Apple's new Magic Trackpad - is it worth it

[fusilierb]

After about 3 hours of using it, I'd have to say definitely. If you've ever used any of the more recent mac laptops this works exactly like those do. My laptop is older and isn't the one-click design nor does it support many gestures. So it took me about ten minutes to really start to get the hang of it and to learn the gestures.

The scroll wheels on Apple's mice, pre magic-mouse (which I frankly did not like), always tend to gum up and stick over time. I've got two now that I can't clean back into scrolling correctly at all. This completely eliminates that problem and to me is a much easier way to scroll around the computer.

The biggest reason I bought this was to see if it couldn't help me with an issue that drives me nuts when working with my DAW. The little shelf that holds my keyboard and mouse under my real Keyboard (piano) are always very cramped for space. Dragging and dropping files into projects and selecting and working with timelines has always been a complete pain in the ass. This little guy has completely fixed that problem. It takes up very little space and you can manipulate the mouse easily from corner of screen to corner of screen by just moving your finger. My wrist barely moves and I never run out of desk anymore. I'm finding that I'm cursing less often also.

But the coolest thing that it brings to the table is "pinch to zoom". That is hands down the killer feature here. Beyond the obvious iPhoto advantage (makes your desktop version of iphotos work more like the iPad version), it works inside of Mail and Safari also. So changing the font size is now a simple pinch gesture. So awesome and so usable. I'll never go back for that alone.

In Daw's the pinch is working on the timeline and in waveform's, which is brilliant! It's very easy to select items and dragging and dropping files from a folder into a project is sooo super smooth now.

If there is an application that the mouse is better for, I haven't found it yet. But I've only been using it for a few hours.

It's pretty sweet. And really is more effortless to use than a mouse by a long shot.

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[mazz]

I have a recent MacBook Pro and the trackpad is cool on there but I'm always inadvertently zooming, must be I still need to get better with it.

I prefer trackballs and I have one with a scroll ring so I use that for zooming, but the trackpad is certainly a leap forward compared to the touchpads on the older laptops.

Glad it's working for you!

Mazz

[t4mh]

I have a very new new MacBook Pro and I love the touchpad. I'm pretty good with it! Is the trackpad something similar but in a standalone config?

Keith

[fusilierb]

I am awful with trackballs. But I've seen people fly with them. It's now been a couple of days and I'm hooked on it.

Yes keith, it's exactly like that. It's a bit larger than what's on ur laptop but exactly the same.

The gestures Are very intuitive and make lots of mundane tasks really fluid and easy.

I don't regret this purchase at all.

[t4mh]

Doesn't sound like I could make use of it at the moment but I'll keep it in mind for the future!

Thanks for the info
Keith

[fusilierb]

Just got it installed on my main machine. Had to install bluetooth into the music machine to even get started. Also had to upgrade the OS to Snow Leopard. Didn't realize when I bought it that it wasn't going to work on the old Leopard.

I'm retarded. I took the risk of becoming crippled just to see it in action on my music machine.

I'm sticking to my original impression. I think I'm done with mice. This is much more comfortable and useful. I'm going to go as far as to say that I love it.

There, I said it.
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