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Trackpad vs Mouse

T

thedon1

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 26, 2010
529
73
I've press much always used a mouse, both at work and at home. Some of the features that the trackpad gives, gestures, zooming etc, seem really useful and i'm considering getting one. I worry about losing the precision of the mouse though.

What reasons do you use the trackpad over the mouse, or vice versa?
 
I personally believe they suit different type of activities.
I personally use the trackpad since I am not doing any precise activity with my mac, for browsing and moving around your machine all the gestures make the experience much more enjoyable.

If you have do work a lot with excel, or precise software rendering or modelling, I still believe mouse is preferable. It is really up to you what you do with the machine and what you need. For writing, mailing ect trackpad is the best.
 
I use the Magic Trackpad, it just seems to provide more precision when I'm working with graphics.
 
I always liked the Trackpad since the release of the previous Magic Trackpad 1.
 
Here a few existing threads on the topic of Magic Mouse vs Magic Trackpad, albeit for the older models.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/magic-mouse-vs-magic-trackpad-poll.1541802/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/magic-mouse-vs-magic-trackpad.1523366/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/magic-mouse-vs-magic-trackpad.1145550/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/magic-mouse-vs-magic-trackpad.1026740/

I am still surprised how much people love the trackpad. I bought one, but ultimately returned it because it was harder to quickly move around the screen and it hurt my wrist. I can rest my hand on or around the MM and just drag it around, but I had to hover my fingers above the trackpad or move my hand since I couldn't rest them on the device itself. It just wasn't at a good ergonomic level, but in this thread someone makes the argument that it's more ergonomic.

Magic Mouse + BetterTouchTool FTW!
 
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Thunderboltedge said:
I personally believe they suit different type of activities.
I personally use the trackpad since I am not doing any precise activity with my mac, for browsing and moving around your machine all the gestures make the experience much more enjoyable.

If you have do work a lot with excel, or precise software rendering or modelling, I still believe mouse is preferable. It is really up to you what you do with the machine and what you need. For writing, mailing ect trackpad is the best.
Click to expand...

I think this is key. I wouldn't mind having both: the MT to browse the web, utilize multitouch gestures (Launchpad & Mission Control), swipe between desktops, and zoom. The MM for precise text selection, graphics work, and excel work.

I work a lot with text and Excel. Clicking and dragging a mouse is infinitely faster and more precise at selecting text and cells or moving quickly to UI elements.
 
You should just go to your local apple store and try them both out. That's how I decided which one to get.
 
Traverse said:
I think this is key. I wouldn't mind having both: the MT to browse the web, utilize multitouch gestures (Launchpad & Mission Control), swipe between desktops, and zoom. The MM for precise text selection, graphics work, and excel work.

I work a lot with text and Excel. Clicking and dragging a mouse is infinitely faster and more precise at selecting text and cells or moving quickly to UI elements.
Click to expand...

This.. I agree... maybe it's that I haven't had that much experience with a larger trackpad (though I have the rMB with force touch so I know what it can do) but I need a mouse for precision that I just can't get or am not used to with a trackpad.

In addition to excel, I also use illustrator to make and arrange figures and to label graphs for publications and it's just so much easier for me with a mouse. For web browsing and anything else that doesn't require precision, trackpad is the way to go.
 
thedon1 said:
I've press much always used a mouse, both at work and at home. Some of the features that the trackpad gives, gestures, zooming etc, seem really useful and i'm considering getting one. I worry about losing the precision of the mouse though.

What reasons do you use the trackpad over the mouse, or vice versa?
Click to expand...

I only prefer using the trackpad built in to my mid-2012 rMBP. The positioning is perfect - I can access either the trackpad or keyboard without much motion. Using the Magic Trackpad just doesn't do it for me - if my pointing device is to the right of the keyboard, I prefer to use a mouse.
 
I use the mouse most of the time and Trackpad for gestures. I find that my wrist gets tired if I just use the Trackpad.
 
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