The Apple Mouse began as one of the first commercial mice available to consumers. Over the years Apple has maintained a distinct form and function with its mice that reflects its design philosophies.

Features

Traditional ball mechanism

All mice contained a trackball control mechanism until 2000 when Apple introduced optical LED based control mechanisms.

History

Apple introduced the mouse to the personal computer market almost by accident. In 1979, Apple was planning a business computer and arranged a visit with XEROX Parc research center to view some of their experimental technology. It was there they discovered the mouse which had been incorporated into the graphical user interface (GUI) used on the Alto. They were so inspired they scrapped their current plans and redesigned everything around the mouse and GUI.

One of the biggest problems was that the three button Xerox mouse cost over US$400 to build, which was not practical for a consumer-based personal computer. Apple commissioned Hovey-Kelley to assist them with the mouse design, which not only had to be redesigned to cost US$25 instead of US$400, but also needed to be tested with real consumers outside a laboratory setting to learn how people were willing to use it. Hundreds of prototypes later, Apple settled on a single button mouse, roughly the size of a deck of cards. With the design complete, the operating system was adopted to interface with the single button design utilizing keystrokes in combination with button clicks to recreate some of the features desired from the original Xerox 3 button design.^[1]

Any discussion of Apple's hardware without a focus on style, negates one of the most important aspects of Apple's success as well as the one of the driving tenets of CEO Steve Jobs' philosophy. With the single button mouse design established for almost 25 years, the history of the Apple Mouse is basically a museum of design and ergonomics. The original mouse was essentially a rectangular block of varying beige and gray color and profile for about a decade. In 1993 Apple redesigned the package to be egg shaped, which was widely copied throughout the industry. Nevertheless it was still a tool available only in corporate gray. With the release of the iMac in 1998 the mouse burst forth in an array of translucent colors. Apple also completed the transition to a completely round design.

Two years later, Apple switched back to a mostly elliptical shape and monochromatic black and white design. Still a one button mouse, the rubber ball tracking mechanism was updated with an optical LED ? the first major redesign to the mouse in almost 20 years. Keeping up with the technological trends Apple went wireless in 2003 and two years later, though maintaining its iconic design style, broke its most controversial implementation in the mouse concept and for the first time released a multi-button mouse with five programmable buttons and an integrated scroll wheel. Though third-party manufacturers had been offering most of these recently introduced options for years, In some ways, Apple had to upgrade its philosophy in order to keep up with the same functionality built-into its MacBook portable's trackpads.

Compatibility

All of Apple's USB mice enjoy cross-compatibility with almost all USB capable computers as well as their wireless bluetooth based mice with compatible systems and software.

DE-9 serial connector

Prior to that, Apple used a proprietary Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) interface that was not compatible with any other interface. However, several other manufacturers license Apple's technology and ADB mice were freely interchangeable with such makers as Sun, etc. IBM used its own proprietary standards and given to its dominance in the marketplace, inexpensive IBM mice were plentiful. As a result, a simple adapter was available to enable use of PS/2 mice with a Macintosh, though many of the dedicated software features were not supported. ADB mice however, did not enjoy such cross compatibility.

The original mouse used a DE-9 serial connection, specific to Apple systems. As the personal computer was still in its infancy with no standards, Apple's mouse could be used on any system that implemented identical protocols in their hardware and vice-versa. Once again given to the prevalence of PS/2 mice and the abundance of Macintosh Plus and Apple II computers, adapters were made to use them on the Apples. Though the opposite was not true.

Models

Lisa Mouse (A9M0050)

Macintosh Mouse (beige & Platinum)

Macintosh Mouse (M0100)

The Macintosh has the distinction of launching the mouse as the indispensable computing device we know it as today. However, its mouse was little changed from the original Lisa version and is completely interchangeable. The case was a slightly darker brown than Lisa's beige coloring and it had less formal lines, with a thick chamfer around its edges to match the Macintosh case. Mechanically the Lisa's steel ball was replaced by a rubber one, but otherwise connected with the same DB-9 connectors, though updated with a square-shape and standard thumb screws. When the Macintosh Plus debuted in 1986, Apple had made minor revisions to the mouse mechanism and across all product lines, unified the cable connectors and used a more rounded shape. The following year, Apple once again unified its product lines by adopting a uniform "Platinum" gray color for all products. In 1987 this mouse had its final design change, updating both its color to Platinum with contrasting dark gray "Smoke" accents and minor mechanism changes.

