Mouse Recommendations for Mac?

Scott Cooper's Grand Slam

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My work computer just switched from a Windows laptop to MacBook. My personal device has been a MacBook long enough to know that I can't drag-and-drop with the trackpad. I've tried all manner of Touchpad, gesture, and accessibility settings, but I just can't get it to work. For personal use, this hasn't really bothered me. But I can imagine needing to drag-and-drop frequently enough in work settings that an external mouse would do me good. I've read some articles and "best-of" lists. I'm leaning toward the wireless Kensington Expert Mouse just because I've used the wired version before and I like it. But does anyone have any recommendations for Mac mice that they really like? I've never tried Apple's Magic Mouse 2 (and unfortunately trying one out in store isn't an option), but it doesn't seem very comfortable.
 

swiftaw

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Jan 31, 2009
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I love the Magic Mouse, but I understand it wont be everyones cup of tea.
 

B H Kim

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I love the Logitech MX vertical mouse. I used the magic mouse for years, but started to get sore wrist issues. The vertical mouse is much more comfortable to use and is fully functional on a Mac.

37191
 

TomTerrific

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I still use the Dell by Logitech mouse--which is designed for a PC--with my Macbook Pro. However much I prefer the Mac OS and general experience, I just prefer the interface with a left and right-click mouse. Your Mac is smart enough to recognize that mouse and will let you customize how it should interpret the different sides of the mouse.
 

Omar's Wacky Neighbor

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I abhor track pads and instead I like a full-sized, almost clunky, mouse, so while not w/r/t a Mac: TeckNet puts out a very nice BT (avoids needing a dongle) mouse for under $15 at Amazon. We have one for every laptop in the family, Windows and Mac OS.
 

Rudi Fingers

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Jul 18, 2005
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Setting up three-finger drag and drop on the Mac, under Accessibility settings, is super helpful for me, personally. I highly recommend it - it will work if your Mac built in trackpad supports "Force Touch" - most Mac trackpads do. I drag and drop things without issue on my MacBook using it - I'm even able to let go of the trackpad halfway through, reposition my fingers on the trackpad, and keep dragging. It's great. Here's Apple's instructions on how to set up three-finger drag: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204609


As for mouse recommendations, the Logitech M720 triathlon is my daily driver when I am sitting at my desk. Rock solid, and it can pair to 3 separate devices - even an iPad - with an easy switching button. I've been using mine with my Mac and PC since March, and it's still on the original AA battery it came with. And if you are a Costco member, Costco sells the same mouse for a mere $19.99 as the "Logitech Precision Pro mouse" https://www.costco.com/logitech-precision-pro-wireless-mouse.product.100527136.html
 

nvalvo

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There's a neat little Mac utility called Yoink that I have used in the past that might be useful for you depending on the precise nature of your difficulty with dragging and dropping.

If you just can't make it work at all, then this won't help. But if it's more a navigating-to-your-destination-while-keeping-your-drag-going problem, this might be just the thing.
 

Senator Donut

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As for mouse recommendations, the Logitech M720 triathlon is my daily driver when I am sitting at my desk. Rock solid, and it can pair to 3 separate devices - even an iPad - with an easy switching button. I've been using mine with my Mac and PC since March, and it's still on the original AA battery it came with. And if you are a Costco member, Costco sells the same mouse for a mere $19.99 as the "Logitech Precision Pro mouse" https://www.costco.com/logitech-precision-pro-wireless-mouse.product.100527136.html
I second this recommendation. My desk mouse is an MX Master 3, but it’s probably overpriced and I wouldn’t have bought it with my own money. (My employer paid for it.) The Precision Pro is my second mouse and I bought one for my fiancée during this sale.

I highly recommend programming the thumb button for expose. It makes switching apps a breeze.
 

Scott Cooper's Grand Slam

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There's a neat little Mac utility called Yoink that I have used in the past that might be useful for you depending on the precise nature of your difficulty with dragging and dropping.

