Back on June 9th of this year, SteveJack wrote, “The time has come for Apple to ship a two-button scroll mouse standard.” Now that Apple has announced their newest mouse, the Apple Wireless Mouse, complete with one button (again), we revisit SteveJack’s opinion article.
“I have been a Mac user since The Beginning. I have used a one-button mouse, as per Steve Jobs’ decree, until mid May 2003. That’s a long time. Then, while in Best Buy, of all places, I picked up a Kensington Pocket Mouse Pro because I wanted an inexpensive mouse that would travel well in my backpack. And, of course, I liked the retractable cord that winds into mouse’s body via its “garage door.” After three weeks with it, I can safely say, the time has come for Apple to ship a two-button mouse with a scroll wheel standard,” SteveJack writes.
Full article in the MacDailyNews Opinion section here.
The mouse and keyboard that ship with a new mac are not free. You pay for them. There isn’t an option to NOT buy them though, for people who want a new 3rd party mouse or already have a 3rd party mouse you want to carry on using.
I already have two keyboards and two mice (one puck, one pro), but I’ll be getting another set with my G5. It’s nice to have a spare, but I’d rather have �100 knocked off the price.
I am a PC user and we don’t have the choice to get one mouse button.
That make me sad :(.
Good day
Originally, Steve Jobs opposed to having cursor/arrow keys on the keyboard (saw them as useless if you have a mouse) as he attempts to put fewer and fewer confusing options (keys) in front of the user, but his staff convinced him otherwise. I think he’ll stick to his guns on the issue of a single-button mouse.
Having a single-button mouse directs the future designing of the Apple GUI to continue to be simpler than the ones preceding it. If a multibutton/scroll-wheel mouse were “standard” then the GUI designers would tend to utilize it; left click, left click-hold, right click, right click hold, left double-click, right double-click, left drag, right drag….etc. You may say “That’ll never happen”, but just look at Windows. There are some functions that are difficult (perhaps a few that are impossible) to access if you don’t have a right mouse button. This is a very slippery road that leads only in the wrong direction.
BTW: 1 in 20 people are left-handed. At least 1 child in each classroom is made to feel that MS computer’s were not designed for them. They must learn to constantly translate computer instructions and adapt to public-use systems. These are unnecessary road blocks to learning.
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For the physically challenged, the large surface of the Apple mouse is all the difference between being a dream and the nightmare of trying to right and left click those small buttons. You don’t even need fingers to use an Apple effectively.
I am quite sure Steve is striving towards a simple mouseless/keyboardless GUI (“Think Different”) so even more people are comfortable. But, by adding a multibutton device would be traveling in the exact opposite direction in the eventual creation of a computer GUI that everyone can innately use.
Although you may not be comfortable with a single-button mouse, you are able to use it. Much fewer people can use a multi-button mouse as easily as you use a single-button mouse. Why insist on inconveniencing the majority for your own preferences and desires to be more MS-like; dragging the computing world backwards from simplicity, and further isolating the weaker users? What could compel someone to be so uncaring?
– Winston S. Churchill: “Nothing can be more abhorrent to democracy than to imprison a person or keep him in prison because he is unpopular. This is really the test of civilisation.”
Letter to Home Secretary 21. Nov. 1943, reprinted in, Churchill W.S.,
Closing the Ring. Houghton Mifflin, 1951. p. 679
If you think 2-button mice aren’t confusing, you’ve obviously never done tech support. It is probably the single thing more people have trouble with than any other aspect of using computers.
I don’t understand complaining that a Mac “doesn’t even come with a 2-button mouse”. So what? You don’t need one. It makes about as much sense as an old-school X11 user complaining that Windows machines don’t even come with a 3-button mouse.
Geez.
to AI
You can get it from Hywel and Jeff Mincey, they have extra one button mouse they are stuck with.
To the individual above who claims that users already have the option for a two-button mouse, first, paying for TWO mice is not my idea of an option. Sure, one can buy a two-button mouse in _addition_ to the one-button model which Apple ships with its computers. But consumers don’t have the option of buying ONLY a two-button mouse with scroll wheel. Second, I know, of course, that there are plenty of third party vendors which offer mouse products. But I was advocating that APPLE itself offer a two-button mouse as an option — again, so we need not buy two mice and use only one.
Moreover, I was saying that any debate over this issue (regarding the one-button vs two-button mouse) is pointless. There is no need for a debate if only Apple will offer BOTH.
Apple’s research continually shows that a two-button mouse confuses users. Yes, that sounds crazy to us geeks. But, you have to consider that many, many people still aren’t comfortable/don’t fully understand computers (and the user interface, in particular.)
Of course we can thank M$ for confusing the hell out of people with a poorly designed interface, but the fact remains that “novice” users — the vast majority — are still easily confused. And, in Mac OS X, most people don’t need to right/control click all that often — at least not enough to warrent a two-button mouse.
