iPad Mouse Support - The Missing Elephant

[bmac4]

The people who keep saying "If you need a mouse, get a laptop" are stuck in a time warp.

Adding mouse support to the iPad is optional. No one is saying the touch interface needs to go...it will always be there, front and center.

But if someone wanted to pair a mouse, it opens up a whole range of possibilities.

If you can't see that, well ok then. But it would.

I believe it's the other way around. People that say the iPad Pros need mouse support are stuck in a time warp. The times are changing, and mouse support is quickly going away. Right now if you need a computing device on the go, a laptop is your choice. All the 2 and 1s are neither great at being a full fledged computer or being a tablet. Apple is laying the ground work for the future, and it does not have mouse support in its future. Watch things like excel for the iPad will become way more usable with a touch screen. Just like everything else Apple adopts or makes standard, it becomes the standard. iOS is not built for mouse support and never will it be.

 

[HotEars]

The times are changing, and mouse support is quickly going away.

Huh?

What're you talking about? Mouse support is quickly going away according to who? According to you? Heh. Let me see your receipt.

Using a mouse/trackpad is superior to using a touch screen and that's why it won't ever "go away" anytime soon - at least until a better alternative is discovered. That's why the iPad Pro won't ever be a proper laptop replacement because it lacks the fundamental feature that laptops have. The iPad has keyboard support, will eventually get a file system support, and all it needs now is mouse support.

 

[darkarn]

In my previous example - if you're using a keyboard then the screen is standing up and away from your hands. It's an awkward position to use for touch and similarly awkward for a pencil - you're leaning across a keyboard at a strange angle.

Good point there; was in this situation quite a few times!

 

[seadragon]

The mouse isn't going anywhere anytime soon. It is still a useful and sometimes essential tool. Touch interface is not the be all end all of UIs and I don't agree with the notation that everything will be touch eventually. I just don't see that happening.

 

[Mousesuck]

The objective of ideally replacing your laptop with an IPad Pro is having the same productivity minus the hassel.

The simple fact that this replacement needs the existence of the appendice that is called magic keyboard is already a defeat of this philosophy.

This happened not because the keyboard is and will always be the best and faster way of inputting information but because the problem of inputting Information without a keyboard hasn't been solved yet, so in a sense It is for the moment a necessary compromise.

Compromising is risky, If you compromise too much you are not going to create a laptop replacement you are going to create a disfuncional laptop.

An IPad, that only really becomes pro when you bring with you the keyboard, the mouse, your sd card adapters and all the other design choices of past computation is not a MacBook replacements but the other way around...

Still this is the presente of the IPad Pro, that is as far as technology has taken us.

That being said, If you let this past design choices permeate the future in form of optional supports for arcaic mouses, what you are really doing is covering the problems instead of creating solutions that can only evolve outside those constrains.

If that would be the future of the IPad, it would be a failure, It would mean that no new computation philosophy was created and ultimately prove that you can't really replace a laptop.

At the end this is not a story about reinventing the laptop this is a story about reinventing the iPad.

So basically just buy a MacBook If you really want a mouse because I happily believe the IPad won't have one.

In a couple of years Augmented reality will erase the mouse anyways, the future is forward.

 

[sracer]

Super-light, small form factor device with mouse support = MacBook.
Super-light, small form factor device with touch = iPad.

Have any of the "iOS needs mouse support" people actually thought about how it would work? iOS doesn't even have a pointer anywhere in the UI, or scroll bars, or dropdown lists with a picker that would work with a pointer instead of touch. The whole UI is engineered exclusively for touch. Surface works with both touch and mouse because it runs normal Windows with touch support added. iOS is not macOS with touch added (thank God). Mouse support in iOS is not going to happen, apart from some niches like per-app support for mice in RDP clients.

Finally, before anyone brings up the stylus/pencil thing again because Jobs said in 2007 "if you see a stylus, they blew it":

• He was referring to the resistive touchscreen devices of the time where you needed a stylus for touch accuracy in comparison to the then-new capacitive screen on the iPhone - he might as well have said "if you see a stylus that you have to use to operate the UI, they blew it".
• He was referring to a device with a 4-inch screen, not a 9.7"-plus one where there are much greater opportunities for drawing etc.
• The Pencil contains a lot of tech (pressure / angle sensitivity for a start) that the dumb styluses of the day didn't have.

Mice in iOS is not the same thing.

Yes, I've given it a lot of thought. I've used mice on Android tablets, I've used mice on iPads (jailbroken) and still do (via Jump Desktop and Citrix X1 mouse). I've been a software developer, systems engineer, and UI designer for nearly 40 years. I am fully aware of the challenges involved. It is already workable on other mobile devices as well as iOS (unofficially).

Apple's lack of native mouse support is NOT due to a technical or UI decision challenge but by financial pragmatism. Clearly Apple isn't averse to implementing something that wasn't completely thought through... widgets and notifications being 2 examples. Even something as fundamental as per-app settings is disjoint in its design.

Adding native support for mice would make a significant dent in macbook sales. And could result in selling only 1 device rather than 2 (Macbook + iPad) Until/unless profit margins on iPads is as good as macbooks, Apple will continue to throttle back what the iPad is capable of.

