mouse maze

[bob smith]

So I bought the Apple Magic Mouse.

It was ok, but it kept running out of battery power.

Thus, I wouldn't mind something a bit better.

I'm using a PC-ish USB mouse now, but the movement is no longer smooth for some reason.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[M. John Matlaw]

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H4825ZM/A/mobee-magic-charger-for-apple-magic-mouse

[Fred Moore]

In article <knnvgd$mjk$1...@dont-email.me>,

You ought to get at least a month (or 2) on alkalines. I use Eneloop
rechargeable and get at least 2-3 weeks. No need to spring for a
wireless charge. Perhaps the mouse is defective.

[Jamie Kahn Genet]

I like my new corded Logitech G500s (eight buttons easily reachable and
distinguishable by touch alone, two being hardware DPI toggles). While I
prefered the shape of Razer's DeathAdder, the fact the G500s doesn't
require custom drivers nor have any utterly braindead features (e.g.
requiring an internet connection upon login to access all the driver's
features - which the newer Razer mice have) puts it way, way ahead.

I use the old USB Overdrive v10.4.8 custom driver to setup my mouse and
other input device's controls, and set profiles for different apps.
Newer versions of USBO are buggy and developer support is nearly
nonexistant - he doesn't even reply to support queries, and only
released a minor mainainence update for Mountain Lion, that still
doesn't address many bugs and missing features in v3.

Thus I would avoid USBO and use other third party mouse drivers, were I
someone else who doesn't already own a version of USBO that works on
their system.

--
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

[Jamie Kahn Genet]

Michael Vilain <vil...@NOspamcop.net> wrote:

> In article <b4b9e8cd-bed9-4f6a...@googlegroups.com>,

> A colleague used her computer about a couple hours a day. When it
> wasn't in use, it was powered off, including the mouse and wireless
> keyboard. She went through 2 sets of batteries (Duracell AA's from the
> local hardware store) in that time. I have her my old wired aluminum
> keyboard (which I hate) and she bought a wired mouse. She's so much
> happier.
>
> Go to Fry's and try the wired mice you find there. The local one here
> in PA has slim pickins for some reason so I went to Amazon and go two
> Macally wired mice for about $20 each.
>
> Best part is they "just work" with no additional driver. 3rd-party mice
> oftentimes require the vendor's driver to work with all the buttons and
> that driver usually doesn't work on 10.8 because it's not 64-bit
> compliant.

MacAlly mice are a bit too simple for me, but MacAlly certainly makes
quality product. I like their keyboards a lot.

[ryan42]

I'm a big fan of the Kensington ExpertMouse (which is actually a
trackball.) You might like it.

http://txv.me/expmouse

Regards,
Ryan

[TaliesinSoft]

As far as I am concerned Apple's Magic Trackpad has left mice in the
dust. The quickness, ease, and accuracy of movement and selection is
far, far superiior to that of mice. And the Magic Trackpad's gestures
provide an excellent array of capabilities. Like many things new, the
Magic Trackpad does take a bit of time to become familiar with its
conventions and capabilities, but once those are learned there is, for
almost everybody, no turning back!

--
James Leo Ryan - Austin, Texas

[Bernd Fröhlich]

TaliesinSoft <talies...@me.com> wrote:

> As far as I am concerned Apple's Magic Trackpad has left mice in the
> dust. The quickness, ease, and accuracy of movement and selection is
> far, far superiior to that of mice. And the Magic Trackpad's gestures
> provide an excellent array of capabilities. Like many things new, the
> Magic Trackpad does take a bit of time to become familiar with its
> conventions and capabilities, but once those are learned there is, for
> almost everybody, no turning back!

If there only would be a cable version...
I hate devices that unnecessarily use batteries and since a trackpad
does not get moved around a cable would not hurt in any way.

Oh well, my Logitech Trackman Wheel still works.

[Martin Frost me at invalid stanford daht edu]

I find the batteries in my Magic Trackpad last a long time -- several
weeks. When I was using the Magic Mouse, I had to change batteries
every week or so. Now it's far less often.

Martin

[Bernd Fröhlich]

Martin Frost me at invalid stanford daht edu

<nos...@stanford.edu.invalid> wrote:

> I find the batteries in my Magic Trackpad last a long time -- several
> weeks. When I was using the Magic Mouse, I had to change batteries
> every week or so. Now it's far less often.

