As I write this, I am awaiting the shipment of my third wireless Mighty Mouse, courtesy of AppleCare, in less than 16 months. I’m betting most of you who’ve owned a Mighty Mouse (wireless or not) for over 6 months will know what my issue has been. That’s right: the trackball. It just stops working!
This seems to be the case with most people I know who’ve owned a Mighty Mouse for more than half a year, and it’s happened to me with both of my Mighty Mice within 5-7 months. Cleaning helps the first few times, but after that, no amount of cleaning that doesn’t involve taking the entire thing apart (something Apple clearly doesn’t want you to do, judging by the build), seems to help.
Apple: I agree that the Mighty Mouse, especially the wireless one, is an awesome idea, and the ability to scroll horizontally is nothing short of bad ass, but when I pay $70 for a mouse, I expect it to last more than 6 months. I feel especially sorry for those who purchased the Mighty Mouse separate from their Macs, thus leaving it uncovered by extended AppleCare.
Has anyone actually had a Mighty Mouse that’s consistently worked well for over, say, 8 months? If you’ve had your Mighty Mouse less than 8 months, I don’t want to hear that it’s still working. It won’t for long, k? More importantly, has anyone found a viable, bluetooth alternative to the Mighty Mouse? Once my three year extended warranty is up, there’s no way I’m shelling out the money for another one of these.
Any Wirles mouse will work
a mouse is a mouse is a mouse .
take a look at these
Logitech LX6 Cordless Optical Mouse - mouse
Mouse - optical - wireless - RF - USB / PS/2 wireless receiver - black, silver
MFG #: 910-000485 | CDW #: 1411731
Logitech LX5 Cordless Optical Mouse - Wireless
Cordless, Optical, Mouse
MFG #: 931451-0403 | CDW #: 850736
Mighty mouse did repeatedly clog.
Using Logitech V470 & like it.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TQ089LL/A?cid=AOS-US-SHOP-Froogle&fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/mice_keyboards&mco=MTE4MjIz
I gave up on my MM awhile ago. I loved the design and the trackball but got tired of cleaning it. It really needs a redesign, at least the trackball. I've been using a RadTech BT-600 BlueTooth mouse now and although it doesn't have a scroll ball, I like the idea that when the batteries die I can plug it in a USB port and it will charge them, while I work.
Forgot to add that the V470 is for my Macbook.
For the desktop, I use a wired Logitech MX400 that is very comfortable, accurate,has multifunction buttons, and doesn't need batteries.
I have owned a wireless mighty mouse for over 1 year and it does clog from time to time. The answer so for for me has been to hold it in one hand, and pushing down on the trackball very hard, roll it until it starts working again.
I've had the same one since January 2007. It's a bit annoying to have to clean the ball every month or so, but it's been great otherwise. But even if I'd had more problems, I'd still use the Mighty Mouse. Horizontal scrolling in audio production is a dream.
Yes, I have a wireless mighty mouse that I bought as a refurb from apple. It's been working for at least a year, maybe a year and a half. Can't remember when I got it, but it's been a while.
Had my mouse for about 20 months. A couple of times it stopped scrolling down (but up worked fine). I cleaned the ball with a screen-cleaning wipe and it worked fine after that. And it's still working fine....
Wasn't sure if you were saying the trackball problem was with just the wireless MM or the wired one too.
I've got a wired MM (which I love) that has been in faithful service since right after its release, August 2005. It's my work mouse and is used 8-10 hours a day, 5 days a week.
It's clogged twice, but the push & roll technique has fixed it both times.
Mine is one year old and never gave me a problem (yet). ;-)
A multi-touch mouse would be amazing. A small glass circle where the ball is that senses finger movement for scrolling would be simple and cool. No more junk getting caught in there and jamming it up.
I use a wired Mighty Mouse at work that functions properly most of the time. I do occasionally have to clean the scroll ball when it starts getting stubborn, but it hasn't stopped working entirely yet.
On the other hand, I had to have my wireless Mighty Mouse that I use at home replaced due to the right click not working. At all. The new wireless Mighty Mouse that Apple sent worked correctly for a short period before the right click functionality also crapped out.
I've had my MM almost 7 months and it works fine. It has stopped working once. A quick clean with alcohol and a q-tip and I'm rolling again. Even if it does break, the bluetooth connection is worth the $70. I only have 2 usb ports on my macbook.
I've had mine since the week they came out, I think about two years. I have to clean the trackball (I use water and a microfiber cloth), but it still works.
As for a bluetooth alternative, I own one but it ain't cheap. I have the bluetooth Logitech MX1000, which is only available in a set with either the MX5000 keyboard ($149) or the DiNovo ($199). It works with SteerMouse. There is also now a bluetooth MX Revolution (again, only in a set... I think it's $169 at Best Buy).
I don't know if the accompanying keyboards work with Macs or not (never tried my MX5000), but I do know that the Logitech BT dongle is NOT needed to get the MX1000 to work with a Mac that has internal bluetooth.
