Can someone suggest a mouse for a 2003 iMac G4?

[davidg4781]

I recently pulled out my iMac G4 to play around with and maybe use to stream music. I can't find the older one button Apple mouse I had with it. I tried a new Logitech wireless mouse with a wireless receiver but when I plugged in the receiver, Mac OS doesn't know what it is.

I guess I would prefer a wireless mouse but a wired would work, too. The internal bluetooth antenna is damaged so it would need to have a dongle if it's wireless.

Also, where's the best place to get a replacement power cable? The one I have is torn near where it plugs into the Mac and might be damaged.

 

[AdamBuker]

If your Logitech mouse is a multi device it might be set on one of the bluetooth options instead of the receiver. If that’s not it, then it might be that the receiver requires USB 2.0 and if I remember correctly the earlier G4 iMacs only had USB 1.1.

If that’s not it, then try placing the mouse in a trebuchet for operator stress relief/amusement and minor device attitude adjustment.

Then go and buy a cheap wired mouse from best buy or purchase a matching vintage mouse from ebay.

 

[eyoungren]

Apple wired Mighty Mouse. That's the one with the rollerball in the middle. Excellent tool for scrolling web pages and long Finder windows (the rollerball).

I use one every day professionally and personally. Been my favorite mouse since around 2005. Lots of people don't like them and they complain about the rollerball, but at around $10 a pop now they can be replaced easy.

Best bit of the Mighty Mouse is that the right side (front) is an actual right click. So no need to use CTRL to get a right click like with the old mice.

 

[iBookmaster]

I bought this one on Amazon. It works great and is very smooth. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH8NP7PW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[davidg4781]

If your Logitech mouse is a multi device it might be set on one of the bluetooth options instead of the receiver. If that’s not it, then it might be that the receiver requires USB 2.0 and if I remember correctly the earlier G4 iMacs only had USB 1.1.

If that’s not it, then try placing the mouse in a trebuchet for operator stress relief/amusement and minor device attitude adjustment.

Then go and buy a cheap wired mouse from best buy or purchase a matching vintage mouse from ebay.

I'm pretty sure it requires 2.0. I get the unrecognized error as soon as I plug in the transmitter so I'm guessing it's just how it's configured.

Apple wired Mighty Mouse. That's the one with the rollerball in the middle. Excellent tool for scrolling web pages and long Finder windows (the rollerball).

I use one every day professionally and personally. Been my favorite mouse since around 2005. Lots of people don't like them and they complain about the rollerball, but at around $10 a pop now they can be replaced easy.

Best bit of the Mighty Mouse is that the right side (front) is an actual right click. So no need to use CTRL to get a right click like with the old mice.

View attachment 2463915

I'm guessing eBay? How does the rollerball hold up? I want to say I owned one of these years ago because I remember wondering if those cutouts on the side were squeezable. I don't think I still have it. I'll try to get one of these!

I bought this one on Amazon. It works great and is very smooth. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH8NP7PW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

That looks nice too! I might get this and the Mighty Mouse. On my newer mini, I liked the Magic Mouse for regular stuff but for gaming, I liked just a normal mouse.

 

[eyoungren]

I'm guessing eBay? How does the rollerball hold up? I want to say I owned one of these years ago because I remember wondering if those cutouts on the side were squeezable. I don't think I still have it. I'll try to get one of these!

Yes, eBay is usually where I find them. The rollerball has a tendency to collect debris (food, junk on your desk, etc) and oils from your fingers. Then it stops registering. However, this is usually after a few years worth of accumulating.

They are repairable. You just have to take them apart and clean the junk out from the rollerball. But Apple never meant for them to be repairable so the fascia on the bottom is well glued on.

I have repaired one by doing this. I just haven't gotten around to gluing the fascia back on yet.

But, yeah the rollerball was the main complaint on these mice and the fact that it's difficult to clean it without taking the mouse apart.

 

[salamanderjuice]

Apple wired Mighty Mouse. That's the one with the rollerball in the middle. Excellent tool for scrolling web pages and long Finder windows (the rollerball).

I use one every day professionally and personally. Been my favorite mouse since around 2005. Lots of people don't like them and they complain about the rollerball, but at around $10 a pop now they can be replaced easy.

Best bit of the Mighty Mouse is that the right side (front) is an actual right click. So no need to use CTRL to get a right click like with the old mice.

View attachment 2463915

It's not actually a real proper actual right click. Apple has an aversion to making mice with two button switches for some reason and it uses a touch sensor like the Magic Mouse to detect right clicks which means it has the same problem of making it impossible to left+right click at the same time.

 

[eyoungren]

It's not actually a real proper actual right click. Apple has an aversion to making mice with two button switches for some reason and it uses a touch sensor like the Magic Mouse to detect right clicks which means it has the same problem of making it impossible to left+right click at the same time.

In all the years I've been using mice (back to the mid-1980s) this is the first time I've ever heard of clicking like that. And I switched to Mac in 2003, so if this was a PC thing I still didn't know about it. I am guessing it's something you must actually do though, because you know about it. But I've never even considered that. It's entirely foreign to my work flow, at work or at home.

 

[salamanderjuice]

In all the years I've been using mice (back to the mid-1980s) this is the first time I've ever heard of clicking like that. And I switched to Mac in 2003, so if this was a PC thing I still didn't know about it. I am guessing it's something you must actually do though, because you know about it. But I've never even considered that. It's entirely foreign to my work flow, at work or at home.

It's used in some software like AutoCAD and is very common in modern FPS games (by modern I mean Call of Duty clones, so the past 20ish years).

 

[eyoungren]

It's used in some software like AutoCAD and is very common in modern FPS games (by modern I mean Call of Duty clones, so the past 20ish years).

That pretty much explains it then. I'm a Graphic Designer in print media. So, with the exception of some Multimedia design classes in the late 90s and using a 3D app every once in a while in 2000-2001, I don't use AutoCAD.

I used to play games a lot on my PC though, up until the late 90s-early 00s. Then the first kid came along in 2003 and I had less personal time. I didn't want to blow through all that just with a video game. Haven't played in over 20 years now. Although I'm a big fan of watching YouTube game waltkhroughs.

 

[840quadra]

It's used in some software like AutoCAD and is very common in modern FPS games (by modern I mean Call of Duty clones, so the past 20ish years).

IIRC you can assign the squeeze function to do that in windows. Provided you install the Apple drivers to that function. You can also assign the rollerball middle click as well.

Forget the process (will need to look on my 2024 Mini when I get home) but I assigned the squeeze function to left+right either in accessibility or with a 3rd party app for my Autocad use.

I still use the wired and BT version of this mouse daily.