The cable on my trackball lasts for several years now without me ever
having to change it :-)

[TaliesinSoft]

On 2013-05-27 09:07:04 +0000, Tim Streater said:

> In article <1l3ixlt.1jijgqz1ghvo7aN%be...@eaglesoft.de>,

> Agreed. And how big is this device, anyway? I have limited desktop space.

The surface area occupied by a Magic Trackpad is roughly a 5 1/4 inch
square. As for batteries the Magic Trackpad takes two AAs. I use
rechargeable ones and they need changing about every other month. Not
having dangling cables from the tradkpad (and also my Apple keygoard)
to me is well worth the couple minutes it takes to change the batteries.

[Jolly Roger]

In article <b0h7p3...@mid.individual.net>,

Yeah, I have to agree. It's not much of a bother to swap out a
rechargeable battery once a month or two.

--
Send responses to the relevant news group rather than email to me.
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM
filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting
messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google
Groups. Use a real news client if you want me to see your posts.

JR

[Jolly Roger]

In article <1l3j7tn.ympom1wpgwvuN%be...@eaglesoft.de>,

be...@eaglesoft.de (Bernd Fr�hlich) wrote:

That cable also gets dusty, dirty, sometimes gets in the way, and so on.
There are tradeoffs to anything.

[David Fritzinger]

In article <myli70h...@Sunburn.Stanford.EDU>,

Martin Frost me at invalid stanford daht edu
<nos...@stanford.edu.invalid> wrote:

Oddly enough, my experience is just the opposite. I have to change
batteries on the Magic Trackpad fairly often (Apple rechargeable
batteries last about 3 weeks, depending on which set of batteries I use)
while the Magic Mouse seems to go months without needing a recharge. Go
figure...

[Jolly Roger]

In article <dfritzin-4F8DE3...@news.eternal-september.org>,

I usually get around 3-5 weeks out of my Apple-branded Eneloop
rechargeable batteries with my Magic Trackpad. I don't consider a
three-week life span to be unreasonable, personally.

[bob smith]

I found this optical mousing surface:

3M Precise Optical Mousing Surface (MP200PS) by 3M
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017D5Z40/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_72GPrb1GYC583

Supposedly, it reduces your optical mouse's battery use somehow.

I received it yesterday and am using it for the first time. Seems pretty nice.

Thanks.

[TaliesinSoft]

On 2013-05-25 13:43:02 +0000, TaliesinSoft said:

> As far as I am concerned Apple's Magic Trackpad has left mice in the
> dust. The quickness, ease, and accuracy of movement and selection is
> far, far superiior to that of mice. And the Magic Trackpad's gestures
> provide an excellent array of capabilities. Like many things new, the
> Magic Trackpad does take a bit of time to become familiar with its
> conventions and capabilities, but once those are learned there is, for
> almost everybody, no turning back!

Today I participated in a Magic Trackpad vs. Magic Mouse comparison.
There was me, an avid user of the Magic Trackpad, and a good friend, an
avid user of the Magic Mouse. We had both the Magic Trackpad and the
Magic Mouse connected to the same computer which was running OS X
Version 10.8.3. We then took turns undertaking the same of many
actions, and in virtually every case I was faster with the Magic
Trackpad. I'm not saying that this was the definitive comparison, but
I'm not aware of any other such side by side tests.

[TaliesinSoft]

On 2013-05-30 12:58:41 +0000, Lewis said:

[in response to my having stated]

>> Today I participated in a Magic Trackpad vs. Magic Mouse comparison.
>> There was me, an avid user of the Magic Trackpad, and a good friend, an
>> avid user of the Magic Mouse. We had both the Magic Trackpad and the
>> Magic Mouse connected to the same computer which was running OS X
>> Version 10.8.3. We then took turns undertaking the same of many
>> actions, and in virtually every case I was faster with the Magic
>> Trackpad. I'm not saying that this was the definitive comparison, but
>> I'm not aware of any other such side by side tests.
>

> There are two things that keep me from using my trackpad 100% of the
> time. The first is trying to select, say, 5 items out of a file listing
> of 30. The other is World of Warcraft.

I have no problem making the multiple selections as all I need to do is
hold down the Command key while making them. As for gaming, if a mouse
works better for you, so be it. There is nothing preventing you from
having both the mouse and trackpad connected at the same time. You can
then choose which is the better one to use for a particular task. I do
have a Magic Mouse connected along with my Magic Trackpad (it came with
my iMac) but I never ever use it but sometimes when a friend is at my
computer it is their device of choice.

