Logitech MX900- Multibutton Support In OS X?

Hi, Ian—

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

You may find useful information in this article and discussion thread at julian's blog. I recommend reading through the posts, including julian's clarifying post on March 18, 2005.

Hope this helps.

If not, post back: perhaps another MX900 user can offer further advice.

Regards,
Dean

Dean,

I bought a MX900 today and had no trouble connecting it to my 12" Powerbook (10.4.2).

However, I'm having a slight problem with some of the key functions. The MX900 has "cruise control" buttons -- when you hold them down, it's like turning the scroll wheel at a constant pace.

The "up" button works, no problem. But the "down" button has a conflict. Although the page seems to scroll down, it is quickly interrupted by the application switching menu -- as if you press Cmd-Tab and keep holding Cmd, to choose a program from the menu. I believe this function is supposed to be assigned to another button on the mouse.

I have tried using various key mapping programs to override this setting, but it always happens. I had a look at the discussion you mentioned, and it seems I'm not the only one who has had this problem. Towards the end Julian (the blog's owner, I presume) says, "That’s a bug in the latest version of Mac OS X. Feel free to report it to Apple."

Is that true? At the moment I'm working around the bug by using another button for "cruise control down", but it would be great to have it fixed. I was impressed that the mouse worked so well despite claiming to be incompatible with Macs; I'd be even more impressed if Apple could fix this bug!

Can you let me know where I should report it? Thanks.

Hi, Robert, et.al. —

" Is that true?" I don't know. I tend to eschew the "bug" label unless I'm pretty sure it's accurate. Shouldn't stop you from exploring &/or reporting it, though. Julian seems to know his stuff.
"Can you let me know where I should report it?" Sure. I can think of several good mechanisms for reporting "bugs," providing miscellaneous feedback, &/or seeking solutions to seemingly Sisyphian Mac conundrums.
](a) Contact Apple directly. If you have a new Mac or an active <small>AppleCare Protection Plan</small>, calling, e.g., AppleCare Technical Support can be very helpful. If the problem isn't solved during the conversation, you'll be given a case number for use at an <small>Apple-Authorized Service Provider</small> (AASP — limited to authorized hardware problems) or for future reference. If the problem persists, your subsequent call(s) may be forwarded to higher-level support folks.
](b) Mac OS X Feedback. It is what it says.
](c) BugReporter. (Where the pedal hits the metal!) Requires free ADC membership. You may even receive acknowledgment of receipt — and follow-up, as appropriate.
](d) Product Feedback. The links here include 3 hardware products and 24 software products. Apple's Tuxedo-clad Bluetooth icon, e.g., is not among those listed.
](e) AppleCare / KnowledgeBase Feedback includes several categories — suggested KnowledgeBase improvements, broken links, and software download difficulties. You can also find feedback links from most individual KnowledgeBase Articles.
For what I think you intend, (c) or (b) would be "best," imho.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Dean</center><hr width=100% color="666699"><small>p.s.: For anyone who may have noticed (and cared), I apologize for my extended absence from the
Bluetooth :: Keyboard/Mouse forum. Stuff happened. Now I'm baaack. . .
As a former long-time resident of New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward — where you may have watched folks being air-lifted from roofs — one of my hopes is that the spirit of laissez les bontemps roulez, cher! returns — soon.</small>

I have heard a rumour that the apple mighty mouse software once installed you can connect other brands of multi button mice and it will configure them.

I don't have an MX900 to test this theory.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050926195115726

Tim,

Hmmm...

I guess that wouldn't be unheard-of — one driver "helping" other product(s) — but it's unusual.

I read through the link you provided — and its entire thread. Note that, so far, nobody had confirmed the report — but one person confirmed that the phenomenon doesn't work with their Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse. Great story in the thread about a parrot " eating" someone's Mighty Mouse software disc!

Anyway, thanks for the link! <big> +</big>
Perhaps someone will reply to your post with confirmation.
Regards,
Dean

I've just stumbled across an update to the SteerMouse ( http://plentycom.jp/en/steermouse/) driver that was originally only for Apple's Mighty Mouse (I think).

Their newest version supports additional USB + bluetooth mice, I had hit and miss luck with controllermate and gamepad companion (neither would get the browse forward/back functions right in both the finder and web browsing. But I installed the trial and it handles all 6 buttons on my MX900 plus other bells and whistles.

Here's a quick blurb from the site:

"SteerMouse supports USB and Bluetooth mice.

SteerMouse supports USB and Bluetooth mice. It will even work with mice designed for Windows PCs. You can customize your mouse freely even if there is no Macintosh's driver. (*)"

Every now and then there's one of those little programs that you feel so compelled to actually own the license for, and for me this is one.

Hi, I too am an owner of an MX900. It works beautifully in OS X (prior to 10.4.2). The buttons have limited remapping and one can use this for Expose etc.

Sadly, after the 10.4.2 update, the Down scroll button is hard coded to the Apple App switcher. This IS a bug with OS X. No questions about it as it worked without any problems prior to this update. I too have sent feedback to Apple but as usual not received an acknowledgment and quite frankly don't expect it either.

This is annoying because they broke something which worked fine prior to the 10.4.2 update.

Hi, Loki . . .
]. . . <small>[ and any other Norse gods who may be reading. . . ]</small>

Thanks for the "heads-up" on SteerMouse 3.0 ! <big> +</big>
Although USB Overdrive 10.4 — the venerable shareware driver by Alessandro Montalcini — now provides Mighty Mouse support, Bluetooth mice are still not supported.
So plentycom.jp has a coup on its hands if it performs well. The developer seems to be committed to the product — with 6 versions in 7 months.
Loki, I think many folks could benefit if you'd initiate a new thread about your experience after you've had time to use SteerMouse for a while.
Thanks again,
Dean