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Apple's 'Magic Trackpad' or 'Magic Slate' Revealed?

i normally use a logitech Performance Mouse MX although i'm a lefty. it's no problem for me; but when it gets to drawing i use my left hand on the pen. And imagine the possibilities in Photoshop e.g.! Transform a selection, rotate it with two fingers precisely on the Magic Slate :)))
 
ShiftyPig said:
Anything has to be better than the Magic Mouse. What an abortion of form over function that thing is.
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I agree that the Magic Mouse is not the most comfortable mouse but it is the best mouse I've used. I love the touch surface and the functionality. I don't know if I'd game with the Magic Mouse but I like trackpads (Apple's, at least) for normal computer use.
 
I know we've talked about this idea here in the forums. Awesome to see it come to life. I wonder if it'll give the iPad a mouse now? lol

I still think my MX Revolution mouse is about the most perfect mouse I've ever owned. The track pad on the macbooks are near perfect now as well.
 
aiqw9182 said:
Apple should combine this with the wireless keyboard. Replace the area where the numberpad would normally go with this trackpad.

Also I think any naysayers should watch this video:
http://vimeo.com/6712657
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Exactly my thoughts as well.

Just having the trackpad for gadget slate is going a little too far, is this messing for the sack of profit. (although technically they'd get more from us if released as higher priced keyboard and pad combined). personally i'd by it combined but not as a single unit. yet another device to end up sat on or down the side of the sofa.

Plus how many bluetooth / wireless devices will efficiently run simultaneously on one machine????? (serious question, if anyone can answer).....
 
Is there any reason why the iPad could not also function as a "magic-slate" when hooked up to a desktop computer?
 
I sense multitouch for everyone being the next short term paradigm shift.....
 
If this is from 09, couldn't it just be a prototype of a magic mouse alternative?

My bet is it got scrapped in favour of the more traditional form factor.
 
Dagless said:
FINALLY. I've been wanting a trackpad for my desktop PC for... ever? Most of the time I find mice to be the best (for work and play), but a trackpad would have a lot of use for me especially if its bluetooth. I love the one on the Macbook pro range.

This is the first time I've been genuinely excited for an Apple product :D.
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Adesso has been making them for something like 15 years. Apple's recent stuff (in laptops) is no doubt superior, but they do exist.
 
Would look forward to this, if......

If this trackpad had all the multi-gesture as the newer macbooks (I have a 2008 whitebook now).

If this trackpad works like the iphone touch capability (where I could also use my Pogo sketch Stylus for drawing and handwriting)

This would be a sale for me!!!

I would definately ditch my 1 1/2 year old full-sized alum USB keyboard and Wacom Bamboo and get the bluetooth mini keyboard and this trackpad. This would definately clean up a lot of wasted space on my desk (and reduce the octopus of USB cables I have now - I have a 7-port hub that is full). I could fit both into one of those nicely tucked away keyboard drawers (that are getting harder and harder to find).
 
I would extremely excited if Apple would allow the number of gestures that were on the original Fingerworks igesture pad, as well as allow user configurable gestures as the original allowed. I understand the need to keep it simple for the average user, but it really isn't until you have the full range of gestures that the pad becomes truly amazing.

Here are the original basic gestures:

http://www.fingerworks.com/gesture_keymap.html

http://www.fingerworks.com/userguides.html
 
I bet everyone attending the keynote will get one of these. Just like when the iSight was introduced.
 
http://vimeo.com/6712657

SOLD. After watching that video, I want this thing even more than I want a new iPhone!!! It could simultanously obsolete both the Keyboard and the Mouse, and the iPad even.

God I hope that video comes true, and they implement it alongside Google TV/Apple TV so that I could use it in my living room, on my 1080p set.
 
wikoogle said:
http://vimeo.com/6712657

SOLD. After watching that video, I want this thing even more than I want a new iPhone!!! It could simultanously obsolete both the Keyboard and the Mouse, and the iPad even.
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I agree, quite impressive. But we'll need 10.7 before this thing will reach its full potential, I think.

knewsom said:
Keep dreaming. :rolleyes:
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Well, it would make more since than giving away iSights. Apple will want to get them into developer's hands ASAP so they can start making apps that take advantage of it.
 
The battery tube should be the exact same diameter as for the keyboard. That would give you the precise dimensions. I'm at work right now or I would measure and calculate myself.
 
This plus the tiny appletv/iPhone hybrid thing would be a good combination as you'd actually be able to control stuff then. :)

Steve didn't seem all that positive about atv at D though.

I can definitely imagine a layer of OS like dashboard but running iPhone apps.. Would be pretty strange though.
 
nep61 said:
Another piece of hardware that Apple will convince us we need...
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This is quite useful in fact. Proven by the iPad/iPod/iPhone/Wacom. ;)
Lesser Evets said:
I can't imagine how this will be anything incredible, unless it can replace the precision of a Wacom and/or provide a better mouse experience than the MS Intellitrackball with 5 buttons and scroll wheel... which hasn't been made for years now (another sign of MS's total lack of intelligence).
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Or unless its cheaper than a Wacom. :eek:
steeex said:
so, are we supposed to have this thing in front of the keyboard? seems to be that's going to be a bit in the way...besides, I am looking around at people in the office...50% of them have something already between themselves and their keyboard...
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And what kind of office would that be? :confused:
the editor said:
whats so great about it? i don't really get it to be honest, its just a Wacom tablet but with an Apple icon. Oh wait Apple made it so it has to be crazy never thought of technology :rolleyes:
same as the ipad... nothing new, boring and only interesting for fan-boys
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Ah, great. Maybe it will come packaged with an iMac and then you won't need to buy a Wacom? :mad:
Gizzer3010 said:
I'm not sure I'm going to get this, until I've tried it.
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No s**t? I suggest you also wait for the release. :p
Nausicaa said:
At first glance, this thing is cool, but thinking about it more it doesn't seem like that great of an idea.
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Some people using Wacom and trackpads would disagree.
Dragging your finger around this thing to move the cursor, and then using two fingers to scroll an active window, seems cumbersome.
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Why?
You can move the cursor around a large desktop area much faster with a mouse, and the Magic Mouse lets you scroll at the same time.
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What IF you can use one half for moving the mouse and the other for scrolling?
Jason Beck said:
This is probably for mainly graphic artists and people wanting a trackpad instead of the mouse.
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Doubtful. The people I know need their pressure levels for PS and mouse with buttons for 3D.
gruff said:
Secondly, I don't think that something as sloped as that is going to be comfortable whether it is sloping up or down - I have never seen anyone pleading for an inclined track pad on their lap-top.
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It's a bit bigger than a trackpad.:p
dopipod said:
Is there any reason why the iPad could not also function as a "magic-slate" when hooked up to a desktop computer?
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The price.
 
I use a Wacom Bamboo Touch for everything but gaming. Sometimes it's a little awkward for selecting text, but for everything else it's pretty awesome. I'd love a wireless version.
 
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