Apple Magic Trackpad

Naz937

at 7:04 pm

Review by Naz937 for Apple Magic Trackpad
Rating: (4 / 5)
I know what you’re thinking: I’ve got a nice new(ish) Apple Magic Mouse, do I really need another pricey Apple gadget? The answer is no you don’t, but the lure of anything that comes out of Cupertino is hard to resist, and why should you?

The first thing to note is that the pad must be paired with your Mac (by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the Menubar and then Set Up Bluetooth Device) before you run Software Update. After doing this, System Preferences will be updated with the Trackpad’s preference pane, giving you access to its multi-touch options.

Even if you’re accustomed to a MacBook’s trackpad, the Magic Trackpad still takes a little getting used to. The MT is larger than a MacBook’s pad and has to cover a greater area of screen real estate. While using a trackpad is quite intuitive on a laptop, with a desktop grabbing and clicking on a mouse is so ingrained in you that the MT is a bit disconcerting at first.

It’s worth persevering though. Gestures on the MT – three-fingered swipes right or left to navigate forwards or backwards, four-fingered swipes left or right to change applications, up to show the desktop, down to activate Exposé – are either superior to the Magic Mouse or are much easier to carry out.

There are two other points about the MT you rarely see in reviews: with Tap to Click enabled, it’s silent. After a couple days of using the MT, the Magic Mouse, in comparison, seems to scrape and clunk in a way that’s positively primitive. For anyone who appreciates working in a quiet environment, the silence of the MT is immediately noticeable. Secondly, getting a Magic Trackpad doesn’t automatically mean retiring your old Magic Mouse. The latter is better suited to some tasks, especially if you have a very large screen, and if you have a desk with a pull-out shelf the two devices can be used in tandem very easily.

So, while the Magic Trackpad may not be strictly necessary, it’s still a nice complement to any desktop Mac system.

Chris L

at 7:51 pm

Review by Chris L for Apple Magic Trackpad
Rating: (5 / 5)
I bought this product on impulse from the Apple store on Regent street when I was browsing in it (does anyone ever walk away from an Apple store without buying anything or is it just me!).

I wish I had read the reviews on Amazon before I bought it as one of the reviewers has said it only works with SNOW leopard and not regular Leopard as I have on my PowerMac. Normally I would just upgade the OS but Snow Leopard only works on Intel Macs. To be fair to Apple it does say on the box (in tiny letters!) that it only works with Snow Leopard but I assumed that everything would be compatible with something as recent as Leopard – You have been warned.

Other than that the Magic Trackpad is brilliant – I installed it on my Macbook Pro that does have Snow Leopard and it is great. It looks brilliant, feels great and is much better than the trackpad on the laptop. It looks the part too in Aluminium next to my Aluminium Apple Keyboard and Monitor.

I am giving the Magic Trackpad five stars despite the problem I had with my PowerMac because it was my fault really I did not read the box or ask in the store when I bought it if it was compatible.

I hope this review was useful to you:)

Alan

at 9:25 pm

Review by Alan for Apple Magic Trackpad
Rating: (5 / 5)
The Magic Trackpad is a futuristic new input device, designed specifically for controlling Mac desktop computers. It finally brings Apple’s full set of Multi-Touch gestures, that MacBook Air owners have been enjoying since January 2008, to the iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro. Here’s a list of the pros and cons of this new toy:

Pros:

- The Magic Trackpad is beautifully designed and precision engineered

- The Magic Trackpad’s surface is made of silky smooth, wear-resistant glass

- The Magic Trackpad’s surface is 80% larger than the trackpad on a MacBook Pro

- The Magic Trackpad doesn’t have any visible buttons, yet can still do physical clicks

- The Magic Trackpad responds to about six different gestures, including pinching and rotating

- The Magic Trackpad runs off two regular AA batteries (alkaline, lithium or rechargeable)

- The Magic Trackpad enables you to scroll with inertia, similar to scrolling on an iPhone/iPad

- The Magic Trackpad has a green LED that shines through microscopic laser drilled holes

- The Magic Trackpad uses a Bluetooth connection, with no need for a USB receiver

- The Magic Trackpad is heavy (185 g) and doesn’t move around on your desk as you use it

- The Magic Trackpad can be positioned wherever you want on your desk

- The Magic Trackpad can be used with the Pogo Stylus and Sketch products from Ten One Design

- The Magic Trackpad is only slightly more expensive than the Magic Mouse

- Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad fits all sizes of hands (from baby, to big man)

- Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad doesn’t need to be gripped or picked up to be used

- Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad feels comfortable with good ergonomics

- Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad requires no arm movement to get around your screen

- Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad doesn’t require a mouse mat to make it run smoothly

- Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad can be operated silently using “Tap to Click”

- Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad enables you to do pinch and rotate gestures

- Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad responds to three and four finger gestures

Cons:

- The Magic Trackpad’s software doesn’t give you many options for customising gestures

- The Magic Trackpad requires your Mac has Snow Leopard 10.6.4 or higher installed

- The Magic Trackpad sometimes feels less precise than using a mouse

Quick tip. My Magic Trackpad came with two AA Energizer Alkaline batteries in it, not Apple branded ones. Alkaline batteries are non-rechargeable, so don’t put them in an Apple Battery Charger expecting them to charge. They won’t.