Apple Magic Trackpad is Reality! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

kermitology · 07-27-2010, 08:26 AM

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/a...irst-hands-on/

I seriously love navigating my system with the trackpad on my MacBook. The multitouch on it is superb, and I love what it does for my productivity. So having this for my desktop is so amazingly awesome.

I was considering butchering a messed up MBP just to create one of these myself.

sclitheroe · 07-27-2010, 09:26 AM

It supports physical click, not just tap to click - colour me impressed.

Russic · 07-27-2010, 09:30 AM

I was waiting for you to comment on this! Admittedly when you mentioned it a while back I didn't see the appeal, but now the thought of having one is creeping in. It doesn't cost much more than a higher-end mouse ($70) and the functionality of the Macbook trackpad is exceptional. I love the three finger swipe to go to the top of a page (makes navigating CP much better). My issue with trackpads is generally that I run out of room ... this would probably fix that.

I really like the idea of using it in conjunction with a mouse for more heavy-duty tasks. It would be great to use in a program like Aperture or Lightroom to have your brush controlled by the mouse but be able to zoom and swipe around with the trackpad. Not sure if that could happen, but a man can dream.

Flaming Choy · 07-27-2010, 10:16 AM

I'm actually more excited about their battery/battery charger. Will go great with the xbox.

FanIn80 · 07-27-2010, 11:37 AM

I was going to create a thread about Apple reinventing the battery charger, but the humour detectors around here get pretty wonky sometimes.

Russic · 07-27-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I was going to create a thread about Apple reinventing the battery charger, but the humour detectors around here get pretty wonky sometimes.

Oh dear god you would have gotten smoked for that one. Only a few people would have seen the humour in it, everybody else would have thought you were totally serious.

alltherage · 07-27-2010, 12:03 PM

This seems really backwards to me... bringing in a trackpad as a peripheral for a desktop? I've always hated trackpads and bought a mouse almost immediately after buying my laptop.

My laptop is a PC however... so perhaps the trackpad on it is not as intuitive?

You Need a Thneed · 07-27-2010, 12:03 PM

a battery charger, now with flip up prongs!

No new Apple TV - yet

alltherage · 07-27-2010, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I was going to create a thread about Apple reinventing the battery charger, but the humour detectors around here get pretty wonky sometimes.

What do you mean by this? I totally dont get the joke... but did they actually do something to change battery charging? I am confused.

Flaming Choy · 07-27-2010, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Oh dear god you would have gotten smoked for that one. Only a few people would have seen the humour in it, everybody else would have thought you were totally serious.

I was actually serious about liking the battery charger though. Seems like a pretty good deal (6 batteries + charger for $29). I'm pretty sure the energizer max ones I have at home cost more then that and aren't as good.

You Need a Thneed · 07-27-2010, 12:11 PM

Having used a mouse for 26 years, I think that, for myself, I'll stick with a mouse for mow. The new Magic mouse is pretty great.

You Need a Thneed · 07-27-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaming Choy

I was actually serious about liking the battery charger though. Seems like a pretty good deal (6 batteries + charger for $29). I'm pretty sure the energizer max ones I have at home cost more then that and aren't as good.

It's an ok deal, but you can find better deals. I'm pretty sure Costco has 6 batteries (Duracell) plus a charger that can charge four at a time for $25.

FanIn80 · 07-27-2010, 12:17 PM

It's difficult to talk about the Apple trackpad. It's really just something people have to try for themselves. In fairness, the PC world has all but eliminated the laptop trackpad from ever being a selling feature in most people's minds, but the trackpad on the MacBooks really is a valid selling feature.

photon · 07-27-2010, 12:18 PM

The Apple charger draws the least power when not charging apparently.. something that's not insignificant given the number of gadgets we plug in nowadays.

They do void the warranty though if you use the batteries in non-Apple products.

FanIn80 · 07-27-2010, 12:20 PM

Haha, awesome.

alltherage · 07-27-2010, 12:21 PM

OK nevermind... it appears Apple simply released a AA battery charger... kind of strange for apple to not totally re-invent the wheel... but meh it will suffice for apple enthusiasts who have AA powered peripherals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

They do void the warranty though if you use the batteries in non-Apple products.

Wow... thats ridiculous. How would they ever know!?

FanIn80 · 07-27-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

... but meh it will suffice for apple enthusiasts who have AA powered peripherals.

No kidding. Finally, we have batteries we can use. It's sucked that all this time we've had to just use our mice and keyboards as paperweights.

Curse you Energizer, and your Mac-hatin pink bunny!

You Need a Thneed · 07-27-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

The Apple charger draws the least power when not charging apparently.. something that's not insignificant given the number of gadgets we plug in nowadays.

They do void the warranty though if you use the batteries in non-Apple products.

The industry average apparently is 315 milliwatts, vs 30 milliwatts for the Apple charger.

So, in other words, leaving the charger plugged in for a whole year will cost you only 1.5 cents vs 15 cents.

(1/3 of a Watt power usage means that it would take 3000 hours to use a kWh. Power is currently 5 or 6 cents a kWh here in Alberta. There are 8760 hours in a year)

kermitology · 07-27-2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Having used a mouse for 26 years, I think that, for myself, I'll stick with a mouse for mow. The new Magic mouse is pretty great.

It's really in the multitouch. Navigating with gestures of a hand. Multiple finger gestures as well. When I got used to them on my MB, I found that I hated using a mouse. Especially Apple mice.

kermitology · 07-27-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

I've had a macbook for a yearish...and I just realized the three finger drag thing by mistake. Is there other motions/stuff you can do?

Four finger flick up to view the desktop, four finger flick down for expose. I used that a tonne.

If you're using Safari, Chrome, but I'm not sure about other browsers, you can do a three finger swipe to go back/forwards.

You can create other gestures sometimes as well.