Do you use a mouse with your MacBook Pro?

[ignatius345]

for general OS navigation, or web surfing: trackpad all the way
there is also stuff that's in between, but for ultra precise stuff like photo editing, or "serious" gaming, there is imo no way around a good mouse, unless you're a masochist

Same here. Trackpad is nice for general purpose stuff, but when I do any kind of design work (Illustrator, InDesign mostly), I absolutely need a mouse.

If it's more than an hour or two worth of work, I'm probably also elevating the display to eye level with a stand or even just a stack of books, and using a bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo.

(Nobody asked, but my current favorite mouse is the Logitech G305. It's a gaming mouse, but has no corny lights or anything, just nice and light with incredibly smooth and precise tracking. I never would have thought of this, but it turns out the DPI switch is very useful as well, and can be used to temporarily slow the cursor way down for very fine movements.)

 

[dmccloud]

Considering how good the trackpad is on MacBooks, I wanted to know how many of you use a mouse with your MacBook? Based on what I've seen/read, the trackpad is actually better than using a mouse (for daily usage and obviously not gaming).

When doing any sort of photo/video editing I will use a mouse because it's quicker and easier to do precise edits/selections. But the rest of the time, I'm using the trackpad on my MBP because it's just that good. I never use trackpads on Windows-based laptops because they can never quite reach Apple's level of usability.

 

[nburwell]

Trackpad works great for most general use for me. When it comes to photo editing (C1, LR, PS) I typically use a magic mouse. Although if I’m on the road traveling, the trackpad still suffices for quick edits.

 

[jerryk]

The trackpad on the MBP is probably the best in the industry. However, I still prefer a mouse, just none of the Apple mice. I use a Logitech MX Master with all my Mac and Windows systems.

 

[TinyMito]

I still prefer using a mouse over trackpad on 32" 4k monitor, on the macbook pro itself I prefer the trackpad. I have a pen tablet for design works.

Just too much swiping the cursor across a 4K screen.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

Same here. Trackpad is nice for general purpose stuff, but when I do any kind of design work (Illustrator, InDesign mostly), I absolutely need a mouse.

If it's more than an hour or two worth of work, I'm probably also elevating the display to eye level with a stand or even just a stack of books, and using a bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo.

(Nobody asked, but my current favorite mouse is the Logitech G305. It's a gaming mouse, but has no corny lights or anything, just nice and light with incredibly smooth and precise tracking. I never would have thought of this, but it turns out the DPI switch is very useful as well, and can be used to temporarily slow the cursor way down for very fine movements.)

Do you install the Logitech software suite?

 

[Traverse]

I am one of approximately 13 people who exist that actually enjoy the Magic Mouse. I only use the trackpad for the zoom gesture honestly. Better Touch Tool + Magic Mouse has me covered.

 

[DaveEcc]

I use trackpad on MBP, and a Microsoft Basic mouse on both my iMac, and work Dell laptop.

I cannot stand PC trackpads. They're all so twitchy. I can't hover my finger over the pad without it clicking, or jostling the cursor around. I have the Dell setup to disable the trackpad when a mouse is connected. With a MBP, I've never had a problem.

As for the "Is the Magic Mouse any good" question. I tried to get used to it for about a year. I just couldn't.

First, like PC trackpads, the touch was too sensitive. When moving between keyboard to mouse it would decide I'd done some sort of gesture and scroll, assume I meant to go "back", or some other nonsense. No matter how steady I'd try to grab it, or how "all at once" I tried to be, I'd trigger something. Infuriating. They really should have had some sort of delay on accepting gestures when detecting you're just grabbing the mouse.

Second, Mojang and Google Maps both refused to interpret the scroll gestures correctly. I couldn't easily change inventory slots in Minecraft (without relying on the keyboard), and Google would just zoom to as far in or as far out as possible at the slightest use of the scroll action. Often accidental input ended up wasting any mapping effort I tried. Perhaps Google was trying to hurt Apple's brand, but I really just hurt my opinion of Google... the rest of the web dealt with scrolling just fine.

Third, and what did hurt my opinion of Apple though, was that the mouse was awful finicky about batteries being the exact diameter they preferred. I had the first rev mouse that used actual batteries. I figured Eneloops were perfect, as they keep charge when not used for a long time... but no. The batteries didn't sit quite aligned with where Apple wanted them, and would just not work half the time. Wrapping them in a sheet or two of paper to increase their diameter enough to made them work. AA (or AAA, I don't remember) connectors shouldn't have so little tolerance. The next gen mouse with the built in battery with the charging port on the bottom instead of the back like every corded mouse ever... I just don't understand. Sure it charges quickly, but something you just need to get something done *now*. Whoever designed that is probably the same person that designed the Apple Pencil v1 charging by sticking out the bottom of your iPad. Colossally bad user hostile designs, IMO.

