5 ms·

i think i recall reading somewhere that apple designed the mouse in the way they did in order to prevent people just leaving the mouse on charge 24/7 and hence

i think i recall reading somewhere that apple designed the mouse in the way they did in order to prevent people just leaving the mouse on charge 24/7 and hence not using its wireless capability while negatively affecting the battery. i’m not saying i agree with apple’s decision, but i find the perspective interesting.

rcruzeiro 3y ago
Im not sure about that as both the Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard both have the charging ports on their backs.
- wlesieutre 3y ago
  Neither of those gets wiggled around during use though. The wireless mice I've had with optionally connected cords for data/charging do tend to have a big glob of plastic at the end that locks into the mouse housing so none of the strain is on the actual USB connection. Things like these: https://www.amazon.com/Gaming-Mouse-Cable-Meters-Copper/dp/B08HLGJFSX https://www.amazon.com/Gaming-Mouse-Cable-Meters-Copper/dp/B... https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251800588456430.html https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251800588456430.html
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
bogantech 3y ago
It would be quite simple for the firmware to handle such use cases as that with some battery management. They just want to control exactly how you use their products
elzbardico 3y ago
Nah, it was a pure aesthetically oriented decision from John Ive. The ergonomics could be a lot better too.
- aerio 3y ago
  Jony Ive*
parker_mountain 3y ago
A more plausible explanation was that the cable strain of not using a specialty cable was also an issue. Look at where the cable attaches to the mouse on a conventional mouse - it's usually very reinforced internally or extenernally
- dkarras 3y ago
  it has become a meme, but really a non-issue in real life if you used the mouse yourself really. A minute or so of charging is enough to power it for a whole day of use. plug it again when you leave your desk for a bit and you'll have enough charge for days.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - stephenr 3y ago
    Who do you think you are dispelling memes and disenfranchising the chuds who need something to complain about. I mean really? Why do you have to bring actual use and reality into it? Seriously though. This is absolutely correct. I get that some people don't like it, but I really don't get the obsession with the charging port. I guess I should be glad that these people didn't complain the Apple Watch can't be worn while it's charging.
  - djmips 3y ago
    You could just spring for two mice. And if you do find yourself in a rush and your mouse dies then just go for the backup and charge the dead mouse and it becomes the backup.
2muchcoffeeman 3y ago
Use AA batteries.
- shepherdjerred 3y ago
  It'd be hard to fit AA and even AAA in the profile of the Magic Mouse. The obvious response is that the mouse should be thicker to accommodate those batteries, but that goes against Apple's entire ethos.
  - numpad0 3y ago
    1st gen MM uses 2xAA. Apple even had a branded NiMH bundle for that and keyboard.
    - imwally 3y ago
      Still use this one every day.
    - gumby 3y ago
      I still have and use an Apple branded AA chargers (came with Eneloops in Apple livery). It has the same connection system as the external chargers so I normally have it connected to a long cable. Used it internationally with the same adaptors as for my MacBook charger.
    - password4321 3y ago
      Received a refurbed Mac and someone had swapped out their mouse for my rechargeable one... always a song and dance to re-connect every time the batteries die. (I pretty much use another mouse to get to the Bluetooth icon on the menu, I'm no Mac expert.) I always shake my fist in the air and curse "Eric Seifert's Mouse" semi-silently in frustration!
  - Tagbert 3y ago
    The reason for the thinness of the Apple Mouse is so that gestures can be used on the top like a trackpad. If it were domes like a typical Logitech mouse, you couldn’t do that. Whether those gestures turned out to be useful is another question but that was the reason.
RulerOf 3y ago
I'd go a little farther than that—I suspect that they were worried a chunk of users would assume the device required the cord for normal operation.
cwalv 3y ago
Being able to charge it while in use might extend the life of the mouse past the life of the battery
- tonyedgecombe 3y ago
  The fact that you only need to charge it once a month indicates the battery isn't going through many cycles. I expect the battery to last a very long time.
  - Ringz 3y ago
    @Cwalv is still right. Especially if you value sustainability higher than the manufacturer's share price. And you should always do that.
goosedragons 3y ago
No, it was entirely to recycle the design and tooling of the Magic Mouse 1 which used AA batteries. The Magic Trackpad 2 and Magic Keyboard came out the exact same day as the MM2 but both of those happily work plugged in and even work wired while plugged in.
- mslt 3y ago
  Supply chain guy - This is it right here. Hardware accessories like mice aren’t driving substantial sales or revenue; they’re just a cost of doing business if you sell PCs. But swapping tooling and retraining staff on assembly is extremely disruptive for a manufacturer. That disruption is passed back to the 1st party brand in incremental FOB and per-unit surcharge. The incremental cost eats at your margin, which eats at your profit, which eats at your street price. So, if you’re forced to choose between margin erosion and incremental cost for a product that has little effect on sales growth, you save the money and recycle the design. People will bitch about the port on that mouse while they walk to the Apple Store to buy a new Mac that comes bundled with said mouse. Apple will save millions annually by not optimizing a product that doesn’t really make them any money on its own. When it’s reasonably cost effective to make a better peripheral, they will. Until then, they’re going to pay more attention to their books than people’s complaints, because mice don’t drive their business.
  - wredue 3y ago
    Oh there’s no shortage of people that defend the MM. That anyone uses this mouse for an extended period is insane. It’s heavy a fuck, not ergonomic in the slightest, has insane uncomfortable edging, and cannot be used plugged in. This mouse has no redeeming qualities at all.
    - monocularvision 3y ago
      I love the touch sensitive surface and prefer it over any other mouse with a spinning disc for scrolling. Is there another mouse out there that has a similar surface? I would switch in a heartbeat because I agree with the rest of your criticisms.
grishka 3y ago
The first-gen magic trackpad is even worse. It sits so close to a USB port, it's on the same spot on my desk 99.999% of the time, it has no valid reason to be wireless, yet it needs 2 AA batteries just because. Charging and swapping them is cumbersome and it always dies when you least expect it. Bluetooth is finicky too at times. I was looking forward to a USB-C magic mouse to replace it yet it didn't come.