[TaliesinSoft]

On 2013-05-30 15:36:10 +0000, Lewis said:

[in response to my response to the statement quoted below]

>>> There are two things that keep me from using my trackpad 100% of the
>>> time. The first is trying to select, say, 5 items out of a file listing
>>> of 30. The other is World of Warcraft.
>
>> I have no problem making the multiple selections as all I need to do is
>> hold down the Command key while making them.
>

> I find that very often, using the trackpad causes me to OPEN the
> selected items while I am trying to add another item to the selected
> group.

I've had no problem with an item opening as stated above. I'm wondering
what the difference could be. Any thoughts?

[Jamie Kahn Genet]

Dunno about Lewis, but I find a trackpad more imprecise (than a mouse)
with clicking using a fingertap. I often click when I did not mean to.

Also just generally I find trackpads acceptable for movement on screen,
but not so much for the clicking - whether using a fingertap, the
trackpad is also the button (as with Apple's latest trackpads), or
separate buttons below the trackpad. Clicking on a trackpad is rather
clumsy for me, compared to a mouse with my fingers right over the
buttons as I move the mouse about. But that's just me :-)

[TaliesinSoft]

On 2013-05-30 16:28:00 +0000, Jamie Kahn Genet said:

[continuing the discussion about the Magic Trackpad]

> Dunno about Lewis, but I find a trackpad more imprecise (than a mouse)
> with clicking using a fingertap. I often click when I did not mean to.
>
> Also just generally I find trackpads acceptable for movement on screen,
> but not so much for the clicking - whether using a fingertap, the
> trackpad is also the button (as with Apple's latest trackpads), or
> separate buttons below the trackpad. Clicking on a trackpad is rather
> clumsy for me, compared to a mouse with my fingers right over the
> buttons as I move the mouse about. But that's just me :-)

The Magic Trackpad has two "buttons" which are located in the lower
left and right corners. When I'm using the Magic Trackpad I use my
right thumb to make a click. This works for me without any problem. I
don't remember how the click is performed on the trackads on a laptop.

[Tom Stiller]

In article <b0pfgj...@mid.individual.net>,

I find the real buttons too stiff for my liking so I use tap gestures
only.

--
PRAY, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf
of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy. -- Ambrose Bierce

[Jolly Roger]

In article <slrnkqejg7....@mbp55.local>,
Lewis <g.k...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:

> In message <b0o159...@mid.individual.net>

> There are two things that keep me from using my trackpad 100% of the
> time. The first is trying to select, say, 5 items out of a file listing
> of 30. The other is World of Warcraft.

I have tap to click enabled so selecting items is as easy as tapping my
finger. Selecting files in a list doesn't slow me down at all.

[Jolly Roger]

In article <1l3pvvy.184zxhb1puimozN%jam...@wizardling.geek.nz>,

It just took a little getting used to for me. I find I'm fairly quick
and precise with some practice.

[Jolly Roger]

In article <tom_stiller-7342...@news.individual.net>,

Tom Stiller <tom_s...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> In article <b0pfgj...@mid.individual.net>,
> TaliesinSoft <talies...@me.com> wrote:
>
> > On 2013-05-30 16:28:00 +0000, Jamie Kahn Genet said:
> >
> > [continuing the discussion about the Magic Trackpad]
> >
> > > Dunno about Lewis, but I find a trackpad more imprecise (than a mouse)
> > > with clicking using a fingertap. I often click when I did not mean to.
> > >
> > > Also just generally I find trackpads acceptable for movement on screen,
> > > but not so much for the clicking - whether using a fingertap, the
> > > trackpad is also the button (as with Apple's latest trackpads), or
> > > separate buttons below the trackpad. Clicking on a trackpad is rather
> > > clumsy for me, compared to a mouse with my fingers right over the
> > > buttons as I move the mouse about. But that's just me :-)
> >
> > The Magic Trackpad has two "buttons" which are located in the lower
> > left and right corners. When I'm using the Magic Trackpad I use my
> > right thumb to make a click. This works for me without any problem. I
> > don't remember how the click is performed on the trackads on a laptop.
>
> I find the real buttons too stiff for my liking so I use tap gestures
> only.

