Where's the 2nd mouse button?

[dman8950]

Hello. There are no rumors here, I am just curious on what everyone thinks about the one-button mouse on all Apple laptops. To set things up, I am traveling for research this week, using my 5-year old ibook. I usually don't use it at home or in the lab, since there are better desktops available. Anyway, now that I'm using it regularly, I have been thinking about upgrading for many reasons like speed, size, etc. Although I don't have the $$ yet to buy a new Macbook or Macbook Pro, I got to thinking about why I would or wouldn't do it, and the one button mouse is at the top of the list.

Naturally I want the pro for obvious reason (other cost), but what kind of professional only uses one button?! I think the whole one-button deal is something Apple uses to simplify things, but these days Apple has "smarter" users, ones that don't need things simplified. What do you think?

So, yeah, do you think Apple will ever release a laptop that has two mouse buttons? Will I be holding out forever? The easy way to fix my problem is to just get a real mouse, but sometimes there's no room for a mouse.

EDIT: Who cares about the 2nd mouse button! I didn't know about the fancy new track pads on the new laptops, nor did I know about sidetrack (or iscroll). I'm content

 

[someguy]

In short, I think that the combination of useful, easy-to-learn keyboard shortcuts and the way OS X is laid out leaves little need for right-clicks. Besides, there is always control-click for the times when it is unavoidable (can't think of any off the top of my head, but you get the idea).

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

It comes natural. Having two buttons is ugly design from what I have seen. Besides, the ctrl-click is so sweatingly fast if you're used to typing on your laptop keyboard.

 

[sikkinixx]

i use the two-finger + button on my Macbook to use a right click and it works great! the two finger scrolling more than makes up for the lack of a second mouse button in my opinion

 

[ravenvii]

Well, in a way the MacBooks do have a second mouse button. Simply place two fingers on the trackpad and click. Presto!*

*you do have to go into System Preferences to enable it.

 

[erikamsterdam]

And what do you think of those stupid ugly PC laptops where you have to use a wheel to scroll? I simply *love* 2 finger scrolling, it totally kicks ass.
Honestly I never even use the button, you can just tap on the scrollpad to click, and with 2 fingers to right click. Much better for your hand too, no weirdo movements.

 

[dman8950]

i use the two-finger + button on my Macbook to use a right click and it works great! the two finger scrolling more than makes up for the lack of a second mouse button in my opinion

Well, in a way the MacBooks do have a second mouse button. Simply place two fingers on the trackpad and click. Presto!*

*you do have to go into System Preferences to enable it.

Wow, really? I didn't know this was possible. So, just two fingers on the trackpad+click = right click? That is good news. Does anyone know if this works on the MBP too? What is the two finger scrolling?

To everyone else, yeah, you are right that the ctl+click works just fine, I guess I'm lazy. If only I had smaller hands, it'd work better

It doesn't really matter to me if the 2nd button makes it look ugly, but apple does a great job making things look great, so I'll let them keep it up. I don't see why they can't just split the one button into two...it'd look the same except for a thin gap between buttons. But if the two finger + click works, that'll work for me.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[dman8950]

And what do you think of those stupid ugly PC laptops where you have to use a wheel to scroll?

Haha, I definitely don't want a scroll wheel. It looks like I need to head to the nearest store and play with the new laptops. This old ibooks is ready to be retired.

 

[iBookG4user]

you can use iScroll2 to do the two finger on trackpad + click rightclick function. It also lets you do the two finger trackpad scrolling.

 

[mduser63]

Two-finger click is on both the MBPs and MacBooks. It can even be enabled (along with 2-finger scrolling) on some older Apple notebooks using a utility called iScroll 2.

2-finger scrolling is a feature that makes it so that if you place two fingers on your trackpad then move them up and down, it acts like a scrollwheel. Horizontal scrolling also works, as does (I think?) circular scrolling.

 

[Tom B.]

Yeah, I think the single mouse button is much better on a laptop because it is more comfortable to rest your thumb on the middle of the button, instead of holding your thumb at the left so that you don't press the button on the right by accident.
And as others have said, you can still easily right click with other methods.

 

[dman8950]

WOW, don't I feel like a newbie...

Good point Tom. I didn't notice, but I always strike the middle.

Thanks iBookG4user and mduser63. While my ibook is too old for iscroll, sidetrack seems to be working. This is great! For anyone that can't use iscroll, you should definitely check out sidetrack.

Thanks for the comments and help, I feel like I have a new machine....yes....a brand new 0.5GHz macbook...