Oh, and scroll wheel? Puh-lease. That’s just an annoyance.
Yeap…Apple has done extensive research in marketing, ergonomics, and usage that show that the vast majority of users with multibutton mice (ie. Windows users) never touch the other buttons. Trust me, I work in tech support. I have to teach people every day what the right-click does. They’re all monkeys.
To Michael, a scroll wheel is not an annoyance for the users with very large monitors or dual monitors — such as graphics and video people who make up a significant niche market for Apple. Now maybe you personally don’t care for scroll wheels — therefore NO one should have the option of buying one from Apple? By that rationale, if you have no use for laptops, then Apple simply shouldn’t make any of those either.
Folks, this isn’t about personal preference. This is about what Apple should offer in its product line. And to imply that only “geeks” can understand and master a two-button mouse is preposterous. Plenty of ordinary users have no problem with it. Again, I’ve yet to hear a single argument against Apple’s offering this product as an OPTION. No one is suggesting that Apple should do away with the one-button mouse but only that it should offer a two-button model as well.
Now what’s wrong with that?
Right on Ary!
People, try to understand ALL of the points for offering ONLY a single-button mouse.
Try to understand that 3rd party vendors would leave the Mac market – rightfully so – if Apple gave OR offered a 2-button mouse. Think.
Try to understand that Apple offers computers that are simple to use – for everyone. If YOU ‘need’ to complicate things, then YOU have the option of prying 30 measly bucks from your wallet, to buy yourself a really good product from one of several vendors who are only too glad to provide you with your needed options.
Apple is offering their car with a steering wheel designed for use with their car. If you want/need a chain-link steering wheel with a built-in joystick and drink holder – go buy one!
Apple better not drop the single button mouse in favor of a two button mouse. Not all of us like the two button mouse over a single button mouse! After Apple replaced the “Hockey Puck” mouse with the Apple Pro Mouse, I just fell more in love with the simplicity and ‘NO MORE CRAMPS’ in my mouse wielding hand (due to constant finger positioning over the same 2 buttons with crappy clicking quality). I like the idea of laying my hand anywhere on the mouse (in a lazy fashion) and can invoke the mouse click. I also am one of those people who relies heavily on keyboard shortcuts and hardly ever uses the control-click method, though I do use it from time to time.
If you don’t like the Apple Pro Mouse, go buy a darn 2-button mouse if you want one so bad enough!
This is ridiculous. Why is clicking on a second mouse button more complicated than holding down the control key with one hand while pressing the mouse button with the other? Most novice users probably don’t know what contextual menus are — full stop — so this would have to be explained to them _regardless_ of the method of invoking the menus.
As for crowding out the rest of the Mac market — that’s a bogus argument. A mouse is not an exotic “peripheral” device. Even a two-button mouse is not “exotic.” In today’s modern computing, it’s a mouse is a very basic and essential input device. And even if Apple were to offer a two-button mouse, there will always be third parties who offer deluxe mouse products with extra features. In the past Apple has offered printers, monitors, and scanners, but you didn’t see that stop other companies from competing.
And even if it would take some companies out of the Mac market, by your reasoning Apple should not sell FileMaker because it will discourage third parties from developing database managers for the Mac. Apple should not offer Keynote because it might persuade Microsoft to cease development of PowerPoint for the Mac.
This is rubbish.
To DudeMac, just so you know, my previous post was directed to MacBuddy and not to you. But I do have one comment to you and it is this: Who among us is arguing in favor of Apple’s dropping the one-button mouse? I don’t know anyone who is advocating that. Some of us are only suggesting that Apple offer ALSO a two-button mouse option in ADDITION to its current one-button model.
Folks, this is so simple.
The two button mouse is unnecessary. The one button mouse actually does what the two botton one does. You can click or hold it down to access menus.
I would like to see the scroll wheel instituted though on the one button mouse. I wouldn’t have to move the curser to the lower right portion of the screen or take my hand off the mouse and use the up and down keys.
I agree with Ashami and Jeff Mincey. Make a multi-button scroll wheel mouse an OPTION. Ship the darned one button mouse as part of the standard build, but let those who like the productivity of a multi-button scroll wheel mouse have an option to upgrade. We would rather buy a keyboard and mouse from Apple that asthetically matches the system than buy from someone else.
For those of you who think the elegance of OS X will somehow be compromised by an Apple multi-button mouse, I say hogwash.
This is to JEFF MINCEY. I see your argument, but I don’t think you are getting the answers you are looking for, so here is my two cents.
Let’s agree that a one-button mouse is less confusing for the average consumer (NOT professional) than a two-button mouse. That’s probably Apple’s goal.