Apple Mouse IIc

Apple Mouse (IIc)

• (M0100) Four months after the Macintosh debut, the Apple IIc was introduced with the revolutionary addition of an optional mouse to manipulate standard 80 column text (a feat in and of itself).^[5] The mouse was similar to the Macintosh mouse, though it was in a creamy-beige color that co-ordinated with the IIc's bright off-white case and had a slightly modified design which somehow seemed sleeker than the Macintosh's blockier shape. It also was uniformly the same color, eliminating the Mac & Lisa's contrasting taupe accents on the mouse button and cable. Unlike the Macintosh, the IIc Mouse shared a dual purpose port with gaming devices like joysticks. In order for the IIc to know what was plugged into it, its mouse had to send the appropriate signal. Despite these obvious differences, it carried the exact same model number as the Macintosh version.
• (A2M4015) An Apple Mouse packaged for the IIc, it coincided with a minor change in the mouse mechanism and connector style.
• (A2M4035) In 1988 it took on the identical physical appearance and coloring as the Platinum gray Macintosh Mouse. Unlike its predecessors, the USA manufactured versions of the Platinum Macintosh/Apple IIe mouse will work on the IIc too. All versions of the IIc Mouse will work with any Macintosh or Apple II card. As a result, Apple briefly sold the intermediate model as the Apple Mouse optionally for use across all platforms.

AppleMouse II (M0100/A2M2050)

By mid 1984 Apple's commitment to bringing the mouse to its entire product line resulted in the release of the Apple II Mouse Interface peripheral card. Since this was a dedicated mouse port, Apple simply re-packaged the Macintosh mouse, but with the same creamy-beige cable and connector used on the IIc mouse and bundled it along with special software called MousePaint for use with the Apple II, II Plus, and IIe computers.^[6][7] Like the original IIc mouse, it used the same model number as the Macintosh. Unlike the Mouse IIc, however, it can be interchanged with the Macintosh version, but cannot be used on the IIc.^[8] Due to the popularity of the Macintosh and shortage of mice, Apple later repackaged the original Apple Mouse IIc in this bundle as well since it was cross-platform compatible. The AppleMouse II and its successors were never included as standard equipment on any computer.^[9]

Apple Mouse (A2M4015)

ADB Mouse

Apple Mouse IIe (A2M2070)

By 1986 Apple had updated its product lines with new cable connectors. With the Apple IIe already 3 years old, the AppleMouse II was re-badged for the IIe alone and essentially used a repackaged Macintosh Mouse with no modifications. Later it would also use the Platinum Macintosh version. The US manufactured version of the Platinum mouse is also interchangeable with the identical looking IIc mouse.^[10]

Apple Desktop Bus Mouse (G5431/A9M0331)

The black ADB Mouse II

Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II (M2706)

In only its third major redesign in 10 years, the Apple mouse shed its blocky exterior for rounded curves. The so called tear-drop mouse, was essentially the same as its predecessor but with a new case which many feel was the ultimate shape for mice. Indeed the basic design preservers into the current models, not to mention being widely copied by other PC manufacturers. It was included with all Macintosh desktop computers from 1993 until 1998. It was also the first mouse produced by Apple in black to match the Macintosh TV as well as the Performa 5420 sold outside the US.

Apple USB Mouse (M4848)

Apple USB Mouse

Apple Pro Mouse (M5769)

In a move away from the bold colors of the iMac and in a return to the sensible styling of the traditional mouse design, in 2000 Apple discontinued the USB mouse and introduced the monochromatic Pro Mouse. A similar design to the ADB II mouse, but this time in black, was surrounded by a clear plastic shell. This was the first Apple mouse to use an optical LED instead of a rubber ball, which meant that it contained no moving parts. It was included as the standard mouse with all shipping desktop Macs. Later, it underwent a minor redesign, switched from black to white, and dropped Pro from its name.

