My Mac has a ONE button mouse, So what gives?

#1 Just started too, and I had/have the same problem navigating. I've worked around it though. Hitting F11 allows you to navigate freely to the desired angle and position and hitting F11 once again gets you back to editing. Not as smooth at it could have been, but it works.

#2 Seriously, buy a good quality wheel mouse. Working in 3D with a one button mouse hurts soooo much.
You can set up a wheel mouse to work with OSX pretty easily.

I know that's not the answer that you're after but it's definately what I'd do if I was developing on a Mac.

#3 Jesse, look into the Macally mice and such. They're not too expensive and it makes life soooo much easier. I use my tablet to be honest with a multi-button puck and my pen set-up with right and middle mouse button clicks. I wish there were an easier way but you just might have to bite the bullet on this one and spend a little more cash :)

#4 Since I use the Production Suite, Lightwave, Modo, and Adobe products on my Mac, I often forget that I even had a one-button mouse. I bought an optical scroll mouse for $10 and never looked back. I can't imagine even thinking about using a serious application with the one-button mouse...or without a scroll mouse for that matter. You don't even have to "set it up." Plug it in and it works.

Lars' advice is what I have seen recommended. I thought that the control-click navigation had been addressed (though in the documentation it does mention purchasing a two-button mouse for development).

#5 Thanks for the advice:

I will use the F11 key until I get my New pressure pad and mouse. Thw terrain editor is Cool.

Jesse

#6 I take it you are not using Apple's Mighty Mouse though it is a one button mouse it can act as a 4 button mouse its a fairly easy set up and if you have it its free of course lol.
On a side note; though I use Mighty Mouse a lot I much prefer the ball to a traditional mouse and they cost next to nothing, life is so much better when you don't have to chase your mouse down being able to drag infinitely in any direction is something a traditional mouse can never do.

#7 I only heard bad things about the mac mighty mouse.

arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/mightymouse.ars

#8 Yeah. I use a $5 Microsoft optical mouse that I picked up on clearance at Wal-Mart. I have one for my G5 and my Mini.

It makes purists fume.

#9 I am ok with it but I can tell it wont last long the 360 scroll ball is what's going to give, as for the rest (response time and such) its fine but I prefer a ball not the traditional mouse

as to what mouse I like best I have had the best luck with logic tech track ball mouse my old one is 4 years old and as smooth as always I think I payed $15 for it new

#10 Sorry to bump this but this was a question I was having and I'm disheartened to see there's no real solution. While I have no shortage of mice, I don't always like to carry one around in my backpack. Is there a less hassling way to get button 2 features?

#11 The real solution is to get yourself a real mouse. It's 2006 and Apple's one button mouse with no scroll wheel is no longer cute or hip. It's an impediment to using your computer. It is also a PITA for game developers who try and adapt their control scheme to the platform and can't count on more than one button.

Editing on a notebook without an external mouse seems painful regardless of the number of buttons.

#12 I get that it may be neither cool nor hip to only have a one button mouse. I also think, however, that every other application in the Mac world allows scrolling from the touchpad and ctrl/two-finger clicks for "right mouse button". This is not asking for a new control scheme, merely an extension of the currently used and agreed on control scheme to a "supported" system.

As for the "get an external mouse" suggestion... It seems to be the only way to currently go and I like my wireless mighty mouse just fine given the necessity. I also have heard nice things about the Macally mice.

- Hunter

#13 The first thing I do when I get a new mac ( every 3 - 5 years ), is get a 2-button mouse to go with it.
Get a 2 button mouse.

In college, I routinely carried an external mouse with me. Now that there are wireless 2 button mice, that'd be a good solution for mobile users.

Using a two button mouse is the "real solution".

Share and Enjoy.

/Paul