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My name is Cédric Bozzi, I make apps and websites, and this is my tech blog — you’ll find news commentary here, from a very opinionated Mac-head.

Il y a une version française ici, but most of this blog’s contents are extracted from my Twitter feed, and hence only available in one language (which varies randomly).

29 jan. 2005

Why Apple Makes a One Buttoned Mouse [via]

Apple is always concerned with creating a user experience that is as intuitive as possible. Giving the average person a right mouse button is like giving a bald man a comb.

I see a fourth reason — or rather a first one — that I intended to blog when I’d get a Mac, but I’ll offer it to you now, prompted by this link (and so that I can say it’s not my fault if you think I’m wrong, it’s just I don’t have a Mac yet): paradoxically enough, it’s because MacOS isn’t designed for power users to keep their hands locked on the keyboard (unlike Windows).

With a multi-button mouse, each time your hand switches from keyboard to mouse, you have to take it exactly in an exact way, each finger in its right place — which isn’t a problem for the keyboard, because it doesn’t move, whereas the mouse is always in a different position (and, often, orientation). With an Apple mouse, all you have to do is throw your hand in the general direction of the mouse and, as long as a couple of fingers did land on it, you can operate. Seems negligible? Nothing ever is, when it comes to ergonomics.

However, even if I can imagine getting used to ctrl-click, I can hardly see myself living without a scroll wheel. There is no keyboard shortcut for that, is there?

 

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