magic mouse alternative?

I use this:

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/H4825ZM/A?n=mice_trackballs&fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg&s =topSellers

Pricey, yes, but works brilliantly and you'll never run out of juice.

Oh, and there's no substitute for the Magic Mouse, no other mouse has the gestures!

There is an alternative wired Apple Mouse that you may be intersted in if you don't want to bother with batteries. http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MB112ZM/B?fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg&s=topSellers It has a scrool wheel which moves any way so you can user that like the gestures on ther magic mouse.

Hope this helps you. Rory 🙂

No your mouse is not hibernating when the computer is hibernating. If the mouse is turned on it is constantly broadcasting to bluetooth devices, much as your mobile phone is constantly broadcasting to the 3G network even if you're not talking on it. That's why the battery in both devices runs down even though they may not be in use by you. To conserve batteries in the magic mouse you need to turn it off, just like your mobile phone. They both have radio transmitters in which are constantly working! The Magic Mouse is an excellent device, the best mouse I've ever used - don't give up on it. Yes, the rechargeable battery pack has some negative reviews but it also has some very positive reviews. My experience of it is that it's the perfect solution, better than rechargeable batteries as you never need to open the compartment to take the batteries out for recharging, you just put it on it's docking station. I only need to recharge mine about once a week.

Have you ruled out just getting rechargeables? They still run down fairly quickly but it's not a problem - just drop in a couple you prepared earlier. I bought this: Apple Battery Charger Of course, there are cheaper out there but they look nice 🙂

I am surprised no one has suggested a Magic Trackpad. These are great and have a much longer battery life than the Magic Mouse. My batteries normally last 6-8 weeks and I'm on the computer 4-8+ hours a day.

Because you didn't fill out your profile we don't know what version of OS X you are using so look over the MTP'd requirements to see if it will work on your machine.

http://www.apple.com/magictrackpad/

Yes it does initially seem like an expensive fix - but consider what you'd spend on batteries over, let's say, three years! You don't need to change your hibernation setting to charge your mouse, you just put it on the dock whether the mouse is switched on or off and regardless of whether your Mac is on, sleeping or off. Consider this, $50 is the price of a meal for two in your local Italian, and where's that after two days???!!!!

You can turn your magic mouse into a rechargeable magic mouse with this.

http://www.mobeetechnology.com/the-magic-charger.html

It will charge the mouse by induction.

Fascinating! I wonder if it's available from the Apple store?

hmmm...I'm afraid that's too much like those little pads on a laptop. I have a hard time with those because I've always had a desktop computer with a mouse. I probably could learn to use it but I'd rather just somehow get what I have to work better if possible. But it's definitely got a better battery life!

I also have this

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.2), 3.06 GHZ intel Core 2 Duo 4 GB Ram, LaCie 1TB Ex HD running on Lion.

There is a slight learning curve using the MTP however it's quick. I'm in late 50's and adapted to it completely within a couple of weeks. I can't imagine working with a mouse anymore, when I'm forced to I have to admit then feel awkward and foreign. The most difficult part was unlearning old bad habits. A MTP will get you more gestures, therefore more control. Finally you can use both a MTP and a mouse together if you want. When I got my MTP I kept my mouse on the desk for awhile but now the mouse has been sitting in box somewhere because it simply wasn't getting used. Just a suggestion, read the reviews on the MTP and I think you will see the majority of users agree with me. It gets better reviews than the Magic Mouse.

OWC (www.macsales.com) has them for as low as $59 used, but that shouldn't matter. Macofalltrades.com has them refurbished for $49, there are deals to be had just just have to do a little looking.