 |
Apple Magic Mouse
by SueNorth
This is a review for the Apple Magic Mouse.
So, it's just a mouse, right?
Wrong.
Like most Apple products it's a direct route to coolness. Look at it: sleak, shiny, clean and white, with just a discrete grey apple logo so you get it the right way up.
So far so good. Now the details. It has ... no cables, but unlike other wireless mice it is part mouse, part trackpad. The front of the mouse has clickable corners (though they are not marked as buttons like on a 'normal' mouse) but the whole surface is a sensitive track pad. To move around a page you use the mouse as normal, but if you keep it still and stroke your finger over the surface, the page scrolls up and down. Flicking left and right flicks back and forward through web pages just like the back and forward buttons in your browser. It couldn't be easier. Set up is straightforward to, and linking the mouse to a new Mac is easily done through the bluetooth menu top right on the screen.
Now, the downsides. Like any trackpad device, you can make mistakes and swipe back to a previous page when you don't mean to - but you soon get the hand of it. The main downside is battery life. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but my magic mouse goes through batteries like a real life mouse through cheese. Very occasionally (like all wireless devices) it fails. And of course when a mouse fails, it becomes very hard to use your computer! So, I'd say always keep your old, wired, mouse in a drawer just in case.
When I first started using Macs I asked a Mac-friendly friend whether it was normal to think I felt a little cooler with it on my desk. He replied that I didn't 'feel' a little cooler; I *was* a little cooler. All that Mac vs PC stuff is a bit overdone in my opinion, but there is something about this mouse that makes surfing the web not just a bit easier and quicker but, yes, a bit cooler.
Read the complete review |
 |
Apple Magic Mouse
by TobyD
Apple have pulled out the stops for this wireless bluetooth mouse and must have added a touch of fairy dust because magic mouse is a very suitable name for this product.
Looks
The looks are fantastic even in pictures it looks wonderful and it is better in real life. This mouse is very sleek and gives your desk a ... professional look just by being there. It looks excellent along side apple computers and is a must have if you love your apple products like me! The mouse i made of aluminium and plane of either plastic or glass along the top, either way the whole of the top surface is multitouch and ready for gesture controls.
Use/functions
The sheer number of functions that this mouse can do is nothing less than incredible. From the get go it is programmed for mission control, launchpad and changing panels with the swish of your fingers. This does nto sound impressive but the with and external application called better touch tool (free, google it) you can program teh mouse to do a stagering amount of functions and that is one of the main reasons the mouse is so great. I have moderately small fingers and the mouse fits perfectly in my hand with enough surface area for multitouch gestures. I'm not sure if the size will be a problem for the larger handed users so best to test one out for your self. The mouse fits snugly in your hands and i can easily use it for a couple of hours straight with no problems. The mouse also connects to your computer via bluetooth so there is no need for a usb receiver. The range claimed on the apple website is 30 feet and i have never lost connection due to the range although i have never been using the mouse more than a few feet from my mac.
Battery
The battery life is another great feature to pick up on. Apple have really cut down on battery usage for the magic mouse as the batteries rarely run out. I have had the magic mouse for 6 months and only had to change the batteries once and that is with the mouse boeing turned on constantly. Even if the tie does arrise to change the batteries they take very accessible AA batteries which are moderately cheap as batteries go and are sold in most uk shops.
Value/Price
This is going to come in at around £40 unless it comes free with your mac so it is a fairly pricey mouse. However all the functionality if this mouse make it worth every penny for me and i cant see myself switching back to using my logitech mouse any time soon. So in value for money i would say that it it worth the £40 no question.
The Disadvantages
This is likely to be the smallest section as there is not much to write here. The only measly disadvantage that I was faced with is using the mouse for gaming as the sensitive mouse is not ergonomically designed for it and there is only one button on the mouse. It is fine for casual gaming and i play minecraft using it but if you want to play an FPS you might need another mouse. However macs are not typically gaming machines anyway.
Conclusion
To conclude i could not recommend this enough for the apple user but i would say try it in an apple store as some people hate these mice.
Read the complete review |
 |
Apple Magic Mouse
by Seven17
The apple Magic mouse comes in its a own protective box when you buy it new, you get a thick plastic casing to keep it clean and so far so good, it hasnt chipped when dropped, the cover doesn't slide off to easily, and its very easy to clean. On to the mouse itself, it is piano white and has a very glossy feel to it, you can get good ... grip all over the mouse and there are no small grooves to bet drit stuck in, so it is very easy to clean too.
Responsiveness is perfect, even on rough surfaces like wood the mouse works hreat and doesn't just wander around the screen aimlessly when its having trouble with tracking movement. No lag issues to report and despite being a wireless mouse it hasn't had bluetooth connection problems all the time. Connection is easy and simple, just activate bluetooth on your device, switch the mouse on at a switch underneath, and you're done.
Mechanically this device has been sound, nothing gone wring with it in the past 6 months and i have never needed the warranty. No buzzing noise coming from the mouse, and batteries need replacing roughly every month and a half. range is a good several meteres but depends on height, objects in front of the mouse and how much battery life you have left.
Comfort is excellent, my hand wraps around the mouse and because its chunky, i dont get strains or muscle ache when using it for hours at a time. The mouse is a little heavier than most wireless mice but thats ok because it gives that solid build wuality feel, its built to last and i suppose that's where your money is going, all these features and quality come at a price...
The problem then, is the price. £31 i paid and that was considered cheap and even included postage, these cost much more from official vendors such as Amazon and the Apple store itself. you get a 1 year standard apple warranty which covers a lot, all mechanical faults and what not. If you need this mouse then it comes at a price, apple know you will need it so the price is excessively high.
Read the complete review |
