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The whole point of turning a tape over and pressing Fast Forward instead of having a Rewind button is that it lowers the production costs of the unit, which is what they did with cheap units right up until CDs became popular. The higher market Walkman clones always had Rewind buttons.

Why are people complaining so much about a one-button wireless mouse? If you think that a Logitech MDJDMNC9385r0wufor84jfc93 with 56 buttons is a better choice, buy that! Why are you waiting for an Apple-branded device specifically?

... that it lowers the production costs of the unit, which is what they did with cheap units right up until CDs became popular.

*emphasis added*

Hmmm...I wonder what impression these units gave to purchasers when other models were available with "Rewind" buttons?  How many of these units were desirable compared to the other full-featured walkmans?   

I also wonder what impression apple is giving.

Edit here since the thread has branched into gaming and whatnot:

Well, *we* in this forum obviously care about Apple and know that they make some well-designed products (including the mouse).  However, many *other* people do not.  We can all feel smug about how great our computers (and mice) are, but the rest of the world for some reason doesn't share our enthusiasm.  In other words, sure, we all know (or some people think) that Apple makes great mice despite it having one button.  Some others don't, and they could have the wrong impression about Apple in a few years (just like the "no Rewind" walkmans).  They obviously do right now. 

Of course we know that we can obtain multi-button mice from different companies.  Many potential switchers *do not*.  From personal experience and anectodal evidence on these boards, it is hard for other potential switchers to get over this also.  I know it is not the only thing that prevents people from switching, but a multi-button mouse seems to be a very small change to make (its not like designing a motherboard).

It all comes down to this: does Apple want to continue to be a small, yet profitable company with a small user base?  Or does it want to be a profitable company with a larger user base (I'm assuming that it does not want to be an unprofitable company and that the two are not exclusive to each other as some people who post here seem to think).  I would think that it is more risky with a smaller user base (yes, yes, they are doing fine now and have a lot of cash reserves, etc.), and making a small change to a multi-button mouse (or offering it as an option) would clear yet another hurdle for potential switchers.  Now for the arguments:

1) It is too complicated: yes, for beginners.  But most potential switchers are from the PC and have been using multi-button mice already (there is no "beginner" model with a one mouse button.  Have you seen some of the kids coming up?  They know there way around a computer and multi-button mice like the back of their hand.
2) You can get a multi-button mouse if you want: true.  But somehow the word is not getting out.  How do people with no experience with Macs know this?
3) You can just take your other hand and hold down the command or control key.  Yes, you can always take out the tape, flip it over, press fast forward, and flip the tape over again to play it.  Instead of using a word processor, you can always use a typewriter.  Better yet, make it a manual, and use one of those brush erasers to get rid of your mistakes (instead of the handy "delete" key).  Calculate all of your footnotes, count how many lines from the bottom you need to stop typing your paper, and keep track of how many lines you type (so you don't run out of space at the bottom of the paper) -- or you could just use EndNote.  The point is, at some point there is more convenient path available, even if it could be done the other way.

And yes, not all people who want multi-button scroll mice are switchers, but die hard Mac users who simply want an elegantly designed mouse that only Apple can provide.  As you so eloquently (?) put it, we don't want a cheap beige PC mouse.  What is the harm in Apple designing a multi-button mouse with scroll wheel and offering it as an *option*? It ought to keep both the purists and the pros happy.

give them credit, those two-button smurf bricks are often matte black or shiny silver along with beige. they've got three shades going now. i feel like demanding a 2-button mouse from apple is akin to demanding a decent downloading service fromthe riaa. oh, wait. theres itunes.

give them credit, those two-button poop bricks are often matte black or shiny silver along with beige. they've got three shades going now. i feel like demanding a 2-button mouse from apple is akin to demanding a decent downloading service fromthe riaa. oh, wait. theres itunes.

I really think its time for Apple to include two button mice. Why? Well aside from games being impossible to play with one mouse button like Quake 3, Starcraft and Aliens-vs-Predator2 to name a few, A lot of professionals buy macs and almost all the apps they use need a two button mouse or you'll be holding the cntrl key all the time.

Apple should add the option for a two button Apple mouse. I guarantee within a couple of months they'd find nobody wanting the one button mouse and phase it out.

give them credit, those two-button poop bricks are often matte black or shiny silver along with beige. they've got three shades going now. i feel like demanding a 2-button mouse from apple is akin to demanding a decent downloading service fromthe riaa. oh, wait. theres itunes.

I really think its time for Apple to include two button mice. Why? Well aside from games being impossible to play with one mouse button like Quake 3, Starcraft and Aliens-vs-Predator2 to name a few, A lot of professionals buy macs and almost all the apps they use need a two button mouse or you'll be holding the cntrl key all the time.

Apple should add the option for a two button Apple mouse. I guarantee within a couple of months they'd find nobody wanting the one button mouse and phase it out.

I found Q3 very playable with my one button, but when it comes to like America's Army and WC3, I just loooove my MX 700

give them credit, those two-button poop bricks are often matte black or shiny silver along with beige. they've got three shades going now. i feel like demanding a 2-button mouse from apple is akin to demanding a decent downloading service fromthe riaa. oh, wait. theres itunes.