 

[macduke]

This is a really tricky topic, but I feel like Apple could get away with having a gesture area or by making the smart keyboard gesture enabled since it has a slow, smooth profile. This would cut down on a lot of common tasks that a user must raise their hand to the display to operate. I feel like the main reason people want a mouse is because they're using a keyboard and it's annoying. It would also help if Apple would put some damn function keys on the smart keyboard. I hadn't really used one much until when I got my iPad Pro 10.5" on launch day and didn't realize it was missing basic crap like a home button, volume and playback controls, etc. My wife's ClamCase for the iPad Mini even has a row of dual number/function keys for crying out loud!

 

[adamfozzy]

Yes, I've given it a lot of thought. I've used mice on Android tablets, I've used mice on iPads (jailbroken) and still do (via Jump Desktop and Citrix X1 mouse). I've been a software developer, systems engineer, and UI designer for nearly 40 years. I am fully aware of the challenges involved. It is already workable on other mobile devices as well as iOS (unofficially).

Apple's lack of native mouse support is NOT due to a technical or UI decision challenge but by financial pragmatism. Clearly Apple isn't averse to implementing something that wasn't completely thought through... widgets and notifications being 2 examples. Even something as fundamental as per-app settings is disjoint in its design.

Adding native support for mice would make a significant dent in macbook sales. And could result in selling only 1 device rather than 2 (Macbook + iPad) Until/unless profit margins on iPads is as good as macbooks, Apple will continue to throttle back what the iPad is capable of.

Completely agree with this. Apple wants to target some users with the Mac and some with the iPad - adding mouse support to the iPad is moving it closer to the Mac and adding touch to a Mac will bring it closer to the iPad. Therefore they may as well have one device (at different price points and screen sizes) but they don't want to do this...yet.

I use the iPad as my only screen (apart from my phone). I have a Mac Mini that is my work computer that is headless. I too use the Jump Desktop + Citrix Mouse to access my Mac Mini through the iPad which works really well. Even when at work I still use the iPad to access the Mac mini. My reason for this is that I need the Mac only for full browser to edit my website plus screen recording but with the new features of iOS 11 (including Screen recording) then I will rely on the Mac even less. If I didn't have the Mac through work then I would just purchase a little mini Pc to replace the Mac.

Why have so many screens?
I have iPad Pro, Smart Keyboard, Citrix mouse, Mac mini and Jump desktop which cost approx £1200

A macbook, iPad Pro and Smart keyboard would be approx £2100. Why spend nearly £1000 more when it only gives me an extra screen. A graphics designer may disagree.

Went off topic a bit at the end but my point is that why buy a MacBook if you only want mouse support unless there is Mac specific software you use.

 

[bufffilm]

I believe it's the other way around. People that say the iPad Pros need mouse support are stuck in a time warp. The times are changing, and mouse support is quickly going away. Right now if you need a computing device on the go, a laptop is your choice. All the 2 and 1s are neither great at being a full fledged computer or being a tablet. Apple is laying the ground work for the future, and it does not have mouse support in its future. Watch things like excel for the iPad will become way more usable with a touch screen. Just like everything else Apple adopts or makes standard, it becomes the standard. iOS is not built for mouse support and never will it be.

Apple is the one in the quandary.

If they make the iPad more powerful, it starts to takes away from their desktop and laptop market. We are seeing this already now to a degree.

What Apple is trying to do is have their cake and eat it too. Only I'm not sure how successful they will ultimately be in their endeavor.

By introducing rudimentary features like split-Windows (in ios9) and some file handling (and enhancing the split-Windows) in ios11, they hope to get some more of the light PC/laptop crowd to ditch their machines.

But as long as they are unwilling to add mouse support to the iPad, it will continue to be a niche product.

And Windows and other solutions will continue to erode that market share.

 

[canesalato]

I believe it's the other way around. People that say the iPad Pros need mouse support are stuck in a time warp. The times are changing, and mouse support is quickly going away. Right now if you need a computing device on the go, a laptop is your choice. All the 2 and 1s are neither great at being a full fledged computer or being a tablet. Apple is laying the ground work for the future, and it does not have mouse support in its future. Watch things like excel for the iPad will become way more usable with a touch screen. Just like everything else Apple adopts or makes standard, it becomes the standard. iOS is not built for mouse support and never will it be.

iOS is not built to run multiple apps at the same time and never will be.
iOS is made for fingers. It is not built to support a stylus and never will be.
iOS does not need a file manager, Apple will never add one. if you need a file manager buy a laptop.

 

[bmac4]

Apple is the one in the quandary.

If they make the iPad more powerful, it starts to takes away from their desktop and laptop market. We are seeing this already now to a degree.

What Apple is trying to do is have their cake and eat it too. Only I'm not sure how successful they will ultimately be in their endeavor.

By introducing rudimentary features like split-Windows (in ios9) and some file handling (and enhancing the split-Windows) in ios11, they hope to get some more of the light PC/laptop crowd to ditch their machines.

But as long as they are unwilling to add mouse support to the iPad, it will continue to be a niche product.

