Mac OS X Mouse Acceleration

**Ben** · #1 (**permalink**) 15-05-2009, 18:52

I bought a new older Mac Mini recently and I've only just got round to using it again and it seems with Mac OS X (I'm using Tiger) Apple has a mouse acceleration setting that can't be changed. TidBITS : Mac OS X's Mouse Acceleration Problem explains the acceleration in OS X, but tbh its a feature I just can't get use to...the acceleration feature is where the cursor either multiplies or decreases cursor speed based on the mouse speed. If the mouse is moving faster, the acceleration value goes up...if you move the mouse slower, the acceleration value decreases (therefore the cursor moves slowly...whereas Windows has a linear constant speed based on how far you've moved the mouse. Has anyone had or have this problem or ever got use to it?

(see last replies at bottom of topic)

**paul** · #2 (**permalink**) 16-05-2009, 10:23

I think you will need precise control on it. It seems enhanced acceleration feature to me rather than acceleration insanity of the mouse.

**Ben** · #3 (**permalink**) 31-05-2009, 18:19

Seems I've got use to it now. It's quite annoying after you've been using Windows/Linux for sometime but you eventually get use to using it again. Some mouses really go too fast even on the lowest settings in System Preferences but those looking for a mouse that works better with the acceleration the ARGOS Value (UK) Optical Mouse works well. I've tried many mouses and a lot are very sensitive to small movement (i.e. they move a big distance) and that really doesn't help with Mac OS 10's acceleration.

With the Argos Optical Mouse, that did the trick with iMouseFix that has greater speed settings that what's available in System Preferences. It doesn't get rid of acceleration at all, just allows you to change settings a little more precise. I had the iMouseFix setting a centimetre or so from the left side of the line.

I decided to go buy a Mighty Mouse and although I knew that it wouldn't get rid of acceleration when I first plugged it in the acceleration was a little different, but not too different. After trying to change the settings in System Preferences, I tried using iMouseFix without much luck. The acceleration was so annoying I installed Ubuntu over OS X, to find the sound doesn't work. I tried Linux Mint and everything worked but wireless was dodgy at times...but soon went back to OS X (you just can't resist it

) ... the acceleration bugged me at first but in System Preferences I had the tracking setting at the one before the 'Fast' speed -- you just have to get use to the way the mouse works, as we already know when you move the mouse faster, the acceleration value goes up, and when you move it slower the acceleration value goes down. Seems stupid but you have to practice to get use to it. For me, I hold the Mighty Mouse (and the other mouse I had) a little differently in order to move the mouse at the correct distace/speed for the acceleration. I generally hold the mouse as you would be with your fingers slightly lifted while end of your fingers touch near the top of the mouse. This is so you can glide the mouse properly, without having to drag it across the desk.

May seem pointless me posting this long explanation but this page is quite high in search results on Google (I added a few tags

) so others may see this post. Certainly, Mac OS X is a nice piece of software and I really don't want to dish it up simply because of this minor (pun?) annoyance.

**paul** · #4 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009, 11:36

Thanks for the explanation, setting preference and practicing will certainly help you.

**almo2001** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 13:39

Hi!

I personally don't think a bad mouse acceleration curve is a minor annoyance. I misclick all the time when I'm on my Mac at work because of it. My one at home is fixed with mousefix/Logitech Control center, but I can't use LCC at work because I don't have a Logitech mouse.

Anyway, I set up this online petition. I run a blog, and my page about mouse accel on OS X is one of the most popular. So I figure there are a lot of people out there who aren't happy.

w w w.petitiononline.c o m/MacMAcc/petition.html

Ah I can't post URLs without 5 posts. Well, I don't think this is spam since I don't get any money from this, so I hope the board mods won't mind me tricking the board rather than spamming 5 posts to be able to post the URL normally. If some kind person could repost this URL properly in the thread, I'd apprecieate it. If we get loads of signatures, maybe I can send it to Apple and we could get some action on it.

**Ben** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 20:46

I signed the petition sometime back and still agree the acceleration is annoying sometimes and I don't think Apple has removed it in Snow Leopard either.

Mac OS X Mouse Acceleration Petition

Another annoying thing kind of unrelated to this acceleration problem is the length of the wire of the Apple keyboard and mouse...its so small I can't use it on my desk without having to move a lot of things around. I did get some USB cable or something with the Apple keyboard but it doesn't actually work? Nothing fits in the port, if at all that piece of cable is used for that purpose.

The acceleration is annoying but you can get use to it, provided with the right settings. If you have an average PC mouse get iMouseFix and put the setting about a centimetre across the line...this should provide a good setting in order to get use to the acceleration. The thing with the acceleration is to get use to the way you move the mouse, if you want to get to a long distance move the mouse faster than usual, and if you want to check a few checkboxes next to each other, move the mouse slower than usual. Let's face it, regardless how we move the mouse the acceleration will not work like PC mouse movement. If you want to switch between numerous browser tabs, moving the mouse slowly will just trigger the same problem - having to drag the mouse 30 centimetres across the desk...moving the mouse faster and keeping at that constant fast speed will allow you to switch between tabs (and of course, get from one part to another on the screen without feeling a big drag).

For the Mighty Mouse, I have the setting the one before the "Fast" setting.

If you can't get use to the acceleration Microsoft took advantage of this problem and provided a complete fix via IntelliPoint (or whatever its called) - they're Microsoft drivers for the Mac that remove acceleration altogether but obviously they only work on Microsoft mouses. [edit: I bought a Microsoft mouse sometime back and installed IntelliPoint drivers, and IntelliPoint for me, using the Ruby Red Microsoft Mouse didn't get rid of the acceleration at all] They should work on almost all Microsoft-branded mouses.

