[help] Dealing without a scroll button, and other general questions....

I am aware that I can purchase a 3 button/scroll wheel mouse for a Mac (I'd get a "The Mouse" bluetooth), but is it worth it?

I need wireless (limited desk space, dorm room, clutter = bad), so I will be getting the wireless upgrade with my mac.

I live off of my scroll wheel though, and also I find myself using the right click alot (video editing, graphics, etc). Would it be worth it to invest ANOTHER 70 bucks on a three button BT mouse (already 70 bucks to upgrade to bluetooth keyboard and mouse)? Or will I learn to deal without the scroll wheel and right mouse button fairly quickly?

How long do the batteries usually last? I currently have the new microsoft wireless mouse and I haven't changed the batteries since I bought it early september. I'd keep it, but 1) It has that USB cable/reciever port that adds clutter and 2) The mac just looks better, lol.

Is it easy to adapt to the keyboard shortcuts in lieu of the right click?

Is it advisable to get a two button mouse for graphics video editing purposes?

Thanks all for the help. I've been researching all this stuff like crazy. I could probably recite the entire apple website from memory, lol.

#227662

get the Apple BT keyboard, but don't get the apple mouse. Get the Logitech MX900 instead. Bluetooth with 5 buttons which can all be assigned to functions and the batteries last for ages (it has a cradle for recharging too). I've been using it for ages and it's well worth the money.

#227678

I am aware that I can purchase a 3 button/scroll wheel mouse for a Mac (I'd get a "The Mouse" bluetooth), but is it worth it?

I've heard pretty poor things about "The Mouse" mices; such as feeling cheap/tacky/not responsive enough. Personally, when I was in your (near exact) shoes, I bought this one instead. I don't regret it at all. The tracking is most sensitive than Apples, it feels comfortable, it looks good and wirelessness is great. I have the whatchamacallit a good 4-6ft away and it works superbly (be sure to be using OS X 10.3.5 or higher, because that apparently increased wireless performance). Plus it's pretty damned cheap (compared to some mice).

I need wireless (limited desk space, dorm room, clutter = bad), so I will be getting the wireless upgrade with my mac.

Buy the one above, hide the whatchamacallit behind/under your desk, and you're set to go. Saves you so money.

I live off of my scroll wheel though, and also I find myself using the right click alot (video editing, graphics, etc). Would it be worth it to invest ANOTHER 70 bucks on a three button BT mouse (already 70 bucks to upgrade to bluetooth keyboard and mouse)? Or will I learn to deal without the scroll wheel and right mouse button fairly quickly?

Now that really depends on how much you've used your Mac and for how long. I still end up clicking a file, then the Actions button in Finder; just out of habit. Or Cmd+Clicking a picture until I realize I can just right-click. It does feel a bit odd at first, I was used to holding the button down to get the menu on dock items, now right-clicking gives that "instant" feel. It makes your Mac seem even faster.

How long do the batteries usually last? I currently have the new microsoft wireless mouse and I haven't changed the batteries since I bought it early september. I'd keep it, but 1) It has that USB cable/reciever port that adds clutter and 2) The mac just looks better, lol.

I think it varies for each mouse, plus usage, etc etc. Try googling a Mouse review site, I guess

Is it easy to adapt to the keyboard shortcuts in lieu of the right click?

Like what? Cmd+Right Click, that sort of thing? I'm not sure you can, apart from with mice that let you.. I do believe Tiger has support for customizing the mouse buttons, but I'm not 100% sure.

Is it advisable to get a two button mouse for graphics video editing purposes?

Thanks all for the help. I've been researching all this stuff like crazy. I could probably recite the entire apple website from memory, lol.

I'd guess any mouse would do that, unless it's custom made; I don't think it'll make a big difference to your workflow though. When I'm doing my graphical work, I tend to rely more on keyboard shortcuts (cut/copy/paste/etc) and my PowerMate (Cmd+Shift+Z, Cmd+Shift+T, etc); I rarely ever right-click.

Hope that helps.

#227714

Thanks for the help guys.

I will end up with a wireless mac mouse anyways, since I need the wireless keyboard. I think i will give it a shot.

The logitech would be good, but it has a power station. I'm trying to toally cut out all the wires though, as my current microsoft mouse would achieve the same thing. The problem isn't only the desk space, but all of the wires behidn the computer as well.

@esXXI - I tried "The Mouse" at my campus bookstore and it felt fine to me. I may have to go try it out some more, see if I encounter any problems. The link you posted did not work for me, it said the session at the Apple store had timed out.

I'm trying to go right clickless and scrollwheeless on my PC as much as I can from now on to try and adapt myself to it.

Thanks again guys.

#227735

macmice.com has really good macintosh mice. they look just like apple's but with two buttons and scrollwheel. also, they also sell wireless ones too. really nice. i'm gonna use that when i'm getting an ibook. apple's mouses suck. their keyboards are ok. wireless, you really can't find a good light wireless mouse right now.

#227902

It amazes me that people can still bring themselves to buy from MacMice.com, after all the problems people have shown with them - stating that they design their products which they don't, stating that they design/enhance products which are identical to those available from hundreds of other retailers, claiming falsely that they hold patents and registered trademarks on products they didn't design/invent/manufacture (especially considering they don't hold a single patent or trademark in any known authority worldwide), and failing to respect the trademarks and registered trading symbols of other companies, to name a paltry few of their sins.

In short:

Don't buy from MacMice.com

#228634

oh. i never knew that. hm. maybe logitech might be a better go.....

#228786

In short:

Don't buy from MacMice.com

listen to the monkeh. i bought one cause it looks great with the ibook. i used it for a few days, discovered it was a huge disappointment and sent that sucka straight back to tennessee for a refund. fantastically poor mouse, but fast and great customer service. am back on my trusty MS mouse now.

#228791

a kensington 5 button bluetooth mouse is great over here

#228890

my logitech 7 button + wheel mouse is rockin here too... i would suggest a mouse with somewhere in that neighborhood of buttons

#228945

I really dislike mice with more than teh standard two buttons and scroll wheel. I have a heavy hand, and I would never use them. I don't even use my scroll button.

I'm gonna stick with the mouse my mac comes with unless it really starts to bug me. Thanks for the help guys.

#228954

I'm really lazy so I use the extra two buttons for back/foward (cmd + left/right).

#229070

I've got Apple BT mouse and keyboard and they work a treat. For scrolling, I just use page down or the space bar.

#236999