Mac Specs: Macbook Pro 15", 2.4ghz, 4GB, 9400m+9600m GT. iPhone 3G. iPods:-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by ambivalent
Ah! thak you, for some reason USB overdrive would not recognize my mouse, but I ended up finding SteerMouse which works great. (thanks to MacHeadCase in another thread )
thanks A LOT for the steermouse link So much better now....
1 iMac with Razer DeathAdder which is shared between the mac and pc via usb switch. This is the one mouse to rule them all. I've spent hundreds of euros on mice and keyboards. This is what feels best in my hand and works like a mouse should.
Another iMac with Razer pro|click. This one isn't better than the DeathAdder, but it isn't much worse. It beats the looks of the mighty mouse next to a white iMac.
With the MacBook Pro I use some logitech V320 Cordless Optical Mouse which is nothing special but very portable and looks like it's designed to be partnered with the MBP.
All four mighty mice I had went to the trash can. I will never buy a keyboard or mouse from apple again. I don't want to know what kind of users they had in mind when they designed that garbage.
Besides the problems already mentioned the mighty mouse feels like it's bad for your health to use unless you are a little girl with the dexterity of an orangutan.
I just purchased a 15" MacBook Pro, and I'm looking for a good wireless mouse to go with it, possibly Bluetooth so I can save a USB port. What would you folks recommend? (Also, keep in mind that I DO right click a lot.)
Mac Specs: 2.4 Core 2 Duo Unibody MacBook 4GB, 1TB Time Capsule
@cam-89
I've also been looking at mice for my Mac (new alu 13.3"), debating whether to go for a wired one for accuracy and reliability or a bluetooth one for convenience/portability/USB space.
If you don't mind I'll answer your question by suggesting some mice and also suggest some of the things I've been thinking about.
Ideally I'd go for a bluetooth mouse as the idea of still using a cable in 2009 bugs me slightly. However, several things bother me about the current crop of wireless mice:
Design
Not one mouse out there looks any good. Not one.
Some come close, but none match the looks of my macbook. This really annoys me.
After using the gorgeous little bluetooth mouse I got with my Vaio A197XP, I've wanted to match that but everything's either a huge great Microsoft lump covered in buttons, odd alien-looking gaming mice with lots of neon lights or its the good-looking but appallingly-rated Apple Mighty Mouse.
Size
As hinted at above, everything's too big.
I don't want one of those tiny little gimmicky 'notebook' mice, but I don't want the whacking-great lump you might buy in a high-street store because they recommend all Microsoft crap.
Bluetooth 'transceivers'
A lot of the wireless mice come with 'receivers'/'transceivers' that use up one of those two USB slots on my mac. I often have my iPhone sync'd and run an Antec cooler which has a USB extension, but don't want to use that for a mouse.
I've been unable to find out exactly whether every mouse out there can run off the in-built Bluetooth radio in the Mac (I would presume they do, but who knows eh?).
Having to use one of those little receivers would really narc me.
With these things in mind I've been trawling the 'net looking for something suitable.
Here are two lists (both UK but all are available in US) that demonstrate the range of mice out there: Wireless Mice @ Overclockers Cordless Mice @ Amazon
I'm not really a gamer, but the Razer mice look okay but are mainly wired or very expensive. I'd like the Mamba but really couldn't justify that much cash on a mouse.
So, if I'm not getting a Razer, then after reading most of the posts here it's either going to be a Logitech or Microsoft. Yawn.
I'm lucky in that I've been able to test a few mice (through friends and there's also 1500 of them at work).
Logitech VX Nano Advanced
A couple of guys at work have this mouse and it's okay. I'm a little against the very hard curve of the design but it's smaller than most of the big MS mice and is less 'brash'. The guys use the tiny little USB receiver as they use desktops, but they've got more than enough spare.
I had a quick go and it worked fine on a plain desktop without a mat, didn't feel any different or less accurate than a corded mouse. For basic work anyway.
Logitech VX Revolution Notebook
Also had a go on this one at work, in fact I used one went I took a work laptop on the road for a few days. It's much like the Nano, yet slightly smaller I think. Again, worked fine although I used the receiver due to the laptop being old and naff.
Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse
My parents have this mouse. Not seen it around before but of all the Microsoft mice it's once of the nicer looking, except for perhaps the chavvy blue light on the bottom. Works well again, Dad uses his with the receiver because again he's got an ageing PC.
This felt nicer in my hand than the Logitech ones and apparently it can be used on all surfaces although I didn't test that.
Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 4000 - Dark Grey
A friend's got this one and although it's basic it's one of the nicer ones I've used. I like small mice and this is small enough without being ridiculous. It doesn't look too bad either and isn't covered in silly buttons or strange 'ergonomic' design features.
It might be too small for prolonged comfortable use though.
Conclusion(apologies for posting an essay!)
I'm still undecided.
I want a nice looking, relatively small, smooth and accurate wireless mouse. But with the current crop I'm not so sure I'm going to find it.
I think I may go for the MS Explorer Mini Mouse (at around £20/$35) for in my laptop bag and maybe, just maybe, a Razer Copperhead for home use (I do want to play the odd game and am quite a frequent Photoshop user).
