The Magic uses Bluetooth for connectivity. That might not be as good as the dedicated 2.4GHz radio links found on mice from the likes of Logitech, but at least it means there's no need to fill a USB port with a dongle - especially handy if you're a MacBook Air owner.
Not chunky enough for a good grip?
We haven't had the Magic long enough to give a good picture of battery life, but we've no reason to be worried about it. Our Logitech V550 Nano has the same pair of Alkaline AAs it had in over a year ago. We don't think the Magic's two AAs will last significantly less than that, but time will tell.
The laser tracking scanner will power down when the mouse isn't being used, so how much battery life you get will ultimately depend on how you use the Magic and what batteries you use.
Battery swapping is easy
Verdict
Apple wants £55 for the Mac-only Magic, which isn't cheap for what is, essentially, a standard laser-optical wireless mouse. Look beyond the Apple marketing hype and that's all it is. Yes, it has that multi-touch panel, but it doesn't really do much you can't do with a scroll wheel. It's an alternative to that kind of device, not a mobile trackpad. But it is a better alternative, with superior scrolling than a tilting scrollwheel can manage and none of the dirt-induced problems all trackballs eventually suffer from.
Magic is certainly an improvement on the Mighty, but we still have doubts about Apple's ability to design an ergonomic rodent. For us, it's just too darn thin. We like to hold a mouse not push it around delicately with our fingertips, and so the Magic casts no spell on us. ®
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Apple Magic Mouse
COMMENTS
Oh come on, it's been 35 years
We are still getting all moist between the legs over a slightly different shape mouse?
We've been using the wretched things for around 35 years - the same time difference as between the Wright brothers and the Spitfire. The damn things should be obsolete by now, like keyboards.
Where are the brain implants that let me type at 560wpm?, the data gloves or triangulation cameras that interpret my finger movements, or the flicks of my eyes?
Where is the matt black hemisphere that we can think at?
It's a joystick on wheels, (perhaps wthout the wheels) not a major technological breakthrough.
last year VW, having fitted 'start' buttons to some cars instead of an extra position on the key, started to talk about 'transferring the technology' to their other marques. My Morris Minor had a 'start' button, and that was built in 1955. Same with computer rodents. For glod's sake, lads, invent something new instead of obsesively tiddling about with what we have and then squealing like some airhead on 'America's next top muddle' about how it looks.
I've got mine...
All this talk of ergonomics and 'fitting in your hand' is utter claptrap. It is not meant to fit in your hand. It is not hand-shaped. It is meant to fit on your mouse mat, which it does perfectly. You slide it around your mouse mat with a thumb and finger, there is no need to grip it or surround it with a hand. Your forefinger and middle finger can lie on top in a natural position or you can let go completely. Stroking front to back scrolls down a web page and stroking back to front scrolls up. If you are on a wide page, you can scroll from side to side. A two finger swipe left is the same as the back button in your browser and swiping right gives the effect of the next page button. There is no visible light from the bottom apart from a tiny 'ON' led. It is much better for pixel accurate editing in Photoshop than any other mouse I've used. It seems to work on any surface including my shiny white desktop and trouser leg but a spongy mouse mat makes a more comfortable rest for the ball of the hand.
@AndrueC
@AndrueC
"Best mouse ever [...] Logitech MX700."
I have one of these (and have used it for about 6 years now without any problem). I can see your point (it is a good mouse). But I can guarantee that my other mouse (a Logitech MXRevolution) is superior in just about every way. Apart from the AA batteries, it has all the features you describe above and some cool extra buttons and and a much better scroll wheel. It's also much more comfortable to hold.
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@Gulfie
Interesting point on the RSI thing. I've never found scrolling ona normal mouse to be at all uncomfortable, but I guess for some people it might be...
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