Mac Microsoft Mouse Middle Click

Summary :

Certainly, the mouse middle click button is not new to you; you can easily find it on many mice and some touchpads. The middle mouse button is clickable and it is also known as the scroll wheel, which is able to help you browse a long web page easily. In the following content, I will introduce this button to you in more detail.

The middle mouse button on modern mice has been there for quite a while now. It allows you to turn the wheel to scroll pages or click it once for special functions such as to open a new tab web browsers etc. There have been numerous cases where users reported that their middle mouse button stopped working because of unknown reasons. 2020-4-2  Here, I will mainly introduce 3 additional usage of the middle mouse button on laptop. (In fact, you are allowed to use middle mouse button in Windows 10 and other systems, like Win7, Win8, and even Mac OS) Here’s how to add a middle click on Mac effectively. Open Links in New Tabs. Sep 06, 2017 Making a Middle Mouse Button. To some, the middle mouse click is an important part of daily life, but most touchpads don’t have a middle mouse button at all. Now you know how to activate middle-click touchpad functionality in Windows 10 if you have a precision touchpad and how to work around this if you don’t.

If you take a look at your daily used mouse now, you can easily find that there are three buttons on it: the left button, the middle button and the right button. If you move the middle button on a mouse back and forth, you are able to browse the active window at a pace that suits you.

Yet, there’s a more convenient way for you to browse, you may click on the mouse middle click button and put the pointer up and down to let the content scroll automatically. Obviously, this design is very useful when you are viewing long documents and web pages.

Using Skills of Mouse Middle Click Button on Windows

In addition to get your long active window moving (how to display the last active window in Windows 10), which is the well-known page-scrolling function, the middle mouse button also has many other functions. Here, I will mainly introduce 3 additional usage of the middle mouse button on laptop. (In fact, you are allowed to use middle mouse button in Windows 10 and other systems, like Win7, Win8, and even Mac OS)

Open Links in New Tabs

What do you usually do to open a link in a new tab in the mainstream browsers, such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox?

  • Some people answered that they often move the pointer to the new tab button and click on it (click the left button) to achieve.
  • Yet, there’s a quicker way to open links in new tabs: you can click on the middle button on a mouse to open the links directly and immediately.
  • Well, new links can also be opened by holding down the Ctrl button on the keyboard and left-clicking on the target link (this is also considered as the middle mouse button keyboard shortcut).

Close Tabs in Browser

According to search, many people are accustomed to open several tabs in a web browser at the same time. So if you want to close the certain tab, it may take some time:

  1. You need to find the right one and click to choose it.
  2. Then, you should click the little X button (located on the right corner of the tab) to close it.

With the help of middle click mouse button, you can make things easier: you only need to shift to the tab you want to close and then click on the middle mouse button to make it disappear.

Open Every Link in a Folder

Saving favorite sites is a smart move to save time when you use Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, or any other web browsers. Certainly, it’s a good idea to organize the frequently used favorite sites into a folder. Thus, you can find and open them quickly when necessary.

Yet, the more amazing thing is – you can open all the links in a folder quickly and simultaneously by middle-clicking on that folder, all thanks to the middle button on a mouse.

It really doesn’t matter where the folder is located: on bookmarks/navigation toolbar, or in a pull-down menu, you can open every link in it directly by middle-clicking on the target folder.

The Microsoft Surface Precision mouse went on sale earlier this fall for $99 at the Microsoft Store. Co-announced with the new Surface Book 2 series the Surface Precision mouse brings desktop and professional-level features to the growing Surface mouse line.

I've been using the Surface Precision for the last few weeks and don't have anything negative to say about it. The features are useful, the ergonomics are fantastic, and if you are looking for a high-end, non-gaming mouse for work the Surface Precision mouse should be on your shortlist.

Surface Precision features

The Surface Precision mouse brings many semi-unique features to the table including support for running on three PCs at the same time. Its focus, however, is on the build quality, ergonomics, and overall usage.

FeaturesSurface Precision Mouse
DesignErgonomic desktop
MaterialsMachined aluminum
Molded TPE side grip and thumb rest
ButtonsThree customizable
ConnectivityBluetooth 4.0/4.1/4.2 Low Energy
USB 2.1
RangeAt least 16 feet (5 meters) in office environment
Power supplyRechargeable (USB)
BatteryThree months
Dimensions122.6 mm x 77.6 mm x 43.3 mm (L x W x D)
Weight135 g
CompatibilityWindows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 (USB only)
mac OS X 10.12+ (USB mode only)

Eschewing 2.4GHz connection and requiring a dongle, the Surface Precision mouse uses Bluetooth Low Energy and is compatible with all modern Windows PC and even Apple Mac OS X (but wired).

For those who disapprove of wireless connectivity besides used to recharge the non-replaceable battery, the micro USB port also serves as a wired-connection overriding wireless. Surprisingly, not many mice offer a true USB mode, so it's great to see here as an option.