rcruzeiro 3y ago

Im not sure about that as both the Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard both have the charging ports on their backs.

wlesieutre 3y ago
Neither of those gets wiggled around during use though. The wireless mice I've had with optionally connected cords for data/charging do tend to have a big glob of plastic at the end that locks into the mouse housing so none of the strain is on the actual USB connection. Things like these: https://www.amazon.com/Gaming-Mouse-Cable-Meters-Copper/dp/B08HLGJFSX https://www.amazon.com/Gaming-Mouse-Cable-Meters-Copper/dp/B... https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251800588456430.html https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251800588456430.html

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

bogantech 3y ago

It would be quite simple for the firmware to handle such use cases as that with some battery management. They just want to control exactly how you use their products

elzbardico 3y ago

Nah, it was a pure aesthetically oriented decision from John Ive. The ergonomics could be a lot better too.

aerio 3y ago
Jony Ive*

parker_mountain 3y ago

A more plausible explanation was that the cable strain of not using a specialty cable was also an issue. Look at where the cable attaches to the mouse on a conventional mouse - it's usually very reinforced internally or extenernally

dkarras 3y ago
it has become a meme, but really a non-issue in real life if you used the mouse yourself really. A minute or so of charging is enough to power it for a whole day of use. plug it again when you leave your desk for a bit and you'll have enough charge for days.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- stephenr 3y ago
  Who do you think you are dispelling memes and disenfranchising the chuds who need something to complain about. I mean really? Why do you have to bring actual use and reality into it? Seriously though. This is absolutely correct. I get that some people don't like it, but I really don't get the obsession with the charging port. I guess I should be glad that these people didn't complain the Apple Watch can't be worn while it's charging.
- djmips 3y ago
  You could just spring for two mice. And if you do find yourself in a rush and your mouse dies then just go for the backup and charge the dead mouse and it becomes the backup.