I really think its time for Apple to include two button mice. Why? Well aside from games being impossible to play with one mouse button like Quake 3, Starcraft and Aliens-vs-Predator2 to name a few, A lot of professionals buy macs and almost all the apps they use need a two button mouse or you'll be holding the cntrl key all the time.

Apple should add the option for a two button Apple mouse. I guarantee within a couple of months they'd find nobody wanting the one button mouse and phase it out.

I found Q3 very playable with my one button, but when it comes to like America's Army and WC3, I just loooove my MX 700

Your score will get better when you discover the magic of scroll wheel/righc button on Q3! to cycle your gun and jump jump jump

My friend was discovering that multi-button scrollwheel magic...while I slaughtered him 32 frags to 0 frags with my inferior 1-button mouse.

give them credit, those two-button poop bricks are often matte black or shiny silver along with beige. they've got three shades going now. i feel like demanding a 2-button mouse from apple is akin to demanding a decent downloading service fromthe riaa. oh, wait. theres itunes.

I really think its time for Apple to include two button mice. Why? Well aside from games being impossible to play with one mouse button like Quake 3, Starcraft and Aliens-vs-Predator2 to name a few, A lot of professionals buy macs and almost all the apps they use need a two button mouse or you'll be holding the cntrl key all the time.

Apple should add the option for a two button Apple mouse. I guarantee within a couple of months they'd find nobody wanting the one button mouse and phase it out.

Exactly! Maya, which has been praised by Apple for coming to the Mac, REQUIRES a three button mouse. Yes, it is listed in the requirements for the product. Try using it without one and you will be hurting.

Later, Frank

give them credit, those two-button poop bricks are often matte black or shiny silver along with beige. they've got three shades going now. i feel like demanding a 2-button mouse from apple is akin to demanding a decent downloading service fromthe riaa. oh, wait. theres itunes.

I really think its time for Apple to include two button mice. Why? Well aside from games being impossible to play with one mouse button like Quake 3, Starcraft and Aliens-vs-Predator2 to name a few, A lot of professionals buy macs and almost all the apps they use need a two button mouse or you'll be holding the cntrl key all the time.

Apple should add the option for a two button Apple mouse. I guarantee within a couple of months they'd find nobody wanting the one button mouse and phase it out.

I found Q3 very playable with my one button, but when it comes to like America's Army and WC3, I just loooove my MX 700

Your score will get better when you discover the magic of scroll wheel/righc button on Q3! to cycle your gun and jump jump jump

My friend was discovering that multi-button scrollwheel magic...while I slaughtered him 32 frags to 0 frags with my inferior 1-button mouse.

I guarantee you wouldn't stand a chance against me. Multi-button mouse allows me to have access to functions I want faster. The one button mouse is not inferior, it just lacks buttons. One button, one function simple as that.

give them credit, those two-button poop bricks are often matte black or shiny silver along with beige. they've got three shades going now. i feel like demanding a 2-button mouse from apple is akin to demanding a decent downloading service fromthe riaa. oh, wait. theres itunes.

I really think its time for Apple to include two button mice. Why? Well aside from games being impossible to play with one mouse button like Quake 3, Starcraft and Aliens-vs-Predator2 to name a few, A lot of professionals buy macs and almost all the apps they use need a two button mouse or you'll be holding the cntrl key all the time.

Apple should add the option for a two button Apple mouse. I guarantee within a couple of months they'd find nobody wanting the one button mouse and phase it out.

I found Q3 very playable with my one button, but when it comes to like America's Army and WC3, I just loooove my MX 700

Your score will get better when you discover the magic of scroll wheel/righc button on Q3! to cycle your gun and jump jump jump

My friend was discovering that multi-button scrollwheel magic...while I slaughtered him 32 frags to 0 frags with my inferior 1-button mouse.

I guarantee you wouldn't stand a chance against me. Multi-button mouse allows me to have access to functions I want faster. The one button mouse is not inferior, it just lacks buttons. One button, one function simple as that.

Did I mention I was handicapped to 30% of my health and armor?  Whenever I play with my friends, they insist that I play handicapped to 50% health at the most.

Hey, I'll tell you what: you get to use your 52 button mouse, and I get to use my one button.

I'll win, though, because I've got a [b]super secret technique for winning![b] Simple place your left hand on the keyboard, and you'll be able to move and look at the sime time, switch weapons, jump, and more!!!!!!!!    

Hey, I'll tell you what: you get to use your 52 button mouse, and I get to use my one button.

I'll win, though, because I've got a [b]super secret technique for winning![b] Simple place your left hand on the keyboard, and you'll be able to move and look at the sime time, switch weapons, jump, and more!!!!!!!!    

you just made me think of an optical scroll keyboard. its easy, just move the keyboard around like a mouse. all the buttons anyone could ask for 

An AC adapter seems excessive for a keyboard and mouse, how about a USB cable that provides power?

And...! And...! They could make the cable a PERMANENT part of the keyboard so you wouldn't ever lose it! Genius!

For that kind of innovation, they should charge like $100!