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.
smart guy, you can order a wireless mouse and keyboard today, but its shipping is indicated to be 2-3 weeks off. Therefore, a BTO G5 should have the option of selecting a wireless keyboard and/or mouse, but with the result of a 2-3 week shipping delay.
Seahawk said:
:2 buttons, 3 buttons, you really have missed the Mac point haven’t you.
The design intention is NO BUTTON. The whole device is a reflex mechanism, get it, you are not distracted from screen concentration in any way, not even to think about “do I need to click the left button, right button, middle button, 2 together, what the &^^%^^% was I about to do on the screen???”
Oh, right, and trying to remember where the Control Key is doesn’t do it – only WORSE?
What a load of sophistry.
Then he ends his rant with: “Windows interface is built around having a 2-butt mouse. Apple interface does not have that constraint.”
I wouldn’t want a two-butt girlfriend either!
“Mouse got back…”
I don’t understand why seahawk and others are arguing against a two button mouse so much. Sorry, that you think that a one button mouse is superior – i find myself constantly using the control key, which is a right click equivalent, and know several other people who do too. I’m sure it’s not limited to my group of friends either. Apple has built right-click functionality into all their applications, including it’s OS – seems to me apple should back that up with the proper hardware.
Jeff, sorry my argument was lost on you the first time. You went ahead and presumed that Apple could bundle the one and two-button mice with computers and send them off to resellers. You’re right, they wouldn’t be “custom systems” then, that point is moot.
But, picture yourself as someone in charge of buying for an Apple reseller. How many of each system do you buy?
One of the logistical facts right now is that Apple has the keyboard and mouse in the computer box. As soon as Apple changes this fact, then it becomes a whole new argument. But the reason you can buy your choice of keyboard and mouse say from Dell is because it’s a separate box. Some could argue that’s a good thing, some could argue that’s a bad thing.
Until Apple takes the keyboard and mouse out of the computer box, it doesn’t make sense logistically to try to offer options.
Again is part of Apple interface guidances. Mouse? Point and click. Want more options? Use (these) keyboard modifiers. In order to have an application running on the Mac developers have to comply with the GUI guidances.
There is nothing of the such on any other environment/OS (but NeXt maybe).
I have encountered applications that offered more features more easily the more buttons you have – by design and not because you happened to program a multi-butt mouse, which can be done with a Mac as well. Designing an app like that is an absurdity.
To Seahawk: You say that the ultimate design is for a “no-button” mouse — your point being that things such as muscle-memory and reflex should predominate where using a computer is concerned. I agree. Where we appear to disagree is in your (apparent) contention that in order to access a contextual menu it’s easier to (1) locate and hold down the control key, (2) move the mouse pointer over the area in question, and (3) click the mouse button while holding the control key than just to do a mouse-over and right-click.
Two buttons should be optional. I DO NOT want to try to teach my mother to deal with a two button mouse. She has a hard enough time dealing with one… yes really.
Oh wait… I already have a three button cordless trackball…. IT IS ALREADY OPTIONAL.
Quit whining.
This is one of those times that I’m embarrassed to be a Mac user. I can’t believe you people are against choice. Makes me sick.
HERE IS THE SOLUTION:
In addition to the standard one-button mouse, Apple can offer a two-button mouse but with a device driver (built into OS X) that supports a setting whereby both buttons on the mouse have the SAME function. Does this not give us our cake and let us eat it too? Does this not make everyone happy? People who want right-click access to context menus can have it, but Apple can ship OS X with that function turned off by default. That way, for the uninitiated users, both buttons will function in the same way and no one need get flustered or confused.
But those of us who want the convenience and power of a two-button mouse with scroll wheel can have it.
I agree with a previous poster that it’s hardly a bewildering burden to people just to select from a simple drop-down menu at the Apple Store the option of (1) one or two buttons and (2) wired or wireless. Rocket science this ain’t, folks.
Hey bob
Apple doesn’t want to sell you a two button mouse, I suggest that you get a clue and stop moaning on it.
P.S. if you have to resort to name calling, you are a pathetic idiot, I hope you are not, but you have demonstrated twice that you are one. Lets try to be civil its quite unbecoming of a grown man to start name calling, its very sad.
Seahawk – your kidding right? You think that using keyboard modifiers is a more elegant solution? You think that it’s easier to use than a right-click? You’ve been arguing this entire time about ease of use, and now you’re talking about interface guidances? Let’s bring it back to ease of use shall we? right clicking is much easier, functionally and conceptionally than using keyboard modifiers.
Nothing against two or more buttons. As I said I use 4-buttons and a scroll wheel.
What I am saying is that the GUI Apple developed and the guidances developers have to comply to do not foresee any dependency on mutli-button mouse. It has standardized on a point&click; interface.
The problem is not that of having to remind where the ctrl-click is. Applications running on a Mac cannot change the meaning of ctrl-click: it opens a pop-up menu. It is part of the GUI rules. To my knowledge Apple is the only manufacturer to require developers to comply to its GUI guidance.
On other OSes a righ-click in one application can change the color of the screen while in another makes the computer sing. There is no guideline.
Until Apple will come out with GUI guidances explicitly describing interaction of multi-button mouse no one will ever see an Apple branded two (or more) buttons mouse.
Again, not against more buttons, they simply are not part of Apple GUI guidances.
Harryhode says:
“Oh wait… I already have a three button cordless trackball…. IT IS ALREADY OPTIONAL.
I’ll bet your three button cordless trackball wasn’t made by Apple, and I’ll bet it doesn’t asthetically match you G4, G5, or whatever the heck you are using. It’s the APPLE option many want, not your stinking Kensington.
