Mac newbie: If you have a two button mouse what does the second button do?

You could probobly make the second button do whatever you want it to, but the default (and the most used) would be a "CTRL-Click". If you hold control and click somewhere, that's what the right click would do. It basically gives you most of the options that you need for whatever you are right-clicking on.

A two button mouse is a great idea. If you are used to Windows, then you will be able to do many of the same things with the right button on your Mac.

Just about all programs written for the Mac, including the operating system itself, allow you to right click to get contextual menus that you would otherwise have to scroll around or hunt for. For example, you can right click on an item to get a menu that allows you to put the item in the Trash, rather than having to drag it all the way there yourself.

You may want to try out the Mighty Mouse in a store before you buy it, I've heard some people say that it is hard to use. We have several Logitech MX500 that are very nice if you are looking for an alternative.

-Dan

Another alternative mouse that has a mac driver and works very nicely on a PB, is Microsofts Intellimouse.

If you're not using one today, after using an optical mouse, you won't go back to one with the a rubber ball, they are great.