Help - Mouse Tracking Speed too slow!

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Level 1

70 points

Help - Mouse Tracking Speed too slow!

Man these forums are huge!

Ok, I have a problem. I have the mouse tracking slider slid all the way to the right (fastest) but my mouse still doesn't track fast enough for my taste. Actually I think for anyone's taste. The acceleration curve is whack and there are no controls other than a single slider. Meaning there seems no way to set the acceleration type nor toggle it off. I want my mouse to move faster!

Is there any way to go into some system file and make these changes?

Or perhaps there is some utility I can download that will allow the user to set the speed higher?

Apple Ink. Knows about this? Where can I make an OS Feature Request? It kinda makes the whole system "seem" slow and that is pretty important I think to potential customers demoing the system or to the feeling new customers get.

Thanks,
Tesselator.

MacPro, Mac OS X (10.4.8), Intel DualCore Intel Xeon x2 @ 2.66

Posted on Oct 19, 2006 12:19 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 19, 2006 12:29 PM in response to Tesselator

What mouse would you be using?

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Answer 2

Tesselator Author

Level 1

70 points

Oct 19, 2006 12:47 PM in response to infinite vortex

The one that comes with the MacPro.

Ummm, I guess it has a name But I dunno what it is.

It looks like: http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/mmouse_diagram.jpg

so I guess it's the Mighty Mouse.

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Answer 3

Oct 19, 2006 12:47 PM in response to Tesselator

Try it in another USB port. If you've got it plugged into the keyboard or via a display try it directly connected to the Mac Pro.

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Answer 4

Oct 19, 2006 12:54 PM in response to Tesselator

I have a similar gripe. I used the MIghty Mouse and switched over to my Logitech MX900 Bluetooth model. I can get the tracking speed on, but the feel is very off. There seems to be acceleration so if I move my mouse slowly, that respective slow movement is seen on the screen. On my other machines, slow movement merely moves slow no the screen, but the same distance is traversed. On the Mac, slow movement on the mouse results in extemely slow movement on the screen.

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Answer 5

Tesselator Author

Level 1

70 points

Oct 19, 2006 1:04 PM in response to BigKnutty

Yup, that's the acceleration curve I'm talking about. On other systems (read ALL) that I've used you can tune the acceleration. Sometimes the curve and sometimes just the amount that it is applied but it IS editable. In 10.4.8 it seems not to be.

I'm betting that some OSX wizzard here will know how and where to edit this within the OS. <crosses fingers>

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Answer 6

Tesselator Author

Level 1

70 points

Oct 19, 2006 1:10 PM in response to infinite vortex

ok, I tried that - against all logic. 😉

No difference. 😟

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Answer 7

Oct 19, 2006 1:17 PM in response to Tesselator

Then try resetting PRAM and NVRAM…

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

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Answer 8

Oct 19, 2006 1:30 PM in response to Tesselator

Tress, let me know if this works for you. I am anxious to get home and try it.

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Answer 9

Tesselator Author

Level 1

70 points

Oct 19, 2006 2:16 PM in response to BigKnutty

No, I don't mean to be rude but this is the OLD way of thinking about Mac OS. For 6.8 or 7.5.5 I might take that advice seriously. 10.4.8 should be sitting on a huge foundation of DEC Unix code with every aspect of the OS and peripheral control available. Blowing away the Pram and all the settings that said code (and user interaction) has placed there is not a sound idea. It's probably not harmful but it's needless busy work. I won't be trying that unless an Apple Tech tells me to. And even then I'm going to give him a piece of my mind if he does for Apple lacking a more elegant solution. I seriously doubt that would be suggested though.

I have been worng before though. O 🙂

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Answer 10

GATTMAN

Level 2

409 points

Oct 19, 2006 2:44 PM in response to Tesselator

Just download a copy of 'SteerMouse' It will allow you to accellerate you mouse a lot more than tye mousek/keyboard control panel will.

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Answer 11

Tesselator Author

Level 1

70 points

Oct 19, 2006 5:21 PM in response to GATTMAN

Perfect! Works nice and brings the system to as it should be out-of-the-box.

Thank you!

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Answer 12

GATTMAN

Level 2

409 points

Oct 19, 2006 11:37 PM in response to Tesselator

no probs:)

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Answer 13

doug c

Level 1

15 points

Apr 15, 2007 6:52 AM in response to GATTMAN

I'm sorry - even $20 to fix a borked acceleration curve is a bit much, in my opinion. It would be nice if Apple could add it into a 10.4.9.1 update, since Leopard is six months away as of now (April '07!). Of course, Logitech's Mouseworks could use some improvements/additions, perhaps to catch up to the WinXP version's level of functionality.

Guess I'll add this to my list of XCode training exercises... 🙂

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Answer 14

Apr 15, 2007 7:48 AM in response to doug c

I wouldn't count on Apple radically changing mouse tracking with a point update - mouse tracking on Macs has ALWAYS been an issue even back in OS 8/9. I used to use USB Overdrive but ever since I discovered the drivers that come with Kensigton mice, I've never looked back.

Their mouse choices are somewhat limited but the drivers are superb - allowing very precise fine tuning with slow/fast curve controls. Absolutely HATED the junk driver that comes with Logitech mice! BTW, "MouseWorks" is Kensington's driver - Logitech's is MouseWare.

If you want to use Apple's MM, or aren't happy with the drivers included with a third-party mouse, you'll have to resort to something like SteerMouse or USB Overdrive (or write your own). 🙂

-phil

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