My most recent Apple purchase is the new Magic Mouse, which is radically different from its predecessor the Mighty Mouse (now called the Apple Mouse). I really enjoyed the Mighty Mouse, so the bar is set very high for my new toy.
Setting up the Magic Mouse did not give me any problems. No discs are included with the mouse, so after pairing it via Bluetooth I ran Software Update to download the Magic Mouse Software Update 1.0. This update can also be downloaded directly for Leopard (10.5.8 required) or Snow Leopard (10.6.1 required). Installing the software update makes the gestures work. After restarting, I chose “Mouse” under System Preferences for configuring. Choosing each option shows a video that displays how a Magic Mouse configuration will work for that particular feature. The Magic Mouse can be set as a one- or two-button mouse.
When I first started using the Magic Mouse, the biggest change to get used to is that the scroll ball inhabiting the Apple Mouse is gone. Apple has opted to instead make the entire top one plastic button, much of which is useable for gestures. The bottom is aluminum, with a removable cover for batteries. Apple claims the battery life is 4 months on 2 AA batteries (batteries are included). There is also a power switch as well as a light that shows that the mouse is on. The elegant and simple design is finished off with two plastic bars on the bottom for feet.
Many gestures are here, such as button click, 360 degree scrolling, screen zoom (done when coupled with the Control key), and two-finger swipe. These features worked great for me in Safari and iPhoto. Scrolling can be down with momentum, which scrolls based on the speed of your finger. It helps quickly move through long lists and web pages. Momentum scrolling feels much like the scrolling on the iPhone. Disappointingly, many gestures are missing for the Magic Mouse, such as pinch zoom and Exposé.
There are some other downsides. The Magic Mouse only comes in a Bluetooth model. The only way to get a USB mouse is to buy the Apple Mouse. Also, according to Apple , there are a few issues with the Magic Mouse and Boot Camp such as “up-down scrolling on the Apple Magic Mouse and brightness controls, volume controls, the Eject key, and the key combination Control-Alt-Delete on the Apple Wireless Keyboard (2009) may not work with Boot Camp.”
It took time getting used to the Magic Mouse. It is awkward at first because it doesn’t rest in your palm and you must get comfortable using the gestures on a rounded surface with a mouse that can move around on a desk. Gestures feel far more comfortable on a trackpad or the iPhone.
Apple has a notorious history designing mice. Criticism has especially been rampant since the original iMac’s “puck” design. The Magic Mouse will not quell everyone’s contempt for previous Apple mice, especially power users. The Magic Mouse nails its limited feature set well, though it takes time to get used to what this mouse has to offer. The Magic Mouse is now available bundled with desktop Macs or bought separately for $69.