Macally's rfMOUSE USB wireless optical mouse is one of the little fish swimming in Apple's wake, way ahead of Apple itself as far as mouse functionality.
We only hope the Apple folks are working on a two-button mouse with drop-down menus. Two buttons with drop downs are a given with Windows, and we foolishly assumed the mythic iMac G5 [Cue opening strains of Holst's "The Planets"] that took up residence here on Monday would have that capability and so much more to zing the strings of the blogging heart. But no. We nearly lost our cool [Who, you? --ed] yesterday after we sat down at the eye-catching newcomer's keyboard and started to blog for the first time from that platform. Our fast-talking Apple salesman, Scott Miller -- he doesn't smoke or drink gin like we do -- had mentioned that Apple mice have no right click, but, he assured us,
You don't need it.
Still high on the Kool Aid, we had lapped it up and signed on the cyberdotted line. Tuck expressed skepticism at our impulsiveness [Hey, big boy, you bought your ticket] but rallied to our side as loving helpmeet when everything seemed to hit the fan and tears gushed forth in the slough of our despond yesterday. Frantic phone calls to salesman Scott and Apple tech support ensued, but it was our blogpal and fellow catblogger Susan of Mind of Mog who talked us back down off that ledge.
We emailed her a detailed accounting of our concerns, and she sent us back a calm, reasoned, point-by-point, try-this-and-try-that action plan that we have been pursuing throughout this strange day dominated on the news front by terrorist-lite [no casualties] bombings in London. Details to come when we figure it all out -- maybe we can help some future naif who stumbles into this boggy terrain between Apple and a hard place. We did that once before with our "Photoshop not responding" post of March 18, 2004, which only a couple of days ago brought forth these grateful comments from reader Mark of Hancock Graphics:
Last night and this morning my old version 5.5 wouldn't open any photos, so I went to Google first, hoping to avoid a re-install. And there you were!
The tech gal at Apple we looked to for help yesterday, bless her heart, had never heard of blogs. Thank goodness WE had. Without Mind of Mog's excellent counsel, we would probably have lost our mind and followed those sheep over the cliff by now.
Hang in there. I switched to a Mac Powerbook in spring of 2004 and hated it until I got the hang of it. Now you can't push a PC on me for all the money in the world.
Posted by: jae | July 21, 2005 at 10:20 PM
Fifteen years ago i made the switch from Apple II to an IBM Aptiva. Had to rewrite over 40 Spread Sheets from Visicalc to Works. It seemed a mountain to climb at first, but once the technique was mastered, the view from the mountaintop was awesome by comparison. Who knows what wonders await each new tech advance.
Posted by: goomp | July 22, 2005 at 12:32 PM
Yeah, people kinda forget to tell you about that there learning curve... I didn't mention it on your post about buying one - because you had already bought it and I didn't want to freak you out. *grin*
Nope.. Macs and PC's are 2 distinctly different animals. Once you get used to one - it's very difficult to switch to the other - especially the right click option or lack thereof - which I'm pretty certain Macs will never have... after all they've had all these years to change it and yet it remains the same.
But think of it this way... learning all the new Mac stuff will certainly keep your brain limber - LOL.
Posted by: Teresa | July 22, 2005 at 05:10 PM