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Apple Magic Trackpad

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Re: Apple Magic Trackpad

#131

Post by redrobot5050 »

irons wrote: post #71
robgough wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair point. It would be nice if they would at least commit to bringing Windows support in the future. I can't imagine this would affect actual sales though, just another of example of when Apple's secrecy can be irritating for some of us.

For Apple to commit to anything in advance, let alone Windows support for a brand-new peripheral, would be evidence of takeover by pod people, and thus not nice at all. Windows support for the original iPod arrived two years later.

Again, they were testing the market with the true believers. The music industry viewed the 2-3 million mac users back then as a nice microcosm they could experiment on. If it failed, it wouldn't get much press because back then nobody used macs.

Re: Apple Magic Trackpad

#132

Post by gamble »

smackfu wrote: post #114
Maro wrote: post #105

I can't get my head around how Apple manages to come out with products that are cool enough they could come from a startup with some very motivated founders working day and night. Almost all other companies with >100 employees are turning out mostly crappy products that no one gets excited about. When's the last time you talked about a Xerox printer or HP laptop? In my mind this is why a company like Nokia can't make…

Because people will buy their products on faith, where a startup would just be ignored. Belkin could release this exact same thing and it would be mocked.

Apple's multitouch technology comes from a startup called Fingerworks that Apple bought years back. Fingerworks trackpads were so well liked that they're still selling on eBay for hundreds of dollars.

The difference between Belkin and Apple is that Belkin has a history of mediocrity, while Apple does not. Apple earned their enormous reservoir of good will through years of great products.

Re: Apple Magic Trackpad

#133

Post by kmfrk »

Maro wrote: post #105

I can't get my head around how Apple manages to come out with products that are cool enough they could come from a startup with some very motivated founders working day and night. Almost all other companies with >100 employees are turning out mostly crappy products that no one gets excited about. When's the last time you talked about a Xerox printer or HP laptop? In my mind this is why a company like Nokia can't make…

Look at the number of products the companies you mention have.

Apple devote their attention to products - and update them when they please.

They don't have to "keep up" with anyone else either, which applies especially in the Windows laptop market.

Re: Apple Magic Trackpad

#134

Post by nevinera »

city41 wrote: post #124
sprout wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Apple makes the best trackpads in the industry by a huge margin. Do you have any research to back that up? I don't doubt that Apple trackpads are of high quality, probably even the best. That said, the placebo effect can be very powerful when attempting to gauge how easy it is to interact with a computer.

I honestly don't think it's placebo. MacBooks are the only laptop I've ever owned where I've never felt inclined to use a mouse instead of the trackpad. They really are that good.

>I honestly don't think it's placebo.

Well if you did, it wouldn't work!

Re: Apple Magic Trackpad

#136

Post by JMiao »

smackfu wrote: post #114
Maro wrote: post #105

I can't get my head around how Apple manages to come out with products that are cool enough they could come from a startup with some very motivated founders working day and night. Almost all other companies with >100 employees are turning out mostly crappy products that no one gets excited about. When's the last time you talked about a Xerox printer or HP laptop? In my mind this is why a company like Nokia can't make…

Because people will buy their products on faith, where a startup would just be ignored. Belkin could release this exact same thing and it would be mocked.

belkin might make something that could look the same, but it wouldn't work the same. hence, the mocking.

Re: Apple Magic Trackpad

#137

Post by buro9 »

jwr wrote: post #37
buro9 wrote: post #4

Finally some of the stuff from fingerworks starts to surface as add-ons products for desktops. I've been wanting something to replace my long dead fingerworks keyboard, so I for one am happy. Now... if only there were drivers for something other than just OSX.

Some of us still use our FingerWorks TouchStream keyboards :-) (and keep two spares, in case the main one ever breaks)

That's where I failed... why on earth didn't I buy a second? Oh yes, the price. Which is also why I don't pick up one off of eBay, they're incredible nowadays with some going for an easy £600 or more. For that price I'd rather buy a great monitor.

Re: Apple Magic Trackpad

#138

Post by pixelbath »

gamble wrote: post #101
pixelbath wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, Apple trackpads are better in that they are more precise? Not being a Mac user, it's hard for me to understand what advantage a trackpad like this gives over any other third-party trackpad, other than the multitouch capability. Please help me understand why people are gushing over a $70 trackpad (even made by Apple), when most people mock similar input devices costing over $30.

Two reasons. First, external multitouch trackpads have been basically unobtainable until now. Apple bought the one company that used to make them and incorporated their technology into Apple products years ago. The only other model I've seen was an obscure Japanese import that only supported Windows. If you like trackpads, the Magic Trackpad is the first time in years you can buy one for your desktop. Second, Apple m…

I agree; every PC trackpad (even standalone, expensive ones) were, at best, tolerable. Once there are some display models out in the wild, I'll have to check it out.

Thank you for the informative reply.

Re: Apple Magic Trackpad

#139

Post by protomyth »

sliverstorm wrote: post #109
pilif wrote: post #36

Back in the days, I always preferred the Trackpoints the IBM ThinkPads used and I never quite liked the trackpads. I'm even going as far as to say that I'm quite the trackpad hater - they never felt precise to me and required way too frantic finger movement to be really comfortable for me. But when I moved to Apple hardware, I basically was stuck with the trackpads, but this time around, it was different. The bigger…

It's ironic you say the Apple trackpads allow you to move your fingers less. My biggest complaint about Apple laptops has always been the excessive mouse movement required, at least vs. the trackpoints I love.

I had a bit of that problem, going into system preferences and getting the setting to your liking helped me a lot. I find I had to do the same thing with the trackball I use and the scroll wheel.
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