Short version: The Magic Mouse is everything that anti-Macists hate about Apple: It’s twee, too smart for its own good, and initially unusable to the uninitiated. Sadly, even Mac fanbois will feel the same way.
Not so Magic
I gave the Magic Mouse a fair shake. Heck, I even gave the Mighty Mouse a fair shake. And, like its older brother, the Magic Mouse promises you the world but falls far short, creating a strange vortex of suck that will frustrate and deter the average user.
First, a note on my current mousing habits. I’ve used a Logitech MX Revolution for about six months now and I’m hooked on its dual scroll wheels and various buttons. I am, obviously, not Steve’s target market. However, I’m happy to try any mouse for a few days and I often find that my hand and work-style changes to match the idiosyncrasies of the pointing device in question. I’m sure if you gave me a mouse shaped like a carrot (or just a carrot) I could get used to mousing on it. Sadly, if you give me a mouse the shape of an orthopedic shoe insert, I’m going to have a little trouble.
The mouse’s much vaunted multi-touch surface is a gimmick. At best you can do a two-finger swipe left or right to scroll through files and pictures or change from browser tab to browser tab. One finger, wheel-less scrolling is odd in that it adds momentum (you can turn it off) that will spin you past your desired point with an errant flick of your finger. There is no pinch or twist and you’d have to do something like a Vulcan salute to do a pinch or spread on this thing anyway since your thumb and ring finger always have to be clutching the mouse.
This brings us to the second point: you can never let go of this thing. The mouse resolution is very low so you have to pick it up often to get across a large screen (I have two screens, so it takes about three lift and moves to get the mouse over to the other screen). And you’re supposed to hold it with the afore-mention crab-grab with your thumb and ring finger and perhaps the pinkie. The mouse is too small for my man-hands to grab and cover so there’s always a bit of space between the surface of the mouse and the palm.
This all adds up to a frustrating departure from standard mousing procedure. While I’m sure some of you consider this the Delicious Mouse of Happiness, I just can’t wrap my head around this odd device.
Insult to Injury
Best of all, even if you install a fresh copy of Snow Leopard you can’t use this mouse without installing a specific mouse update. This isn’t explained at first so you flail at the mouse like a penitent until the update comes down the pipe. This is explained in the tiny, tiny twee little manual.
Bottom Line
I’m down with trying new things. I just ate ossobuco for the first time recently and that has marrow in it. However, as Sascha Segan pointed out, Apple seems to focus all their negative energy on making the worst mice known on the planet and then using delightful adjectives like “Mighty” and “Magic” that slowly become ironic.
If you do any serious mousing at all, avoid the Magic Mouse.
As a fervent logitech user I was sceptical about this mouse, but wanted to try it. As a creative that needs extreme accuracy I found it a delight. It’s lightweight and great for studio work, and the multi touch is incredible and can help no end with Cs4 users. Couldn’t disagree more with review. Keep an open mind!
Seems like reviewer didn’t like it before he opened it.
I loved it before I opened it. I just didn’t enjoy it after I used it. I suspect this is an acquired taste.
Agree! it helped a lot with CS4, and I love the scroll momentum, surfing web has never been so easy. However, it’s indeed a bit too low for my palm. Moving around big and wide screen can be uncomfortable at first but it got ever later when I’m used to the acceleration.
Anyone knows to zoom in and out photos with this mouse besides Screen Zoom?
I wondered about this device. I even stopped by the nearest Apple store to try one out. I was afraid it would be too low to be comfortable. I like my mice with a little elevation, so it fits comfortably in my hand. This is pretty low and that much harder to pick up with the thumb and pinky when (as you mention) you need to re-position to get across the screen. I’ll stick with my Logitech G5 for now.
The mouse specific update was a little perplexing. I found that it required the mouse to be actually connected otherwise software update would not show that particular update.
He seems to make valid points though. Rob have you put the mouse through the ringer, like I’m sure the reviewer did?
The mouse moving slowly does not mean “low resolution” – it means high sample rate, i.e. increased accuracy. Low sample rate is the characteristic of a mouse that moves really fast (and is inaccurate).
It doesn’t “move” slowly but it takes much more desk space to move a distance on the screen. I’m not using the right terminology, to be sure, but that’s the general problem. I tried it on multiple surfaces and in multiple configurations and couldn’t find anything that was natural. Again, an acquired taste and maybe it’s not a dealbreaker for some.
The MX is accurate and “fast,” and important distinction.
The track speed is adjustable through System Preferences > Mouse
“takes much more desk space to move a distance”
There’s a preference panel for that …..
