Forums | MacLife

Czachorski · 2009-10-03 12:45 pm

Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works
October 3, 2009 1:45 PM

Engadget reports that Apple may have a new KB and mouse in the works:

A new Apple Bluetooth keyboard and mouse have arrived at the FCC, and they've got new model numbers of A1314 and A1296 -- the current wireless keyboard is A1255 and the Mighty Mouse is A1197. That's pretty much all we know for now, but these keyboard dimensions are also smaller than the current model, which rules out a return of the numeric keypad -- sorry to dash your hopes, Excel jockeys. Is this the new keyboard rumored to accompany an iMac refresh? We'll have to wait to find out -- but on a similar note, AppleInsider says Steve Jobs himself is leading the development of this new mouse, featuring some kind of multitouch .

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Last edited by Czachorski (2009-10-03 12:46 pm)

ukimalefu · 2009-10-03 1:00 pm

Apple should make a real mouse with at least 2 real buttons and a real clickable scroll wheel.

NightCougar_37 · 2009-10-03 2:03 pm

Agreed. Never liked the Mighty Mouse. Also need something with wires. Wireless is all nice n such but I hate paying for batteries.

ukimalefu · 2009-10-03 2:14 pm

You can always get a rechargeable batteries, or even a recharging wireless mouse.

wellfleation · 2009-10-03 5:50 pm

The batteries on my Bluetooth Kensington mouse last a couple of months (only 2 AA batteries every couple of months is pennies).

wellfleation · 2009-10-03 5:59 pm

They better do a hell of a lot better than the MightyMouse. I get frustrated just using one for a minute or two at my local Apple Store. It's one of the worst mouses I've ever used. Why Apple can't make a good, very good mouse is beyond me when they do most everything else so well. Also, why Apple refuses to issue a full sized BT keyboard is also stupid. Obviously they could do it, there would be a demand, so it is just baffling.

knobtwirler · 2009-10-03 7:14 pm

Should be Mind Mouse. A beam scans your head when you sit in front of it, and it reads what you want to do.

c_norris1 · 2009-10-03 11:39 pm

knobtwirler wrote:
Should be Mind Mouse. A beam scans your head when you sit in front of it, and it reads what you want to do.

Isn't that what Microsoft is working on for the successor to the X360?

Mr. Happypants · 2009-10-04 2:51 pm

Since everybody else is re-hashing the same old opinion on the MM, I'll do mine too! wink

Love it, would have gone wireless if they were cheaper, lose the ball in favor of some other 4-way scrolling input & I'll buy one.

Donkey Butter · 2009-10-04 3:25 pm

when it's working the MM is a fantastic mouse.

mrreet2001 · 2009-10-04 4:55 pm

Donkey Butter wrote:
when it's working the MM is a fantastic mouse.

++

my only complaint is that you can't service the ball area to clean it.

Donkey Butter · 2009-10-04 8:03 pm

mrreet2001 wrote:
my only complaint is that you can't service the ball area to clean it.

not without breaking the mouse anyway (I've broken and re-glued mine twice to clean it)

Mr. Happypants · 2009-10-04 9:16 pm

I've cleaned mine at work countless times without taking it apart once. I don't get what all the fuss is about.

Mr. T · 2009-10-04 9:55 pm

The white Apple Keyboard was awesome. You have to throw it in the dishwasher every so often to keep it looking good, but otherwise, I like it. The Aluminum keyboards are nice, if you like the laptop feel. Personally, I prefer the longer keystrokes, but that's me.

The Mighty Mouse, however, is pretty horrendous as it stands, and hopefully Apple will address the problem in the new models. I've tried to use one a few times, and failed at right clicking. I've since learned that in order to perform a successful right click, you have to make sure you only have two fingers on the surface of the MM, then lift your index finger completely off the surface, and fire away with your ring finger. To some (namely, the three previous posters) this behavior comes naturally, but to me, and most others I know, it doesn't. So, if Apple adds real, clickable buttons, and a larger gunk-proof scroll ball, they'd have one heck of a mouse.

knobtwirler · 2009-10-04 11:59 pm

I'm of the adaptable, learn how to use it variety of mousers. I like the MM but if it the ball gets too dirty, meaning you don't clean it as soon as it gives you trouble, it gets over-dirty and needs to be popped open to be cleaned. Apple tends to advise on keeping it spotless white and dust free all the time, and with such maintenance it probably wouldn't need to be broken apart.

~Coxy · 2009-10-05 2:31 am

I like the Mighty Mouse, but I don't use scroll wheels and don't use side button so that certainly helps!

pirloui · 2009-10-06 10:01 pm

I like my keypad equipped alu keyboard very much.

