Asa Dotzler: Firefox and more

Google for SideTrack. it's worth the registration fee.

I got a new laptop not long ago and have been trying ever since to get the middle click to work. Like you said, it's much better than ctrl click.

Think twice before buying an overpriced laptop.

Why not start using geastures? Once you're hooked, you'll never look back.

Not sure if this is what you mean by tolerable, but Cmd+Click does the same. I havn't tried Sidetrack before, so maybe that will give you what you're after?

I'd think SideTrack is the main option.

http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/sidetrack/FAQ.html#cornertap

Congratulations with your move to MacBook Pro. I switched a few months ago and I'm very pleased I did it.

Hold the command key and click.

Sorry Asa, had't read the last paragraph before posting!
I too am on a MacBook Pro now, and am ashamed to say I did not know two fingers and click is the same as right-click. I'll have to remember that.
Unfortunately, I doubt that will work when I boot into Windows -- But I can hope. (I know of no way to right or middle click when I boot my MBP into Windows.)

Asa -

I use this on my PowerBook (and now everywhere) to open links in a new tab and it works great.
Super Drag and Go: http://superdragandgo.mozdev.org/

I agree with Tomas, mouse gestures are the way to go :)

FOR ANON:

overpriced laptop? Did you try it yet ?
To me, MacBook is a UNDER-priced laptop. I switched two weeks ago, and it seems to me the best laptop I've ever had.

Asa the middle click and right click issues are the only things preventing me to switch to mac.

I hope this isn't too off topic, but I thought since someone had touched on booting into windows I'd throw this in.

Whilst I've not used boot camp to fire up windows as the main OS, the two finger click does work when running windows using Parallels software.

FOR LUCA:

Reasons why you won't pay 1,100 dollars for this laptop:
1) First off your paying for a Mac
2) Second off your paying with something with only 64 mb video memory
3) Third, you paying for that much for only 60 gb
4) Only comes with CD/R and DVD....no DVD +/-R
5) Top it all off....only 1.83 ghz

I've seen plenty of plenty of laptops made by other companies with Windows/Linux that sell for much cheaper.

I have tried to make the switch before - I got a Mac Mini.

I found the mouse extremely clumsy. Not particularly because its a bad design. But being a lifelong windows and linux user, I am used to either have mouse acceleration off by default, or turning it off.

Using the mac was and is still very painful for me. How can I turn off mouse acceleration?

Of course, maybe the answer is to buy a powerbook. Then there is no mouse, only a trackpad.

"I've seen plenty of plenty of laptops made by other companies with Windows/Linux that sell for much cheaper."

Can't answer much for the linux side, but the fact that those other laptops come with Windows is one of the reasons they are so cheap.

For me, an OS with no facility to manage/edit photos, no video editing software, no music creation software, and built-in support for dvd's laughable (despite their existence in the marketplace since 1998) is not suitable. Hence the reason I don't use Windows.

With iPhoto, I can manage my photos, edit them, burn them to dvd's as a slideshow with audio if I wish. With iMovie, I can capture an edit high definition widescreen video, burn to dvd or share over the web. With iDvd, I can create a disc with just a couple of clicks. With Garageband, I can create and edit MIDI tracks with virtual intruments, create a podcast, with full support for any MIDI keyboard.

With Preview, I can open just about any image format with no extra plugins required, including Photoshop format.

If I ever need to run Windows, I can simply fire up Parallels to run it alongside OS X, or even boot up in XP natively.

And the last time I had to update my anti virus software was... I don't have any, there's yet to be a mac virus that has been released into the wild and caused any kind of damage at all, so that's not something I need to worry about. Quite probably for a long time too, seeing as OS X is built on top of an OS that was designed for a multi-user network environment (and is much more secure as a result)

That's just a few reasons why I use a mac. Each to their own of course, but for me the ability to do all of this and more is worth the extra money. To purchase software that's able to do half of that stuff would set me back a fortune for Windows.

"How can I turn off mouse acceleration?"

Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse

Acceleration issues:

1) Mr Lizard, there is no acceleration control in the Keyb/Mouse system preference. That's just tracking speed, but that doesn't control the acceleration curve. The whacky accel curve in OS X is a common complaint, and it bugs the hell outta me too...

2) Solution: Google on "USB Overdrive", it will let you super-fine-tune the accel settings. It's 20$ nagware, but right now I have speed set to 160dpi and accel set to 10% and it feels natural. I've also played with zero accel too. 100dpi / 0% accel feels good.

this may wet your whistle http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060706-7204.html

Seriously: Mr. Lizard you sound like that annoying Mac Comercial. You make it sound like you aren't allowed to download 3rd party applications! You don't seriously just live with iPhoto and that crap. Who seriously uses Appleworks on a mac. And also, well this doesn't apply to linux, but seriously whats the big deal about viruses? If you have a decent one your just as safe as a mac. I dont' need to buy overpriced items just so i don't have to download them.

can't you just set it so that you can tap in a corner of the touchpad as a middle click ????

get a real computer

I've never understood why The Steve is so opposed to having two buttons, the productivity enhancement more than outweighs any complexity that's added. With the Mighty Mouse out now, I was hoping the new PowerBooks would enter the 1990s and have two buttons, but no such luck. I'd think especially with a "pro" laptop Apple would assume their users were smart enough to be able to differentiate between left and right mouse buttons. Write Apple a letter or email and tell them you want a laptop with multiple buttons--they'll probably ignore it, but the more people that complain maybe eventually they'll at least make it a build to order option.

Hello, Ive lost my mouse no acceleration instal, and i cant seem to find another. Can u help me?

@ Anon

Yes, I do indeed live with iPhoto!

And I use many 3rd party apps too. Word, Excel and Powerpoint, WireTap Pro, Adobe Creative Suite and many others.

And I don't know who uses AppleWorks, it's rubbish IMHO. As it MSWorks.

Apple sells overhyped crap for fashion lemmings.

I installed a Micro$oft Intellimouse and configured the wheel button to CMD-Click.
That works great in Firefox.

I think we all enjoy when the kiddies hop online and start flaming Operating Systems they don't use. Anon's comments have changed my life... I'm now going to use Window's.

Ive been using windows for over 12 years now and i just got a macbook this week. OS X is new to me and it took me a while to figure out how it works, but now that im used to it, im never going back to windows unless i need to play counterstrike.
this little puppy is faster than my p4 3.4 ghz (or so it seems) and im very happy and impressed with it.

as for the middle click on the mac, i've yet to find a solution.... but i did find a firefox extention that enables mouse gestures, im about to give it a shot.