Publisher's Description
From Alessandro Levi Montalcini:
The USB Overdrive is a device driver for Mac OS X that handles any USB mouse / trackball / joystick / gamepad / media keyboard and any Bluetooth mouse from any manufacturer and lets you configure them either globally or on a per-application, per-device basis.
It reads all kinds of wheels, buttons, switches and controls and assigns them to useful actions like clicking, typing, scrolling, launching, opening documents and so forth. The USB Overdrive can easily handle several USB devices at once and can assign different settings to each one.
The new version is smarter, faster, more powerful and easier to use. It supports the new 64-bit kernel in Snow Leopard and comes with a much better user interface. The USB Overdrive now includes support for media buttons on most USB keyboards and talks to many additional input devices that were previously not handled.
What's new in this version:
- Fixed some user interface mistakes
- Added support for media buttons on Logitech keyboards
- Restored support for scroll buttons on various Logitech mice
- Restored specific support for Logitech G5 and MX518
- Fixed freewheel scrolling for Logitech mice that have it
- Restored specific support for the Griffin PowerMate
- Added specific support for the Kensington SlimBlade Trackball
- Added specific support for the World of Warcraft ... See all new features
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All versions:
3.0 starsout of 2 votes
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Current version:
3.0 starsout of 2 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-5 of 5
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"So far so awesome"
Version: USB Overdrive 3.0.1
Pros
I'm using a 5-button Razer Imperator, whose own software comes with a crippled Mac pref pane that doesn't allow button customization. After upgrading from Overdrive X, everything's working perfectly.
Cons
I haven't found anything wrong with it yet, but I don't game on my Mac (I KVM with a PC).
Summary
I posted a reply to the review above, explaining how to fix the problem he's having, but I'm only using 10.4.11. I'm switching to 10.6 soon, so if my solution doesn't work with that, I'll come back on here and say so.
Depending on how you have reviews sorted, the one I replied to may not be "above" mine :-).
This is a very useful (I would say necessary) product. Apple should build all this functionality into the system already.
Updated on Nov 19, 2010 -
"Latest version has a serious bug!"
Version: USB Overdrive 3.0.1
Pros
This software has been good in the past, although after experiencing the bug in this version, I am beginning to suspect that USB Overdrive may be the source of previous conflicts I have been experiencing with Snow Leopard 10.6.4.
Cons
After installing the USB Overdrive mouse driver the volume control keys on the keyboard stopped working. A restart of the OS would not restore the sound keys on the keyboard. Uninstalling USB Overdrive 3.01 solved it. It conflicts with Mac OS 10.6.4
Summary
I highly suspect the earlier versions of USB Overdrive may have also had this bug although the conflict expressed itself intermittently. Although not always, but frequently I would lose the use of the sound control keys on the keyboard. A restart solved the issue. I suspect that this driver was causing other instabilities as my iMac has been much more stable since removing this driver.
I am using a Logitech optical mouse. I was led to believe by the documentation that came with the mouse Logitech did not provide a mouse driver for Mac OS X. When I had a major conflict with USB Overdrive I did a Google search and found a driver called "Logitech Control Center" for Mac OS X. This driver works perfectly. If you are using a Logitech mouse on a Mac go to the Logitech web page and download it now! Now I have a stable Mac. :) -
"poor documentation, constantly loses contact"
Version: USB Overdrive 3.0.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I paid for 3.0.1 in an attempt to substitute it for the horribly buggy Logitech Control Center. The documentation is fairly incomprehensible (I say this as an editor and longtime student of foreign languages), and even after I did the basic setup I experienced a problem where the keyboard would become unresponsive until I opened System Prefs/Keyboard & Mouse. Didn't have to DO anything after opening; that was enough to reconnect.
Having to do this multiple times a week just didn't work for me. I now use Apple's preferences and can live with not being able to use many of the special keys and mouse buttons on my input devices. -
"Too many problems"
Version: USB Overdrive 3.0.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I gave USB Overdrive another try, despite difficulties in the past, because others speak so highly of it. This time it worked exactly as intended. However, I soon realized that my volume keys and eject key no longer worked. After uninstalling USB Overdrive, my keyboard resumed acting normally. -
"Great product"
Version: USB Overdrive 3.0.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
USB Overdrive has been the dominant 3rd party mouse driver for quite some time and been an absolute necessity for more demanding users due to OS X's scarce customizability and poor handling of 3rd party mice and keyboards.
While its previous versions have been limited to controlling and customizing the mouse, 3.0 can also control keyboards, effectively eliminating the need for other drivers such as Logitech Control Center, drivers which often has proven to be unstable, incompatible and incomplete.
Highly recommended.
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