Week One - New iMac

Good stuff mate, at least we have some one that does not moan all the time!

The only thing I've found is that the Magic Trackpad uses a hell of a lot more power than the keyboard. After 3 weeks, trackpad is at 59% versus keyboard at 100%.

Congrats on a new nice machine.

I'm interested in what you think about the trackpad. I can see that it gives you more control because of gestures etc. How does it feel for more accurate work though?

I'm considering getting a trackpad, but am a bit on the fence at the moment as I've been a mouse user for so long.

mikeorchard said:

The only thing I've found is that the Magic Trackpad uses a hell of a lot more power than the keyboard. After 3 weeks, trackpad is at 59% versus keyboard at 100%.

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I use a Mobee Power Bar, which powers the Trackpad via USB.
http://www.mobeetechnology.com/the-power-bar.html

The constant changing and charging of batteries used to drive me silly.

The trackpad as an input device is fantastic -- loads of gestures and excellent control. I wouldn't go back to a mouse. (And I suspect that Apple will phase out the mouse in due course, favouring touch surfaces.)

Just Do It. . .

MyNameIsDave said:

Congrats on a new nice machine.

I'm interested in what you think about the trackpad. I can see that it gives you more control because of gestures etc. How does it feel for more accurate work though?

I'm considering getting a trackpad, but am a bit on the fence at the moment as I've been a mouse user for so long.

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The Apple trackpad is an absolute must when using Mountain Lion (and Lion). I had been a big mouse guy, like you, until about a year ago. But the trackpad gives an entirely new way to interact with the Mac. The two finger left-right swipes (next page), the three finger left-right swipes (next space), and the three finger up-down swipes (see all windows) are very powerful and I use them without thinking maybe hundreds of times each day.

I haven't automatically loved everything Apple has done with mice/trackpads in the past: I had tried the Apple mouse with the little dimple in it and stopped using after four or five months due to unreliability. I used the magic mouse with no scroll bar and stopped after four or five months due to inadvertant clicks and difficulty clicking both left and right simultaneously. I won't mention the hocky puck mouse, which I used for maybe a week and gave up on.

I received my new iMac on 12/24 and love it. After working on PC's for 25 years I was surprised how quickly I got the hang of it, especially at my age. I ordered my iMac with the trackpad and mouse thinking I would have a hard time with the trackpad and figured I could fall back to the mouse.

I find the magic mouse awkward, and use the trackpad most of the time. I did take the Logitec wireless mouse that I had with my Windows laptop and use that for playing a few games on steam. I find it more accurate than the trackpad. I also use the Logitec with Lightroom when making adjustments to my photos but also use the trackpad.

stockcerts said:

My new iMac arrived this past Sunday! It's replacing a five year old iMac, so the changes in technology really stand out. I have the 27" with fusion drive. I also got the trackpad and I really like it! A bit of getting use to, but much more control than a mouse. The other thing worth mentioning is I used my Time Machine backup for data migration and that process couldn't have been simpler or gone any smoother. I don't see a single problem with my new iMac, but I'm also not going to put it under a microscope.

At some point I'll purchase some memory and do an upgrade, but after using it this past week I don't feel like there's a hurry. However, I did buy a four pack of Eneloop rechargeable batteries from Amazon.

Just thought I'd put my first week impressions out there as I've seen so many negative postings.

I hope you all love your new iMacs as much as I do!!

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Awesome indeed ! with all the negative threads , makes you wonder if Apple should be in buisness ? Then I start to wonder if the forum is all about bashing the iMac. you know what they say , one happy customer tells one or two people, a unhappy customer will tell 10 or more . Happy Customers need to speak up ! I can't wait till Monday to become a Happy Customer !

stockcerts said:

I'm still getting use to the trackpad, but I already love it!! I'm also new to having both wireless keyboard and mouse (trackpad), and it's so nice not having the wires crossing my desk!

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Well for what it's worth.....I have gone back to wired input devices. Used the bluetooth stuff [Magic Mouse, keyboard and trackpad) for the last three plus years. Sure the swipe gestures are cool but my machine i7 27" iMac Mountain Lion is a lot more stable and can I say Safari is snappier with the wired stuff And yes, I can live with the wires on my desk.

haddy said:

I have gone back to wired input devices... my machine ... is a lot more stable...

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How so? I think in the 5 years I've been using the bluetooth keyboard and mouse I've had nary a problem with them. Certainly nothing that would affect the stability of my machine. How does it make your machine a lot more stable?

PatrickCocoa said:

But the trackpad gives an entirely new way to interact with the Mac. The two finger left-right swipes (next page), the three finger left-right swipes (next space), and the three finger up-down swipes (see all windows) are very powerful and I use them without thinking maybe hundreds of times each day.

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But you can do all those or something similar with the magic mouse. I use the next page swipe all the time on my mouse. Not saying the trackpad is bad. I actually want to get one so I can use my 27 from my bed. Now I use my mouse and it's a pain.

The perfect situation would be to have both. Stuff it... I'm going to order the trackpad now!!!

smoking monkey said:

How so? I think in the 5 years I've been using the bluetooth keyboard and mouse I've had nary a problem with them. Certainly nothing that would affect the stability of my machine. How does it make your machine a lot more stable?

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Well the iMac started to do weird things..flickering etc then finally all I could get was a grey screen. And as you may know this scenario is very panic enducing and anything that does this to me gets the chop!!
After plugging in a wire mouse everything back, better than normal. It was a failing Magic Mouse. So I chucked it and have gone all wired and things just seem to be much better. I have taught myself to use the wired mouse...it's actually very good. I got an extended keyboard as well to plug it into. So I guess it's a case of once bitten a million times shy

stockcerts said:

Just wondering if you've turned in your iPhone for a land-line..?

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That's funny! I'm actually on the fence about whether to go with a wired keyboard/mouse setup vs.a wireless keyboard/mouse setup.

Although having two less wires on my desktop makes the wireless version setup a much more pleasurable experience for me!

stockcerts said:

Just wondering if you've turned in your iPhone for a land-line..?

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Nah both work just fine.......but then again if one craps out....