I wasn't super impressed with the Trackpad when it was first introduced, but given all of the emphasis on gestures and swipes in Lion's UI I'm wondering whether it might not be time to give it another shot (I'd be using it with an iMac). If it were a little cheaper I probably wouldn't think about it, but $70 is just enough to give me pause before buying, so would love to hear what others think.
Gave it the old college try, and simply could not get into it. Handed it off to a few others here at gdgt HQ, no one else could get into it either. Maybe Lion will change its usefulness, but I've become a much bigger believer in the Magic Mouse, which is kind of the best of both worlds.
I wouldn't necessarily say the Magic Mouse is the best of both worlds, but it is definitely a good compromise and furthermore one of the better Apple options out there. I use it on a regular basis and find the optics to be great. It even works on surfaces other infrared devices don't work on, go figure!
The trackpad is well worth it. I bought mine because I was getting wrist problems (I'm a designer/developer all day long). Around the same time I got used to using it was about the time my soreness/pain started to go away.
I highly recommend BetterTouchTool for one reason alone: it prevents your thumb from being tracked in normal use so you don't have to have your hand hovering strangely.
I second the recommendation of BetterTouchTool. It's much better than using a mouse and allows a lot more custom gestures compared to using a mouse with 12 buttons.
I'm in a similar situation, had the Magic Trackpad from launch day but then sold it just before the Lion announce as I wasn't really using it. Now seriously regretting selling it as I have been sat next to a developer who has the Lion preview installed and she uses the trackpad all day long. It would appear that the trackpad is going to be vital for the use of Lion. Better start getting used to it again!
I found it very natural from day one. The change in gestures with Lion is what threw me for a loop after learning how to use the device with the original gestures. I find the mouse too limiting now and miss my Trackpad when I have to touch my work computer.
$70 is a lot to swallow, but I absolutely love the trackpad on my MBP and can't imagine living withuot it now. Gestures make navigating much more fluid and natural. With Lion coming and the additional gestures, i think a trackpad becomes an essential accessory.
I bought one at launch and I keep it next to my iMac 27". It seemed like an awesome idea at the time, but over long periods of time, my hand doesn't have a comfortable position when hovering over it. Occasionally I'll reach for it, but most of the time, my hand goes to the Logitech that came with my Wave keyboard/mouse combo. It's a matter of preference, but most of the time it just feels more natural for me to rest my hand on a mouse.
It's different when you're using a laptop and you need to make quick alterations (I used to love the ThinkPad TrackPoint when my job issued those.) It's certainly a topic of discussion when people see it at my desk. But I prefer a high-quality (preferably gaming) mouse.
Personally I would not spend the extra money as of yet. How old is your current hardware because that would be the determining factor. If your machine is on it's tail end of being replaced just wait a little... ;)
I bought one and took it back a few days later... I had to use my mighty mouse to be productive and the trackpad for fun... It just wasn't worth the 70$.. Also my hand became slot more fatigued on it than a mouse. If any thing I'd go with the magic mouse not the trackpad. It's good theory bad for productivity..
I have gotten used to gestures on my Macbook, and from time to time I find myself trying to do a gesture with my iMac without realizing I can't. I'm planning on getting Lion, then waiting to see how much I feel like I need the Magic Track Pad. If I feel like I should get it, I'll go the used/refurb route first.
Speaking from experience with an original MacBook I highly recommend a track pad. I have a cheeky version of lion installed in it and the new gestures are a great addition. I hate switching to a laptop which lacks gestures, it's pretty torturous to use after all this time. Even the lack of gesture n my iPad annoys me. Once you use it you won't look back.
I would agree with many people here, the trackpad has been worth it. It has taken a little time to adjust to the trackpad itself, but it makes it easier to transition to the trackpad on the MacBook Pro if I have to move out of the office. The system-wide gestures in Lion will hopefully add to the usefulness. I got tired of not finding a good bluetooth mouse that didn't need a little USB dongle for a price lower than the $70. The trackpad with the Apple Bluetooth keyboard free up USB ports for other devices. So far, so good...
