Got my hand on a Magic Mouse at the Apple Store tonight for the first time.
With most new Apple products, I read about them, I look at pictures on the web, and immediately I am either convinced I’ll buy it, or that I would buy it if I could convince myself I need whatever it does. With mice, it’s a different story. Apple has had a long history of creating mice that people are less than enthused about. And while I hate to agree with most people about anything, with Appple mice, they have a point.
It’s not that Apple mice are actually bad. (I’ll catch flak for saying this, but even the iMac hockey puck mouse wasn’t BAD, really.) It’s that unlike with most other Apple products, they don’t tend to be miles ahead of the competition. They’re simply functional mice. No more, no less. And they cost a little more than they should, despite not being significantly better.
So with the Magic Mouse, I did what I always do with Apple mice. I waited a few days until I could actually try one out, instead of just running out and buying one. The only comments I’ve really seen so far on the web are from people who haven’t used the Magic Mouse. Predictibly, they assume that the mouse is like any other Apple mouse.
But having played with it for a few minutes tonight, I have to say I was impressed. The flick scrolling on the top of the mouse’s surface was the most impressive feature. I’ve been two-finger scrolling on my trackpad for a while now, so it was completely natural to me. Very smooth. Way more predictable than any scroll wheel or ball I’ve used. And the right clicking seemed far more accurate than the old Mighty Mouse. The design of the mouse is minimalist and beautiful, of course. Very thin, which may bother some people who like to palm their mice, but I manipulate my mice with my fingertips (which is why I didn’t hate the hockey puck as much as most people). The low profile actually comes in handy for touch gestures, while still being comfortable for cursor movement.
I do wish there were more gestures available, and that the software were more customizable. But overall, I was impressed enough to consider getting one. As much as I’m a trackpad user at heart, I have been searching for the ultimate portable mouse for long-session use. The trakpad leaves my arm a bit numb if I use it several hours at a time. I’ve been through several Bluetooth mice, including the Mighty Mouse, and none has ever come close to making me really happy. Maybe I’ll give this one a try.