I totally agree with you! Mine died no sooner than a week ago. It's the fourth time (in 1.5 years) that I've had the ball clog, and had to spend about 15 minutes cleaning the crap out of it - this last time though no dice... the ball simply just stopped working - and I don't have an extended warranty (which I am going to have to do from now on I guess).
This is annoying as hell to me! The whole multi-scrolling ball is awesome (and it's been a nightmare having to get used to not having it), but they seriously need to make it with a longer lifespan in mind - that is just ridiculous.
My hands can sometimes be sweatier than usual :(. The MM stops working within weeks for me. I bought the wireless MM separately and have since had it changed twice via the included warranty. The first time they let me swap it out with a new one in the apple store. The second time, they sent me a refurbished one via mail. Eventually, I just gave up on it. Too much of a hassle trying to get it to work. (Cleaning it with isopropyl alcohol does get it back up, but eventually it does die).
Switched to the logitech vx revolution. Free-rolling smooth scroll, multiple programmable buttons, laser... would have been better if it were bluetooth (I have a usb hub so its not an issue for me). Btw, if you use a logitech mouse, I suggest using 'steermouse' to program it instead of the logitech drivers. Logitech drivers cause kernel panics. And with steermouse you can apply custom shortcuts to different application (e.g. i simply tilt the scroll wheel left or right to go back/forward in safari).
Have a total of 3 wireless MM. One of 3 gives us fits, the other 2 work flawlessly. BTW, all are about 1.5 years old.
BillNav
My second MM just failed. If one lasts more than 6 to 8 months, you aren't using it or you work in a "clean room".The mechanical design of the scroll ball is terrible. This implementation is the same technology optical mice completely replaced. But, at least the "ball" mouse was designed to be cleaned. The MM isn't. I bought a logitech. Better design. one third the price.
Have you guys thought about not having nasty hands when you use your mouse? I have had mine for about 20 months and it hasn't had a hiccup yet.
My second MM just failed. If one lasts more than 6 to 8 months, you aren't using it or you work in a "clean room".The mechanical design of the scroll ball is terrible. This implementation is the same technology optical mice completely replaced. But, at least the "ball" mouse was designed to be cleaned. The MM isn't. I bought a logitech. Better design. one third the price.
I have exactly the same problem with the Mighty Mouse! I am using the wired version that came with my iMac and it will scroll horizontally and up, but not down, so I can't scroll down on a page, only up or side-to-side. And it is totally clean and well-kept. I am taking into my local Apple Store this week to get a replacement.
My mighty mouse wasn't so mighty. It stopped scrolling every 2 weeks (please, no sweaty palm jokes). I kept cleaning it consistently to no avail. Mice shouldn't be treated with such royalty.
My other mouse has been with me for 2 years and never cleaned it (please, no germ jokes here).
So my conclusion is that the mighty mouse is plainly pinky dressed up in super hero garments... but I can see right through you...
I've had a wired MM for years without a problem. Of course, I don't think I've eaten Cheetos in that time... just something to think about.
I bought a wireless MM w/ my early 2007 iMac (Apr?), and it is still working. It does clog occassionally, and the fix is the same as everyone else has mentioned - forced rubbing/rolling of the trackball (I use a cloth/shirt tail when doing this) and voia!
both wired and wireless versions of the mouse are an epic fail. I had the wired for about a year, replaced it twice, then got the wireless one that I got for cheap from the CompUSA closing. I love the fact that you can scroll sideways, but on both of my mice you can now only scroll to the left... if you're lucky.
Just like the writer of the article experienced, my trackball stopped working after 8 months or so also - no matter how hard I cleaned it, no joy.
Along with the original iMac puck, Apple's industrial design skills seem to have deserted it as far as mice go...
I have been using mine for about a year, daily 8-10 hrs. Haven't had any issues, yet!
That's just weird. Either you live in a very dirty place, or you have excessively greasy hands, I'm happily using my Mighty Mouse that arrived last September, and other than the occasional 'roll the ball a few times upside down' treatment, mine is performing perfectly.
I realize I'm going to jinx myself but I bought mine about a year ago and haven't had a problem yet. In fact, I'm pretty hard on it. Maybe that's the secret. If you've had a problem with it, you're probably coddling it. Spend at least eight hours a day scrolling through very long timelines in Flash, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, or the timeline-driven app of your choice.
The trackball thing on my mighty mouse has been great. It has stopped working 3 times and each time i thought 'oh no it's true, they suck'. But each time 2 minutes of cleaning got the grit out that was causing the problem. All hail the mighty mouse.
Having said that the lack of a proper right click constantly annoys me even though i have been using it for a year and a half.
It's really very simple to clean the trackball, and it is not necessary to get so worked up. I've found teh following to work flawlessly:
First, as the Apple instructions say, unplug the mouse or turn it off (remove batteries n a wireless one) and roll the trackball on a clean sheet of paper or microfiber cloth, holding the mouse upside down and pressing HARD. You can optionally moisten the paper or cloth slightly before doing so.