I agree that control-clicking is no easier than a second mouse button. But the point is, the Mac OS and most apps (can’t say all for sure of course) don’t *require* you to use contextual menus. So the average consumer may never click the second mouse button in ordinary Mac use. For sure, the iApps and Finder concentrate on putting buttons where you expect to see them, and where you can get at them easily (Dock, customizable Toolbar, etc).
Finally, you suggest making a two-button mouse an option. Since the mouse comes with a new computer, that means to get the mouse you’d have to custom order your computer on the Apple Web site. Not everybody want to buy from Apple online, for several different reasons. Furthermore, custom configured systems are NOT RETURNABLE. I know people would eat a restocking fee by returning a computer anyway, but flat out Apple says custom orders cannot be returned.
So maybe as soon as Apple unbundles the keyboard and mouse from the computer box, your idea may be possible. It may happen, now that Apple sells both wired and wireless input devices. On the other hand, not all computers have built-in Bluetooth yet, so perhaps don’t hold your breath.
Third party mice are not as good looking as Apple mice. That is the problem. My Logitech looks completely out of place with my new iMac/keyboard/speakers. That is why an Apple 2 button with scrollwheel would be nice. The whole thing feels like a Porsche for which I had to buy Chevrolet steering wheel…
The one button mouse serves only to provide ammo for anti-Mac PC users. PC users see the one button mouse as symbolizing the crippled idiocy of the Macintosh platform.
Hopefully, Apple clues in on this and catches up up with rest of the world soon – a 2 or 3 button mouse with a scroll wheel is long overdue.
If there are REALLY poor souls out there who are “confused” by the second button, then THEY should have to buy a retarted one button mouse to suit their needs. Apple shouldn’t design their hardware for the least common denominator.
Agree on the trackpad: you can’t just buy a 3rd-party trackpad!
IDEA:
One button, with two clickers underneath: one in the center (triggered if you click in the middle normally, OR if you click the left end) and one at the right (triggered only if you click the right end).
By default hitting either clicker (OR hitting hard enough to click both) would simply be a left-click as usual. But the right end could be assigned to be right-click.
Then, to remind people of the dual function, just have a small recessed dot or groove, off center. Pressing to the right of the dot would be the right click. (But the groove wouldn’t be long enough to actually divide the button in two–it would still LOOK like one button, nice and clean and simple.)
Alternatively, have a dot texture (like the PowerBook vents) on the right 1/3.
I also don’t see how people can possibly still be arguing over 1 button vs. 2. BOTH ways have very real advantages, so both sides are right. That seems incredibly obvious to me!
I got a free 2-button mouse when I bought a digital camera and never use it, the one button mouse is so much more comfortable to use.
What are the chances you will click the wrong button with 2-button mouse-50% . What are the chances that you will click the wrong button on the Mac?-Zero!! This always happens during powerpoint presentations. People invariably click on the wrong button and this ugly menu pops up on the screen. It takes a lot of gymnastics to get it to go away. At least we have an option on the mac to use a one button mouse. U dont on Windows- I call that a drawback in Windows.
In my estimation, those who make the argument that the Mac is somehow crippled because its mouse has only one button are probably among those who frequently make other such meaningless comparisons as, “Mine’s bigger than yours!”
First, let me say that I use a two-button mouse with scroll wheel, and I like it. However, I do think there are some reasons why it could be detrimental for Apple to offer its own 2-button mouse.
It’s not as simple as you think. As several posters have mentioned, lots of people have trouble with distinguishing left-clicking from right-clicking. It’s not that they’re idiots (necessarily), it’s that there is *no logical reason* why a left click selects something or clicks a button, but a right click pops up a menu. (If there *were* a logical reason, someone who is left handed would have to work against that logic.)
Keep in mind that not everyone who uses a Mac has their own system. If Apple were to provide the 2-button option, many ill-advised IT geeks in schools would likely “upgrade” their machine orders, only to cause classroom teachers headaches with their students’ limited small motor skills.
The interface will effectively become inconsistent across systems–even “stock” systems provided by Apple.
Apple will have to include additional options in all documentation (e.g. Or, if you have the optional Apple Pro Mouse [two buttons], you may click the right mouse button [or left mouse button if you have selected the left-handed configuration in the Mouse panel in the System Preferences] to access the contextual menu.)
Application developers would be more likely to create functions that require a second mouse button. I hate the thought of ever havng to right-drag something.
It’s not that control-clicking is easier than right-clicking. It’s that simply clicking (rather than left- or right-clicking) is much easier to explain and understand. A click makes sense when there’s only one thing to click; going beyond that it becomes mere memorization. In any case, there should be no reason why a beginner would need to learn contextual menus. If you are teaching a novice to use contextual menus, you probably aren’t a very good teacher.
If Apple ever does offer the option, be prepared for: whining that it is more expensive than the one-button; whining that it doesn’t have a scroll wheel or even more buttons; reviewers (especially in PC mags) adding in the extra cost for the two-button mouse, and complaining that it’s extra.