The original Macintosh wasn’t the first consumer computer to use a mouse, but it was likely the first popular computer to include a mouse in every box, as it was designed to be operated primarily with one. The Apple Mouse that came with the 1984 Macintosh was the first to truly popularize the concept of mouse-driven computers.
The interfaces of the mainstream computers we use today are still dominated by the pointer-and-clicking paradigms that began back then. Why then, has Apple—a company famous for its attention to usability design—made nothing but awful mice for over 20 years?
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
The original Macintosh came with the original Apple Mouse. It was boxy with chamfered edges that sort of looked like the Macintosh, and had a single huge button—the days of multi-button mice were still years away. It wasn’t a great mouse by today’s standards, but all mice back then were bad. They used ball mechanisms that got caught full of desk gunk and didn’t fit your hand well. The O.G. Macintosh mouse wasn’t great, but it was at least as great as any other mouse.
For 1984, the O.G. Apple Mouse wasn’t half bad.
THE ADB MOUSE
The first ADB mouse was an ergonomic improvement, while sticking to the blocky lines of the computers of the day.
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Macworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Macworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
JBL Xtreme 4 speaker: A powerful portable for parties
The fourth generation of JBL's Bluetooth travel speaker is beefier, better protected from the elements, and louder than ever.
How the iPhone's Headphone Safety setting can affect a Bluetooth speaker
A setting designed to prevent damaging your hearing can also throttle external speakers.
REVIEW: iPHONE 15 STRAIGHTFORWARD EXCELLENCE
SUPERB CAMERA SETUP + DECENT BATTERY LIFE + FAST PROCESSOR = (RELATIVELY) AFFORDABLE QUALITY.
REVIEW: 15-INCH MACBOOK AIR (M3) SIMPLY THE BEST, BUT BETTER
THE M3 UPDATE TO APPLE'S MOST POPULAR LAPTOP LINE IMPROVES ON GREATNESS.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI LINK 2: PORTABLE PRINTER WITH RETRO CHARM
Photographer Chase Jarvis (fave.co/ 3xegpdk) said, \"The best camera is the one you have with you.
ALOGIC MATRIX ULTIMATE: A FOLDUP CHARGER THAT DOESN'T NEED A PLUG
I've reviewed a bunch of impressive portable multidevice wireless chargers recently, and this newcomer, the Matrix Ultimate, lives up to its name.
5 MWC announcements that should have come from Apple
The Android show highlighted some new tech that we want to see in Apple products.
We haven't seen the last of the Apple Car
From Al to CarPlay, Apple’s efforts weren't for naught.
AI is coming to the iPhone-and it could change everything
Generative Al is set to impact every corner of Apple’s ecosystem.
U.S. Justice Department sues Apple over its 'iPhone monopoly'
The DOJ is joined by 16 state and district attorneys general in claiming that Apple has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.