Apple USB Mouse (1998) vs Apple Wireless Mouse (2003)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleUSB Mouse (1998) | AppleWireless Mouse (2003) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | August 1998 | September 2003 |
| Tracking | ||
| Shape | Compact | Standard |
| Hand | Either hand | Either hand |
| Sensor | Mechanical ball | Optical |
| Buttons | 1 | 1 |
| Sensor | A rubber ball drives the tracking mechanism; the original Bondi blue model has a two-tone ball. | Optical tracking; Apple did not publish a DPI figure in its announcement. |
| Scroll wheel | None. | None. |
| Connections and battery | ||
| Connects by | Cable | Bluetooth |
| Power | Cable | AA battery |
| Battery life (maker's claim) | – | Up to 3 months |
| Charging | – | Two replaceable Energizer e2 AA batteries supplied; Apple's claim was up to three months of use. |
| Works with | USB; originally connected through the USB keyboard supplied with the 1998 iMac. | Mac OS X 10.2.6 or later, with built-in Bluetooth or an external D-Link USB Bluetooth adaptor; Apple stated a range of up to 30 feet. |
| Software | – | Apple described adaptive frequency hopping to avoid interference from nearby wireless devices. |
| Design | ||
| Materials | Translucent white and Bondi blue plastic in the original iMac configuration. | White plastic body with a sliding power switch underneath. |
| Colours | Bondi blue; later iMac bundles used other colours. | White. |
| In the box | Supplied with the original iMac. Apple's iMac specifications give its introduction as 15 August 1998. | Mouse and two Energizer e2 AA batteries. Apple announced it on 16 September 2003; contemporary reports say orders were shipping by 19 September, earlier than Apple's original two-week estimate. |
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