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Video Review Roundup: Magic Mouse 2, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2
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The Magic Mouse (and presumably Magic Mouse 2 since it shares the same design) is difficult to use for prolonged periods of time.
When I first got my MM, my hand cramped a lot. It was so bad, I actually purchased the mmfixed.com product. It didn't help though, and I eventually got used to it and the cramping stopped.
Still, I'm not a heavy mouse user. Most of the time I'm working in MS Office. I imagine if you were working in Photoshop or another pointer heavy app, the cramping would be more of an issue.
A lot of people have ergonomic problems with a lot of mice. Like it or not, everybody's hands are different and some are more comfortable than others.
Fortunately, there is no requirement to use Apple's product. There are plenty of mice, wired, BlueTooth and wireless-with-usb-dongle available from a wide variety of manufacturers for a wide variety of prices. I'm sure you can find one you find comfortable, even if it doesn't have a multi-touch surface across the top.
I've been using Microsoft mice (Basic Optical Mouse, Wheel Mouse, and a few others) with my Macs since 2002 and they've worked great for me. They don't even require any software installation since these mice are all basic 2-button-plus-wheel, which are supported by Apple's built-in drivers.
Apple introduced a trio of new keyboard and mouse accessories in the Magic Mouse 2, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 this week, and the first hands-on unboxing videos of the new products are now available.
YouTube reviewer Michael Kukielka has uploaded an unboxing and video review of the Magic Mouse 2, $79, providing a closer look at the mouse's new bottom-facing Lightning port for charging, minor design changes, what's included in the box, Bluetooth and Lightning to USB pairing processes and more.
Magic Mouse 2 has improved tracking and moves across surfaces with less resistance, as the mouse's weight was reduced from 3.9 ounces to 3.5 ounces, and because it has an optimized foot design and fewer moving parts.
Kukielka concludes that the Magic Mouse 2 looks and functions similarly to the original Magic Mouse, with the inclusion of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that gains 9 hours of usage from a 2-minute fast charge, and lasts approximately one month on a full two-hour charge.
YouTube reviewer Dave Cryer shared an unboxing and mini review of the Magic Keyboard, $99, and Magic Trackpad 2, $129, in addition to a quick comparison with the existing Apple Wireless Keyboard and original Magic Trackpad.
The video provides a closer look at the Magic Keyboard's slimmer wedge-like design, rear-facing Lightning port for charging, power on-off switch and slightly larger keys with a reengineered scissor mechanism. Cryer found typing to be more precise, but said the slightly shorter key travel will take getting used to.
Cryer also went hands-on with the Magic Trackpad 2, showing off its matching wedge-like side profile, rear-facing Lightning port for charging and power on-off switch. The new Magic Trackpad 2 features Force Touch and has a larger edge-to-edge glass design with 29% more surface area, which is noticeable in the side-by-side comparison.
The video also shows what's in the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 boxes, including a Lightning to USB cable, quick start guide and regulatory information.
Article Link: Video Review Roundup: Magic Mouse 2, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2
I too have had trouble with lightning cables fraying. However, I've always been able to get free replacements simply by taking the damaged cables to one of the Apple Stores in Tokyo. They've never once asked me to pay for a replacement. I figured this was a standard in-warranty policy. Or have I just been lucky?
I don't think laptops or desktops need touchid. Touchid solves a problem on portable devices: it's annoying to type a long complicated password on a touchscreen, especially when the password doesn't use real words so the device can't fix your typos. Because of this, users would probably choose short and simple passwords. Touchid allows for more security than a bad password, but easier to use than a long complicated one.
On a laptop or desktop, that problem doesn't really exist. My master password is over 20 characters and I can type it super quick without error every time, because I have a full-size keyboard. Such passwords are probably more secure than touchid too.
So, I'm not sure what benefit there is to touchid then, on laptops and desktops.