 

[EdwardC]

Absolutely, I have a ThinkPad and a MacBook and both are used with a mouse.

 

[brerlappin]

I use the Wacom Intuos Pro S for graphic work with the MBP

 

[avz]

I am using my Late 2008 MacBook in a clamshell mode with external monitor and a wireless Mighty Mouse which I bought together with the MacBook in February 2009.

 

[ignatius345]

Do you install the Logitech software suite?

I did, so that I could program the side buttons and DPI settings. I made sure to set it to "onboard memory mode" or whatever they call it so that the settings are stored on the mouse itself and carry over onto whatever machine I use it with. Once that's done, I just uninstalled that Logi software because it's kind of ugly and I like to keep extra crap off my machine.

Anyway, it's a very light and precise mouse and I love it. I get probably 6 months out of a rechargable AA before I have to swap it out.

Based on my experience previous Logitech mice crapping out, I bought an extended warranty (Ascurion, which popped up with my Amazon transaction) and they covered replacement when the left click switch button started double-clicking on its own maybe 1.5 years into owning it. Ascurion was awesome and covered me for a replacement.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

I did, so that I could program the side buttons and DPI settings. I made sure to set it to "onboard memory mode" or whatever they call it so that the settings are stored on the mouse itself and carry over onto whatever machine I use it with. Once that's done, I just uninstalled that Logi software because it's kind of ugly and I like to keep extra crap off my machine.

Anyway, it's a very light and precise mouse and I love it. I get probably 6 months out of a rechargable AA before I have to swap it out.

Based on my experience previous Logitech mice crapping out, I bought an extended warranty (Ascurion, which popped up with my Amazon transaction) and they covered replacement when the left click switch button started double-clicking on its own maybe 1.5 years into owning it. Ascurion was awesome and covered me for a replacement.

Cool that you can install the settings in the mouse - I didn’t know that was an option! I am always hesitant to install software that integrates into the os so deeply. How did you uninstall? Does Logitech off an uninstaller, or you dragged to the trash?

 

[jlc1978]

Any mouse recommendations for the MacBook Pro 14"? Is the Magic Mouse any good? Looking at its shape and profile, it seems it would be a bit uncomfortable to use?

Depends on what you want in a mouse. I have one but never got used to it, perhaps because I like more buttons.

I have a Logitech M270 and use USB Overdrive to define the buttons so I can move windows between monitors, make them fit the screen, Hal right / left, open finder, etc. all with the touch of a button.

Better Touch Tool is a good program as well. I used it when I had a Touch Bar Mac.

I use the trackpad but find the lack of customization makes me stick with my mouse, plus I go back to pre-trackpad, where the mouse was an integral part of the U/I so it's an ingrained habit.

 

[cthompson94]

I use a mouse (and keyboard) when I am basically using my MBP as a desktop on a stand connected to a monitor.

 

[jlc1978]

Cool that you can install the settings in the mouse - I didn’t know that was an option! I am always hesitant to install software that integrates into the os so deeply. How did you uninstall? Does Logitech off an uninstaller, or you dragged to the trash?

I found USB Overdrive or Better Touch Tool better tools for customization.

 

[ignatius345]

Cool that you can install the settings in the mouse - I didn’t know that was an option! I am always hesitant to install software that integrates into the os so deeply. How did you uninstall? Does Logitech off an uninstaller, or you dragged to the trash?

Yeah, the mouse has onboard memory which is really helpful.

I think Logi G Hub has an unstaller? Either I did that or I just used App Cleaner to get remove the stuff it installed.

 

[ignatius345]

I found USB Overdrive or Better Touch Tool better tools for customization.

More powerful, I'm sure, but I don't think either of those can write to the mouse's onboard memory like Logitech's software can though.

 

[jlc1978]

More powerful, I'm sure, but I don't think either of those can write to the mouse's onboard memory like Logitech's software can though.

Probably not but then my mouse doesn’t have onboard memory.

 

[Algus]

Not typically

I really, really like Apple touchpads. I even bought the magic trackpad for my desktop Mac I like it so much. I still want that mouse for computer games (uh not Apple's mouse which is...less ergonomic then I'd like...) but for the most part I am so used to using a trackpad at work now that I am actually slower to do things on a mouse.

 

[whitby]

I use the trackpad for browsing, messages and light document editing, but for photo editing and other more complex jobs I use a mouse. Logitech MX Anywhere when in tight spaces and Logitech MX Master when I have enough desktop real estate. I find that mice are much more precise and easier to control. I also use a graphics pad with a stylus for really complicated photo work. Trackpad is fine for travel and mobile use, but in the end the mouse wins if I have the space. I don’t hate trackpads but I find positioning cursors in documents and drag and dropping so much easier with a mouse.