I've been away from my desktop for a year ( student exchange) and use my MacBook Pros Trackpad heaps. I have a magic mouse but I don't use it anymore. I am definitely going to get a Magic Trackpad as I think that it's not only nice on a MacBook, I think it's perfect for a Desktop. And with Lion it's going to be even better. I am going for the Twelvesouth MagicWand, which connects the wireless keyboard and the trackpad nicely into one line.
Would love to know the long term prognosis... (I'll be watching.) You can totally hook up a mouse and have the trackpad work at the same time. Let's see where your hand gravitates to more. :-)
I did. I rarely even touch my Magic Mouse now. I enjoy using the trackpad. 70 bucks is tough, but I expect it to be more well worth it once Lion is out. I actually would rather use a tracpad as a mouse now. Except for gaming...
I'm super happy with my Magic Mouse, though I think it's because I use my iMac more than I use my MBP. I think if I was more used to the MBP I'd want the Magic Pad over a mouse.
Ie it's just what you're used to...
Only time will tell if the gestures in Lion will be worth it. Won't some of them work on the Magic Mouse?
I agree as well that $49 would be an easier price point to swallow.
I got one for christmas and it has completely replaced the (mighty) mouse on my iMac, both for casual use as well as work (software dev, Xcode etc).
The only exception is SC2, where I do switch back to the mouse.
On my iMac at home I use it almost exclusively. For most tasks, web browsing, document editing, and even some light image editing it works quite well. When you get into heaving image editing, and I would assume video and audio as well, it can become a little bit tiring to use after a while. Maybe I am still just not as adept at using it but a mouse continues to seem quicker and more precise than the trackpad does.
Gestures are of course where it really shines though. Using software like BetterTouchTool until Lion comes out opens up a number of very quick global shortcuts to things like Expose´ and Spaces, not to mention any other custom commands you want to throw in. With Lion's imminent release I would definitely say go for it. For most tasks it is a remarkably quick way to navigate around a desktop environment, often in ways a mouse just doesn't allow.
I've really enjoyed mine, I got one for my work Macbook pro. When combined with the wireless keyboard and a laptop stand (the Rain stand is an excellent choice), it's very useful. Some of the same gripes I have with trackpads in general carry over to the Apple Trackpad, like links, windows, icons, etc getting randomly dragged. Or my entire document gets highlighted right as I start typing.
This isn't Apple's fault, just one of those annoyances with a trackpad
Hate to sound all fanboyish, but I love the Apple Track Pad. I use both a wireless keyboard and Apple Trackpad with my 13" MBA. It's nice to taylor your workspace with both of these wireless input devices as you see fit. Gestures are great as well, and I doubt they'll be going away or decreasing in use anytime soon.
I have had one for quite a while, and although it was a bit cluncky to use at first, I now love it. The only issue I have is because it is used with my MacMini that is connected to my HDTV, if the trackpad is not on stable surface it does not work. It will not work on a magazine on my lap. It must be on the table.
It also seems better connecting via bluetooth than my old bluetooth mouse. Not sure why.
I think the answer to your question is YES! - the trackpad does take some getting used to, but I believe it makes the MAC that much better, The new LION features are leveraged indeed through gestures and the trackpad is almost essential to get the most out of this new operationg system.
If you are a fan of gestures and use an external monitor I would highly recommend the trackpad. I am a graphic designer and have a magic mouse, trackpad and wacom. I would say I use my trackpad 60-70% of the time.
Yes. I bought one quite a while ago and didn't use it much. But I found that over time it was the pointing device that I was gravitating toward. Now, while I have both a Logitech mouse (currently unconnected) and the Apple Magic Mouse, I find most of my use is the Trackpad.
I would be very happy with just the trackpad. The only reason I use the mouse is if I get tired of hearing the loud click of the Trackpad (and isn't that a trivial reason!)