There is one good fix called SteerMouse but has a limited trial before you have to purchase the software, which I suppose gives you time to get correct settings that you feel comfortable with. There's also USB Overdrive that has greater customisation - it has an unlimited trial where you have to wait a certain amount of seconds in order to be able to use it when you start the application every time. But of course you can pay to have this annoyance removed.

I don't see how Apple doesn't remove this quite annoying feature of OS X as it will annoy any people coming from a PC - which accounts for a large percentage of those using OS X today...would benefit everyone really.

**almo2001** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 21:33

Well, I have acceleration off on Windows all the time. I prefer the cursor to move with absolute relation to how I move the mouse. That way it always does what I expect without needing to engage a feedback loop in my head to get it to work correctly.

I'm a heavy gamer and a gameplay programmer, so I expect the mouse to behave in a certain way.

**Ben** · #8 (**permalink**) 25-07-2009, 19:56

OS X's acceleration follows quite a simple pattern and to some it feels natural because the speed of the cursor movement is dependent on how fast you move the mouse. If you're coming from a PC (and you've never used a Mac before) - when you move the mouse the speed of the cursor is linear - it'll move the same distance no matter if you move the mouse slowly to let's say 30cm distance, than moving it fast to a 30cm distance. This may not be exactly correct but its how I can explain the difference between Mac and PC mouse / cursor movement.

Consider moving an object across the table - if you move the object slowly, it'll do exactly that - therefore it won't have moved far. If you move the object fast it'll move faster (therefore quicker). This is the same principle with the OS X tracking acceleration. For me it was a simple reajustment from the way I move the mouse on a PC to the way on a Mac. Essentially on a Mac the speed of which you move the mouse is going to be the distance the cursor will travel across the screen.

The acceleration can be a pain though when using specific mouses that have crap accuracy. If you find OS X tracking to be jerky and unusable I recommend buying the Mighty Mouse and putting the mouse settings to the one before the 'Fast' option. Should be good then although the acceleration will be there and all - but its much more accurate with the mighty mouse. Speaking of which the mighty mouse is expensive at around £34/$49 - but you may be able to get it a little cheaper off Amazon.

**almo2001** · #9 (**permalink**) 25-07-2009, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

The acceleration can be a pain though when using specific mouses that have crap accuracy. If you find OS X tracking to be jerky and unusable I recommend buying the Mighty Mouse and putting the mouse settings to the one before the 'Fast' option. Should be good then although the acceleration will be there and all - but its much more accurate with the mighty mouse. Speaking of which the mighty mouse is expensive at around £34/$49 - but you may be able to get it a little cheaper off Amazon.

I really don't like the Mighty Mouse at all. I have one on my Mac at work, and I just don't dig it. I much prefer no acceleration.

**paul** · #10 (**permalink**) 29-07-2009, 09:52

I am using Logitech LX7 from last one year and never got any problem, it is quite stable for me.

**almo2001** · #11 (**permalink**) 29-07-2009, 12:58

It's not a question of stability. It's whether or not you get along with the mouse acceleration curve in OS X. Some people don't mind it. Others do. It's like the Xbox 360 controller. They hurt my thumbs, and I don't like that the sticks are places asymmetrically. Other people seem to love them.

When working on my iMac at work, I misclick probably a hundred times a day due to the acceleration curve. I always have acceleration off on my Windows PCs since they let me turn it off.

I don't think OS X should eliminate mouse acceleration. I want the option to turn it on or off as I please.

**Ben** · #12 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 19:20

Both OS X and Windows has mouse acceleration; although Windows calls this "mouse precision" and in Windows it does certainly help for more precise movement when moving slowly; and same applies in OS X, but OS X's acceleration is different to the Windows algorithm. I don't think Apple intentionally changed the algorithm from Windows (at least, (Ubuntu) Linux mouse acceleration is slightly different from Windows too) but its clear some people don't like it. I just installed Snow Leopard today and the acceleration hasn't changed - I don't think it should be removed but some settings to make the "acceleration speed" slightly less or more, to give more user control. I can personally get use to the acceleration; its just a different algorithm but it takes some time to get use to when you've been using PCs for a long time.

**almo2001** · #13 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

I don't think it should be removed but some settings to make the "acceleration speed" slightly less or more, to give more user control.

Agreed. No need to remove it. I don't even mind if it's the default. But there needs to be a setting to remove it if we want to.

**Ben** · #14 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by almo2001

Agreed. No need to remove it. I don't even mind if it's the default. But there needs to be a setting to remove it if we want to.

Windows allows you to remove mouse pointer precision, although it feels awkward and not so accurate when its disabled. Windows acceleration is perfect, because its not too slow when you move the mouse slowly. I presume your using 10.5 at the moment any how?

Almo also feel free to post around other sections of the forum

. I'm not being sarcastic saying this, your welcome to post on other sections of the forum

.

**almo2001** · #15 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

Windows allows you to remove mouse pointer precision, although it feels awkward and not so accurate when its disabled. Windows acceleration is perfect, because its not too slow when you move the mouse slowly. I presume your using 10.5 at the moment any how?

Almo also feel free to post around other sections of the forum

. I'm not being sarcastic saying this, your welcome to post on other sections of the forum

.

I'm on WinXP at work and OS 10.5 at home. I have "pointer precision" off at all times on my XP installation. Mouse acceleration feels weird to me both on OSX and WinXP, though I must admit the OSX one is significantly worse.

I might just go take a look around. The mail notification on this thread is why I haven't shown up elsewhere.