There are three buttons on the side – all of which are programmable – and a metal scroll wheel that offers detent or smooth scrolling options by clicking a button behind the wheel.

There is also a toggle switch on the bottom for three PCs. Users can switch between 1,2, or 3 on the bottom for each paired PC on the fly.

The mouse supports 400 to 3,200 dot-per-inch (DPI), which is user configurable in the accompanying Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center software.

Surface Precision design

Made from plastic and machined aluminum and weighing 135 grams, the Surface Precision mouse has an ergonomic rounded back and thumb rest. That rest prevents your thumb from dragging on a mouse mat and makes a big difference for overall comfort.

The scroll wheel is grippy with little wiggle or rattle. The detent scrolling (a.k.a. 'clicky') feels nearly as perfect as using a Precision touchpad tuned by Microsoft. For those who prefer free scroll that option is here and can be manually enabled on the fly.

My only concern with the Surface Precision mouse is long term that gray Surface color may pick up – or at least show – dirt more easily than traditional dark or black mice. Of course, being mostly plastic/rubber (Thermoplastic Elastomer or TPE) it should be readily cleanable, but time will tell if it stains or not.

Surface Precision software

While users do not need to use the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center software Windows users are strongly encouraged (and even prompted) to install it.

Like all high-end mice with configurations, the Mouse and Keyboard Center lets users configure the buttons, set DPI, add macros, check battery life and more. It's excellent software that is also quite stable.

Mouse Click Effects

That software also lets you use the Smart Switch feature which allows users run the mouse on three PCs at the same time. The process is simple: pair the Surface Precision mouse to three different PCs. Each PC also needs to be running the Mouse and Keyboard Center software. On any PC, enable the Smart Switch feature.

Once running, when you bring the cursor to the edge of the screen it will pause for second and jump to the other PC seamlessly. Users can configure the ordering of the PCs too and change them at any time. If you don't want to include a PC, you can just toggle it off. There is also an optional notification that can pop up to let you know the mouse as jumped to another PC.

While not everyone will use Smart Switch for those power users who work on a desktop PC and a laptop, it's a killer feature. I had no problems using it.

More completely synonym. Additional options like program-specific settings, assigning macros to those programmable keys, or even running keyboard shorts are all possible, but reserved for those who need particular functionality.

Finally, it should be noted that for those using the Surface Laptop and running Windows 10 S, they will not be able to install the Mouse and Keyboard Center software as it is still a Win32 app that needs to be downloaded. Hopefully, Microsoft will be able to port it to the Microsoft Store using its desktop bridge in the future to fix this oversight.

Surface Precision performance and conclusion

The Surface Precision mouse feels great to use. The ergonomic design is bang on, and the scrolling and clicking feel great. Indeed, the clicking is on the quiet side, which is a good thing for those who hate sharp, high-pitched clicks from constant usage in quiet environments.

Relying on Bluetooth is not without its risks, however. Depending on your device, drivers, and any possible interference from nearby devices, you could experience the usual Bluetooth oddities. Many companies avoid this by using a dongle with a 2.4GHz channel for the radio. While more reliable, that technology does require a USB Type-A dongle, which not only takes up a valuable port but is quickly lost. Moreover, it does not help when using across three devices at the same time.

Mac microsoft mouse middle click download

Mac Microsoft Mouse Middle Click Not Working

Being able to plug in for USB wired-mode is a great feature, however. While you do need to plug in to recharge the battery should last around two to three months. I have seen some complain that Microsoft should have used a USB Type C plug, but that component is larger than the micro USB, costs more, and it's not clear what real advantage it would have for everyday usage.

I found the DPI settings OK as well even on a large 27-inch 4K display where high precision movement is needed.

Compared to the Logitech MX Master 2S, which I reviewed recently, there is not a whole lot of difference. Both run around $99, are ergonomic, run over Bluetooth, have similar DPI settings, and excellent software. The Logitech does have an optional 2.4GHz dongle, but it cannot run in USB wired mode. I also found the Logitech louder for clicking and not quite as comfortable compared to the Surface Precision, but those are personal preferences. The Logitech does have a favorite thumb scroll wheel, but in my usage, I never took advantage of it – your experience may vary.

Wheel Click

Pros:

  • Very good design and comfortable to use.
  • Excellent buttons and scroll wheel behavior.
  • Wireless (Bluetooth) or wired (USB) options.
  • Long battery life.
  • Robust software that lets you run on three PCs at once.

Cons:

  • Reliance on Bluetooth can be problematic for some.
  • Not overtly better than Logitech MX Master 2S.

Overall, I can recommend the Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse. It looks great, runs well, and it brings some advantageous features to the table for those who need advanced and customizable features. While not a travel mouse per se it is a bit flatter than the Logitech MX Master 2S making it not a bad choice for slipping in a bag. Of course, if travel is your priority Microsoft has the very portable Surface Arc Mouse, which is a better fit.

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