Horizontal scrolling is supported via IntelliPoint's AutoScroll function or can be assigned to the scroll wheel. IntelliPoint does a good job of selecting the intended frame when scrolling in a framed Web browser window, and it produced no unexpected or spurious behavior in my testing. Scrolling speed is adjustable and I saw no evidence of overscroll. Additionally, scrolling works on the frontmost window regardless of where on screen the cursor may be. Scrolling works well and is snappy in every application, even those that stymied some of the other drivers. IntelliPoint also supports application-specific sets but lacks the chording feature offered by Kensington's MouseWorks. You can also define mouse buttons in a variety of ways, assigning them multiple clicks or keystrokes. You can set mouse speed based on the system default or adjust it more finely within IntelliPoint. IntelliPoint includes the common "snap-to" feature that automatically moves the cursor to the default button in dialog boxes. Microsoft did a nice job of integrating all of the functionality into three tabbed panes. A Smarter Mouse - A cursory examination of the Microsoft IntelliPoint mouse driver reveals tightly tuned controls. ![]() For users looking for a cheap mouse with a scroll wheel, the XLR8 mouse may be the perfect choice. The driver also supports what it calls "accelerated scrolling." Once activated, scrolling is continuous and scrolling speed increases the farther the wheel is moved. Holding down the Option key while moving the scroll wheel enables horizontal scrolling. Once activated, scrolling is where XLR8's driver shines. No application specific sets are available. The control panel provides two tabbed panes, one for defining functions for the buttons and another for configuring the scroll wheel. The XLR8 Point-and-Scroll control panel is simple and clean, in part because it offers limited functionality. and Nothing Else - Dirt-cheap PC peripheral maker Interex has entered the USB mouse game on the Mac side with the XLR8 Point-and-Scroll mouse, a sub-$20 two-button mouse with a scroll wheel that's available in a variety of colors. For those who prefer a more consistent user experience though, the lack of scrolling support in Sherlock and undoubtedly some other applications may eliminate Logitech's MouseWare driver from consideration. I enjoyed the capability to scroll in two dimensions while working in FreeHand and Word this feature almost justifies a Logitech mouse and MouseWare combination by itself. This subtle nicety does behave a bit oddly in framed browser windows, where it scrolls the closest scroll bar, which might not be what you want. Scrolling is also cursor-focused, so scrolling takes place in the window beneath the cursor, which is useful for applications like Ircle that have multiple windows and floaters. Logitech makes note of this incompatibility but has yet to announce a fix.Īn added bonus is that MouseWare supports horizontal scrolling and defaults to horizontal if no vertical scrolling is available in the active window. For instance, Internet Explorer consistently responds to the scroll wheel and behaves as expected Sherlock does not. Wheel scrolling works fairly well in applications that recognize the MouseWare driver. ![]() This is adequate for my purposes, but it simply won't suffice for the true customization junky. However, MouseWare lacks support for application sets, forcing the user to make do with a single cadre of button definitions. ![]() MouseWare includes Smart Cursor, which automatically points to the default button in a dialog box. On the other hand, Logitech's software is merely functional. The buttons and scroll wheel have a solid, robust feel. The shape is divine and fits perfectly in my hand, though smaller hands may not like the feel as much. I've been using a USB MouseMan Wheel and love the hardware. Now, with USB, Logitech's high-end pointing devices are available to the Mac. Previous versions left me cold, as did their ports of less functional controllers to ADB. Scrolling's Nearly There - Logitech's MouseWare control panel has evolved from its ADB ancestry. Here, I want to wrap up with Logitech's MouseWare, XLR8's Point and Scroll, Microsoft's IntelliPoint, and the one-size-fits-all USB Overdrive. In part one of this article, I talked about Contour Designs' UniMouse and Kensington's family of mice. Just as important as the plastics of each device, however, are the USB drivers that power them. Apple's introduction of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) to the Macintosh line and the addition of the puck-like mouse bundled with iMacs and Power Macintosh systems have prompted developers to create replacement pointing devices.
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