“Easily the most interesting thing Apple unveiled today is the new Magic Trackpad,” MG Siegler writes for TechCrunch. “Essentially, it’s a larger version of the trackpads that ship with each MacBook and MacBook Pro. But it’s a stand-alone product, meant to be used with desktop computers.”
“‘Looking at the big picture, more users are using our trackpad because there are more notebook users than desktop users,’ an Apple representative told me today when discussing the Magic Trackpad,” Siegler writes. “‘People love the trackpad. People love those characteristics. So we wanted to bring that kind of design to our desktop users,’ the Apple rep told me. So Apple designed the product (in conjunction with the wireless keyboard) to bring everything people like about the trackpads over to the desktop experience. Pinch-to-zoom, inertial scrolling, tap-to-click, it’s all there.”
Siegler writes, “Apple is slowly but surely moving towards a place where the majority of computer interaction is done through touch gestures. The desktop remains the last great stronghold for the keyboard + mouse combination. But now Apple is chipping away at that too. First they launched the multi-touch Magic Mouse. Now we get the Magic Trackpad… When I asked if this signaled the death of the mouse, Apple would only say that ‘we want to offer our users the choice.’ …That said, Apple did acknowledge that some users will likely ditch the mouse in favor of this new device.”
Siegler writes, “I know that personally, this Magic Trackpad is going to replace my mouse. Even though my desktop offers the comfort of two huge monitors, recently, I’ve found myself using my laptop more and more simply because I prefer the trackpad and its multi-touch gestures. Now that I can get that full experience on my desktop, I’m definitely making the jump.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Yes, we know the history of the computer mouse. Steve Jobs didn’t invent it, but ’twas the Apple Macintosh that brought the computer mouse to the world.
Thanks to Bill Cosby for inspiring our headline.
After using the iPad I find myself touching my MacBook screen way too much and am dissappointed each time it doesn’t respond. I dont have the touch gestures on my old MacBook trackpad but can certainly understand how this could replace the mouse or at least complement it.
I still think there is a great opportunity for an LCD touch screen trackpad. Kind of a second display for input. Not sure how it would be implemented but I suppose that’s why I don’t work at Apple.
I was planing on getting a magic mouse to use with my 2006 iMac, maybe I should skip and get the magic track pad
Think of using this as a numeric pad; or maybe a gamepad.
If it had a mappable grid etched on the top…
A gamepad wouldn’t be completely comfortable. But, it could ‘work’.
@ freefromdesign,
An LCD touchscreen trackpad could double as a number pad or even a keyboard in multiple languages.
I don’t like trackpads – hurts my wrist and strains my fingers. Also takes too long to do precise things.
Hell, an LCD touchscreen trackpad could even show a customized shortcut keyboard for whatever program is active.
Apple put the touch pad in notebooks when PC laptops were using the funny track ball or nubby thingy. Now the track pad is evolving. I find myself using touch gesture too often on my PC laptop for work and going ‘Doh!’
Part of what makes the track pad on the MacBook so wonderful is the placement. Its so conveniently accessible when your hands are in the home position. Just reach out with your thumb and scroll away.
I’m questioning whether you can do this placement with the magic trackpad due to the tube at the top underside of the magic trackpad to accommodate the batteries. You can’t get that same seamless transition from keyboard to trackpad, because you’ll aways be jumping over the battery tube.
Having the trackpad off to the side where you would keep a mouse isn’t a satisfactory solution. I bought a Wacom Bamboo with touch capabilities hoping to recreate the laptop trackpad experience to my desktop system, but having the Wacom tablet off to one side totally ruined the convenience of the trackpad experience.
On second thought. Maybe a mappable LCD touch pad, would be better.
MW: numbers
One more proof that Steve jobs think he is God. Steve Wacom released the same a while a go with a couple more functions. Copycat? Wouldn’t be the first time.
ok, great!
Maybe off topic, but now I imagine using my iPod touch (future version maybe) as a remote control for TV, never ever needing to hit any particularly located buttons, but performing motion of the whole thing and swipe gestures with my thumb. Hence, I never need to look at it (the TV screen should react). Hence, the screen on that iPod touch is not needed at all. Hence, there could be a (rather cheap) TV remote control… with essentially the same functionality as the new trackpad, suited for holding in one hand like the iPod touch, with an added gyration sensor.
whaddaya think?
Do you want to annoy some Windows users and please a great many more, release a version for the Windows environment.
Steve has once again built a better mousetrap, this time literally
Can I upgrade my Lisa? Just kidding.
But seriously, is there some way to use brainwaves? Doesn’t someone (third party) have some biofeedback stuff to hook-up to the mac? I’ve been working with computers since 1979, and hooked up a GSR (galvanic skin resistance?) to the computer, so I could control it with the force. It would make a bar move up and down on the screen by using “will power”. Written in Basic.
Anyone know of a third party brain wave biofeed back device maker?
Frannyc28’s
“…more proof that Steve jobs think he is God. “
ahhhh…….you sayin’ he’s not…?
next thing your gonna tell me is there’s no such thing as Jay Leno.
So when can I toss my Keyboard and mouse and use my iPad instead. This has been more than possible since the iPad was launched now Apple just needs to make it happen. This is the killer App … ((:
Uh, Franny, do you use your fingers with your Wacom tablet? Multitouch gestures? That is the big difference.
Yes, the Wacom tablet has been a must-have tool for many artists for many years. I know of illustrators who don’t use a keyboard, and live with a Wacom tablet on their lap. (For a killer example of what a total genius artist can do with a Wacom painting into Photoshop directly, see samples of surfing illustrator Rick Rietveld: http://bit.ly/cneL8T)
That said, you need to hold a stylus pen or other Wacom tool to use their tablets. And Wacom tablets are a bit sensitive. By contrast, the new Apple Magic Trackpad is not the same. It’s meant primarily to control navigation and gestures. While I am sure it will be adapted as an illustration tool, my hunch is that this is a secondary goal of Apple at best. And while you can use a Wacom tablet to navigate on a Mac, I am willing to bet that Wacom did not rank this a priority.
I think there is room for both companies to do nicely. In fact, if the Magic Tablet becomes popular, it could actually get more people to take the Wacom tablet seriously. It’s sad to think that Wacom has had tablet products available for many years, but never saw the opportunities that Apple has here.
While Wacom has offered its LCD-based Cintiq illustration tablet for quite some time (http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/cintiq-21ux.php), at nearly $2,000, it is a very expensive item. I will be curious if Apple has something similar in mind for a much lower price. But my hunch is that again, Apple will focus on a broader audience and different specific use.
So while Wacom (and other) tablets have been on the scene for many years, the Magic Tablet is different, and its use plus intended audience appears to be much different.
Oh, and as for you armchair pundits who are quick to judge something you have yet to touch, please get a life. I will reserve judgment until I take one for a spin, and I urge you to do the same. As for me, I can’t wait to try one!
can this thing work with some kind of pen input? would be cool for artists..
The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a ‘Magic Trackpad’. There is no evidence that people want to use these things.
Cheers!
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@Frannyc28
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Yes, but Steve did bring us the rechargeable AA battery.
CW: it’s here!
Check out this episode of TEDTalks (video) at Tan Le: A headset that reads your brainwaves – Tan Le (2010) – http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TEDTalks_video/~3/oO1iYNmgtaY/921
@ both frannys
Wacom’s Bamboo use multitouch gestures, but that product came on the market well after Apple introduced multitouch to the world.
Windows users won’t find much use for this device unless Apple makes the drivers for it.
Even then, it will still lack the same functionality we Mac users will enjoy.