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Apple Magic Mouse review

Multi-touch meets mouse - is this the cleverest mouse yet?

Our Score

Last reviewed: October 27th

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Apple's Magic Mouse is the world's first multi-touch mouse

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Let's be clear about this from the start - Apple does not have a good track record with mice.

For years Apple mice had just one button, and Apple, thinking it knew best, refused to budge from this overly simplistic design even in the face of rising criticism from its own customers who simply wanted to stop being laughed at by their PC-using colleagues.

Right-clicking is now such a fundamental action when using desktop computer that it's hard to believe that Apple held out until the Mighty Mouse (now renamed Apple Mouse thanks to a law suit) in 2005.

While the Mighty Mouse gave Mac users the ability to right-click without having to switch to a Microsoft or Logitech Mouse (which almost all of them had done at that point), it was still not without its problems either - chiefly that the "revolutionary" trackball for 360 degree scrolling clogged up far too quickly with grime, in some cases rendering it completely unusable.

It was also bulky and the right-click could be unresponsive. In short, it wasn't a hit.

Fast forward to 2009 and Apple has re-invented the whole concept of mice (again) with the Magic Mouse.

apple magic mouse review

But why the short history lesson? Well, Apple's new Magic Mouse isn't like ordinary mice. We're not talking about the fact that it's the world's first mult-touch mouse here (there is no two button/one button debate anymore, since the whole mouse IS a button).

apple magic mouse

We're talking about the fact that it won't actually work on a Windows PC. Yes, the Magic Mouse is Mac-only, so if you're a PC owner you might as well stop reading now.

Your comments (4) Click to add a new comment

valv0


November 13th

4. Hi,

I've implemented a proof-of-concept of userspace customizable multi-touch events wrapper.

You can read about it here: http://aladino.dmi.unict.it/?a=multitouch

--

all the best

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gbarl


October 28th

3. @holness

Click volume, eh? Hmm.... I just did a side-by-side comparison with a wired Mighty Mouse. I'd say the Magic Mouse click has the same volume as the Mighty Mouse, but has a slightly higher pitch.

Thanks,

Graham

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holness


October 27th

2. 'satisfying click' does that mean loud? does anyone know/tried how the clicking works out? seems a bit ocd but silence will need to be golden if the bank permits such a purchase!

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violinplayer007


October 27th

1. this is an excellent review - short, concise, and detailed enough to make a decision about buying this product. love your writing.

also, i agree with you on your verdict - i hope apple release a pinch to zoom gesture for this mouse!!!

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Product Summary

Magic Mouse

Apple Magic Mouse

Price at launch

£55.00

For

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Multi-touch gestures mean no moving parts

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Wireless BlueTooth

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Sensitive and accurate

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Feels good to use

Against

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Not enough use made of multi-touch

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It's twice the price of a normal mouse

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Lack of side buttons.

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