I originally thought the same thing yesterday when I first saw the pictures of the new Magic Mouse, that Apple had failed miserably on placing the lightning port under the mouse: the obvious problem being that it inhibits use while it charges.
But then I read about it being able to charge for 9 hours of use from 2 very small minutes. That to me is a great result. And if you think about the time it takes to open the battery slot on the original magic mouse when the batteries have drained, get replacement AA batteries from the desk draw (for me, anyway), then replace the batteries, clip the battery slot back in - that's about a minute or thereabouts. Plus, I then place the drained batteries into the charger and plug it into a power socket (a bit more time, albeit tiny). Not that I've really timed myself doing this but it isn't long, and so waiting 2 minutes for the new Magic Mouse to charge to an acceptable usage amount seems to add only a small amount of time to getting back a nicely charged mouse.
Force Touch inclusion would've been nice, however!
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Check out Mac ID on the App Store. It lets you log into your Mac with Touch ID from your phone and also from your Apple Watch if you have it. It also locks your Mac if you walk away with your paired device.
Who needs to lose features for functionality? Why do we always go backwards with new iterations or lose some function or feature? Give people a choice and not force it upon people. Then they almost double the price for looks almost the same. The cost of manufacturing is always dropping, so the price should not increase. Who wants a mouse where there is no LED to tell you of the status of the battery without having to use a computer - thats just backwards.
People don't want to be forced to use a USB cable when the internal battery dies. Furthermore, if the internal battery expires or faulty, you cannot simply put in 2 AA batteries and keep going as it's non functional. I notice Apple also don't mention what type of sensor it uses as most mice won't work on certain surfaces. Typical Apple, withholding information they think is not important.
The way i see it.... 2 minutes.... Go make yourself a coffee, come back and you have over 9hrs of usage.
I have only purchased one for convenience (when we first purchased the 5s'). Like you, we now have them everywhere.
Who is forcing you to buy or use these products? If you don't like them, don't buy them. You don't have to buy something just because Apple sells it. And others are allowed to disagree with you.
I've been using a wired Apple keyboard and a Microsoft mouse for 13 years. Mac OS X works just fine. I don't have any need or desire to use wireless accessories, so I don't buy them. I've never seen the need to try and convince other people to do the same either.
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
Mine have lasted since I got the 5, the only time I had to replace them was because the cable got stolen from me at work. I no like never bring s charger to work and the last just fine, surprisingly. I think the original Apple cables are definitely more robust than the cheaper 3rd party cables, even the mfi ones.
No one is forcing me however, Apple is forcing customers by not giving a choice. Say magic mouse with AA battery and internal battery support like many other mice have. AA is more convenient because its easy to put new batteries in. You don't have to revert a USB cable to keep it it going. The omission of the power LED is the most ridiculous decision ever made as you need to have your computer active to check the battery status. This is not logical.
Luckily, Apple did not make that "suicidal" move
This new keyboard does not use the MacBook-style keys with "butterfly" switches. Those are found only where maximum thinness was the goal: the MacBook and the iPad Pro Smart Keyboard.
This new keyboard still has "scissor" switches, with greater travel.
I know, my point was that butterfly switches will eventually make their way to all Mac products in order to satisfy both 'uniformity of Apple technologies' and Ive's wet dream of thin products.
The suicidal move was reduced travel on the new keyboard.
I don't see that as a real benefit. I buy three-meter long certified (i.e. no "This accessory is not supported" errors whatsoever) lightning cables in either black or white at Flying Tiger (Tiger in some other countries) in downtown Amsterdam or Haarlem. Bought a whole bunch of them for the entire house, not one failed yet. They cost € 4 a piece and continue to work properly when flipping the Lightning connector.
Apple can keep their € 20 cables if it means the accessories will be equally cheaper.
I am actually annoyed that Apple decided to use their proprietary USB (Lightning) connector instead of a standard USB connector. It's USB on the 1 side so why not on the other? USB Type-C could've been a better approach