imac mighty mouse squeeze

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Level 1

14 points

imac mighty mouse squeeze

I am loving my new imac! But I am having a problem with the mighty mouse that shipped with it. I've found that the "squeeze" side buttons are "clicking" when I just barely touch the mouse. I thought perhaps the mouse was not on a level surface, but after trying different mouse pads, paper, and desk, it still does it. The squeeze button by default brings up the expose program, and it became so annoying I had to disable that. All it does now is just click non-stop. I took it up to my local apple store, and don't ya know, it worked fine. Brought it home, and same thing. I've since found a few other discussions here that suggest it may be an electrical problem (things like touching the metal base of the imac, or removing a desktop lamp) have fixed the problem. My fix... I went out and had to buy a new $19 mouse. I hope apple will consider a recall on these items. I see that several of the other discussions have been closed: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=359574&tstart=0
and here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=345970&tstart=0
But I've not seen an official fix to this problem.
Any help would be appreciated, perhaps I just could not find the official fix.

powerbook g4 and intel imac 24", Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 6, 2007 9:32 PM

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Answer 1

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,547 points

Feb 8, 2007 9:24 AM in response to Cyen

By your own admission the MM worked as expected in the Apple store. So, in actuality, the problem isn't with the mouse, but apparently something in your environment that causes the aberrant behavior. I wish it were something simple to figure out and you could make the adjustments and live happily ever after. But alas, it isn't.
Millions of us use MMs without issue, but the relative few of you who have issues are convinced that Apple is responsible for a recall of the product and some kind of fix. If Apple knew of a fix I'm sure that they would provide it. But the bottom line is that they create great products that work admirably in the common, general environment of the majority of users. In this satisfied user's opinion they aren't responsible for the quirks of household of the few.

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Answer 2

Feb 8, 2007 9:48 AM in response to Cyen

I also find the "squeeze" to be too sensitive. So I just disabled it in Prefs, as I rarely want that function anyway.
Sorry I don't have a real "fix" for you, but you're not alone in thinking it's too sensitive.

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Answer 3

Cyen Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 8, 2007 11:23 AM in response to Dah•veed

David, you sound like a lawyer 🙂
Yes, I admitted that it did work at the apple store. I am also posting here because this problem is repeatable (in my environment). Is it because I have too much static in my carpet? Is it because I have a desk lamp? Is it because I wear sneakers? I don't know. The point is that this particular mouse (and apparently a handful of others) are having this problem. The reason I posted this was in the hopes of finding out what is the problem with these few MM's so that I can change my environment, or possibly a recall of certain MM's with this problem. The fact is that MY MM is not working properly, and I had hoped that by posting to this forum I could find out why. Your response chastises me, rather than offer me a suggestion on fixing it. Thanks. And I agree APPLE creates awesome products. This wasn't a post to bash Apple.

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Answer 4

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,547 points

Feb 8, 2007 1:49 PM in response to Cyen

I speak and write English as a second language. I run a spell & grammar check of everything before I post. I'm not trying to sound legalistic.
I know of no official fix. And I seriously doubt that Apple considers this an issue that needs a fix.
My point was that your MM doesn't have a problem, as it worked properly at the Apple store. It has a problem in your environment, your home. If Apple traded you another MM and it behaved the same way in your home, the problem would still be with your home, not with the MM. I don't think that is Apple's problem, unfortunately it is yours. And please, don't think me unfeeling for your situation. I wish you could have a MM that worked for you in your current environment. It's a great mouse. I love the scrollball. Both the left and right click work perfectly for me in my home, my environment. My hand just hasn't developed the coordination to use the side buttons.
I apologize for the chastising tone. You received the ire of my sensitivity to the topic. I have been in this forum almost from day one, trying to offer assistance for just about anything that has come up. Even to the point of extensively researching topics I don't know off the top of my head to give a hand, especially if no one else is responding. There are some folks around here who never pitch in a hand to help, but they are lurking in the peripheral shadows and the first note of general criticism about the iMac, the Intel chips vs AMD, the MM, the tactile feel of the Apple keyboard, the built-in speakers, the AirPort card, ad infinitum, and they jump on the bandwagon, claws bared, ready to get in their digs. (Is that too many mixed metaphors?)
For example, people have grimy fingers; dirt, oil, dead skin that sloughs off, etc. and eventually gum up the scrollball mechanism inside the mouse, so it needs to be cleaned. There have been countless threads of Apple's bad MM design because the scrollball needs to be cleaned occasionally, perhaps more often for some, than others.
Personally, I have grown weary of the moaners and complainers and the folks threatening to return to the dark side. (Windows) The general population falls on pretty much every scale someone can develop, as a bell curve, with the majority of folks in the middle and the minority on the fringes. In my estimation, of the population that would be attracted to its products, Apple shoots for the majority. The happy middle ground. The millions of folks for whom the MM works wonderfully.
But there will always be those who for whatever reason, and possibly not their fault, will fall on the fringes, where a product designed for the middle ground, doesn't work for them. And to them I say, adapt, and stop b*tching about it. Accept that something doesn't meet your need and customize by finding something that does, whether a different keyboard, a $19 mouse, external speakers, etc.

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