I hope I've helped slightly and that you end up with a mouse that suits you!
I'm sure I'll post back once I've made my mind up.
Well, I went ahead and ordered the wireless Mighty Mouse last night! I know some of you here don't like it, but I talked to someone in person who's an Apple Guru who loves his Mighty Mouse, so I guess I'll see what I think when it gets here!
@macsdontfloat, I'll let you know what I think when it gets here!
Mac Specs: 2.4 Core 2 Duo Unibody MacBook 4GB, 1TB Time Capsule
Right, now I need some help.
I've found my old Sony Vaio PCGA-WMS5 wireless mouse and am trying to use it with my MacBook.
I'm not sure if this can be done (I've naively assumed that because it's wireless it can be picked up by my wireless receiver in my MacBook) and have trawled the net and various forums looking for the answer.
Can I use with my MacBook? Are there any drivers I can use to do it?
Or is it just not possible?
I would've thought by pressing the 'Connect' button on the bottom of the mouse would trigger some sort of detection by my laptop, but no.
I've found my old Sony Vaio PCGA-WMS5 wireless mouse and am trying to use it with my MacBook.
I'm not sure if this can be done (I've naively assumed that because it's wireless it can be picked up by my wireless receiver in my MacBook) and have trawled the net and various forums looking for the answer.
Can I use with my MacBook? Are there any drivers I can use to do it?
Or is it just not possible?
I would've thought by pressing the 'Connect' button on the bottom of the mouse would trigger some sort of detection by my laptop, but no.
Anyone able to help?
It should work. You will need the USB dongle plugged in in order to use it, however. It is *not* a Bluetooth mouse, so you need an RF adapter.
However, the mouse came with my old Vaio A197XP laptop and had no dongle with it.
I would have thought that my laptop would be able to pick it up using the wireless radio receiver?
I believe that your laptop may have had an integrated RF receiver.
RF is generally proprietary (i.e. RF receiver only works with the mouse it was sold with). If you had a compatible USB adapter (as noted in the link above), it should work.
Macs use Bluetooth, which is ubiquitous, for wireless peripherals. I don't believe that mouse is Bluetooth compatible.
The good news is, there are TONS of great Bluetooth mice out there. In fact, I just took delivery of one of these today:
Mac Specs: 2.4 Core 2 Duo Unibody MacBook 4GB, 1TB Time Capsule
Ah, so my MacBook doesn't have an integrated RF receiver. The penny drops!
I've managed to blag my work into ordering a load of mice, all of which are turning up tomorrow.
The best of which I'll be commandeering for my own personal use!
The MS Blue Track Mini is one of them (RF with dongle), I'm hoping that will turn out well.
Have decided to get a nice wired mouse too for home use when I'm at my desk playing games. Possibly a Razer.
Ah, so my MacBook doesn't have an integrated RF receiver. The penny drops!
I've managed to blag my work into ordering a load of mice, all of which are turning up tomorrow.
The best of which I'll be commandeering for my own personal use!
The MS Blue Track Mini is one of them (RF with dongle), I'm hoping that will turn out well.
Have decided to get a nice wired mouse too for home use when I'm at my desk playing games. Possibly a Razer.
Thanks again, much appreciated.
That's right. It's actually quite unusual for a notebook of any make to have an integrated RF receiver, in fact this is the first time I've heard of it. The reason being is that as I mentioned previously, RF is typically proprietary to a specific mouse model (i.e. you can't use one RF adapter with a mouse for which it wasn't designed to work).
I would caution you on one thing - unless the RF adapter installs flush with the laptop, be careful not to leave it plugged in when you're traveling with your machine as this is a common cause of damaged USB ports.
Mac Specs: 2.4 Core 2 Duo Unibody MacBook 4GB, 1TB Time Capsule
I assumed that all laptops had in-built RF after my Vaio (and I bought that in '04), but oh well.
I've got my new mice home tonight (both Microsoft) but I'm having major issues.
I've followed the instructions and installed the Intellipoint software, then plugged in the dongle, inserted the battery in the mouse and... nothing.
In the Intellpoint settings I can see that the mouse is connected but I can't get the cursor moving at all.
Tried uninstalling, re-installing, re-starting etc but nothing.
I assumed that all laptops had in-built RF after my Vaio (and I bought that in '04), but oh well.
Well, Wireless USB is on the way, let's hope it gets here sooner than later
Quote:
I've got my new mice home tonight (both Microsoft) but I'm having major issues.
I've followed the instructions and installed the Intellipoint software, then plugged in the dongle, inserted the battery in the mouse and... nothing.
In the Intellpoint settings I can see that the mouse is connected but I can't get the cursor moving at all.
Tried uninstalling, re-installing, re-starting etc but nothing.
Any suggestions?
Typically the drivers aren't needed, since most mice use standard drivers. So, I would start with removing Intellimouse altogether. The process that I've used in the past is to just insert the dongle, power on the mouse (I assume you've got good batteries in it?) and then press the connect button either on the dongle or the mouse (or both).
)
So much better now....
