“I got Apple’s new Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard yesterday,” Kirk McElhearn writes for Kirkville. “I like the keyboard a lot, but I really don’t like the trackpad, and I’m planning to return it. It’s too wide, the Force Touch feature is useless, and it’s way too expensive. ($129 in the US; £109 here.)”
“But why, exactly, is it so expensive? What’s so special about it?” McElhearn writes. “Is it the Force Touch technology? If so, then it’s simply wasted. I quickly found that Force Touch gets invoked when I manipulate items in the Finder (Command-click one item, then the next, and drag them; Quick Look pops up). If I were to keep this trackpad, I’d have to turn that feature off, since I often click and drag items in the Finder.”
McElhearn writes, “Unless there’s some hidden feature in the new Magic Trackpad, it’s an overpriced device, poorly designed, which isn’t at all practical.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We’re mouse people, generally. Our Magic Trackpads get very little use. Heavy trackpad users, have you tried Apple’s new Magic Trackpad 2, yet?
We do find it difficult to believe that Apple’s Jony Ive would allow Apple to release a “poorly designed” trackpad in 2015.
I haven’t used a mouse in years. When I have to play with one, it feels strange going back. I’m totally trackpad. Love my Magic Trackpad. I love my MBP trackpad. I use all the gestures. Fun and functionality.
Yes, me too. Even in Photoshop.
white surface = poor choice
lack of Touch ID = poor choice
price = poor choice
First of all, white seems out of place on desktops. The iMac and Mac Pro don’t have white anywhere else on the computers, so why put white on the peripherals? Black or Space Gray would compliment the computers they are meant to be used with much more than white. And, we’d have the added benefit of them not looking as dirty.
This simple aesthetic change would probably move more product than the technological improvements anyway. At least give users a choice.
I want my peripherals to be black – black keys on the keyboard, black surface on the Magic Mouse and black surface on the Magic Trackpad. I want an EXTENDED Bluetooth keyboard that is actually useful for those working on a desktop. Or at least make an extension with a numeric keypad and function keys that attaches magnetically. Have the keys lit by LED backlighting like the laptops. Include Touch ID so users can login to their user via fingerprint or approve purchases online.
Jump the gun much, Kirik? Considering this thing was released Monday and developers haven’t had a chance to incorporate force touch features into their apps, maybe you’d like to give it a month to see what new features get supported. Or maybe take a couple of weeks to get used to the new UX?
Nah- let’s just write our review now and send it back. Seems reasonable.
It is better to have the Force with you than to be on the Dark side.