[Rune Jakobsen]

This is an overall questions concerning gaming mice for mac OSX.

To what extent does one have to base his/her choice of new mouse, depending on whether or not the brand ensures compatibility with OSX?

I'm looking to buy the new Logitech G500 when released in september this year. However, on logitechs homepage it doesn't state that the mouse software will be compatible with OSX. So does this mean that this mouse is the wrong choice for me? Or are such statements meant to be taken serious? Would i find that 2 weeks after its release, you can simply download the appropriate drivers for it from some third-party site? Or what?

As you can see I'm very much in the dark, when it comes to making a choice here. On one hand I've fallen in love with this mouse, inter alia, because of its predecessor the G5, which was truly an amazing gaming mouse in my opinion. But, on the other hand, I wouldn't like to "see my heart shattered", if I buy it just to find out that it's like gaming with a cord attached to a rock.

Ow yea, and this is not only a problem with the new logitech g500 mouse. Basically all the achnowledged gaming mice out there aren't mac OSX compatible. Hence, why I wrote "an overall question" in the beginning.

Thanks in advance, Rune.

[Eric5h5]

Rune Jakobsen, on August 26th 2009, 02:26 AM, said:

To what extent does one have to base his/her choice of new mouse, depending on whether or not the brand ensures compatibility with OSX?

None whatsoever. All mice are at least basically compatible if they are HID-compliant (which as far as I know they all are), and if you need extra functionality for mapping buttons and stuff, if there's no official software, there's various third-party software such as Controllermate, etc.

--Eric

[Quicksilver]

If a mouse does not list compatibility with OS X, then the functionality of that mouse is going to be limited to the left and right buttons, plus the scroll wheel. It may also exhibit strange, nonlinear (and sometimes even non-proportional) acceleration.

Although you can usually hack together some kind of full compatibility using SteerMouse, USBOverdrive, or some other utility, I find the process tiresome.

Hence, I disagree with Eric.

[Eric5h5]

Whether you're using SteerMouse etc. or the manufacturer's drivers, you're still going to be configuring it. It's neither more nor less tiresome than any other method. Even if it was tiresome, I'm only doing it once until I get another mouse, which is generally takes quite a few years, so it's a non-issue.

Hence, I disagree with Quicksilver.

--Eric

[Quicksilver]

Quick aside: I didn't realize that corybantic was a word!

[Janichsan]

Quicksilver, on August 28th 2009, 01:21 AM, said:

If a mouse does not list compatibility with OS X, then the functionality of that mouse is going to be limited to the left and right buttons, plus the scroll wheel.

Based on my experience, I definitely have to disagree with that. Barely any of the mice I used in the past were stated as MacOS X compatible and in every case, each and every (non-special function) button worked and was recognised by both the OS itself and any game where I tried to assign them. Only very special function keys like volume controls on some multimedia mice don't work without special drivers. As Eric said, the HID compliance is the key - and basically all contemporary mice have that.

[ijedi42]

Janichsan, on August 28th 2009, 02:32 AM, said:

Based on my experience, I definitely have to disagree with that. Barely any of the mice I used in the past were stated as MacOS X compatible and in every case, each and every (non-special function) button worked and was recognised by both the OS itself and any game where I tried to assign them. Only very special function keys like volume controls on some multimedia mice don't work without special drivers. As Eric said, the HID compliance is the key - and basically all contemporary mice have that.

i have used various gaming mice by logitech and have never had an issue with any of the buttons working, i would think this will carry forward.

[UmarOMC1]

Quicksilver, on August 27th 2009, 07:21 PM, said:

If a mouse does not list compatibility with OS X, then the functionality of that mouse is going to be limited to the left and right buttons, plus the scroll wheel. It may also exhibit strange, nonlinear (and sometimes even non-proportional) acceleration.

Although you can usually hack together some kind of full compatibility using SteerMouse, USBOverdrive, or some other utility, I find the process tiresome.

Hence, I disagree with Eric.

Having gone through a few different non-Apple mice, more specifically Logitech's, Microsoft's and 2 of Razer's offerings I whole-heartedly disagree with you, especially when it comes to OS X. I can utilize ALL SEVEN BUTTONS on my Razer Diamondback without Razer's Mac OS X drivers as is the case with all the other brands of USB mice I've used with OS X in the past few years. USB Overdrive is useless unless you're still using Mac OS 8 or 9.

[the Battle Cat]

At first I was going to agree whole heartedly with Quicksilver but then I saw the tide turn adamantly against him hence I'm going to disagree with him. My Logitech meeses have all worked just fine out of the box. Every button, every dongle. Response has never been an issue for me.

[Eric5h5]

::does victory dance::

--Eric

[the Battle Cat]

Don't get cocky kid. Like Darth Vader, Quicksilver probably let us win because he has planted a tracer on us so that we will lead him back to our rebel base.

[Eric5h5]

Wait--you have a rebel base? How come I don't have a rebel base? I want a rebel base, dammit! I'm certainly not going to share yours...it's probably got kitty litter everywhere. Yuck.

--Eric

[the Battle Cat]

Planet Gritty Kitty, the 7th moon of Pootor, is a heaven on space-earth for kitties everywhere!

[Janichsan]

UmarOMC1, on September 1st 2009, 11:08 AM, said:

USB Overdrive is useless unless you're still using Mac OS 8 or 9.

Well, there is a OS X version.

[Eric5h5]

Janichsan, on September 2nd 2009, 02:56 AM, said:

Well, there is a OS X version.

Also, you need something to fix the mouse acceleration in OS X, since there's no way to do it with the built-in settings. However, USB Overdrive isn't the best option since it has some incompatibilities. Steermouse is better.

--Eric

[Frost]

the Battle Cat, on September 1st 2009, 08:42 AM, said:

At first I was going to agree whole heartedly with Quicksilver but then I saw the tide turn adamantly against him hence I'm going to disagree with him. My Logitech meeses have all worked just fine out of the box. Every button, every dongle. Response has never been an issue for me.

Same.

Used the MX700, the old green G7, the new black G7, and the G9. All have functioned perfectly right out of the box.

[UmarOMC1]

Janichsan, on September 2nd 2009, 02:56 AM, said:

Well, there is a OS X version.

I never claimed there wasn't. I paid for the Mac OS 9 version which entitled me to the OS X version which I found useless because OS X recognized all of my buttons- same goes for my Logitech gamepad. I haven't used USB Overdrive since I had by BlueG3- two computers ago. The only limitation, gaming wise, was the USB 1.1 spec which allowed for a lot less simultaneous key inputs, with or without USB Overdrive.

[Janichsan]

UmarOMC1, on September 10th 2009, 09:23 AM, said:

I never claimed there wasn't. I paid for the Mac OS 9 version which entitled me to the OS X version which I found useless because OS X recognized all of my buttons- same goes for my Logitech gamepad.

Yes, okay, you were lucky on that behalf. But that doesn't make USB Overdrive useless per se. There are still cases where a person wants or needs to have more options to fiddle with the mouse/joystick/gamepad settings than is possible with MacOS X or some games out of the box. Keep in mind that there are games that only offer very limited options to configure your controller (e.g. Enemy Engaged). Then you would probably be glad to have some extra program that allows you to do this.

[Sneaky Snake]

the Battle Cat, on September 1st 2009, 06:51 PM, said:

Planet Gritty Kitty, the 7th moon of Pootor, is a heaven on space-earth for kitties everywhere!

Normally I would say that you shouldn't give out the coordinates to the top secret rebel base, but seeing as he already has a tracer on us he won't be reading this thread.

Another victory in the rebellion, which I guess is now against Frost and Quicksilver