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I Hacked the Magic Mouse

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Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#31

Post by cwalv »

Tagbert wrote: post #19
shepherdjerred wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'd be hard to fit AA and even AAA in the profile of the Magic Mouse. The obvious response is that the mouse should be thicker to accommodate those batteries, but that goes against Apple's entire ethos.

The reason for the thinness of the Apple Mouse is so that gestures can be used on the top like a trackpad. If it were domes like a typical Logitech mouse, you couldn’t do that. Whether those gestures turned out to be useful is another question but that was the reason.

I find the gestures really useful. It's the only reason I'd continue using a mac outside of work

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#32

Post by gumby »

numpad0 wrote: post #16
shepherdjerred wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'd be hard to fit AA and even AAA in the profile of the Magic Mouse. The obvious response is that the mouse should be thicker to accommodate those batteries, but that goes against Apple's entire ethos.

1st gen MM uses 2xAA. Apple even had a branded NiMH bundle for that and keyboard.

I still have and use an Apple branded AA chargers (came with Eneloops in Apple livery). It has the same connection system as the external chargers so I normally have it connected to a long cable. Used it internationally with the same adaptors as for my MacBook charger.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#33

Post by password4321 »

numpad0 wrote: post #16
shepherdjerred wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'd be hard to fit AA and even AAA in the profile of the Magic Mouse. The obvious response is that the mouse should be thicker to accommodate those batteries, but that goes against Apple's entire ethos.

1st gen MM uses 2xAA. Apple even had a branded NiMH bundle for that and keyboard.

Received a refurbed Mac and someone had swapped out their mouse for my rechargeable one... always a song and dance to re-connect every time the batteries die. (I pretty much use another mouse to get to the Bluetooth icon on the menu, I'm no Mac expert.)

I always shake my fist in the air and curse "Eric Seifert's Mouse" semi-silently in frustration!

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#36

Post by ryandrake »

Good for this guy, wow. Nice project.

I always thought that the Magic Mouse was really the ideal technology for interacting with a Mac--just too bad that it's so unergonomic. I can't prove it, but I blame a decade of Magic Mouse use for my very painful RSI, which I now have the pleasure of experiencing using any mouse at all.

Apple's input devices are beautiful, but they totally blow comfort. It's as if their industrial designers are all in their early 20s and have never experienced joint pain.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#37

Post by tonyedgecombe »

cwalv wrote: post #30
softskunk wrote: post #2

i think i recall reading somewhere that apple designed the mouse in the way they did in order to prevent people just leaving the mouse on charge 24/7 and hence not using its wireless capability while negatively affecting the battery. i’m not saying i agree with apple’s decision, but i find the perspective interesting.

Being able to charge it while in use might extend the life of the mouse past the life of the battery

The fact that you only need to charge it once a month indicates the battery isn't going through many cycles. I expect the battery to last a very long time.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#38

Post by jahewson »

ryandrake wrote: post #36

Good for this guy, wow. Nice project. I always thought that the Magic Mouse was really the ideal technology for interacting with a Mac--just too bad that it's so unergonomic. I can't prove it, but I blame a decade of Magic Mouse use for my very painful RSI, which I now have the pleasure of experiencing using any mouse at all. Apple's input devices are beautiful, but they totally blow comfort. It's as if their industr…

I suspect you’re right. I very much enjoyed the Magic Mouse but had similar issues with wrist discomfort. The neutral position of the human wrist is vertical - thumb pointing up as if shaking hands with someone. The Magic Mouse is so low-profile that it forces the wrist into an almost 90deg rotation. Ergonomically, it’s highly problematic.

The solution for me was to switch to a vertical mouse (well, almost) that allows the wrist to remain neutral. Because I missed the gestures I added a Magic Trackpad on the left side of my keyboard. Of course this suffers from the same ergonomic problem but I only reach for it sporadically so the impact is minimal.

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#39

Post by raverbashing »

Yeah, I honestly don't get the hate about the magic mouse

"Oh but you have to charge it upside down", yes. Every something like 3 months I have to stop for some 15min (if I don't remember to charge it first) to be able to use it for the rest of the day and then charge it when I'm not using

It is really one complaint that's more internet meme than an actual grievance

Re: I Hacked the Magic Mouse

#40

Post by lwhi »

jahewson wrote: post #38
ryandrake wrote: post #36

Good for this guy, wow. Nice project. I always thought that the Magic Mouse was really the ideal technology for interacting with a Mac--just too bad that it's so unergonomic. I can't prove it, but I blame a decade of Magic Mouse use for my very painful RSI, which I now have the pleasure of experiencing using any mouse at all. Apple's input devices are beautiful, but they totally blow comfort. It's as if their industr…

I suspect you’re right. I very much enjoyed the Magic Mouse but had similar issues with wrist discomfort. The neutral position of the human wrist is vertical - thumb pointing up as if shaking hands with someone. The Magic Mouse is so low-profile that it forces the wrist into an almost 90deg rotation. Ergonomically, it’s highly problematic. The solution for me was to switch to a vertical mouse (well, almost) that allo…

A vertical mouse was a game changer for my RSI. Stopped it in it's tracks.
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