“Quit Whining.”
We’ll quit whining when you stop becoming an *ss.
Seahawk:
if you want to bring up Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, then tell me why Apple broke them in Panther – by making the finder windows brushed metal?
IP Freely:
Look into some Depends or something, man.
1. I am not against using multi-button mouse on a Mac
2. Choice of Mouse Option is fine as a Drop down menu
3. Apple will never sell Apple branded 2 button mouse.
So what do you have… current situation, you can buy multi button mouse at Apple Store. Its just not a drop down menu and its not Apple Brand.
Can I live with this, yeah… it just seem some of you are crying poverty over less then $50. or others are ready to commit jihad against one button mouse proponent.
There are room on this Earth for both type. Just because I think one button mouse is elegant and still useful for 95% of the users, that I think two button mouse is not good.
So calm you asses down people.
I admit I have been teasing a bit because I find the whole querelle somewhat amusing: I do have a choice with the Mac to use or not to use a multi-button mouse. Granted, it is not Apple branded but that is the only limitation.
What I am saying is that Apple itself might be self-constraining itself.
Apple not producing a two (or more) buttons is saying to developers: Do not rely on variants of mouse buttons for your application interface. Stick to the Apple GUI guidances.
When Apple will change, integrate, add “how to trea a two-button mouse in an Apple application” then there will be an Apple two-button mouse.
But wait, what about three buttons? OK, let’s wait for the new Apple GUI guidance for developers. Then there will be 3-button Apple branded mouse. But wait, what about scroll, wheel, 4 buttons, 5 buttons, 6 buttons?
See the point? I might be wrong but Apple is NOT going to change its GUI guidances for developers (which is a mandatory thing), hence I doubt there will be an Apple branded mouse. Apple will offer the compatibility (a friend has a monster 9 buttons beast) but will not go past that.
Again, I might be wrong and again I am not advocating superiority of one vs two. I am only saying it is not contemplated in the Apple GUI guidance for developers.
hey bob, you’re a f*uck-tard. I gave you a chance to prove that you are not an idiot, but you just proved that you’re one.
bob: changing the decoration of the finder window does not affect the GUI. The look is not part of the GUI. Does the brushed metal window do more than an Aqua window because of *that*? C’mon.
AND, btw, Apple has GUI guidance for look, they were called a ‘theme’: remember the old Platinum theme? The brushed metal is just that. No GUI break for as long as the main (user interface) characteristics are there. The metal look (or lack thereof) does not change – per se – the interface.
Seahawk, Apple has already changed their guidelines, by making the finder use brushed metal.
IP Freely, I am offended by your name calling! I was merely trying to help you in your apparent problem of peeing freely. Depends is the answer.
I think we have to look back at the history of the mouse. Was it not originally inteneded to be a POINTING DEVICE? The one-button mouse does just that. KISS.
But the Pc as in many cases contaminated the waters and we have todays dispute.
That said, my Apple mouse wire broke and I bought a MS Intellimouse with wheel for a paltry $14 and it works flawlessly in OS X. No drivers, etc. left,right click etc.
So, for $14 stop the complaining. It just isn’t worth the argument for such a small investment.
bob, my incontinence is my problem not yours.
And, actually also OS X has theme: Look at the buttons: you may have them colored (three different colors) or grey metal.
The interface requires 3 button to close the windows (left), minimize (middle), zoom (right).
Changing the colors, having them metalized, making them square, does not change the interface for as long as the left, middle, and rightmost keep their meaning in all applications. But I diverge.
Again, my opinion is that Apple is not providing multi-button mouse because it is not dealt with in the GUI guidelines. Am not saying they are right or wrong. I think this – together with the fact that there must not be enough pressure from the installed base.
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And frankly, if a user choose to buy a Mac or a PC based on what kind of mouse s/he gets by default in the package…, well, do not make me call names
back to work now (that 4 buttons-scroll wheel-wireless mouse has been left in the cold all this time: I – honestly – did not have the need of using it for this chat among friends.
Cheerios
Jeff, your suggestion of having two mouse buttons do the same function goes against inherent usability. People see two buttons, they expect them to do different things. Otherwise you get into the Windows world where a control panel can override what is intuitive, and people complain that their computer isn’t doing what they think it should.
Apple has no qualms forcing what they think is best on the consumer, and what is best for Apple. It’s a combination of their design philosophy and marketing, and it’s Apple’s Way. But frankly they’re right about a lot of things, so I have no problems with that.
In this case, they think a mouse that can only “click” is the right thing. They even took away the button from the mouse…the whole thing clicks. There is no confusion in the Mac OS X experience of when you should left-click or right-click.
Again, contextual menus are a convenience for the power user. Ordinary users use the menus at the top. Some usability experts even say that Contextual Menus shouldn’t exist at all, arguing that there is no visual cue indicating that something can be right-clicked. Look around your screen now, especially if you have Windows handy. How many things can you identify that definitely can be right-clicked?
Well think of it this way, as a Mac user, we do not have to depend on the right button to survive. Which we can’t say for our PC lovin’ brethrens.
If the right button on a PC breaks, its like cutting off one of their arms, they can’t function, they start to have nervous break-down. No such problems for us.
Its an option that we have, which is a good thing. I think we can all agree on that.
Actually, the Human Interface Guidelines have to do with the function and placement of controls, not the appearance (which is moot anyway since all windows are going to metallic in Panther. The pinstripes were an aesthetic flop.
Re: the two vs one button mouse, I have to side with the one buttoners. I’m still mad at Apple for sticking all those ‘help, home, page up, page down and f-keys’ buttons that are gathering dust on my keyboard.