this post was submitted on 28 Oct 2024
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[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Because they hate their customers and want the mouse to become junk you have to replace when the mouse goes dead. It's a finesse in planned obsolescence, same as the first time.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Don't be ridiculous, they love their customers. You just ain't one of them. Their target demo continues to be people don't want to think about it and have enough money to not care about the difference between $8 and $80. Same as ever. It's also kinda hard to fault them considering how much fucking money they make.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Agreed. They make sleek, flashy products for a reason- shiny = better. It's not so much a case of making products that die easily, as it is making incremental upgrades that encourage big spenders to get the latest version.

I'm pretty system-agnostic, each cult has its flaws, but one thing Apple does not do is make crappy hardware. My last MacBook was still going strong after 6 years, my partner's Air is pushing eight. My iPod Video has been replaced by my phone, but last I turned it on, it was working fine, must be over ten years old.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I have a rechargeable mouse from a no-name Chinese company, and they put the port at the nose of the mouse. It works like a wired mouse when plugged in and charging.

How has Apple not figured this out?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They have, it is especially designed to not work that way because then a lot of people would just leave it plugged in. And Apple hates that this would look like a wired mouse.

But yes that has not stopped them from doing it right on the keyboard.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Who leaves their wireless mouse plugged in?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I do. Don't really need a wireless mouse on my desktop PC. It's not going anywhere :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Do you not get annoyed by the cord?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Not usually. Only if I have too much crap on my desk and it catches on something, but that's easy to fix.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

I'm sure they have

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

One of those stupid old design decisions that Apple is super stubborn about because they’re convinced that they are right and their customers are wrong. Very much similar to the old iOS volume controls that took up most of the screen

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

Power move. Show those users who is boss.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

They'll do it in 3-4 years, claiming it's revolutionary, while they're just catching up to the competition.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

honestly who cares? charge it overnight once per week and you're fine.

focus on the actual problems, like the horrific ergonomics, planned obsolescence, or apple's war on right to repair.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago

this is a problem of planned obsolescence since the mouse becomes unusable once the battery runs down

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

40 years since invention and outside of a few interesting edge cases like projectors, I still don't understand the purpose of a wireless mouse. It sits next to your computer full time. Pay less, get more response, much more longevity, and go wired.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

My computer is on a workbench that already has a mess of wires and electronic components on it. One less wire is great. I barely game. I don't need the quick response.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Some setups have you sitting further away from the screen like when people hook up their computers to TVs. Also less cables means less cable management

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

It never seems to be the people who have actually used the mouse complaining about the port location.

A brief 1-2 minute charge nets you hours of use, it’s really not a big deal.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I recently read a plausible reason that I hadn't thought of yet:

Apple would need to include a specific flexible cable rated for continuous movement with the mouse. If the port was in the regular spot, then people would ofc also use it wired at times. However if buyers would use regular charging cables, then the experience would both be worse and the cables might get damaged over time from bending.

I still think the main reason is simply that they value form over function, otherwise the shape would be more ergonomic, but it's another interesting factor to consider.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's done intentionally. If you want a wired mouse, you can buy one of thousands of wired mice and use those. If you want a wireless mouse, it doesn't need to and shouldn't be plugged in while you are using it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

I think this is a pretty obtuse take. Users obviously want their mouse to remain functional when the battery dies. It's not a wireless vs wired mouse debate.