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Magic Numpad Turns a Magic Trackpad Into a Number Pad

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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For accounting majors and other Excel wizards, a numeric keypad is indispensable. Unfortunately, the Apple Wireless Keyboard that comes with iMacs these days doesn't have such a keypad. Mobee has come to the rescue with Magic Numpad, a temporary adhesive film that attaches to the Magic Trackpad and converts it into an extended numpad, a numpad + trackpad, or a numpad with user customizable keys.

The Magic Numpad includes software that is Lion and Snow Leopard compatible and could be a useful alternative to spending $49 on the Apple's full-size wired keyboard. It won't have the exact same tactile feedback as the keyboard, but for some users it might be just what they're looking for. Combined with the TwelveSouth MagicWand, it will (sort of) convert a wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad into a full-size wireless keyboard.

Article Link: Magic Numpad Turns a Magic Trackpad Into a Number Pad
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/31/magic-numpad-turns-a-magic-trackpad-into-a-number-pad/
Huh, that's actually kind of neat. I wonder what the price point is though? I mean you can get a num pad for $20 or less at office max, might not be sleek and cool though :p

To be honest, if it doesn't have any texture to it, there'd be no reason to have to remove it, I could see it working just fine for each purpose!

Edit: It's $30. That's not bad I guess. Kind of a neat idea. I'll stick with my small portable one I got for next to nothing with a retractable USB cord. It's not shiny and aluminum, but it works and I can hide it's ugliness in a drawer when not in use.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

Useless. If you have to look at it instead of feel button separations it's pointless, as any 'accounting majors' or data entry workers (what I did years ago) will tell you. It's true a num pad it's worth it's weight in gold for speedy numbers but that's only if you can keep your eyes on the data and let your fingers do the keyboard work...
 
If you have iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, save $30 and buy one of many apps that turns iOS devices into numeric keypad, such as NumPad.
 
jmann said:
While this may be a neat idea, I don't see it being practical. Usually people who need the Num Pad need it for speed and accuracy, I don't see this providing either.
Click to expand...

I agree, even though this is a neat use of the Magic Trackpad.
There is the Microsoft Bluetooth Number Pad: http://amzn.com/B002NP13C4
 
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nutmac said:
If you have iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, save $30 and buy one of many apps that turns iOS devices into numeric keypad, such as NumPad.
Click to expand...

Yup, that's what I have. Works just fine for me.

And if you don't have the Magic Trackpad to begin with, thats actually $100 you're saving :)
 
It’s neat, but Bluetooth numpads are cheap and common, and don’t interfere with your pointing device!
 
Wireless keyboard - $70
Magic Trackpad - $70
Twelve South Magic Wand - $20
This crap - $30
Estimated total - $190

Wired keyboard with numpad - $50

By god, this product saves you -$140!! Amazing!!
 
Last edited:
Cool concept, but I fail to see the practicality of it, esp. if you the trackpad is your sole tracking device, plus you have to keep up with the overlay. Also if you are a hard core number cruncher, where the num pad is key, then this fails because you have to look at the numbers vs using tactile memory w/ a real keypad. If you are a causal number cruncher then the regular numbers on the keyboard are fine.
 
booksix said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

Useless. If you have to look at it instead of feel button separations it's pointless, as any 'accounting majors' or data entry workers (what I did years ago) will tell you. It's true a num pad it's worth it's weight in gold for speedy numbers but that's only if you can keep your eyes on the data and let your fingers do the keyboard work...
Click to expand...

Hey, all you gotta do is add a dab of rubber cement over where the 5 is, and all's good ... until you need to use the track pad as a track pad.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; sv-se) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

Doubt that the accuracy is as good as for a regular numeric pad. Any tests/benchmarks out there?
 
booksix said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

Useless. If you have to look at it instead of feel button separations it's pointless, as any 'accounting majors' or data entry workers (what I did years ago) will tell you. It's true a num pad it's worth it's weight in gold for speedy numbers but that's only if you can keep your eyes on the data and let your fingers do the keyboard work...
Click to expand...

Not sure what you're basing your opinion on coz I punch a crap load of numbers into excel sheets everyday and I have absolutely zero issues when using the iPod touch with NumPad instead of my regular keyboard. It takes a little while to get used to the fact that there is no tactile feedback anymore but there is no real need to keep looking at the iPod once you get used to it. I still prefer the physical numpad but thats mostly coz I dont have a way to keep my iPod flat on the table (thanks to the curved back) so it wobbles a bit unless I keep it on a sheet of paper/cloth. And I already have a wired keyboard with full numpad anyways. But on occasions when I dont have access to the full keyboard, numpad does the job pretty well for me.

That said, this magic numpad thing is completely useless coz you'll need to keep switching between numpad and trackpad.
 
So they reinvented this except with no tactile feedback?

I can only imagine how much my fingertips would hurt after doing a few hours of serious calculations on that thing...

Too bad apple does not make serious keyboards anymore :(
 
macnisse said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; sv-se) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

Doubt that the accuracy is as good as for a regular numeric pad. Any tests/benchmarks out there?
Click to expand...

Yep it gets 11000 in geekbench
 
To be honest I'd prefer something with push down buttons so it's easier to type without looking.
 
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