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A Look Inside Apple's Magic Trackpad

Max(IT) said:
I think this forum is becoming a very interest place to study human behavior. Why some people feel the urge to complain about EVERYTHING apple do, is just beyond my comprehension ... :confused:
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...this question was answered with....

PerfSeeker said:
I just think there's nothing particularly "magical" about the trackpad. It's nice and complements the wireless keyboard, but come on. Some of us are sick to death of the hyperbole machine.

What's next - Magic Macs?
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@PerfSeeker: But why do you feel the need to bring your negativity here? Why not just let the people who do see a need for it to discuss it, and explore what it may or may not do, and ask questions? Instead, to get to any actual, meaningful, interesting, worthy, content I (and Max(IT), and others) have to wade through what can sometimes be piles and piles of BS negativity to find real content.

As someone wise once said (my mother) "If you don't have anything positive to say, consider not saying anything at all." And no, I'm suggesting that these threads be censured. I'm suggesting the people censure themselves to help raise the level of conversation around here.
 
bedifferent said:
All this talk of "magic" and technology reminded me of Arthur C. Clarke's "Three Laws":

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"

"The iPhone is witchcraft!" LOL
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By that criteria ANY tech is magical since the average person couldn't even begin to explain the engineering that goes into a device/PC/router/etc... My guess is Apple is trying to sell their seamless integration as "magical".
 
But..

Does it comes with lotion for those intense web-browsing times? Looks like my fingers would get sore rubbing it all over that thing.
 
The multi-touch trackpads for the MBP's are one of the best input devices for a computer EVER. I think it's a fantastic idea they brought this out for the desktops. I would get one if I had use for it but my Aluminium MacBook trackpad is multi-touch (which I absolutely love.)

I do however think they should get rid of calling all of the accessories "Magic".
 
jmull said:
Does it comes with lotion for those intense web-browsing times? Looks like my fingers would get sore rubbing it all over that thing.
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Yup:

8wt5wo
 
I cant wait to try my Magic Trackpad. I hope it delivers tomorrow. I really do prefer using the track pad on my MBP over my Magic Mouse on my iMac.
 
This thing is awesome. Now if only they would make a 105 key wireless backlit keyboard, it would all be perfect. God, this could even replace my trackball at work.

BTT seems to be in crazy mode with the new trackpad. Gonna be a few days before that's ready for primetime.
 
Even though I own a BT Mighty Mouse, I still find myself using my MBP's trackpad more. You just cant beat that 2 finger scrolling,
 
All of you in the "Why would you want this over a mouse?" camp, you obviously have never used the Trackpad on the MB or MBP. I used to hate trackpads, too. Until I got my MBP in February, 2009. I then waited impatiently for 18 months for them to invent or release this thing. Ambrosia.

Don't judge it until you've tried it. All I'm saying.
 
rdlink said:
All of you in the "Why would you want this over a mouse?" camp, you obviously have never used the Trackpad on the MB or MBP. I used to hate trackpads, too. Until I got my MBP in February, 2009. I then waited impatiently for 18 months for them to invent or release this thing. Ambrosia.

Don't judge it until you've tried it. All I'm saying.
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Well anyone who thinks a trackpad is better than a mouse hasnt used a good mouse. I can't think of a single way that a trackpad is functionally better than a mouse like the MX1000.
 
I found that I was not using the 3 finger "page" mode on my laptops very often. I also thought the MBP/MBA "dragging" operations were a bit cumbersome. I was quite happy to see the new option for "3 finger drag". I configured my magic trackpad to use this feature and I like it. I need to check if the MBA/MBP now support this new feature.

Regarding the earlier comments about using the trackpad on a soft surface: I use the "tap to click" features and pretty much never use the physical clicker switch.

/Jim
 
wreckshop said:
Well anyone who thinks a trackpad is better than a mouse hasnt used a good mouse. I can't think of a single way that a trackpad is functionally better than a mouse like the MX1000.
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I can just by looking at a picture of one. MX1000s are uncomfortable as hell if you're not right handed.
 
As an old fart from the pre-mouse era..and one who hated trackpads from get-go, I was won over by the multitouch capabilities of the touchpad on the MacBook Pros. Paired a Magic Trackpad to my Mac Pro 1 hour ago and haven't touched my mouse yet. Much better interface than the awkward Magic Mouse.
 
eawmp1 said:
As an old fart from the pre-mouse era..and one who hated trackpads from get-go, I was won over by the multitouch capabilities of the touchpad on the MacBook Pros. Paired a Magic Trackpad to my Mac Pro 1 hour ago and haven't touched my mouse yet. Much better interface than the awkward Magic Mouse.
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The "magic" mouse is a terrible mouse.
 
wreckshop said:
Well anyone who thinks a trackpad is better than a mouse hasnt used a good mouse. I can't think of a single way that a trackpad is functionally better than a mouse like the MX1000.
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Ohh good! Finally, someone who knows everything! Perhaps you could post your entire kitchen gadget list too! Then all of us great unwashed can also bring our kitchens up to the high standards of you - the "If it ain't good enough for me, it aint' good enough for you" cult. Pretty Please!!




