fplanque: dev blog

Ok, I've been annoyed by this since the very first day I've been using my Mac Mini: the mouse feels weird, very weird. Broken actually!

Part of my problem was the Bluetooth operating range, which I could only fix by moving the mac nearer to where I usually use my mouse in my living room.

However, the core problem is still the acceleration curve. When you move the mouse on OSX, it first moves verrrry slowly, so you move it faster and when you reach a certain speed the mouse suddenly accelerates like crazy.

This is not controllable through the "tracking speed" slider in the control panel. The tracking speed is only the fastest the mouse will go. But my problem is not with how fast it would eventually get. My problem is with how freaking slow it initially starts (even at max traking speed).

Solutions

Apple's been stubbornly unresponsive to this problem, as they always are, especially when the mouse is at stake (took them 10 years to aknowlege the need for a right button... good luck with acceleration!)

Fortunately, since the last time I checked (errr... 2005 ), third party fixes now work well on intel Macs.

Check these out:

• USB Overdrive (no bluetooth support, but you can try it as long as you need)
• SteerMouse (15 days trial only but it can handle the bluetooth Mighty mouse)

Since I'm trying to do some desk work right now and have a wired mouse, I'm currently and happily using USB Overdrive with these settings:

• Speed: 120 dpi (feels like Windows fast )
• Acceleration: 50% (no longer feels like sticking to the mouse pad )

I'll try SteerMouse when I go back to "Media Player" configuration...