2muchcoffeeman 3y ago

Use AA batteries.

shepherdjerred 3y ago
It'd be hard to fit AA and even AAA in the profile of the Magic Mouse. The obvious response is that the mouse should be thicker to accommodate those batteries, but that goes against Apple's entire ethos.
- numpad0 3y ago
  1st gen MM uses 2xAA. Apple even had a branded NiMH bundle for that and keyboard.
  - imwally 3y ago
    Still use this one every day.
  - gumby 3y ago
    I still have and use an Apple branded AA chargers (came with Eneloops in Apple livery). It has the same connection system as the external chargers so I normally have it connected to a long cable. Used it internationally with the same adaptors as for my MacBook charger.
  - password4321 3y ago
    Received a refurbed Mac and someone had swapped out their mouse for my rechargeable one... always a song and dance to re-connect every time the batteries die. (I pretty much use another mouse to get to the Bluetooth icon on the menu, I'm no Mac expert.) I always shake my fist in the air and curse "Eric Seifert's Mouse" semi-silently in frustration!
- Tagbert 3y ago
  The reason for the thinness of the Apple Mouse is so that gestures can be used on the top like a trackpad. If it were domes like a typical Logitech mouse, you couldn’t do that. Whether those gestures turned out to be useful is another question but that was the reason.

RulerOf 3y ago

I'd go a little farther than that—I suspect that they were worried a chunk of users would assume the device required the cord for normal operation.

cwalv 3y ago

Being able to charge it while in use might extend the life of the mouse past the life of the battery

tonyedgecombe 3y ago
The fact that you only need to charge it once a month indicates the battery isn't going through many cycles. I expect the battery to last a very long time.
- Ringz 3y ago
  @Cwalv is still right. Especially if you value sustainability higher than the manufacturer's share price. And you should always do that.

goosedragons 3y ago

No, it was entirely to recycle the design and tooling of the Magic Mouse 1 which used AA batteries. The Magic Trackpad 2 and Magic Keyboard came out the exact same day as the MM2 but both of those happily work plugged in and even work wired while plugged in.

mslt 3y ago
Supply chain guy - This is it right here. Hardware accessories like mice aren’t driving substantial sales or revenue; they’re just a cost of doing business if you sell PCs. But swapping tooling and retraining staff on assembly is extremely disruptive for a manufacturer. That disruption is passed back to the 1st party brand in incremental FOB and per-unit surcharge. The incremental cost eats at your margin, which eats at your profit, which eats at your street price. So, if you’re forced to choose between margin erosion and incremental cost for a product that has little effect on sales growth, you save the money and recycle the design. People will bitch about the port on that mouse while they walk to the Apple Store to buy a new Mac that comes bundled with said mouse. Apple will save millions annually by not optimizing a product that doesn’t really make them any money on its own. When it’s reasonably cost effective to make a better peripheral, they will. Until then, they’re going to pay more attention to their books than people’s complaints, because mice don’t drive their business.
- wredue 3y ago
  Oh there’s no shortage of people that defend the MM. That anyone uses this mouse for an extended period is insane. It’s heavy a fuck, not ergonomic in the slightest, has insane uncomfortable edging, and cannot be used plugged in. This mouse has no redeeming qualities at all.
  - monocularvision 3y ago
    I love the touch sensitive surface and prefer it over any other mouse with a spinning disc for scrolling. Is there another mouse out there that has a similar surface? I would switch in a heartbeat because I agree with the rest of your criticisms.

grishka 3y ago

The first-gen magic trackpad is even worse. It sits so close to a USB port, it's on the same spot on my desk 99.999% of the time, it has no valid reason to be wireless, yet it needs 2 AA batteries just because. Charging and swapping them is cumbersome and it always dies when you least expect it. Bluetooth is finicky too at times. I was looking forward to a USB-C magic mouse to replace it yet it didn't come.