Apple Mighty Mouse Compare Prices

Apple had stubbornly clung to their one-button mouse design since they first help make the mouse popular over 20 years ago, but they've finally decided to yield and give a two-button input device a try. Apple's new Mighty Mouse includes both left and right clickability, as well as a scroll wheel. It's a departure not only from Apple's typical mice, but from typical input devices as well.

First off, the Mighty Mouse is stark white. It will match most Macs nicely, but it may clash a bit with your Windows PC (the Mighty Mouse supports OS X Tiger and Windows 2000 and XP).

Secondly, there aren't really left and right buttons to click. The top shell of the Mighty Mouse is smooth, but the touch-sensitive hardware beneath can sense where you're depressing and activate a secondary function for the right click. Additionally, there's another programmable button that's used by squeezing the mouse between your thumb and fingers. It's a bit far up on the mouse, so you might have to reposition to access it, but it does add another click.

Next, there's the scroll wheel. Well, it's technically not a wheel at all--the little nub in the middle of the mouse is termed a scroll ball by Apple, and it allows you to scroll not only up and down but side to side as well. The scroll ball also serves as a middle click. Just press down on the ball and you've got a fourth button action.

All of the button actions can be programmed, and the scrolling movements of the scroll ball can be adjusted or even turned off if you don't want them. We did experience some errant clicks at first, especially with the middle and right click actions, but after an adjustment period the mouse proved quite reliable (it turns out we were holding our index finger down too hard on the left side of the mouse).

There's a 29-inch USB cord for the Mighty Mouse (it supports both USB 1.1 and 2.0), and rumor has it that Apple will come out with a Bluetooth version in the future.

At an MSRP of just under $50, the Mighty Mouse isn't a bargain, but it's a definite step forward for Apple and for Mac--or Windows--users who want more aesthetics with their input device.

Pro: Four buttons. Scroll ball moves on two axes.
Con: Pricey. Clicking action takes some getting used to.