I tried the magic mouse briefly at the Apple store and I found that it scrolls up and down the page very smoothly and the two fingers swipe left or right to navigate through web pages work nicely without applying too much force to it. But I have to agree that it needs more work done on it. All in all, It would really have made a lot more sense for Apple to ship a keyboard with an integrated trackpad like the multi-touch capabilities of the new MBP. That is to me a real mice killer and I am saying this because I do not even like to use a mice nowadays because I have gotten so used to the multi-touch capabilities of the new trackpad. After updating to Snow Leopard, it even now write Chinese characters and behave like a graphic tablet, very nicely indeed.
im surprised the mouse doesnt come with an option to change your x and y speeds, i find it most convenient to have them set differently when running a dual monitor set up.
I am both a PS CS4 user and a Logitech MX Revolution user (and a dual-monitor user, which I guess is relevant to this article). I almost ordered one of these just to see how well it works (I live almost an hour from the nearest Apple Store and it will be quite a while before this shows up anywhere else).
@Rob – you say it “can help”. Can you clarify if this is your theory or if you have something specific that this mouse will offer in terms of improvements?
Biggs’ review seems not-inconsistent with other Magic Mouse reviews. I’m inclined to stick with my well-used MX Revolution unless I’m missing something significant.
I also have a MX revolution and almost drop it because his awful wheel click. Very useful comments about this magic mouse, I was planning to buy one online but now I’ll try it before buy it.
John, I’m not sure if I agree with your description of the device looking like an “orthopedic shoe insert.” Feminine hygiene product may be more apropos…
I didn’t even like the Mighty Mouse – wireless or not. It’s simply too small. It’s a hand-held control device. I expect it to fill my palm. I’m a guy with a decent sized hand – not too large, not too small.
I totally disagree with your review. I’ve tried and used many different mice from PC to Mac, and I think the Magic Mouse is great. The only thing I like better is the touch pad on my Macbook Pro.
Yup. It’s rubbish.
Multi touch is a great idea on a trackpad, it’s insanity on a mouse.
I like mine quite a lot. Am worried about how battery like will shake out, but in general I am happy with using it all day, and love the control top.
I really wanted a two finger click to mimic a middle click in the old mouse (which I also liked a lot, what don’t you guys get about being able to scroll left/right as easily as up/down? don’t you use Photoshop all day like me). I tried the swipe hack that’s been in the blogs but I actually hate swipe on this thing. MUCH better is ExpoGesture (http://bit.ly/1apoAZ), a Japanese program that lets you set up different gestures with the mouse that work much better. (e.g. small circle for this, Z shape for that). I am loving this combo so far (although I want true two-fingered click).
I disagree with the reviewer. I found the mouse a delight to use. The scrolling with momentum is an immense improvement over any other mouse scrolling. It feels very natural to move around, and the bluetooth connection is incredibly precise.
BTW, the review is inaccurate. Swiping goes back and forward in a page, it doesn’t switch tabs like the reviewer said.
A fair shake? Maybe you meant a “failed” shake.
Is the Magic Mouse for everyone? Nope. In the reviewer’s case, definitely not. Do I think that the Magic Mouse is the best out there? Not by far. However, it has many useful features that help working on the computer become more fluent. Overall, I’ve had no real issues with the mouse. The scrolling is smooth, accurate, and the best I’ve ever experienced with a mouse. The swiping from page to page in the browser takes some getting used to, but it does work well.
I’m thinking that the reviewer didn’t so much give the mouse a “fair shake” trial based on his written experience. I’m coming up on using mine for two weeks after using a Kensington trackball (fantastic trackball). I will admit that I don’t like it as much as the trackball, but I do like the fact that it’s wireless and the gestures make it very usable.
Agreed – there’s preferences everywhere. Personally I hate trackballs and cannot get used to it whatsoever. Doesn’t mean I think they’re crap – if you like them you get to use them all you want!
i’m a Logitech MX Revolution kind of guy. I’m of Asian descent – very technical, multi-button oriented, and precise. I don’t like the vagueness of a trackpad that is 3 inches wide. Rather, i’d have precisely set buttons that make a clicking sensation upon clicking..
I guess it’s all based on personalities. My buddy loves the magic mouse. I dislike all mac mouses cause they’re too small and they don’t have buttons on them like jewelry on a rich old lady.
yes. you like the MX Revo because of your ethnicity.
idiot.
I was making a point you moron. The point being that everybody has tendencies and this review alone should not be a deciding factor in purchasing things. Some people easily follow bandwagons.
