Have Apple finally jumped the shark?

[dwell]

HATERS GONNA HATE

^_^

 

[Ns1]

For everyone raving about gestures, I don't understand. How is a three finger swipe to go back any faster than pressing the back button on a mouse?

I used to have the MacBook Pro (Unibody) and now have the Lenovo x200s, with no trackpad, just a nub. While the trackpad was fantastic, a real mouse is far better. My MX Revolution runs circles around the Apple trackpad, a regular trackpad, or the Lenovo nub.

I have my Revolution set to do back/forward, middle button does Aero Flip, middle click is standard middle click, and the thumb wheel controls volume up/down/mute. Can't ask for more, personally.

what about expose?

you got that on a mouse? that's like adding an alt-tab button to said mouse.

(continue same line of arguing for each gesture)

 

[PhoKingGuy]

what about expose?

you got that on a mouse? that's like adding an alt-tab button to said mouse.

(continue same line of arguing for each gesture)

Its not...its just pressing a button quickly thats in reach. IMHO thats a much better system than throwing my fingers around.

 

[Ns1]

Its not...its just pressing a button quickly thats in reach. IMHO thats a much better system than throwing my fingers around.

funny, someone above mentioned that using 2 fingers to right click instead of 1 is 100% more inefficent

Using 2 arms is WAY more inefficient than 1


(besides, most of us HTPC guys don't have keyboards, which makes this a godsend)

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ehh ... looks like it's usefull for a VERY small niche crowd, I personally would never buy one, I like my mouse to have a minimum of 2 buttons + scroller ... but ideally, the scroller is the 3rd button, and there's 2 more buttons for the thumb to use (forward/back buttons.... very usefull for the ocassional game to use 1 for ducking/going prone and one for push to speak on Ventrilo)

 

[SLCentral]

what about expose?

you got that on a mouse? that's like adding an alt-tab button to said mouse.

(continue same line of arguing for each gesture)

That's my point. The middle button DOES Aero Flip, which is Windows verson of Expose.

The only thing I am missing is the ability to rotate photos with a gesture. DAMNIT. How often do I need to do that? I can't think of any other gestures that I would actually find useful that I can't do. Zoom in/out is accomplished with the CTRL button and the scroll wheel...almost the same as the gesture (CTRL + two finger up, down).

 

[Ns1]

That's my point. The middle button DOES Aero Flip, which is Windows verson of Expose.

The only thing I am missing is the ability to rotate photos with a gesture. DAMNIT. How often do I need to do that? I can't think of any other gestures that I would actually find useful that I can't do. Zoom in/out is accomplished with the CTRL button and the scroll wheel...almost the same as the gesture (CTRL + two finger up, down).

Can't we just agree to disagree then? Mouse is perfect for your needs, trackpad is perfect for mine.


BTW, I did a quick search and found that revolution was a whopping $100.

$100 ON A MOUSE WTF?!

 

[Colt45]

so much more superior for couch surfing. I never use the trackpad anyway, though.

 

[mrjminer]

snip

so much more superior for couch surfing. I never use the trackpad anyway, though.

Nice. I didn't know Thinkpad made one. I'll be getting it in the future.

In the meantime, I settled for a Logitech keyboard/mouse kit I got local for $13 on clearance

 

[darkswordsman17]

so much more superior for couch surfing. I never use the trackpad anyway, though.

I wouldn't really agree with that. In some manners, yeah (such as if you need to type a lot or perhaps if you're used to using a keyboard for shortcuts and navigation), but it is far less ergonomic.

There are other devices though that offer the same functionality of this. Logitech has a mini keyboard remote that's good.

This does highlight a real point though. Nothing in this product is really innovative, Apple just took other ideas, and combined them to make something a bit slicker than what's currently there (which isn't even absolutely true either, as some of the alternatives are slick as well).

If there's one thing that would have made you think Apple has jumped the shark, it would be their batteries and charger that they announced at the same time as this.

 

[TheStu]

That's my point. The middle button DOES Aero Flip, which is Windows verson of Expose.

The only thing I am missing is the ability to rotate photos with a gesture. DAMNIT. How often do I need to do that? I can't think of any other gestures that I would actually find useful that I can't do. Zoom in/out is accomplished with the CTRL button and the scroll wheel...almost the same as the gesture (CTRL + two finger up, down).

Using BetterTouchTool (once a new version gets released that supports the trackpad) you can define any number of gestures. And you use Pinch to zoom just like on the iPhone (though I think you can turn that off)

And just like it is easy on a mouse (that has a ton of buttons) to hit back/forward, if you are using your finger to moving the cursor around on the trackpad, slightly adjusting 2 others to have them do back/forward isn't exactly hard either.

