Apple Magic Mouse

The Magic Mouse is one of the heaviest Bluetooth devices that we tested. Weighing in at a whopping 10.2 ounces, this wireless mouse is about five times as heavy as some of its competitors. However, the product does not feel heavy or difficult to use. It also requires very little movement of the device because you can glide your fingers across the appliance to navigate through websites, iTunes or any other application.

The device itself feels very much like using an iPhone or iPad, but there are a few key differences. When using the Magic Mouse, there is no “pinch” feature to zoom in or out. Instead, hold down “Control” on the keyboard and slide your finger along the top of the product to zoom in and out.

The Magic Mouse does not have a scroll wheel; it has something much, much better. To scroll up, down or sideways, you can literally just slide your finger across the top of it, pausing to click on it wherever you’d like. Another feature offered by this product is a momentum scroll. Depending on how quickly you move your finger along the device, the scrolling of the page will continue with that momentum and slow to a stop as if you were using the monitor as a touch screen.

After connecting your Bluetooth mouse to your computer, you can use the system preferences to adjust your device to allow for right clicks or to change the product to a left-handed design.

The two-fingered swipe across the top of the device will allow you to scroll through programs or websites. You can use this function to navigate your way through your internet history, moving forward and backward through your web browser. However, the two-fingered swipe can be a little difficult to master. At first, the product might be sliding all around your desk or you might accidently initiate a two-fingered swipe when you meant to click or scroll up.

One of the drawbacks of this device is that it takes some getting used to. The Bluetooth mouse is smaller than most, the multi-touch management can be difficult to master and it isn’t as comfortable as some other wireless devices. The wireless mouse is not as ergonomically designed as some other devices.

The Magic Mouse is made from aluminum and the design is sleek and original. The on/off switch and two plastic bars are on the bottom of the gadget. The plastic guards help make the Bluetooth mouse glide over any surface. The wireless mouse is approximately the size of a bar of soap and is covered with a thin sheet of plastic. You simply will not find another wireless mouse that looks this cool.

The device functions best when used with Mac operating systems. We tested it with a variety of different Windows computers. While we were able to get Window 7 to recognize the device, we were not able to use all the useful features the Magic Mouse offers. We could not use it to swipe through pages with the two-fingered swipe or scroll up and down by sliding a finger along the top.

The wireless mouse uses 2 AA batteries that are included with purchase. Battery life depends totally on how often the it is used, but an average user that uses the gadget about 25 hours a week or less can expect to change the batteries every 4 months. On the bottom of the device is an on/off switch to conserve battery power. The light on the bottom will tell you the status of your battery life. And when it is not in use for an extended period of time, the Magic Mouse will go into a power conservation mode. The battery life with the Magic Mouse is comparable to other similar products.

The optical resolution is up to 1,300 dots per inch (dpi). This resolution is among the most competitive in the market. A high optical resolution will help your device to react more quickly and precisely to your movements. The sensitivity rating can be adjusted under system preferences.

Features:

The Magic Mouse from Apple has one of the most complete and creative feature sets of all devices available. There are some devices that use the scroll bar for up and down movements as well as side-to-side on the screen. You can use it to move all around any page in any direction. It may take some time to get used to all this freedom as you maneuver through websites and documents, but you are sure to love all the abilities Magic Mouse has. The Apple Magic Mouse takes four-way scrolling to a whole new level, surpassing the competition.

Another important feature to point out is that the entire mouse is clickable. This can be a blessing or a curse. If you need a line drawn down the center of a mouse to know which side to click on, this is not the one for you. Although, even expert users can accidentally click on the wrong side; we found the use to be intuitive and comfortable.

The Bluetooth mouse includes a plastic carrying case that fits the product perfectly. The case is hard-plastic for protection.

We would have loved to see a built-in feature that would allow you to scroll through the spaces on a Mac. However, there are third-party programs that can be downloaded to make both the expose and space maneuverable with the Magic Mouse.

You can use the device from up to 33 feet away from the computer you are using. The Apple Magic Mouse does not need you to plug a receiver into a USB port but in order to use it, your computer must be Bluetooth enabled. This not only frees up a USB port, but it also will mean you don’t have to worry about losing or damaging the USB receiver.

The Magic Mouse has the most competitive feature set offered. The absolute freedom of using the appliance as a touch-screen and the whole mouse being clickable are just the beginning. It may take a few minutes to get used to it, but you are sure to enjoy your experience with this product.

Support:

The Bluetooth Mouse includes a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty is similar to wireless devices by other manufacturers.

The website offers detailed tutorials of how to use the device and instructions of each individual feature. When we emailed customer support, our questions were answered completely and almost immediately.

Summary:

The design of the Apple Magic Mouse is outstanding: slim and original. The multi-touch operation of the mouse is exactly what the name implies, magic. The entire wireless mouse is clickable and completely ambidextrous. The only drawback we found is that it is only compatible with Mac operating systems. If you own a Mac give the Apple Magic Mouse a try.