Why Apple Makes a One Buttoned Mouse
I used to be one of the people who complained that Apple only included a one-button mouse with their computers. I just couldn’t understand why they were sticking to such an outdated thing. Then I did a couple of things that opened my eyes and changed my mind.
First, I became a salesperson at the campus computer store. There I had the privilege of working with computer users of every technical level including those at level ZERO. Second, I bought a Mac and have been using it for over a year. In that time I realized the subtle differences that make Mac applications easier to use than their Windows equivalents and the one-button mouse is a contributing factor to this as well.
So the first reason the one-button mouse still exists is those level zero users. Helping them over the phone especially, once you tell them to right-click something, you will inevitably hear every time after that when you ask them to click on something, “Should I left-click or right-click?” Hey, its happened to me and if you were helping all your family with computers, its probably happened to you too.
The second reason is more subtle. The fact that such a large part of the Mac user base only uses a one-button mouse, forces those who develop applications for the Mac to design with these people in mind. And what that ultimately results in is programs that don’t have useful features hidden away somewhere in one of their “right-click menus”, and only there.
Well, don’t take my word for it. Andru over at GearLive has written a nice article explaining all the right reasons why Macs still ship with one-button mice. Check it out… Gear Live | Why Apple Makes a One Buttoned Mouse