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    Mouse Cursor History (and why I made my own)

    Posy

    4 HN recommenders · recommended in 5 months, 2022–2026

    YouTube

    15:09 · 3M views · Nov 5, 2018

    Posy gives a short history of the computer mouse cursor, from early straight pointers to the tilted arrow, comparing Apple and Windows designs. He then explains why he designed his own cursor set and offers it as a free download.

    HN treats it as the definitive, short, well-made video on mouse cursors and pulls it out whenever cursor design, pixel perfection or the tilted arrow comes up.

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    7 comments from Hacker News

    1. @vintagedaveFeb 2024· in “Why is the mouse cursor slightly tilted and not straight?”

      Time for one of my favourite Youtube videos, by Posy (Michiel de Boer.) 'Mouse cursor history (and why I made my own).' this video It runs through the history of mouse cursors, as well as problems with some of the standard ones, and shows, among other things, historical cursors which were straight and not tilted. It is one of those amazing videos that make the internet worthwhile, is short, and is by the author of Posy's Cursor Pack, [LINK]

      Strongly recommendsView on HN
    2. @dmixJun 2022· in “Challenge: Pixel perfect design”

      This is a really good video about how Apple cares about being pixel perfect compared to Windows with something simple and obvious like the mouse cursor icon: this video The improvements he made are also quite nice, Microsoft should take note...

      Strongly recommendsView on HN
    3. @vintagedaveMay 2026· in “Don't hijack my mouse pointer”

      The best video on mouse cursors I've seen, by Posy: this video It doesn't exactly answer the question, but I -- someone who doesn't watch video and wants text, articles -- have watched this video twice over. It's worth it :)

      Strongly recommendsView on HN
    4. @baxuzFeb 2024· in “Why is the mouse cursor slightly tilted and not straight?”

      I was just about to say that. There's an amazing video by Posy documenting mouse cursor history, and even provides his own cursor pack: this video [LINK]

      Strongly recommendsView on HN
    5. @ChilledTonicMar 2023· in “macOS Cursors”

      If you want to investigate the history of the macOS cursor, and other cursor schemes, I highly recommend this video: this video + [LINK]

      Strongly recommendsView on HN