Apple 101: How to Correctly Use the Mighty Mouse

[Vincent Ferrari]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20090202101123418' target='_blank'>http://www.macosxhints.com/article....090202101123418</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Here's a simple one-finger solution for Mighty Mouse right-click problems: Use only your index finger for both buttons. Using the index finger for left-clicking and and right-clicking provides reliable operation of the buttons on both sides of the mouse. Your thumb should not be further forward than the side button on the left side of the mouse. The position of the fingers on the right side of the mouse is relatively unimportant."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1233840051.usr18053.jpg" /></p><p>As maligned as the Mighty Mouse is, it's still my favorite mouse ever.&nbsp; Apple did a great disservice making it not take-a-partable, and the silly roller ball (which is really the best part of the Mighty Mouse) really does get gunked up a lot, but other than that, I thoroughly love my Mighty Mouse and wouldn't trade it for any other mouse I've ever used.&nbsp; I haven't had too much trouble getting it to pick up right clicks, but I've also learned to make a distinct click on the right side.&nbsp; Maybe it just takes practice!</p>

[doogald]

I've had occasional problems with right-clicks. It's an okay mouse, but I just could not agree that it is excellent with the scroll wheel problems which, when they start, are hard to clear.

And, for what it's worth, so far the best solution that I have found for the scroll wheel is to roll the scroll wheel upside-down over a piece of blank printer paper. But I know that there is likely gunk internally which will never come out.

[gojeffrey]

I've loved the mighty mouse and I agree that the scroll ball is it's best feature. At the same time, it is also it's most confounding. I learned to deal with an unresponsive ball by rolling it upside down very gently on a piece of lint free fabric with a drop of rubbing alcohol. Let it dry for a minute, turn it back on, and I'm in business. The left vs right click thing was just an occasional annoyance for me.

That being said, I did recently get a newTargus bluetooth mouse made for the mac. Instead of a scroll ball, it has an optical four-way scroll "window". I couldn't resist the prospect of not having to deal with a gunked up scroll ball. I'm still getting accustomed to it, but so far I like it. Also, it has separate left and right buttons plus two side buttons I'll add that I'm using SteerMouse for better ability to fine tune the controls (I also used this with my mighty mouse).

There's my two cents.

[crimsonsky]

I've loved the mighty mouse and I agree that the scroll ball is it's best feature. At the same time, it is also it's most confounding. I learned to deal with an unresponsive ball by rolling it upside down very gently on a piece of lint free fabric with a drop of rubbing alcohol. Let it dry for a minute, turn it back on, and I'm in business. The left vs right click thing was just an occasional annoyance for me.

That being said, I did recently get a newTargus bluetooth mouse made for the mac. Instead of a scroll ball, it has an optical four-way scroll "window". I couldn't resist the prospect of not having to deal with a gunked up scroll ball. I'm still getting accustomed to it, but so far I like it. Also, it has separate left and right buttons plus two side buttons I'll add that I'm using SteerMouse for better ability to fine tune the controls (I also used this with my mighty mouse).

There's my two cents.

I'm with you on this. Right-clicking would drive me crazy, and this considering that I only normally have one finger on the beast. There are times I'd have to click 5 or 6 times before it would register. And let's not even talk about the ball!

I bought the same Targus BT mouse about a month ago and have been happy with it. It does take some getting used to, but right-clicking always works and the optical sensor doesn't get gunked up. I use the side buttons for Expose functions. Also, pressing down on the centre calls up Dashboard, just like the MM.

My only gripe with the Targus is that it isn't always discovered immediately when I reboot (I dual boot with Vista using Boot Camp) and it goes through the discovery screen. I've found that if I click a button a few times while booting, it'll find it, but if I forget to do so, it won't find it without going through the whole discovery routine again. Annoying, but not a deal-breaker.