Apple Phasing Out Magic Mouse in Favor of Magic Trackpad?

[bpaluzzi]

If it is true that supplies are not being replenished, I would think that points to a refresh more than a termination of the entire concept of the mouse.

THIS. How can any other conclusion be drawn? "Oh, Apple is not replenishing supplies of a PRODUCT LINE THAT HAS BEEN UPGRADED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST". "They must be discontinuing it!"

No. There's a new mouse coming. Jeez.

I'm a web designer, how does Apple expect us to work without one? Using a trackpad for work is probably impossible, we rely on accuracy.

Insane, with the trackpad (and current software) you can't move and click at the same time making it slower.

yea i would love to work on a complex character animation using a trackpad-how many people with laptops buy a mouse??

Trackpads are useless for multi-hour navigation. If they were that great, there wouldn't be a booming industry for BT mice, aimed specifically at laptops.

Plus, the new multi-touch features of Lion are mostly useless and overkill.

To everyone that's complaining about accuracy with it. Are you using your pointer finger to click? (Either pressing down on the pad until it clicks, doing a soft tap, or moving to the bottom corner?)

Try using your thumb to click. It's how I use my laptop and magic track pad, and it's brilliant. It takes a little bit of time to get the muscle memory worked out, but now it's second nature. With a laptop, it's especially nice because you don't need to move your right hand -- just pivot it on the "heel" of the hand, so that your thumb is closest to your chest and the finger tips are pointing to the left. Four fingers available for clicking + dragging, as much precision as a mouse (since you're not combining your clicking + navigating digits). Use the two finger tap for a right click, and you're set to go.

 

[lyrrad721]

I hated the trackpad, I could not even use it for more than 3 minutes because my wrist started to hurt. The main problem is the angle it has, unless they offer a base to make it entirely flat like the trackpad on the MacBooks (which I love), I will not use one. I love the magic mouse, it's faster and is more efficient, at least for me.

 

[ciociosan]

while i'm not judging other people's ways of using their computers, can i just add my 2 cents here and say that as an architect, not using a mouse is quite simply not an option. there are so many pieces of software out there, for both os x and windows (under boot camp/parallels in my case), that are quite simply impossible to operate without a mouse. i've certainly tried (the numerous times i've forgotten my mouse at home or the batteries have died on me), but it is impossible to get any work done.

if i have to press three keys, use four fingers and my nose on the trackpad to accomplish a simple middle click + drag, it doesn't work for me. this applies to everything from revit to rhino. i'm sure it's technically possible, but i prefer my workflow to involve as little acrobatics as possible. i have more important things to do, such as work.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Balderdash,Gammon and Spinach,

 

[nutmac]

While I much prefer mouse over trackpad, phasing out Magic Mouse makes sense on many level.

For one thing, Apple hasn't made a good mouse since... forever. While Magic Mouse is arguably one of the best looking mice out there, it's not particularly a great one.

Secondly, the number of gestures you can do with the Magic Mouse pales in comparison to Magic Trackpad. This has more to do with smaller touch surface than software support, but the limitation stands.

Third, touch is now firmly ingrained in Apple's user interface genetics. While I think trackpad gestures are somewhat awkward compared to what iOS and touchscreen affords, it is the direction Apple is expanding to. Magic Mouse maybe a superior "pointing" device but poor at "touch" gestures.

My prediction. The next generation wireless keyboard will feature both keyboard and trackpad, just like notebooks.

 

[SchneiderMan]

I've got both and I think the Magic Trackpad is far better.

 

[sinser]

Remove optical drives....
Remove the mouse...
Use only mirror displays...
Use advanced tech like TB that nobody cares about...

I feel like Apple is becoming more and more extreme...
Maybe one day they will produce the perfect and ultimate electronic device: something ultra cool and ultra sexy to watch at, touch, and own, but with zero practical usability

 

[akaralias]

Oh! The horror....

.. just the idea gives me the creeps!
I love my Magic Mouse, I hope they make an improved version.
Lots of editing and photoshoping here, I use my mouse and a Wacom tablet.
I hate the idea of a trackpad, you cannot be really precise with that, no way... mouse on the other hand makes drawing a path much easier and precise than anything else. In illustration would be a disaster for me!

