Apple's new Magic Mouse

[jwc110869]

As often happens on a Tuesday, Apple released updates, this time iMacs and entry level Macbooks got updated. But something else caught my eye. The dreaded "Mighty Mouse" got the much needed upgrade, and is now the Magic Mouse

http://www.apple.com/magicmouse/

The prone to fail track ball is gone and is replaced by a touch sensitive surface, which allows for Apple's "Multi-Touch" features. I love this function on my Macbook Pro, and can't wait to add this to the family iMac.

Anybody else excited like I am?

[Galley]

I'm looking forward to trying one out.

[Sparkee]

I'm one of the few, if not about the only person who likes the Mighty Mouse. The first one I had was a piece of crap (grey side buttons) but the second with white side buttons works great. Even the little track ball although it gets some crap in it once in awhile which is easily cleaned by holding it upside down and rolling the ball.

I do look forward to trying the new Magic Mouse with it's multi-touch gestures. They should make it rechargeable though, in Apple fashion inductive wireless charging. Just set it on a mat to charge.

[Kristiano]

I reckon I'll be getting this.

[Bob]

Batteries batteries batteries.....

Apple claims to be going green, but I wonder how many users of their wireless keyboards and mice use rechargeable batteries? Or are the landfills being filled by endless skips of used Duracells, Energizers, or cheap batteries from China...

I stopped using a wireless keyboard/mouse because the rechargeable batteries just didn't have a long enough standby life. Having to turn the device off if I wanted to conserve it's charge was a bit of a pain. Maybe they should have included some sort of charging dock for the "Magic Mouse". There's nothing magic about having to stuff it full of batteries time and again to get it to work....

[jwc110869]

I'm just used to using rechargeable batteries. I did with my last Logitech, and the habit stuck. The battery charger is right next to my desk. And with the kids asking for battery changes in all their toys, adding a couple to the mouse is nothing to me.

But I do see your point.

I actually wouldn't mind a wired version myself......

[Sparkee]

Apple claims to be going green

That's why I figured they would get innovative with inductive charging. My tooth brush has done it for years.

It does lack buttons though, I do like to used the side buttons on my Mighty Mouse for Dashboard and the scroll ball's button for a short cut to Spaces.

[Code Monkey]

Originally Posted by Sparkee

That's why I figured they would get innovative with inductive charging. My tooth brush has done it for years.

I don't think inductive charging is all that green. I haven't done enough digging to see for certain, but the basic physics behind it imply that it's about as inefficient a way of charging a device as is conceivable. First you burn fossil fuels to spin a bunch of magnets around to create an electrical current, then you use that current to create a magnetic field. That magnetic field is used to create an electric current that then charges the potential in a basic rechargeable battery. Barring the inductive process being nearly 100% efficient (HA!), using regular rechargeables and a standard separate charger is the more green approach. Apple got it right. Whether the users are too dumb to buy a recharger is a whole other question.

[Sparkee]

You may have a point Monkey, I may not be the most environmentally conscious person, but I do try. Even though it wouldn't be the most efficient means to charge, it would prevent many batteries from entering the land fills. The lesser of 2 evils? Even if it had a dock similar to Logitec I had with contacts for a little more efficient charging connection. If you make it more convenient for people to use with out the need to remove or swap batteries every time they need to charge, they might be more compelled to choose a rechargeable solution.

[Bob]

It would spoil the looks of their wonderful magic mouse to have ugly metal dock contacts exposed on some part. ...

[Galley]

I tried one today. It was very good, but I only used it for a few minutes.

[j.donald]

I am looking forward to try the new Magic Mouse with it's multi-touch options. Apple should make it rechargeable , it will be a good option to buy if they make rechargeable.

[anypats]

I love the new Magic Mouse but the batteries are an issue. The batteries that were installed when I got mine were some of the higher end Energizer ones. They lasted for just over a month. The one gripe I have is that one night my son was having issues getting the mouse to work so I checked the battery meter and it said I had 18% left. We turned the mouse off, then back on and it worked. Later that night, a message came up saying that we needed to replace the batteries. We couldn't even use the mouse again until we replaced them. Seems like either the meter is wrong or that was a lot of usage for the last 18%.