• Apple Mouse Like many earlier products, Apple re-used the name briefly (see SuperDrive). Unlike the recent Apple Keyboard models, however, Apple did not continue to use the Apple Mouse name for its subsequent model releases.

Apple Wireless Mouse (A1015)

Apple wireless Mighty Mouse

Apple Mighty Mouse

Included with all new Macintosh desktop models, it was a major departure from Apple's one-button philosophy integrated in its design since the Apple Lisa.

• (A1152) Apple's first multi-button mouse released in 2005 in a wired configuration.
• (A1197) A year later an optional wireless version was released with the same name as its wired counterpart. Linked through Bluetooth protocol, makes this version appropriate for Apple's line of notebooks, as all current units ship with an internal Bluetooth radio, thus freeing one USB port, and avoiding uncomfortable experiences due to the wired unit's short cable (which was designed to link to the keyboard).

Mouse derivatives

Joysticks

• Apple Joystick IIe/IIc Essentially a gaming device around long before the mouse, the joystick could be used for many of the same functions. This and the Apple Graphics Tablet were the only non-mouse pointing devices Apple ever released and only for the Apple II series of computers.

Tablets

• Apple Graphics Tablet The Apple Graphics Tablet was a large flat surface covered with a grid and had an attached stylus. Released for the Apple II Plus and later a modified version for the Apple IIe.

Trackballs

PowerBook trackball

• Macintosh Portable The Macintosh Portable included the first trackball, essentially a large palm-sized, upside-down mouse, which became a popular desktop standard.
• PowerBook The PowerBook line scaled down the trackball to be thumb-sized and included one in every portable from 1991 to 1995 when it was phased out in favor of the trackpad.

Trackpads

• PowerBook/MacBook The built-in "mouse" of choice on all Apple portables since 1995. The trackpad has been modified to match the color of the case, traditionally black, it turned white with the iBook and MacBook and aluminum with the PowerBook G4 and MacBook Pro. Unlike Apple's single button mouse, the trackpad has evolved from a simple pointing device to encompassing all of the features which the mouse normally requires modifier keys and/or multiple function buttons, being integrated into the pad itself. The MacBook Air introduced a multi-touch trackpad with gesture support, firstly included with the pre-October 14th, 2008 MacBook Pro and later incorporated in the aluminum MacBookhttp://www.apple.com/macbook/features.html introduced in the same October 14th 2008 Apple Eventhttp://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/specialevent1008/.
• Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh The only desktop Macintosh not to include a mouse until the introduction of the Mac Mini. The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh had an integrated trackpad which featured all of the features of the one-button mouse through its touch and tap-interface.

Touchscreens

• Newton In 1993 the Apple Newton used a revolutionary touchscreen but required an input stylus, similar to a graphics tablet. Without modifier keys, the Newton's touchscreen interaction was equivalent to the basic one-button mouse, though it boasted handwriting recognition technology, which is beyond the abilities of the mouse. This technology is still present in the Mac OS today with the Inkwell feature.
• iPhone/iPod touch Owing its heritage to the Newton, the iPhone and iPod touch incorporate the cutting edge of touchscreen technology. Essentially a state-of-the-art trackpad overlaid on the screen capable of all the features of the most advanced mouse, but also multi-touch gestures like "pinch"ing and "flick"ing.

Future

The mouse forever changed the way humans and machines interface with each other. Instead of a command-line, syntax driven keyboard interface, the mouse tied the user into a virtual environment which, thanks to the GUI, could be manipulated like items in the real-world. The history of the Apple Mouse in particular demonstrates a trend moving towards an even closer interaction with electronics, eventually removing the mouse as an intermediary interface altogether. The trackpad followed by the Newton led the trail towards direct interaction finally realized by the iPhone. Apple has not yet revisited the Newton's handwriting recognition features, but as technology becomes more affordable there are rumors suggesting that they may be headed towards a touch-based interface on all products.^[13]

See also

• Apple keyboard
• Timeline of Apple products

References

External links

• Apple.com Keyboard