Out of curiosity, have you ever used an Apple trackpad (one of the newer glass ones at best, any MacBook/Pro at least), in OS X, for any amount of time? If you haven't then well... shut up, you are no longer qualified to offer an opinion. If you have, then I am sorry that it sucked for you, perhaps you were doing it wrong (My friend did 2 finger scrolling wrong for 18 months, he held one finger still and only moved the other one).

If all you have ever used is PC trackpads, then no wonder you hate them... they all blow.

If this was less than $70 then i would seriously, seriously consider it, but at $70 it is way too pricey.

 

[darkswordsman17]

In short, Apple took this: http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_touch.php and made it wireless and a bit more minimalist. An extra $20 for that isn't bad at all.

 

[Anubis]

Can't we just agree to disagree then? Mouse is perfect for your needs, trackpad is perfect for mine.


BTW, I did a quick search and found that revolution was a whopping $100.

$100 ON A MOUSE WTF?!

its a "gaming" mouse thats why, you can get cheaper 5+ button mice

total side note about expose and areo crap, i never use that feature or alt tab, i just click on the taskbar, which with my mouse sensitivity is very minimal in movement

 

[Mike Gayner]

its a "gaming" mouse thats why, you can get cheaper 5+ button mice

total side note about expose and areo crap, i never use that feature or alt tab, i just click on the taskbar, which with my mouse sensitivity is very minimal in movement

MX Revolution isn't a "gaming mouse", nor has it ever been marketed as one. It is, however, the best mouse currently on the market.

 

[TheStu]

MX Revolution isn't a "gaming mouse", nor has it ever been marketed as one. It is, however, the best mouse currently on the market.

For some. I like the VX Revolution, the little brother, better.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I have the MX Performance. I still can't decide if I like it more or less than my old MX Revolution.

 

[Sloper]

It's funny to see you guys talk about moving a mouse (which requires forearm movement) being simpler than flicking your fingers. Or how a scroll wheel is better than the 2 finger scroll.

They're not. You're just old farts. You're like the people who prefer cassette players and rotary phones.

If you're a gamer/artist, you're better off using a mouse. For everything else (browsing, emails, multitasking) this trackpad is WAY better.

 

[Kmax82]

If you're a gamer/artist, you're better off using a mouse. For everything else (browsing, emails, multitasking) this trackpad is WAY better.

I think gaming is really the only thing that needs a mouse. As an artist you're more likely to be using a tablet than a mouse. I think that as a web designer/developer I'm much quicker with the trackpad and my gestures.

 

[Homerboy]

It's funny to see you guys talk about moving a mouse (which requires forearm movement) being simpler than flicking your fingers. Or how a scroll wheel is better than the 2 finger scroll.

They're not. You're just old farts. You're like the people who prefer cassette players and rotary phones.

If you're a gamer/artist, you're better off using a mouse. For everything else (browsing, emails, multitasking) this trackpad is WAY better.

What? I can move my mouse over my entire screen realestate by just moving my wrist. Generally speaking I don't use or get gestures. To each his own though. I still know people that swear-by a trackball. Whatever is easiest for them.

 

[Anubis]

It's funny to see you guys talk about moving a mouse (which requires forearm movement) being simpler than flicking your fingers. Or how a scroll wheel is better than the 2 finger scroll.

They're not. You're just old farts. You're like the people who prefer cassette players and rotary phones.

If you're a gamer/artist, you're better off using a mouse. For everything else (browsing, emails, multitasking) this trackpad is WAY better.

umm my mouse can traverse 2 1920x1200 displays without moving my forearm at all, hell 1 display can be covered with thumb and finger movements

 

[Sloper]

HMMMmm, to each his own I suppose. I'd argue we've learned to adapt to the mouse and that it's easier to adapt to this trackpad. I expect this to be more intuitive for old ppl and kids.

 

[Anubis]

HMMMmm, to each his own I suppose. I'd argue we've learned to adapt to the mouse and that it's easier to adapt to this trackpad. I expect this to be more intuitive for old ppl and kids.

ill give you kids, old people not so much

 

[mugs]

The Macbook Pro's trackpad is the best trackpad I've ever used, but I still don't want to ever use a trackpad unless I have to. I usually bring a mouse with me when I travel with my laptop.

I'd consider using that thing for an HTPC if it cost about $20.

 

[sourceninja]

I plan to buy one for my living room and for my office.

Honestly I'd prefer a trackpad for most of my mouse use. The only exception to this is gaming.

 

[Monoman]

Honestly, that's fucking awesome

I have a mac mini that I use as an htpc; right now I use a wireless mouse + mousepad on my coffee table, that would be siiiiiiiick

if it's got bluetooth + finger swipes then I'm fucking sold.

FYI you windows snobs, you can right click with 2 finger tap.

This...

I'm not a apple fanatic, but the touchpad is really, amazing. Once you are use to it, it's really something.