Wireless mouse and iPad - Apple Community

Level 1

0 points

May 21, 2010 11:59 PM in response to celliott147

I do not want to get into this too much other than to say:

1. I have been given incorrect information by the Apple "experts "( Or what ever you call the people behind the desks at one of my local store (so has my friend so it is just not me)

2. There is also an issue of just trying to get service from a sales types. I realize that sales people are BUSY helping customers other than myself. Waiting is at best futile (I have given up after 45 minutes of flagging down a sales person.

The Apple store downtown Chicago can be mobbed and just getting in the front door is an exercise best not tried for impatient people.

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Jul 7, 2010 4:06 PM in response to david33409

I, too, created an account to respond to this thread. I'm physically disabled and can't use my hands, therefore a touchpad device is useless to me. I have a power wheelchair w/bluetooth & infrared built in that allows me to connect to any PC via bluetooth and control the mouse. I would *_absolutely love_* an iPad (mainly to use as an eReader), but alas there's no way for me to use one. I hope Apple DOES add mouse capabilities in the not too distant future!!

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Jul 7, 2010 4:17 PM in response to chubbytroll

It sounds as of a device designed specifically for touch inputnis not the correct device for you. Are you aware that Amazon offers a Kindle eReader app for both Macs and PCs? that might work better for you.

Best of luck.

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Jul 7, 2010 5:51 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I use B&N's eReader on my PC, but I'd like something compact & portable

Why shouldn't I get to use a "toy" like an iPad?

Message was edited by: chubbytroll

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deggie

Level 10

167,183 points

Jul 7, 2010 6:26 PM in response to chubbytroll

Because it is a touch screen interface and is unlikely to change. You could try a MacBook Air, it is also compact and portable.

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Jul 7, 2010 6:58 PM in response to Tropical wanda43

I think the idea is - "the mouse is so 1990s" The whole point of this device is a platform for future development that gets away from the old "mouse" interface and is touchscreen only. I use a mouse for some things like AutoCAd and Adobe CS4, but rarely use it in other applications. (That's why I have a MacBook Pro and a usb wireless mouse) I don't generally use it in word processing or power point types of applicaitons...or really any other apps I can think of. I can agree with you that it would be nice to be able to use a mouse if the iPad ever became robust enough to run 3D modeling applications or the Adobe Creative Suite, but that's really quite a ways off.

It does force us old "mouse users" to learn a new system to interact with the device.

M.

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Jul 8, 2010 7:11 PM in response to deggie

I just looked up the MacBook Air...it's expensive!!

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Jul 8, 2010 7:38 PM in response to Tropical wanda43

Using a mouse on the IPad is not about "giving up" touchscreen. It's about CHOOSING when i want a mouse and when i want to touch the screen. If you spend about 3 hours on your ipad, your arm is gonna be tired of touchscreening unless you keep him close to your body and your head really low (and then your neck is gonna hurt).

Of course Apple is gonna do it. People are jailbraking to have a mouse. Last week i bought a magic mouse to work with my ipad, and i knew it still didn't work. I'm waiting. Time will tell if i was wrong.

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Jul 16, 2010 7:02 AM in response to Diogo Bethonico

are people also forgetting that there are remote control apps available. like logmein and rdp clients for controlling computers? i would like to have a mouse to use when i am controlling other computers, like my imac at home.

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Asatoran

Level 4

2,532 points

Jul 16, 2010 12:25 PM in response to bugboysworld

bugboysworld wrote:
are people also forgetting that there are remote control apps available. like logmein and rdp clients for controlling computers? i would like to have a mouse to use when i am controlling other computers, like my imac at home.

Mouse functionality is built-in to LogMeIn and RDP. I use both on my Windows Mobile PDA and Windows Mobile phone, both of which have touch screens and both of which do not have a cursor. Yet I am able to control both my Mac and my PC with LogMeIn and my PC with RDP just fine. _+You don't need a cursor+_. Where ever you tap, the app will move the cursor there and left-click. If you drag on the touchscreen it is a left button drag. If you do a long press on the touchscreen, it is a right-click. (At least it's a right click on my Windows Mobile devices. I'm assuming it's the same for iOS devices using said apps.)

So for remote control of desktop computers using the iPad (or iPhone or iPod Touch,) a cursor is NOT a requirement. The apps provide for mouse functionality without the need for a cursor.

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Jun 19, 2011 11:01 AM in response to david33409

David33409 - I'm with you, I've not contributed before but seeing some of the hostile and negative commenting surrounding a reasonable question about mouse support incenses me.

And for all those saying that a mouse isn't necessary, well, that's fine for you I guess, I personally would love to be able to use a mouse as well as the keyboard - it just makes sense. And for the clowns saying no curser therefore it can't be done I suggest you look at the jailbroken versions which seem to manage this 'massive and impossible' feat with no problems at all.

I'd suggest the issue is more about the potential for taking sales away from the MacBooks but in my view that is misplaced, at least it is for me - I have the entire rack from a 27in iMac through a Macbook Pro to the ipad (both 1 and 2, but I will use whichever is right for me at the time.

Steve.

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Jul 11, 2011 7:26 AM in response to Tropical wanda43

I can't believe you can use a keyboard from Apple but not a mouse. I love my IPad for travel it replaces my Kindle, I Touch and Laptop. The only problem is no mouse for spreadsheets. It is impractical to use touch screen for a spreadsheet. I don't understand why Apple has to always "leave one thing out" to make things difficult. I love there products but it seems there's always one thing missing. On the original IPhone it was tethering.

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malaili

Level 1

7 points

Nov 23, 2011 5:35 PM in response to Tropical wanda43

David33409 - I'm with you, I've not contributed before but seeing some of the hostile and negative commenting surrounding a reasonable question about mouse support incenses me.

And for all those saying that a mouse isn't necessary, well, that's fine for you I guess, I personally would love to be able to use a mouse as well as the keyboard - it just makes sense. And for the clowns saying no curser therefore it can't be done I suggest you look at the jailbroken versions which seem to manage this 'massive and impossible' feat with no problems at all.

I'd suggest the issue is more about the potential for taking sales away from the MacBooks but in my view that is misplaced, at least it is for me - I have the entire rack from a 27in iMac through a Macbook Pro to the ipad (both 1 and 2, but I will use whichever is right for me at the time.

YEAH Steve!

I want a mouse, because I want one.

If enough people want one, (apple) will make one. Marketing 101!!

And I want all of u nay sayers to go away, but that's less likely than apple making the OS mouse compatible.

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Benguitar

Level 2

305 points

Nov 23, 2011 5:49 PM in response to FamNet

It is not Apple's responsibility to ask you what you will be using it for. Sometimes you'll get an employee who asks you what you'll be using it for, sometimes you don't.

Either way, Ask questions. If you don't ask, Nobody will know what you're trying to accomplish. It's also very unwise to purchase anything without knowing 110% what it is you are trying to do and if the device you are going to buy will do what it is you want it to do.

As I said before, Simply ask questions just to verify that what you're trying to do is possible.

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TCicson

Level 1

7 points

Mar 6, 2012 8:29 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

This is not entirely accurate as there is a jailbreak to add a BT mouse that puts a cursor on the screen. The only problem is you can not have a BT keyboard and a BT mouse paired and working at the same time. As for those that think it is unnecessary to have a mouse option, I am of the opinion that if I truely want to leave my laptop behind, then I need my iPad to be efficient at allowing me to work for long periods of time on it. A BT keyboard gets me about 80% there. Having to reach up and swipe and tap the screen to switch between apps is not comfortable for any prolonged period of time. IMHO.

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