 

[Brien]

Much more likely the wired mouse and keyboard will go bye-bye.

 

[Benjamins]

honestly see no reason why not.

it came to the point where the multitouch touchpad actually feels more natural than a mouse.

 

[AppleDroid]

You know I used to think the trackpad was a dumb idea.. until I spent some fun-money on one and now I really like it.

Granted I use it with my Wacom tablet (for gestures, scrolling) and my pen for pointing but so far I like it more than using a mouse with my wacom.

 

[rickvanr]

Makes sense.. To the average Joe/ Jane the magic pad is great, and it gives you a tonne of control (gestures). People that need/ want more control are not using the magic mouse or the magic pad, they've already gone out and bought a proper mouse. The last Apple mouse I used daily was the hockey puck mouse that came with my B&W G3 that I got in 1998!

 

[ThunderSkunk]

"Wacom"

Yup. Can't wait for the Intuos 5.

I don't know any creative professionals in this company or any other who use a standard mouse or trackpad for work. I like it for goofing off though.


If Wacom would make a transparent overlay for the ipad, they'd be zillionaires.

 

[KillerTree]

Hopefully this just means Apple is finally going to make a comfortable mouse.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

This doesn't really seem plausible at all. There's no way Apple will go mouse free, especially since the biggest market for desktop macs involves drawing on a daily basis.

Not using an Apple mouse it doesn't. I haven't used an Apple mouse in ten years. Not enough buttons.

And when I'm not using a mouse I'm using Wacom so no loss for me if they discontinue the mouse. Apple only want consumers so the trackpad will be perfect for them. Anyone who values productivity dumped the Apple mice years ago.

 

[Labaguette]

OS X Lion with Mice is just... humm.... crap? just bought a trackpad to go with the wireless keyboard and Twelvesouth's Magic Wand. although i use a Logitech mouse, it is convenient to have trackpad on the left side of keyboard just for one-handed app switching!

 

[citi]

They are not phasing out mice, they are phasing out that god awful magic mouse.

It sucks, and has always sucked, with each revision making it more sucky. It's honestly the worst thing Apple makes.

If you want a good mouse, go get a Logitech...even Microsoft makes better mice.

 

[jonnysods]

The Magic Mouse is the best and most comfortable mouse I have used. If they are stopping selling them, I'm buying up!

 

[ArcaneDevice]

Hopefully this just means Apple is finally going to make a comfortable mouse.

Apple ADB Mouse II. Perfect shape and size.

It was the last practical mouse they ever made before Steve came back and start throwing ergonomics out of the window in favor of pucks and lozenges.

 

[Bregalad]

I want a Magic Trackpad with USB and not Bluetooth.

Me too, but it's probably not going to happen.

Apple is obsessed with the elimination of wires for aesthetic reasons. A secondary reason is that most cables include PVC, a chemical Apple wants to be able to say they do not ship with any of their products. Eliminating the cable means they don't have to pay extra for cables that don't include PVC.

 

[baddj]

If apple discounted the Magic Mouse they will lose a lot of their customers who are designers. you can not use photoshop and alike with a trackpad its way to hard.

 

[daneoni]

Apple getting really trigger happy when it comes to killing of stuff lately.

 

[admanimal]

I have to say that since buying a Magic Trackpad, I now find mice pretty annoying to use (although for sure they are still necessary for some applications).

If apple discounted the Magic Mouse they will lose a lot of their customers who are designers. you can not use photoshop and alike with a trackpad its way to hard.

Wait, are you saying design professionals are going to leave the platform completely because they don't feel like buying a $20 mouse from some other company?

 

[weqtor]

1. It's a rumor
2. from an unreliable source
3. about the MAGIC mouse - not the MOUSE

The mouse IS the Mac!

 

[AidenShaw]

wake up, smell the roses

Hopefully this just means Apple is finally going to make a comfortable mouse.

Or, this looks like just the next step in the complete IOSification of Apple OSX.

The "multitouch-only GUI" is coming....