If that doesn't work, I've found that repeating the above procedure using a few drops of the degunking cleaning agent Goo-Gone on a paper towel in place of the paper or cloth works every time. You can roll it again on a dry or slightly water-moistened one to remove the solvent once you are done.
This works! And then you can be happy, go back to your amazing work (or play), saving the world, or whatever, and quitcherbitchen!
if you're playing wow with a wireless mighty mouse, there's another problem: The right-click - which you do a lot in wow - stops working or the connection is skipping. You have to turn the mouse off and on again for the right-click to start working. Duh! Even got a new MightyMouse, same problem...
Whenever the MM trackball gets dirty, it's annoying as hell. In between, however, I find it to be the best mouse I've ever used. I find that wetting the ball, turning it over and rolling it on white paper releases the gump and it works fine again for two or three weeks.
6 months sounds about right in my experience too. When I took it back to the store the guy just whipped out an alcohol cloth, turned the mouse upside down, and gave it a clean. Worked well for a while...
Another thing that works is keeping your fingers clean. Sounds stupid, but habitually wiping your index finger on a cloth or the sleeve of your jacket or something prolongs the lifespan considerably.
"I feel especially sorry for those who purchased the Mighty Mouse separate from their Macs, thus leaving it uncovered by extended AppleCare."
I purchased a MM separate from my iMac G5, it failed twice, but Apple replaced it both times under my iMac's Applecare, no questions asked. Perhaps the wireless policy is different as the new models all come with a wired MM?
After going through a couple of Mighty Mice I finally figured out to properly clean them.
First you need to turn it upside-down and tap it a couple of times to loosten any dirt inside, then take compressed air and blow at the ball while pressing it in. Lastly give it a good cleaning with an alcohol pad and you should be back in business. Oh and never use the mouse with peanut butter on your fingers (don't ask how I know this one :-).
My absolute favorite mouse is the Logitech G7 wireless bluetooth gaming mouse. I highly recommend it and have had zero problems in the over two years I've owned it. Typically, I've gone with Logitech mice in the past and they've lasted me past the point where I actually wanted to upgrade. I have two that still work, one is just a trackball and the other was a wired laser mouse. It works flawlessly any Apple I decide to hook it to, including my 2001 Pismo and my 2007 Aluminum iMac 24".
I've been using my wireless MM for about a year and it has no problems so far!
yes, a total redesign is needed, as my MM's trackball also failed after about six months. occasional cleaning sessions involving cleaning tape sometimes revive it for a short time.
i really like Brian H.'s idea for a multi-touch MM, in one of the comments above.
hopefully september's anticipated wave of new Apple products will also yield the next-gen MM - hopefully with NO moving parts on the exterior ;)
Here's the thing. I REALLY wanted to like the wireless Mighty Mouse because I too wanted a good Bluetooth mouse to go with my then brand spanking new MBP. Unfortunately I ended up returning the wireless Mighty Mouse after a couple of weeks for the simple reason that the right-click function was not reliable enough for me. Even ensuring that my index finger was no where near the mouse's surface and my middle finger was clearly on the right-side of the mouse's surface would not deliver a 100% registration of a right-click. I never did find out whether the ball would stop working but must confess that I did really like it.
There's a lot that I liked about the wireless Mighty Mouse but the inconsistent right-click function was the deal-breaker for me and another was not tried since there were so many reports of people having the same issue. I'm now using a Logitech VX Revolution and wish that it was a Bluetooth rather than needing a silly dongle. Microsoft now makes a Bluetooth mouse suitable for the Mac that might be worth a look.
I noticed that when only one operator uses a mighty mouse, it works. Soon after another person begins operating the mouse it dies. Our count - two wired mighty mice, one BT. All in the same sweaty grave.
I now just leave the mouse un-glued so I can open it and clean the little ball and magnet pins, close it, all in under 5 minutes. I had to do that every two month to keep the mouse working like new.
The G7 isn't bluetooth, it's RF.
Good mouse, though.
When did the wireless MM debut? That's how long I've had mine. I've never had a problem, and it sits in a tray with a keyboard on my coffee table.
I didn't know how many people had issues with the right click. It was an annoyance for me at first, but I feel like once you get the technique down (lift your left click finger slightly off the mouse just before you right click), it stops being an issue. I'm not a gamer, however, so I could see how this could be a much bigger issue for people in the heat of the moment. For browsing and audio production, I haven't had a problem with the right click. And yes, Servadu, horizontal scrolling is indeed a dream for audio production.
I'm still looking for a good Mighty Mouse alternative that has bluetooth and horizontal scroll function. Any other leads?
BT MX1000 cost too much?
I have had a used one for about a year. It clogs every once in a while, but holding it upside down as I roll the ball all over using an alcohol dampened paper towel has always worked.
I've had my mighty mouse about 2 years and ..knock on wood...it is working just fine. Now that I've said this, it will probably die on me!
Had the same wired mm since april 07, I had to clean the ball last month with a little alchol and let it sit over night. Had the same wireless mm since Sept 07 no problems with that either.