I hope they will reintroduce the keypad as some people are actually -working- with their computers.

mrreet2001 · 2009-10-07 7:17 am

That's the reason I didn't get a BT keyboard ... I looked at it and saw it didn't have a number pad. I was like WTF

Pariah · 2009-10-07 5:24 pm

Isn't doing personal accounting pretty popular on computers?
Is there anyone who actually uses the num keys at the top of the KB?
No num pad= Toy KB.

Jokotai · 2009-10-07 5:46 pm

I'm knee-deep in spreadsheets and VBA coding as a part of my job, so I tend to avoid such things when I'm at home. However, I do occasionally find need for it. The biggest dealbreaker of a short-format keyboard is that it just doesn't feel right. If I pull it off of the keyboard tray and sit it on my lap, I'll feel like I only have half of a keyboard.

mrreet2001 · 2009-10-07 6:12 pm

Pariah wrote:
Isn't doing personal accounting pretty popular on computers?
Is there anyone who actually uses the num keys at the top of the KB?
No num pad= Toy KB.

My dad never uses the keypad. He learned to type on the typewriter and had an apple //e for almost 10 years. He just got use to not having it and claims he can type faster with the numbers at the top. I however grew up with calculators so I use he number pad

wellfleation · 2009-10-07 6:42 pm

Mr. Happypants wrote:
I've cleaned mine at work countless times without taking it apart once. I don't get what all the fuss is about.

I find the MM the most awkward mouse ever made. The only reason the "hockey puck" mouse was worse is because it was only one click.

Mr. T · 2009-10-07 6:52 pm

mrreet2001 wrote:
Pariah wrote:
Isn't doing personal accounting pretty popular on computers?
Is there anyone who actually uses the num keys at the top of the KB?
No num pad= Toy KB.
My dad never uses the keypad. He learned to type on the typewriter and had an apple //e for almost 10 years. He just got use to not having it and claims he can type faster with the numbers at the top. I however grew up with calculators so I use he number pad

Your dad is right. Typing with the top row number keys is faster, if you know how to touch type (you're using two hands). The main advantage of the number pad is that it's easier to type numbers with one hand. So you can hold a paper with one hand, and type with the other.

wellfleation · 2009-10-07 6:57 pm

I just hope Apple learned their lesson as far as the MM goes and someone has had the balls to confront SJ about it. Then I hope SJ (let's go of his ego) considers it a failed experiment and orders that this segment of his engineer's start again at ground zero and totally change it for the better.

wellfleation · 2009-10-07 7:09 pm

mrreet2001 wrote:
Pariah wrote:
Isn't doing personal accounting pretty popular on computers?
Is there anyone who actually uses the num keys at the top of the KB?
No num pad= Toy KB.
My dad never uses the keypad. He learned to type on the typewriter and had an apple //e for almost 10 years. He just got use to not having it and claims he can type faster with the numbers at the top. I however grew up with calculators so I use he number pad

If you really need a number pad just get another brand of one. There are plenty of over priced good number pads. If you are hardcore with being wireless. I use Apple's BT keyboard just with my MBP and love the feel, but do not crunch numbers at all. I would still prefer it to be full sized though.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2009-10-03 12:45 pm

Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#2 2009-10-03 1:00 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#3 2009-10-03 2:03 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#4 2009-10-03 2:14 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#5 2009-10-03 5:50 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#6 2009-10-03 5:59 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#7 2009-10-03 7:14 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#8 2009-10-03 11:39 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

knobtwirler wrote:

#9 2009-10-04 2:51 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#10 2009-10-04 3:25 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#11 2009-10-04 4:55 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

Donkey Butter wrote:

#12 2009-10-04 8:03 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

mrreet2001 wrote:

#13 2009-10-04 9:16 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#14 2009-10-04 9:55 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#15 2009-10-04 11:59 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#16 2009-10-05 2:31 am

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#17 2009-10-06 10:01 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#18 2009-10-07 7:17 am

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#19 2009-10-07 5:24 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#20 2009-10-07 5:46 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#21 2009-10-07 6:12 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

Pariah wrote:

#22 2009-10-07 6:42 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

Mr. Happypants wrote:

#23 2009-10-07 6:52 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

mrreet2001 wrote:

Pariah wrote:

#24 2009-10-07 6:57 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

#25 2009-10-07 7:09 pm

Re: Apple May Have New Mouse and Keyboard in the Works

mrreet2001 wrote:

Pariah wrote:

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