's an OK mouse. Not great, just OK. The scrolling action on it just rules. I keep using it just for that. There is a hack to make the momentum scrolling work in 10.5, do a quick google search and you can find it. The bluetooth does have quirks. Sometimes the mouse will just disconnect and I have to turn it off and back on to continue using it. The overall feel of mouse is odd. It is really low and it just never feels right in the hand. Also, it does require a lot of pressure to click. I'm used to barely clicking and you gotta push this down with some authority. It's not a gaming mouse by any means. I'm going to keep using this until I can find something that fits my hand better.
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
I've had this mouse for a few weeks. I'm a huge Apple fan (and stockholder) and drink the cool aid like anyone else. I've had Macs for over twenty years and have never had any hand or wrist issues. I loved this mouse in the store where I used it for a minute or two. But I seriously expect I would develop carpel tunnel if I continue using it; after just a couple of weeks my index finger is tingling, and my wrist aches. Why? First off, it's heavy - lifting it and moving it around is loud and clunky; which also makes it difficult to carefully select one character or word when editing text. Second, it's very very low profile, almost flat - flop down your hand naturally on a table and see what shape it creates - this mouse doesn't honor that natural arch. But the tipping point for me was that it has a mind of its own - I would just be resting my hand and reading a Word doc when the document would scroll full the right and I'd be looking at a white screen. In Dreamweaver, InDesign and other apps, spurious commands would make it zoom full down for no reason. You could call it "magic" all right! It sure looks cool and demos well, but be sure to keep the receipt and watch that 30 day limit if you decide to buy.
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
I've had this mouse for a month and a half now, and it's my absolute favorite mouse I've ever had for both comfort and functionality, BUT buyers really need to be aware that it REQUIRES a 3rd-party app to make it worth it's price.
Pros: love the precision ergonomics, the over all feel and durability, 360 scrolling
Cons: Apple gimped the standard software so bad, you need to install another (free) app just to use it properly
At first I was wary of the Magic Mouse's low profile, but after only an hour or two of using, I found my hand grew used to holding it a little differently to compensate. My last mouse was a Logitech G5, so I was used to holding my mouse in the palm of my hand as I moved it, but with the Magic Mouse, I found it easiest to hold my hand *above* the mouse, grip it with my thumb, little finger, and ring finger, and use my pointer and index finger to left/right click and scroll. This actually worked out very well because the table I'm used to typing at is a little low for my posture, so the Magic Mouse has actually corrected my posture and straightened out my wrist.
The mouse is quite sensitive, and the 360 scroll needed only a few uses for me to swear that I would never go back to the ol' scroll wheel if I could help it. This mouse really makes every move I make with it feel very precise, and it's really appreciated.
HOWEVER, and this is a massive thing, Apple's software is absurdly limited. How limited, say you? So limited that the only functions supported are left-click, right-click, and 360 scroll. No middle-click, no simul-click, no swipes. Apple's $60 magic mouse, out of the box, has barely more functionality than a $10 off-brand 2-button scroll-mouse.
Thankfully, the Internet comes to the rescue! There's already a handful of 3rd-party applications available that unlock the potential of this mouse and turn it from a 1-star clunker to a 5-star masterpiece. I use BetterTouchTool (still in alpha), folks may prefer to use the more polished, if not as versatile, MouseWizard or MagicPrefs. BetterTouchTool is a free app which adds support for up to 115 actions (23 gestures + fn/ctrl/alt/cmd mods) which can be mapped to pre-set functions or keyboard macros, even by application, including taps, finger swipes, and re-mapping the surface of the mouse for different functions (like middle-click). I have different swipes and taps set up to browse the net, use Office, and play WoW. I have never, ever had the ability to customize a mouse in so many useful ways so easily.
In short, this is a fantastic mouse, but anyone who wants it to be worth their money is going to have to be comfortable downloading software that's in development which requires some customization. If that's not your cup of tea, you're better off spending your $60 on Logitech or Razer's better offerings. Gamers who require simul-click are probably still better off with a large gaming mouse with ergonomic grips on the side and discrete buttons.
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
If you use a mouse 10+ hours a day it should be comfortable.
This mouse is not.
When using a mouse you should rest the palm of your hand. Not arch it. Also the mouse it very thin grip with my thumb and pinkie finger every time I need to scroll. If you don't grip when you try to scroll the mouse will slide down under your hand and get away from you because it is too light and very smooth bottom.
Maybe I don't like it because I have large hands, if you have small hands let me know if this is different for you. Right now I use Logitech G9 and a Microsoft Natural Mouse. Both are wide and very comfortable to use for an extended period of time. You hands sit naturally unlike with the Apple Magic Mouse. The G9 and the MS Natural Mouse are the best ever and I would recommend either of those over this. I prefer the G9 scroll wheel because it is indent or 'clicks' when scrolling. Which is very good in games for rotating your guns or photoshop when moving around a image. Lets you fell your position, unlike this virtual scrolling. If you closed your eye you would have no clue how far you scrolled.
Software installed quick and easy. I had to turn up the Tracking to 'Fast' because of my large monitor and slow default tracking. Was surprised secondary click was off by default, and turned that on.
Will keep testing it, but after a few hours I don't think I can stand using it and will get a refund.
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
There is no ugly. This mouse looks great. The technology is innovative, and best of all there's no ball that has to be cleaned but wasn't designed to be cleaned, like the Mighty Mouse. I really wanted to like this mouse. Unfortunately, its bad points outweigh its good points.
The good:
- This is the sexiest-looking mouse so far
- Scrolling with one finger on a smooth surface is great
- No annoying mouse ball
- Moving it on the table or mouse pad is much smoother and easier than the Mighty Mouse.
The bad:
- Two finger swipes just don't work well. There's really not enough room, and you have to somehow hold the mouse steady. It's one of those things that seems like a good idea, but...
- It is plain darn UNCOMFORTABLE. The sharp edges cut into your fingers, and you can't rest your fingers naturally or curl them around a bit. I have used more different mice (I refuse to say mouses) than I can count, starting with an Englebart mouse almost 40 years ago. This is the best looking of the lot, and the least comfortable.
- It's slow, but I'm sure Apple will fix this in time.
I hate to part with something that looks this good, but it's going back to the Apple store.
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This review is from: Apple Magic Mouse (Electronics)
I've been using (or trying to use) my Magic Mouse for over a week now.
Unfortunately this is not a product that I can recommend.
The idea behind it is elegant - a combination of the best elements of a mouse and track pad. You don't have to engage a wheel to scroll, and different finger swipes instruct the mouse in a natural and intuitive way.
At least that's the theory of this gadget.
In practice it's a different story.
For instance, there's a fine line between what's left and what's right. It's easy to click just to one side or the other with unexpected results.
Or as another example, I find the two fingered sideways swipe impossible to execute without moving the mouse and messing things up.
In addition, the maximum tracking speed is maddeningly slow.
And finally, the MM is so low slung as to be hard for my fist to grab a hold of.
Maybe I'm a klutz, but you shouldn't need fine finger finesse to operate this kind of a device.
It's just way too slick.
Why then three stars, not one?
I can't help it - I just can't bring myself to slam something so beautiful and sleek.
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