Same here. : )

[TaliesinSoft]

On 2013-05-30 18:36:26 +0000, Jolly Roger said:

[commenting on the Magic Trackpad buttons]

>> I find the real buttons too stiff for my liking so I use tap gestures
>> only.
>
> Same here. : )

Actually I sometimes use the "tap to click" and sometimes one of the
buttoons. When I use one and when I use the other is a "who knows when
and why" thing.

I do have all the gestures enabled although some of them I rarely use.
I am one who often has multiple desktops concurrently open and the
three fingered swipe comes in quite handy when switching from one
desktop to another.

[TaliesinSoft]

Oops, oops, oops, I meant the four fingered swipe!

[Alan Browne]

I use the trackpad for most things, but when doing detail drawing work a
mouse is better. I use a wired one for that.


--
"A Canadian is someone who knows how to have sex in a canoe."
-Pierre Berton

[Alan Browne]

On 2013.05.30 11:36 , Lewis wrote:
> In message <b0p7kq...@mid.individual.net>

> TaliesinSoft <talies...@me.com> wrote:

>> I have no problem making the multiple selections as all I need to do is
>> hold down the Command key while making them.
>

> I find that very often, using the trackpad causes me to OPEN the
> selected items while I am trying to add another item to the selected
> group.

Happens infrequently to me.

Would be nice if, as long as you were still holding down the CMD key
that a double click on the pad would not cause all the selected files to
be opened.

[Alan Browne]

Same if it's the buttonless version (two lower corners are mechanical).

The design of the trackpad is cool: those two lower corner buttons are
actually in the little 'feet' under the pad.

[Jolly Roger]

In article <b0pmko...@mid.individual.net>,

TaliesinSoft <talies...@me.com> wrote:

> On 2013-05-30 18:36:26 +0000, Jolly Roger said:
>
> [commenting on the Magic Trackpad buttons]
>
> >> I find the real buttons too stiff for my liking so I use tap gestures
> >> only.
> >
> > Same here. : )
>
> Actually I sometimes use the "tap to click" and sometimes one of the
> buttoons. When I use one and when I use the other is a "who knows when
> and why" thing.

I tend to use the physical button when I want to drag something, because
I forget in the moment to use the drag gesture. I'm getting better at it
though. : )

[Jamie Kahn Genet]

Lewis <g.k...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:

> In message <1l3pvvy.184zxhb1puimozN%jam...@wizardling.geek.nz>

> Jamie Kahn Genet <jam...@wizardling.geek.nz> wrote:
> > TaliesinSoft <talies...@me.com> wrote:
>
> >> On 2013-05-30 15:36:10 +0000, Lewis said:
> >>
> >> [in response to my response to the statement quoted below]
> >>
> >> >>> There are two things that keep me from using my trackpad 100% of the
> >> >>> time. The first is trying to select, say, 5 items out of a file listing
> >> >>> of 30. The other is World of Warcraft.
> >> >
> >> >> I have no problem making the multiple selections as all I need to do is
> >> >> hold down the Command key while making them.
> >> >
> >> > I find that very often, using the trackpad causes me to OPEN the
> >> > selected items while I am trying to add another item to the selected
> >> > group.
> >>
> >> I've had no problem with an item opening as stated above. I'm wondering
> >> what the difference could be. Any thoughts?
>
> > Dunno about Lewis, but I find a trackpad more imprecise (than a mouse)
> > with clicking using a fingertap. I often click when I did not mean to.
>

> Yep, and I seem to often enough to be annoying register a double click
> when I am command clicking a single item to add it to a group.

Yeah, same - tap to click is a right PITA for me riddled with mistaken
clicks, double clicks when I meant only to single click, and failure to
click because I didn't tap hard enough or tapped and accidently slid my
finger a fraction.

> > Also just generally I find trackpads acceptable for movement on screen,
> > but not so much for the clicking - whether using a fingertap, the
> > trackpad is also the button (as with Apple's latest trackpads), or
> > separate buttons below the trackpad. Clicking on a trackpad is rather
> > clumsy for me, compared to a mouse with my fingers right over the
> > buttons as I move the mouse about. But that's just me :-)
>

> Perhaps turning off tap-to-click would help, but that's not going to
> happen.

I always do that if I can. But find it so much easier to left and
especially right-click with a mouse.

