More Like 'Satisfying Mouse'

Ring the church bells, get the ticker tape out, we're having a parade!

After years of dictator-like insistence that one button on a mouse was the correct way to do things, Apple recently unveiled the Mighty Mouse. Why such a superlative adjective? Because it has 2 buttons. Err, actually 5 buttons. Err, actually 4 buttons if you want to be anal. And a trackball! Those living in the world of Windows, where 15 button mice have become the norm, can now snicker at Luddite Maccies. It's deserved.

Of course, as I'm sure will be pointed out, Macs don't necessarily NEED a multi-button mouse. Context clicking and command clicking have always been the preferred method of Maccies in the past, but as more and more Windows refugees have arrived to the Mac fold, and interesting dilemma arose- people, like me, who had become accustomed to multi-button mice, and their ease of use, were left frustrated at the lack of convenience- command button or no command button.

The solution that Apple has orchestrated, is as per their usual, elegant.

On first glance, the Mighty Mouse looks like a standard issue G5 iMac mouse with a ball in the middle and two grey plastic pieces on the side of the unit. It's all white, oval, and has no discernible buttons whatsoever on top. Here's the catch- unlike other multi-button mice in the marketplace, which utilize separated buttons on top, the Mighty Mouse has ONE surface with TWO sensors underneath. Tap the left side of the mouse, and it will act as a left click. Tap the right side of the mouse, and it will act as a right click.

Ingenious.

Why's that?

Because for the traditionalists or idiot users out there who don't know what a left or right click are, the interface is completely customizable, and if you so choose, the mouse will act like a single button mouse...out of the box. With no loss of function. Just brilliant. This approach does have some nagging difficulties which you will quickly get used to- when left or right clicking, you have to ensure proper spacing, or the sensors may read a left click as a right click, and vice versa. But otherwise, it's money.

In the middle of the mouse is a trackball. But it's not like your usual trackball, in that it's actually a ball. With omnidirectionality. Which probably isn't a word. What that means though, is that you can scroll up, down, side to side, and even diagonally, all with one finger. Very easy, and very precise. By default, pushing the trackball button engages Dashboard in OSX Tiger. Another easy feature to have on hand. Again, this function is completely customizable...so if you don't want Dashboard to pop up, you don't have to.

The last set of buttons are also in my opinion, the weakest. On the side of the mouse are two more buttons, each placed retardedly. For my hands, they are not easy to depress, and they don't fall within easy range. For yours they might. By default, they revert to Expose when pushed. I barely use mine.

Being an optical mouse, the Mighty Mouse tracks accurately, and acts exactly like you'd expect it. No drama, no fuss. Installation was as simple as plugging it into my iMac and going into System Preferences to decide if I wanted one button or two button operation, and if I wanted to change the default options for the buttons. Straightforward and pain free. Like usual from Apple.

Pricing is in line with what you'd pay for a top of the line MS/Logitech mouse. No issues there for me. Cheaper alternatives are available, but they won't be white and they won't match with your computer...which if you're like me, will bother you.

About the only drawbacks are the aforementioned lack of button distinction at times, the lack of a cordless option for those with Bluetooth (I assume this is forthcoming though), and the aforementioned useless side buttons. Otherwise, Apple has finally created a mouse that can co-exist peacefully with their stubborness regarding multi-button mice, and those that want a multi-button mouse.

Home run? Nope. But a solid triple. Finally, my prayers have been answered. Now time to pray for more important things!