A Look Back at Mighty Mouse

August 2nd 2005, Apple Computer introduced a new multi-buttoned mouse with an innovative scroll wheel. The idea was simple, the reaction was plentiful but criticism was to come.

Many had mixed feelings about the Mighty Mouse. Some were critical from the beginning, saying that it was stepping away from what Apple originally stood for—simplicity—with the famous single buttoned mouse. Some criticized the overall genetics of the Mighty Mouse, saying the scroll ball would eventually get clogged with dirt and become virtually unusable.

Then there were people like myself who were fooled into thinking that absolutely everything Apple creates is going to be about 95% perfect. I mean, it had the look and feel of the famous single-buttoned mouse except that it did actually have two buttons on top. Not only that, but two buttons on the side that could be used for a variety of reasons and that sexy little scroll ball, well, come on, isn’t this something all Mac lovers were looking forward to? Yes, but eventually no.

I purchased the Mighty Mouse, eventually, with skepticism, chiefly from reading an equal share of both positive and negative reviews. I remember taking a trek down to the Apple Store in Regent Street, London, with a couple of friends—who had iPod issues they were looking to sort—to buy this little rodent of a computer device. I got home that day, plugged it in, installed the drivers and I was away.

My first reaction? Wow, excellent! I couldn’t understand why so many people were knocking this mouse, it was sort of a revolution as far as Apple products go, we finally had a two buttoned mouse.

However, that joy wasn’t going to last. I believe I purchased my Mighty Mouse around September 2005 and used it pretty much daily until about two weeks ago, when I finally decided enough was enough. I wasn’t fed up with any of the software functions of the mouse, nor was I disappointed with anything else the mouse had to offer, as such. I was actually fed up of using the little white piece of plastic because the scroll wheel had completely clogged up. It had ceased to function and I was angry and frustrated that I could no longer take full benefit of the £40 I paid for it. I’m now planning to return it to the Apple store this weekend to see if I can get a replacement, but then I got to thinking, is there any point?

I look after my computer equipment quite well, especially considering the amount of money spent on it, I think it’s only right. But no amount of cleaning could prevent the scroll wheel getting clogged up.

Another bone I have with the Mighty Mouse is the optical laser underneath it. The original single-buttoned mouse for Macintosh, known simply as ‘Mouse’, had a much more effective and reliable optical laser attached (this sounds like something out of Austin Powers, doesn’t it?) I’ve noticed that some of the cheaper mice tend not to work so well on reflective surfaces, although I’m sure that’s debatable. The original ‘Mouse’ worked brilliantly on a variety of reflective surfaces, although I never had the chance to test it out on a white surface. However, for £40, the Mighty Mouse can hardly be considering a cheap mouse, yet it’s absolutely rubbish when used on reflective surfaces, so much so a mouse mat is needed.

Here’s something I now fear. Every new iMac sold since January, I believe, comes equipped with a Mighty Mouse as standard, no more singled-buttoned ‘Mouse.’ I’ve had my Mighty Mouse less than a year and it’s already gone pear shaped on me, so what’s in store for all those iMac buyers out there? It’s a worrying thought for Apple if other users out there experience the same issues I’ve had with mine.

Chris Howard broke the news to everyone on Applematters.com the day it was announced with an article called The Mouse Roars. Without putting words into my fellow writers mouth, I’m sure he’s now eating his words of owing Steve Jobs a beer for introducing the deceivingly-clever Mighty Mouse.

Editor-in-Chief, Hadley Stern, also briefly covered a dissection of the Mighty Mouse in September of last year, merely a month after the Mighty Mouse was released. Sure, this could cure mine and other people’s problems of clogged up scroll wheels, but must we, as users, really have to crack open the case of a product in order to use it to it’s full potential?