Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!bu-cs!dartvax!eleazar.dartmouth.edu!jonathan
From: jonathan@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Jonathan Altman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: New mouse design... WHY?!
Message-ID: <13429@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
Date: 10 May 89 16:12:45 GMT
References: <7891@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> <431a1e09.a590@mag.engin.umich.edu> <12893@ut-emx.UUCP> <736@arisia.Xerox.COM>
Sender: news@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU
Reply-To: jonathan@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Jonathan Altman)
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 52

Well, I guess I'll jump into the optical vs. mechanical mouse debate.
I vote strongly FOR the mechanical mouse.  The main reason is one of
what I (non-computer scientist that I am) perceive to be a modality
inherent in optical mice.  It works by moving the mouse around, right?
But, only when on the special grid.  And, only if it's aligned a
certain way.  Sorry, I feel that a mouse should work no matter what I
scroll it around on, and at what angle I hold it.  Besides my Mac is
(relatively) portable.  I DO travel with it.  I move it around my
office in one piece.  I DO NOT want to have to move a stupid gridded
pad around.  I do not even want to HAVE a mouse pad.

This brings up the next point, reliability.  I got my first mac in
September 1984, very early.  I just recently sold that first Mac
(upgraded to a plus) in February, 1989, 4.5 years (about) after I 
bought it.  It still had the original mouse.  It didn't wear out,
nor did it get dirty, despite living in my various dorm rooms,
apartments, etc.  It also didn't mind the fact that I tend to eat at
my desk when I'm writing.  I don't know what the rest of you do to
your mice, but mine doesn't get dirty.  I now have a Mac SE/30.  I
was happy to get the new mouse because I like the design better (I
don't think anybody else has brought this up, but I think the
ergonomics of the ADB mouse are wonderful-thanks, Apple).  I
noticed the cheaper construction on my mouse (I have the light-ball
one), but not while I'm using it.  It doesn't get dirty either.

As for the nicety that somebody noticed about XEROX being able to
adjust the mouse tracking speed by making an enlarged copy of the grid,
let me say that this is just a wonderful apology for optical mouse
pads.  Sure, I need to slow down the mouse.  That copying machine is a
LOT cheaper than adjusting the speed of my mouse with software.
Right.  Besides, I have a nice wood desk.  The last thing I want to do
is put contact paper on it.  And isn't it great that if I want to
CHANGE mouse tracking speeds constantly (like between applications),
I've got to keep several different sets of contact paper handy to
change speeds.

Sorry, until somebody comes up with a mouse that has no moving
parts, and stays clean, the optical-vs-mechanical debate will rage,
and I'll prefer a mouse that's usable on any surface that has friction
in an atmosphere with gravity, in any orientation.  It's more obvious
to "the rest of us."  Also, please excuse what seems to be a flame at
the poster of the article about XEROX mice.  As far as optical mice go,
it's a great solution.  I also agree that a trackball based on their
design would be great, as would their mouse, if it didn't require a
special pattern to be present to work.

Jonathan Altman           jonathan@eleazar.Dartmouth.edu
Database Administrator	  jonathan.altman@Dartmouth.edu
Dartmouth Dante Project	  voice: 603-646-2633  
301 Bartlett Hall
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Hanover, NH 03755