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Comment by bluedino | Hacker News Reader

Mr. Ive - what the hell has been going on with Apple mice in the last 16 years?

I don't see much wrong with them, other than the new backwards scrolling, disappearing scrollbars and rubberbanding. I use the Magic Mouse, which to me feels pretty nice. The only trouble I have really had is that they're crap for gaming. Then again, I don't touch my mouse very often.

Magic mouse (I own one): goes flat after only a month, nips your fingers at the sides when you press it, bottom keeps falling off, makes your hands hurt.

Mighty mouse (I owned one): ball that stopped working instantly when you used it and the only way to get it clean involved destroying the mouse.

Pro mouse (I owned one): cable frayed after no less than two weeks.

Apple USB puck mouse: just totally unusable pile of crap unfit for human use.

I decided to go for the innovative option in the end: the Microsoft £10 optical mouse. Works much better than anything Apple have ever thrown out.

For the Mighty Mouse you just need to kind of turn it upside down and roll it on a piece of paper to clean it out. But I guess you're right, the only time I really use a mouse for an extended period of time is when browsing the internet or in one of the crappy IntelliJ things which don't seem to even allow you to close a tab with the keyboard. Apple mice are bad, but I guess I meant that my experience hasn't been significantly worse with them than with other mice. But maybe I'm just an apple fanboy :(

I tried the paper trick but it didn't work for me after a couple of months. Got it replaced at Apple store and sold it quick.

The puck is horrible.

However, for regular office use Magic Mouse probably is the most pleasant mouse I've used (and I've used a lot of different models). Never been pinched. And it's in one piece still (bought it just after it was released).

For gaming it's more or less unusable though… I need my scroll to be tactile, and I also need to be able to use both mouse buttons at the same time. Long live Logitech MX 500/510/518 for fragging!

Too bad that you've had bad experiences with Magic Mouse.

You're holding them wrong. Seriously, what do you mean by 'goes flat'? The bottom wears off? Or battery? Just get a charger, not a big deal. Also, I can't find a position where it nips my fingers. Bottom doesn't fall of if you close it properly. I haven't had any of such problems with Magic Mouse, although I miss the middle button. Scrolling in both directions is much better than any other mouse.

Batteries. I bought a charger and Sanyo Eneloops (low self discharge). Life is terrible. Stick your fingers on the side and press the top down - ouch. Bottom does fall off mine even when closed "properly".

I think the crucial part is how you hold it. I suspect most people dislike the Magic Mouse because they hold it like a regular mouse. The way I hold it, on the other hand, is with a 'cupped' hand where my thumb and ring finger clasp the mouse and move it, my palm hovers pretty high above the mouse, and my index finger scrolls from slightly above the center of the mouse surface.

I'm not sure whether it's bad design that you 'should' hold it differently, but at least for me this is why I quite like the mouse.

(the bottom has started coming off though. that does bother me)

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