Apple should attach the Magic TrackPad to the Wireless keyboard

[NecroFillak]

I've wanted a trackpad style device for desktop computing ever since I got my Macbook Pro earlier this summer. Apple has finally obliged.

I noticed they cleverly designed the trackpad to be the same "width" as the wireless keyboard. I think this could, and should give rise to an integrated keyboard, trackpad device. Here's two ideas for how to accomplish this:

1. Sell an integrated wireless keyboard/trackpad peripheral

2. Make the edges of all future wireless keyboards and magic trackpads magnetic, allowing them to "snap" together at one's will, while also allowing for right and left hand preferences.

Crappy optical mouse surfaces have long been a thorn in the side of many HTPC owners, I am sure, and the Magic Trackpad should begin to alleviate that problem. Imagine how slick an integrated keyboard/trackpad linked to a a new unibody Mac Mini under an HDTV would be! Hopefully Apple makes this or someone comes up with an easy DIY solution. Off to research magnetic tape lol

 

[j3yq]

It would make one expensive keyboard!

 

[NecroFillak]

Well Considering a bunch of people impulse bought the trackpad, when they probably never even knew they wanted it... I mean it's Apple customers lol. That's also why I think the magnet route would be the best way

 

[clayj]

Absolutely agree that Apple should do this. I'd love to be able to have a keyboard/trackpad for my living room, so that I could connect a Mac mini to my TV and not have to worry about where I'd run a mouse. Just make a Wireless Keyboard with Trackpad option -- I'm sure Apple could come up with a way for the Trackpad to be able to hook onto the Keyboard on either the left or right hand side.

If they were clever, they could even come up with an aluminum doohickey that could connect the two right now.

 

[NCW]

If they were clever, they could even come up with an aluminum doohickey that could connect the two right now.

I'm sure some 3rd part company will make a clip of sorts, I know if they did It would bring the track pad up on my to buy list quite a bit, just for the ease of use when having my macbook hooked up to my tv

 

[miki66]

i'd love to have one but some ppl are left-handed
sounds like magnet would be a good solution

 

[ck9]

Attach Wireless keyboard and Track pad

I have a mac mini that I use as a HTPC so having the track pad and keyboard joined made the devices easier to manage. Here is a DIY solution I came up with. Proceed at your own risk I can't say if doing this will mess up your keyboard and track pad, I make no warranties etc...

I bought a sheet of 1/4 inch thick hard board from Home Depot for $5 and some velcro. I cut the hardboard 16" by 3", and attached the keyboard and track pad next to each other using the velcro to the hard board with the smooth side facing down. Works very well for my needs. Unfortunately, the hardboard doesn't allow the feet on the track pad to make contact with the table so you cannot use the "click" feature. For me this doesn't matter since I prefer the double tap to click. I didn't want to go any thinner because I wanted the joining piece to be very rigid. Optimally, I would have went with a 1/4" piece of plexi-glass but that was going to be like $60 for a sheet at HD. I think velcro was a good choice because you can easily remove the devices to access the batteries or click the power buttons if needed.

 

[mkrishnan]

I wonder if at some point they might actually try to do a virtual keyboard for a desktop/notebook accessory. Either a keyboard with a magic trackpad surface that has keys printed on it, but works like a tablet/trackpad when key presses aren't detected, or something like an iPad / iPhone tablet that has a screen, and functions as a trackpad and/or keyboard.

I do have a BT keyboard with a built-in trackpad, and it's a great combination, though. It (a Logitech one originally designed for the PS2) is not nearly as fancy as something Apple would come up with, though. It would be interesting.

 

[miles01110]

I wonder if at some point they might actually try to do a virtual keyboard for a desktop/notebook accessory.

It's only a matter of time. It was discussed not too long ago here.

 

[jahall]

i'd love to have one but some ppl are left-handed
sounds like magnet would be a good solution

I agree, a magnet on the sides would be great!
They did it on the lid of the notebooks, it shouldn't be too hard for them to implement it on the keyboard/trackpad.

If not, I wonder if magnetic tape would void the warranty?

 

[silveradoman01]

I would much rather have the numer pad on my wireless keyboard. I actually find my self using my old thicker white one more than the new one as I miss the number pad so much.

 

[jimithing]

I found it!!

here we go, this appears to somehow connect the trackpad and keyboard into one laptop friendly doo hickey!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Magic-Connector...ltDomain_0&hash=item43a509e1b8#ht_8326wt_1141

 

[xraydoc]

Duct tape along the bottom.

Doesn't duct tape solve everything?

 

[ActionableMango]

MagicWand does this for $30.
http://www.twelvesouth.com/products/magicwand/

 

[Applexpert]

Bluefin connects your Apple wireless keyboard + Magic Trackpad

For those of you looking for a fully functional and well-designed solution to connect your Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad that actually lets you use the "press-to-click" feature of the Magic Trackpad, you might want to check out the Bluefin from MeshWe.

 

[skorpien]

I smell a shill... but I do have to admit those are some mighty fine looking pieces of hardware...