If you just can't make it work at all, then this won't help. But if it's more a navigating-to-your-destination-while-keeping-your-drag-going problem, this might be just the thing.
Whoa. I have not heard of this, and it looks like it might solve my problem. I have a slight tremor and dexterity issues, so I can initiate the drag but I can't keep it going very long. (My tremor also interferes with drag lock. I've tried that setting, and usually what ends up happening is I'll inadvertently start a drag and then not be able to cancel it.) Downloading the trial now!

Thank you all for your recommendations! I don't make the switch until Feb 1, so I've got some time to try out options.
 
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nvalvo

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Whoa. I have not heard of this, and it looks like it might solve my problem. I have a slight tremor and dexterity issues, so I can initiate the drag but I can't keep it going very long. (My tremor also interferes with drag lock. I've tried that setting, and usually what ends up happening is I'll inadvertently start a drag and then not be able to cancel it.) Downloading the trial now!

Thank you all for your recommendations! I don't make the switch until Feb 1, so I've got some time to try out options.
There are other applications in that genre, too. Dropover has a funny little mechanic that I never liked, where you kind of give the cursor a little shake and it gives you a little modal placeholder for whatever it is you're dragging. It's clever, but I found that I would accidentally trigger that too often.
 

Scott Cooper's Grand Slam

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Working my way through the standard options. My employer would prefer to go that route before trying others.

I started with the AbleNet BigTrack available on Apple's website.

Pros: double-clicking the right button twice initiates and cancels drag lock easily.
Cons: The trackball takes a ton of effort to move compared to the Kensington Expert Mouse and other Logitech and Evoluent trackballs I've used. The button-layout is counterintuitive to me. I'd prefer left and right click be closer to me, on the other side of the ball.

Next I'll be trying the Magic Trackpad 2. I can't imagine how it'll be different than my experience with the MacBook trackpad, but I'm about to find out.
 

EnochRoot

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Feb 7, 2020
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I have a Magic Mouse (the rechargeable kind) for each of my Macs (iMac, ’20 M1 MacBook Pro). I have an almost equally awesome MS Arc mouse for my Asus Zenbook, but it requires replacing the AAA batteries a couple times per year. Not enough to be a pain, but compared to the Magic Mouse it causes it to come up a tad short.
 

Five Cent Head

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I have a Magic Mouse (the rechargeable kind) for each of my Macs (iMac, ’20 M1 MacBook Pro). I have an almost equally awesome MS Arc mouse for my Asus Zenbook, but it requires replacing the AAA batteries a couple times per year. Not enough to be a pain, but compared to the Magic Mouse it causes it to come up a tad short.
I'm very happy with the Magic Mouse. You can also set things up so it checks your mouse charge every day (or every week or every hour or whatever) and warns you if it's below (say) 20%: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/254703/get-low-battery-notifications-for-mouse-earlier/327627#327627.
 

EnochRoot

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Feb 7, 2020
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I'm very happy with the Magic Mouse. You can also set things up so it checks your mouse charge every day (or every week or every hour or whatever) and warns you if it's below (say) 20%: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/254703/get-low-battery-notifications-for-mouse-earlier/327627#327627.
Very nice. Thank you! I think I’m going to implement these scripts on both machines. I like the keyboard script specifically (I have the magic keyboards for both machines: the laptop, when I’m using it at my desk gets placed on a Twelve South mount so that the bottom of its screen aligns with my iMac‘s). It’s a shame I can’t utilize the iMac as a second monitor for the laptop though.
 

Five Cent Head

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Very nice. Thank you! I think I’m going to implement these scripts on both machines. I like the keyboard script specifically (I have the magic keyboards for both machines: the laptop, when I’m using it at my desk gets placed on a Twelve South mount so that the bottom of its screen aligns with my iMac‘s). It’s a shame I can’t utilize the iMac as a second monitor for the laptop though.
For me personally, I don't mind if I don't get a warning about my keyboard's charge until it's almost dead because I can plug it in and still use it. But maybe your setup makes that inconvenient. With the mouse, I definitely want more warning.