.... in case it was missed there is a small element of sarcasm that might be evident upon close examination. Maybe....
 
macintoshtoffy said:
It is a great product but I don't want a wireless one, I want one with a wire. I don't understand what the fetish is with wireless given that my keyboard and mouse never leave my desk so why make it wireless in the first place? keep the battery companies in business? (yes, rechargeable do wear out).
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I thought the same as you, but I just bought one today and the ideal position I found was in front of my keyboard not to the side. If it was wired, then the wire would be trailing over my keyboard. I have a wired keyboard but that it ok because the wire doesn't go over anything else.

I think it's a lovely device. I hate the trackpad on my MBP and would use a mouse whenever I can, but this Magic Trackpad feels so natural. Maybe because of the size. I love all the gesures I can do now.

I think it's going to improve my work flow no end. I have a mouse here still if I need it for photoshop, but other than that I think I'll stick to the pad.

Does anyone know the name of that little utility that would display the output of the multitouch pad on screen. I used it last year when I got the Magic Mouse but I forgot what it was called and searches bring up nothing. (EDIT: Never mind. I found it hidden away on my MBP. It was called FingerMgmt. With it I can see the Magic Trackpad can track all 10 of my fingers. I can't really try for 11. Not in mixed company at least.)
 
To all those who ask why would you want one over a mouse, it's because blue is a much better color than green. Or maybe it has something to do with preferences. There is a new option on the block, that's all. Keep feeding your mouse cheese if you like it.

For those considering one because they like trackpads and multi-touch, I say this thing is great. I just paired one with my early 2008 Macbook Pro and was happy to find out that it was fully-functional, as I read that three finger swiping was not enabled for my machine But in fact it is, and it's great for web browsing going back and forth between pages. It even works with Firefox. I tried the tap-click, but it seems to confuse the two-fingered right-click motion with the two-fingered inertial scroll. Maybe I just don't have it down, but I'm plenty happy with the mechanical click anyway.

So, bye bye mouse. And no, it ain't magic, but who cares what they name it. All that matters is if it works and if it meets your needs. It meets mine quite nicely, but maybe that's because I prefer blue over green.
 
I love the idea of the MagicTrackPad and people who deny its purpose cannot see far and wide. Think about the applications that will be written for this thing and application on the market expand capabilities to use this device. Think Photoshop using your fingers for airbrushing and the sort. People are saying that a trackpad is less precise compared to a laser mouse, however we do not know as of yet if :apple: can release a firmware and software to enhance its tracking capabilities.

I would appreciate a wired USB option that I can unplug and made it wireless. I do not mind having the BT Keyboard without a numerical pad, however the one thing I hate is to replace > charge > replace those rechargeable batteries.

In the middle of when you are doing some work the low battery indicator flashes. If :apple: has already done this with its iPod and iPhone line, why not bring this option and convenience to they Keyboard, Mouse and TrackPad. This would simplify the production line. Plug in the USB cord when you need it and unplug the USB cord when your are going mobile or want a wire-free desktop. Simple.
 
!¡ V ¡! said:
I love the idea of the MagicTrackPad and people who deny its purpose cannot see far and wide. Think about the applications that will be written for this thing and application on the market expand capabilities to use this device. Think Photoshop using your fingers for airbrushing and the sort. People are saying that a trackpad is less precise compared to a laser mouse, however we do not know as of yet if :apple: can release a firmware and software to enhance its tracking capabilities.

I would appreciate a wired USB option that I can unplug and made it wireless. I do not mind having the BT Keyboard without a numerical pad, however the one thing I hate is to replace > charge > replace those rechargeable batteries.

In the middle of when you are doing some work the low battery indicator flashes. If :apple: has already done this with its iPod and iPhone line, why not bring this option and convenience to they Keyboard, Mouse and TrackPad. This would simplify the production line. Plug in the USB cord when you need it and unplug the USB cord when your are going mobile or want a wire-free desktop. Simple.
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Think about the following. Wacom has been selling tablets with multitouch capabilities for quite a while. Their cheaper models are very similar to Magic Pad in price and functionality. Pricier models can do much more. The same people who are now so enthusiastic about Magic Pad claiming that it revolutionized the way we interact with computer somehow were totally ignoring Wacom tablets. I wonder why? I think these people might need to do some sole searching.
 
!¡ V ¡! said:
In the middle of when you are doing some work the low battery indicator flashes. If :apple: has already done this with its iPod and iPhone line, why not bring this option and convenience to they Keyboard, Mouse and TrackPad. This would simplify the production line. Plug in the USB cord when you need it and unplug the USB cord when your are going mobile or want a wire-free desktop. Simple.
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Really the only you know what the % of power is by going to trackpad preferences? I would have thought :apple: in all their genius would build an indicator level INTO the trackpad itself in some seamless way.
 
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