Recently I picked up an Apple Magic Mouse from my local Best Buy to replace the Mighty Mouse I had broken years ago (but since I use a MacBook Pro replacing a mouse wasn’t absolutely critical). I alternate between periods of using my MacBook as a laptop and using it as a desktop solution with external display, mouse, and keyboard.
That being said, when looking for a new mouse I definitely could have went for something a little (or a lot) less expensive than Apple’s $69 multi-touch-enabled “Magic Mouse”. The Magic Mouse has the added benefit of also being wireless, using the Mac’s built-in Bluetooth connection (no ugly USB-connected wireless receivers *cough*Microsoft*cough*) Having an early 2009 15″ MacBook Pro with the multi-touch glass trackpad, I’ve become quite dependent on certain multi-touch functions I could only get by using an Apple mouse.
I went to Best Buy with the intention of purchasing either the Magic Mouse or the Magic Trackpad. Although Best Buy’s website informed me either were available at my local store…they were wrong. Only the mouse was available and so I ended up choosing it.
The Good
This mouse looks amazing. It truly does. But we would expect nothing less from Apple, now would we? It also performs its function exceptionally well. Again, we expect this.
The tracking is incredibly accurate—at high and low velocities the on-screen pointer is always responsive with no lag. Also, the Bluetooth functionality is perfect. I was using the mouse within thirty seconds of taking it out of the packaging. Although the mouse does sleep after a while of you not using it it seems to wake up quickly enough you don’t always notice it was sleeping.
The Bad
As much as we expect Apple products to be amazingly well thought-out and amazing, we also expect there to be things missing or overlooked (multi-tasking in iPhone initially, copy and paste, etc.). The Magic Mouse is no different.
One of the first things I noticed different from the Mighty Mouse I was accustomed to was the lack of side buttons. Unlike the Mighty Mouse, squeezing the sides of the mouse does not engage Exposé. In fact, you simply can’t interact with Exposé with this mouse period. I’m quite addicted to using four fingers up/down on the trackpad to use Exposé. This will take some getting used to.
The mouse, however, is multi-touch—just not as robust as the traditional Apple trackpad. Sliding a finger in any direction across the surface of the mouse will scroll that way, if possible. This is neat, however I’m used to using two fingers to accomplish this. While you can use two fingers on the mouse, it’s not as responsive as if you’d just used one—particularly if your fingers are too close together.
The Magic Mouse is extremely low profile. When using it generally only my fingers are in contact with it—it’s not tall enough to touch the palm of my hand. At times this makes the mouse hard to hold onto when moving it.
At times when executing gestures I accidentally move the entire mouse. Apple obviously planned for this by incorporating two rails on the bottom of the mouse which serve to make the mouse “grip” the surface below tight enough to resist accidental movement—not quite right. This railing seems to fight against you a lot, leaving you with the haptic sensation that you are dragging the mouse across your desk instead of it gliding across.
The Verdict
Is it worth the $69? It really depends on your motivations. For me, it’s more a novelty and a sign that I support Apple. I’m sure there are mice which are just as nice functioning as this one for much less. That being said, it does perform its function well and I am happy with the purchase.
Have a Magic Mouse of your own? Or perhaps you know of a better mouse for the money? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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