And Windows and other solutions will continue to erode that market share.

Will they? How are the 2-1s doing? The surface line? Are they are taking the iPad market share?

 

[onepoint]

The objective of ideally replacing your laptop with an IPad Pro is having the same productivity minus the hassel.[sic]

A new account just for this drivel? Bravo. Bravo.

 

[bmac4]

iOS is not build to run multiple apps at the same time and never will be.
iOS is made for fingers. It is not build to support a stylus and never will be.
iOS does not need a file manager, Apple will never add one. if you need a file manager buy a laptop.

I will agree Apple has change quite a bit since the introduction of the iPad on what it was. I will give you that those things have since been added, but mouse support will not be one of them.

 

[onepoint]

Will they? How are the 2-1s doing? The surface line? Are they are taking the iPad market share?

Perhaps check in when the new ARM-based, LTE-connected Windows portables hit the market later this year. Should be interesting. I can't imagine they'd be moving into the space if they didn't see an opportunity.

 

[AZhappyjack]

… that's why it won't ever "go away" anytime soon - at least until a better alternative is discovered…

WON'T EVER … UNTIL…

I don't personally see the need for a mouse on a touch screen device, but that's just me. Obviously, others see it differently. My beef with Apple is that they seem to lack focus and direction at this point. IMO, that won't change under Tim Cook's leadership.

 

[Mousesuck]

A new account just for this drivel? Bravo. Bravo.

Honestly I have been an in and out lurker probably from the beginning of this community and today I just said **** It and finally created the account.

 

[alecgold]

You know - if Apple is so much into touch, it doesn't have to be a mouse - Magic Trackpad support will be a start. The only thing is the Magic Trackpad might be a bit bulky to pack on the go. A built-in trackpad to the keyboard (like the Surface) will be another option.

Let's admit it - Apple is slowly going down the Surface route with the iPad. Pencil is plenty proof!

The iPad is a gigantic trackpad
Edit: wrong language

 

[bmac4]

Perhaps check in when the new ARM-based, LTE-connected Windows portables hit the market later this year. Should be interesting. I can't imagine they'd be moving into the space if they didn't see an opportunity.

Maybe, but it does not seem to be a thriving market. Either you want just a tablet or just a computer. Maybe it takes off, but I just don't see that happening. I see more people working around their iPad making it their one device for work and fun without a mouse. The more people do this, the less need for mouse support becomes.

 

[bufffilm]

Will they? How are the 2-1s doing? The surface line? Are they are taking the iPad market share?

Actually they are.

The iPad is uncontested as a consumption device. But the last few years, many are looking for more from their tablet.

The Surface line, the growth of 2-for-1, introduction of Chromebooks ...all are eating alway at that market share as people try the alternatives. The tablet market including the iPad has never recovered from their heyday.

The competition is not going away.

 

[Pete Rodgers]

Honestly I have been an in and out lurker probably from the beginning of this community and today I just said **** It and finally created the account.

I just dipped my toe in after lurking for years. It's a bit of a scary place!!

 

[seadragon]

I just dipped my toe in after lurking for years. It's a bit of a scary place!!

I must say though, its a very civil discussion going on in this thread so far. Even though people have different views on the topic, its a great discussion.

 

[scupking]

What I want is a dock that looks like a mac book without the screen and you can then dock your iPad on it when needed.

 

[rufas2000]

My attendance program the school has "provided" (i.e. requires) me to use requires drag & drop to move seats in the seating chart around (they start in a big bunch and I have to drag them out one by one). I'd like to be able to use my iPad Pro to perform that function. I'd rather it be via finger or pencil but something to drag objects around in Safari at least would be nice.

Yes they provide a (very old and slow) Macbook for me to use. I don't like laptops, especially the ones they provide, and would prefer to use my iPad Pro to complete the task.

But very optional mouse support (which comes with it new items for Apple to sell) is my vote. As long as it doesn't mess with the elegance of the current touchscreen interface.

 

[alecgold]

Why ever buy an iPad in that case? Couldn't you ask the same question about literally every feature - keyboard, file system etc.

People want iPads because they're very portable and let them do many things well - sometimes better than a normal laptop. So if adding some additional functionality brings more value to users without killing anyone's dog, why not do it?

And I honestly find it hard to believe people can't understand why you'd want a mouse on an iPad. We want it for precisely the reasons a mouse/trackpad is useful on computers - rapid and precise relative pointing. Neither touch nor pencil can deliver that. And that combines with the comfort from having keyboard & mouse vs keyboard and reaching across to peck at a wobbly vertical slab of glass

Then why not use a pencil if it is needed to be precise? I do that all the time in excel e.g.

 

[seadragon]

Then why not use a pencil if it is needed to be precise? I do that all the time in excel e.g.

For me, when using the iPad with the Smart Keyboard it is much more "natural" to reach horizontally for a mouse rather than pickup up the pencil, raising hand and tapping the screen. With a mouse, the experience is exactly like using a laptop and that is ideally what I'd like while its mounted in the Smart Keyboard. But the beauty of it is that you can still touch the screen and do stuff if you want to. That is why I think mouse support would be amazing. You can interface with the iPad however you like.