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Trackpad vs Magic Mouse. Best suited for Development?

C

Cined

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 7, 2010
8
0
Hello,

I'm a computer science student which sees me developing numerous applications and writing a load of essays. I'm looking to purchase either a Trackpad or Magic Mouse but am not sure which item is best suited to my needs.

Can anyone advise which one of these would suit me best?

Thanks.
 
IMO, for coding and editing stick with a mouse.

I find the trackpad is generally ok for use with a browser, but for editing, etc. I think a mouse is better.
 
i agree with toxic.. if you want to spend 65 bucks on a mouse, make it a worthwhile purchase and look around. while the magic mouse is nice, there are others out there too.. im a bit tired now, but if i remember, i will look up mouses tomorrow!
 
shyam09 said:
i agree with toxic.. if you want to spend 65 bucks on a mouse, make it a worthwhile purchase and look around. while the magic mouse is nice, there are others out there too.. im a bit tired now, but if i remember, i will look up mouses tomorrow!
Click to expand...

I dont' know, I got the MagicMouse for the holiday from my wife. Out of the box it is OK, nothing great. But add BetterTouchTool and man does it becomes really slick. I have two finger click setup as Spaces; single finger swipe left as Browser Back, and single finger swipe right, as Browser Forward.

So many other gestures to setup. Apple should buy BetterTouchTool and make it an integral part of the OS because it is THAT good.
 
I'm a software developer, and I have a Magic Trackpad for my HTPC.

I took it to the office for a day to try it out, and gave up on it after less than an hour. Highlighting text isn't as precise, and just didn't feel right.

I went back to the wireless Microsoft mouse that I've used for years, and didn't look back.
 
Would personally go with a Microsoft or, preferably, Logitech mouse instead. Magic Mouse is elegant but less functional and ergonomic than a "regular" mouse.
 
A mouse will be faster, easier, and more ergonomic, Logitech sells quite a few good ones. A trackball will also be good.
 
I thought I'd share my real world experience with the magic trackpad.

I'm probably going to return my Magic trackpad less than a day with it. It's cool and nifty in certain ways, but it's straining my wrist - I tend to float over it for fear of activating it by touching. I've tried getting used to leaving it on there, but it just doesn't seem natural really. Im then constantly lifting it to navigate, thus restraining it.

Otherwise, I enjoy using it for browsing the web and various controls (Itunes, Iphoto zoom etc). I did notice it was a bit difficult to select things...I finally got used to the double tap/hold to select and drag something (a window, volume slider)

I'm used to Logictec roller ball mouse- this one:

http://www.google.com/products/cata...log_result&ct=image&resnum=7&ved=0CEoQ8gIwBg#


... I've got extra large hands and enjoy resting the palm of my hand on the rear of the mouse and the ergonomics of my hand arced over the mouse accessing the rollerball on the front of the mouse.

On my macbook, I enjoy the trackpad, but I also notice that my palms hang off the front so I don't experience the pain in my wrist.

ANyway, its for some but not for me - very unfortunate really, I'm sold on the idea, but I need a different execution....maybe one with a hand rest on the front! I dunno about that...might be ugly :)

Oh yeah, as you might've noticed, I don't use my magic mouse either... cool as well, but not for me.... again bad ergonomics....plus I really dig rollerball... dragging a mouse around the table top is so 1990's for me :)
 
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