Hi Jeff, please do not discuss with racists, its not worth it.
While I’ve only used this mouse once, for about a half hour at the local Apple Store, I’m going to join the boat in “It sucks”. Though, I’m excited to see the progress of multitouch input devices being developed.
I’ve been using my iPhone and a client/server application to use it’s multitouch as an input device for my Macs, which has been awesome for productivity, until someone gives me a call and I have to stop using it. Hopefully other manufacturers start to produce items using this idea.
I’m just surprised Biggs doesn’t like something created by Apple. lol
Thanx for the valuable review. Is it a wireless mouse? Please provide information over it. Provide links to related topics if possible.
http://tinyurl.com/ybarcad
wuww greatt
Nice post.
I am curious though.
Is the design characteristic ergonomic or gergonomic?
Maybe a Tagamet will help.
Silly mouse users. Once you go track you will never go back.
I would agree, but i cant find any wireless trackballs that doesnt take up a usb slot on the mac, never mind a decent one.
i love my magic mouse everyone who says that you need a lot of space to use it that is junk i have about a 4in by 4in space to use and i have two large monitors and it works just fine and it is untrue about the fact that you must keep you thumb and ring finger on the mouse
Apple needs to fire its f’ing mouse team… unless that team includes Steve Jobs. Apple hasn’t made a usable mouse in YEARS.
By the way, I am a graphic designer who spends 90% of his waking life in front of a Mac. I use a logitech mouse. I tried the hockey puck, the buttonless clear mouse, the mighty mouse, and now this crap. Bogus.
You shall now be excommunicated from the Apple Church. Apple Holy Warriors will make sure to confiscate all your Apple hardware to provide it to True Believers.
Apple needs to fire its f’ing mouse team… unless that team includes Steve Jobs. Apple hasn’t made a usable mouse in YEARS.
By the way, I am a graphic designer who spends 90% of his waking life in front of a Mac. I use a logitech mouse. I tried the hockey puck, the buttonless clear mouse, the mighty mouse, and now this crap. Bogus.
I am an Apple acolyte. I understand and love most everything they do, but I am tired of their mouse-fails.
Apple must have a mouse dept full of people (children?) with tiny hands. I’m a girl with hands on the small side even for a girl and I still find their mice frustratingly tiny for my hand. Multi touch mouse sounds awesome – but lets make it grown up sized next time.
How sad that Mac fanbois are willing to sacrifice ergonomics and cripple their hands/wrists to the god of Steve Jobs. Very sad and pathetic. I think I’ll stick with my wonderful and ERGONOMIC Logitech mouse.
This is the best mouse I have used, no exaggeration. (I don’t need a 15 button 4 scroll wheel mouse) Scrolling is a delight, have absolute freedom to place your fingers anywhere, mouse glides across the table with no mouse pad gives more freedom, click pressure is perfect, very responsive, nicely weighted, low profile means it is not designed to fit your palm (as with other so-called ergonomic mouses) but to offer your hand to be placed where it’s most comfortable, ie it’s ergonomic – as a result I can almost move across the whole screen just moving the mouse with my fingers only. Brilliant. It is designed for freedom.
Poor review from someone who claims that they can use a carrot for mouse. Please think different, you are too set in yours ways. Yes, you are not Apple customer base.
I still have yet to try out the Magic Mouse in an Apple Store. So until then I’ll reserve my full judgment.
wow … apple kill ms…
I just got mine yesterday and have to agree with how often you have to pick up the mouse to move down the pointer down the screen and over especially if you have a dual monitor setup. I also have a portable logitech laser mouse that i have used for the last year that is much better than this and have run side by side to test. In the end i was better off spending the $30 for a laser mouse vs the $68 for this. I will be returning the not so magic mouse on Monday. Try first if you can.
i’m over 6 feet tall with moderately large hands and the magic mouse is the most comfortable mouse i have ever used. the size and shape is wonderful and it’s ever so easy to pick up and replace when tracking across a large area of screen. the touch sensitive surface is one of apple’s many great innovations, and mark my words pc peripheral manufacturers will be ripping it off in no time, much as the iphone has been and heck just about everything else that has come out of cupertino. it’s functionality is truly superb. no, i’m not blowing smoke up apple’s exhaust, the mighty mouse was a travesty and i am relieved that apple have got this one right. i hope that with some software updates they introduce some more gesture controls. i’m confused as to why some of the posters here feel so angry over this topic.
What is this “twee” word I keep seeing on Crunch Gear? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Where are the copy editors?