Just a quick article on how I enhance the usage of my non-Magic Mouse I occasionally use when my Macbook Pro is docked. I could certainly get used to the way my mouse is working but I just love too much how my trackpad and my Magic Mouse (hooked to another computer) are working.
Smooth scrolling and working with the back and forward buttons of a mouse are so convenient.
Sadly those two features aren’t working as expected when you are out of the Apple accessories.
So, let’s see how I’ve overcome those two issues.
Applications
Mouse buttons
That feature was an easy one to fulfil and the first result that came out of my research on Google. It suits me out of the box and on top of that it’s an open source project I could collaborate on if I want later on. So I ended up adopting SaneSideButtons.
| Software | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| SaneSideButtons | Get back usage of M4 and M5 mouse buttons | Free - Open Source |
Smooth Scrolling
That one was a little bit complicated to fulfill. I love Open Source because of their nature of accepting contributions and also because it’s free (I’m sure you love that too 😉).
I tried three software before settling to Smooze Pro. It’s a paid option but after trying MOS I wasn’t able to get the right type of smooth scrolling I was looking for and, to be honest, that level of smoothness was only achievable with SmoothScroll Mac. The problem is that I’m not a fan of adhering to “subscriptions” for software that doesn’t involve any online service that would justify charging me a recurring fee. So, I don’t have the best smooth scrolling experience but I’m ok with paying a one-time fee and the experience provided.
| Software | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| MOS | Allow smooth scrolling on MacOs | Free - Open Source |
| SmoothScroll Mac | Allow smooth scrolling on MacOs | Yearly subscription |
| Smooze Pro | Allow smooth scrolling on MacOs | One-Time Payment |
Usage
There is nothing huge to explain here. Those two applications can be installed just like any other application you are used to using on MacOs (drag and drop on the Applications folder). You will have to give up some accessibility permissions… but it’s for a great cause! 🎉