Now don’t get me wrong, Apple makes the finest personal computers out there… …yet there’re a few small things that are just wrong:
Mouse
Now the mighty mouse looks really cool is comfortable and has an awesome scrollwheel… …however it’s not possible to press two or more mouse buttons at the same time. If you’re wondering where this ability could possibly come handy then you’re one of the many lucky users who’re not in need of it. However 3D modeling for instance slows down significantly without it. Also it’d be nice to be able to use the very handy right-click-cancels-everything-your-just-doing-with-the-left-mouse-button – function which so many applications provide.
There’s an other problem especially in conjunction with the cursor acceleration problem which I will write about later on: Sometimes, while dragging you may for example hit your keyboard with the mouse before reaching your destination with the cursor. Any other mouse you could just lift, place in the middle of your mousepad and continue dragging, however that’s not the case with the mighty mouse because it can’t be lifted while still holding down a mousebutton. Fortunately there’s a workaround though: While still holding down the mousebutton, move the mouse back to the middle of the mousepad but make sure not to move the mouse very fast, then move your mouse again towards your destination while this time moving the mouse quiet fast. Strange enough, this time your cursor will come farther.
Of course there’s an easy way to get rid of these problems, buying another mouse, you’ll miss the scrollwheel though. Another drawback is that the acceleration curve will probably be even worse.
Cursor
The cursor acceleration problem however you can’t get rid off even if you buy any other mouse and it’s very sad that even in leopard and after so many people have complained about it for years and years there’s no option in the keyboard and mouse preferences window to turn off cursor acceleration. It’s almost as if Apple wanted to state that their computers shouldn’t be used for 3D work, or by people who like to click around very fast. They’re quite successful I must say ’cause since I’m happy to have a mac I haven’t done much 3D work anymore. Too annoying.
faZit
Apple, your mice are sexy, we love to touch them and it’s awesome to see your spirit of innovation even goes into the mouse. You’re doing great work, what’s say next time you add common functionality to it?!
And seriously, how hard can it possilby be to include a ‘turn off cursor acceleration’ option to the mouse preferences dialogue?! Not too hard, right? But imagine how many happy faces this would generate…
i’m 200% with you on this. thats why i’m only using my wacom at home and at work. i like that, but sometimes it would be easier to just grab the mouse, mostly when i’m trying to code in AS3