I got one a few months back and have not totally switched over to it. I don't find it as intuitive as my Orbit trackball. The problem with the trackball is that there is no support for gestures of course. I keep the trackpad next to the orbit and move my hand to the trackpad when I want gestures. It is not ideal but I think I would miss it if it were not there. I got mine used on Ebay at some discount so I am not dealing with the $70.
I think there are few issues with it. First, I don't think my hand is in an ideal ergodynamic position when I use the trackpad. I feels like I am fighting an uphill battle. I think it would be better level. Second, I know I am in a minority here but I really think a trackball is the fastest thing when I am darting around the screen. I don't like mice because I don't like the grit that one can sometimes feel on the desk surface. I also don't like keeping any area clear. I had hoped that the trackpad would give me the best of both worlds but not so far. I'd like to try putting something under it so that the pad is securely level and see if that helps.
I got one of these when I picked up a Mac Mini as a HTPC. Once I got used to using the touch interface, I have to say, I don't think I will go back. I now have a Mac Book Pro and love the touchpad.
I still use a mouse for certain tasks and when playing Portal and other games, however, my overall preference is the Magic (touch) Pad.
I've been using a trackpad for 3 months on my iMac and have not touched a mouse since. The only thing that a mouse brings to the table is precise pointer placement that I don't need so I have never looked back.
I have to admit It took me about a month to get used not moving a mouse around but I'm definitely glad I switched. Plain and simple, once you get use to it...it's just faster! The gestures and swipe are really pretty nice now...I can't for their additional functionality in Lion.
I just bought one two days ago. Even though I own a Magic Mouse, I prefer the Trackpad because of the larger area for gestures. Switching between Spaces is easier than ever, as is pulling up Mission Control and Launchpad. It's alno nice to simply not have to clear a space to move a mouse around. I think mice will start getting phased out as we move forward.
I think you've hit the nail on the head: Mac OS X Lion, and its enhanced gesture support, is the perfect reason to give the Magic Trackpad another shot.
I've been using one since March and it's worth it. I can't wait for expanded gestures in Lion. After using the trackpad w/ the iMac, my MBP, iPhone and iPad I am sold on touch interface.
I've had one for about 6 months now and with Lion it really is handy. The gestures work very nicely and once you get used to the stationary trackpad rather than a moving mouse it's very easy to use. I'd recommend it for sure.
I'd recommend the trackpad if only for the ergonomic benefits. The fact that Lion makes it even more useful with gestures is just icing on the cake. I've noticed much less wrist soreness using the Magic Trackpad over the last few weeks compared to using my Magic/Mighty mice. Not having to move your whole hand around makes a world of difference when you're working at a computer 8+ hours per day. I strongly recommend it to anyone that shows any interest in my office :)
I just recently bought another iMac and went ahead and included the magic trackpad in addition to the magic mouse. While I do like using it some I can use it for very long until my hand and fingers start to ache.
I use it with my iMac since it came out. With the gestures it is by far the best trackpad on the market. I highly recommend it regardless of the price.
I'm happy with my Apple Trackpad. My home desktop (MBA 11 + 21.5" LED + Apple Wired Keyboard) has it exclusively, but I'm still looking for a nice mouse for work stuff like word processing (yes, I'd love the precision of a mouse here) and wireframing (very much needs a mouse).
70USD is a big deal to me, but the investment is worth it. It's pleasing for casual browsing and I already use gestures a lot even on Snow Leopard. Tried Lion for a short time and gestures were really much more relevant.
I'm just wondering if you can use the wireless keyboard with the trackpad (where the numpad should be) but keep the mouse around when you really need to use a proper point and click device. Would that not give you the best of both worlds or just add confusion?
I don't have a mac (have an ipad) but i'm interested to see how this multi touch generation goes.
Yes, you can definitely have both connected and use them interchangeably. I'd even suggest using the 12 South MagicWand, a connector that joins the Magic Pad to the Wireless keyboard, making them one unit. twelvesouth.com/products/magicwand/
