Posts tagged macintosh

October 20th saw the introduction of Apples newest creature, the Magic Mouse.

Rating (4/5)
Price: $69.99
Review Summary:

This is the first mouse to utilize Apple’s patented Touch Technology. Giving you all the  great functionality of your iphone; such as: Pinch, Scroll, Click, Double Click, and Flick.

The Magic Mouse does an awesome job of correcting past mistakes… such as having a right click! Yes! In addition it makes the whole surface into a sensor which has its practical application, such as scrolling through a PDF document quickly.

Apple has also done a great job with the accuracy of gestures. Meaning, when you pinch, flick or scroll — although it can at times feel unorthodox, it is quite precise.

All that being said lets break down the stars…

Ergonomics:

Magic Mouse not only looks great but also feels great. Apple spent plenty of time developing the texture of the sensor pad (on the top of the mouse) as well as weighting the front and hind quarters to perfection.

Gestures: (no stars)

Although the gestures are very accurate the one gesture I have in mind that is difficult is the swipe gesture. The swipe uses two fingers to advance backwards and forewords through photo albums, internet pages and the like. In order to execute this you have to awkwardly cradle the mouse with your thump and pinky while using the bulk of your fingers to swipe. Not a huge fan. The rest of the gestures are right on however which is why I have given the mouse as a whole a 4/5 stars.

Connectivity:

The Magic Mouses utilizes Blue Tooth technology in order to be wireless. This is the main reason why I’ve given it a star. Many wireless devices out there require a transmitter which looks similar to a thumb drive and takes up a USB slot. No Bueno! In addition this is a laser mouse, no trackball here! It tracks on the majority of surfaces I have tested it on, including: matte colors, bumpy surfaces, carpet, denim, & skin. The tracer did have problems on a mirror as well as glass — but thats to be expected. The performance was well worth a star.

Sex Appeal:

Have you seen this thing! I know I shouldn’t be surprised it being Apple n’ all but damn this thing is sexy. I have to say one of my favorite things about Mac products is the way they look and this certainly doesn’t leave anything to be desired. From the way the mouse clicks, to the contours, to the way light glints off the glass top — man of man I must be in love.

Overall Functionality & Price:

When purchasing any new electronic what it all really boils down to is a matter of dollars and cents. Does this new mouse provide new functionality that will make my life easier and provide a return on my investment? Does this thing stay charged for 5 seconds or will it last me for weeks like a mouse should? How durable is it? These are all tests the Magic Mouse passed with flying colors. At $69.99 its at a relatively affordable price and on par with the higher end Logitech mice that we are used to dealing with. In addition the battery life is great — I expect to leave mine on for at least 4 months (heavy use) without the batteries needing to be changed. Although you can get along just fine with your old mouse, this mouse will most definitely change the way you use your computer and give you style points to boot.