I suspect if I was a non-gamer (let's face it - unless it's a touch
style game, trackpads stink for most gaming), didn't prefer mice with at
least five buttons (no way am I going back to less on my own machines),
and didn't prefer a scroll wheel for scrolling (no need to move my hand
about to scroll; and the ability to scroll windows not in focus - I
could be doing things incorrectly, but I've found that harder than with
a mouse or even impossible depending on the trackpad in question), I'd
find trackpads a lot more useful, or at least not as painful when stuck
with one.

Still, I really couldn't care less what others use for input, beyond
being happy they have a way that suits them. I just find it worrying
mouse and KB control seems to be becoming marginalised, rather than
simply new options opening up. Options are good. Favouring touch in a
GUI isn't.

Or maybe I'm being paranoid. Time will tell with continuing OS X
development.

[Jamie Kahn Genet]

Now for me with drawing I actually find a pen-based pad like the Wacoms
best. A trackpad using my finger second best, and a mouse dead last. For
some reason I'm awful at doing smooth curves with a mouse *shrug* Go
figure :-D

[Fester Bestertester]

> No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

An optimist doesn't have all the facts.

[jay birdsong]

"bob smith" wrote in message
news:b4b9e8cd-bed9-4f6a...@googlegroups.com...

>So I bought the Apple Magic Mouse.

>It was ok, but it kept running out of battery power.

>Thus, I wouldn't mind something a bit better.

>I'm using a PC-ish USB mouse now, but the movement is no longer
>smooth for some reason.

>Any suggestions?

>Thanks.

Logitech M310. Works great - great battery life

[Jamie Kahn Genet]

Kinda late to the party there Jay, but I ended up buying a Logitech
G500s. Not quite the design I'd have liked (I prefer the Razer
DeathAdder's shape and fit in my paw, though detest it's stupid features
and software), but it does well enough and has nothing that annoys me or
gets in the way of my work and play. Also I dislike wireless mice. KISS
I say. Corded does that with zero downsides for me (I've never found a
cord annoying, especially braided ones that don't catch against things).

[jay birdsong]

"Jamie Kahn Genet" wrote in message
news:1l3w6tb.3q4dnc1o95wjyN%jam...@wizardling.geek.nz...

jay birdsong <jaybi...@aol.com> wrote:

> "bob smith" wrote in message
> news:b4b9e8cd-bed9-4f6a...@googlegroups.com...
>
> >So I bought the Apple Magic Mouse.
>
> >It was ok, but it kept running out of battery power.
>
> >Thus, I wouldn't mind something a bit better.
>
> >I'm using a PC-ish USB mouse now, but the movement is no longer
> >smooth for some reason.
>
> >Any suggestions?
>
> >Thanks.
>
> Logitech M310. Works great - great battery life

>Kinda late to the party there Jay,

Yeah, I realized that after I posted and read through the thread.

> but I ended up buying a Logitech
>G500s. Not quite the design I'd have liked (I prefer the Razer
>DeathAdder's shape and fit in my paw, though detest it's stupid
>features
>and software), but it does well enough and has nothing that annoys me
>or
>gets in the way of my work and play. Also I dislike wireless mice.
>KISS
>I say. Corded does that with zero downsides for me (I've never found
>a
>cord annoying, especially braided ones that don't catch against
>things).

The less stuff on my desk the better. But it's almost a losing battle.
I've using the wireless mouse and K520 keyboard for a good while now
with no problems.

[Jamie Kahn Genet]

Each to their own :-) I'm used to a mess of cables behind my computers
and desks - it's never bothered me. I also think avoiding batteries is
more environmentally friendly. But mainly I just like the reliability of
wired solutions. I never want to be replacing batteries in the middle of
something, even if that only happens very occasionally. If I can KISS I
will.

[TaliesinSoft]

On 2013-06-04 00:31:21 +0000, Jamie Kahn Genet said:

> Each to their own :-) I'm used to a mess of cables behind my computers
> and desks - it's never bothered me. I also think avoiding batteries is
> more environmentally friendly. But mainly I just like the reliability of
> wired solutions. I never want to be replacing batteries in the middle of
> something, even if that only happens very occasionally. If I can KISS I
> will.

As for batteries for my keyboard and trackpad I use rechargeable ones
which seem to last a few months between charges. How long they last is
something I don't know, but the ones I am using are now a few years old
and they seem to recharge just as they did when new.