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Apple Magic Trackpad: multitouch for desktops; $69

By | July 27, 2010, 6:31am PDT

Summary: Apple on Tuesday unveiled its Magic Trackpad, a multitouch trackpad for desktop computers.

Apple on Tuesday unveiled its Magic Trackpad, a multitouch trackpad for desktop computers.

Intended for Mac users, the peripheral uses the same technology as the trackpad on the MacBook Pro (which, drawing from personal experience, is quite lovely) — that means all the gestures. Like the MacBook, the entire thing is a button, and clicks accordingly.

The wireless device connects to a Mac using Bluetooth, and is about twice the size of a laptop trackpad. It’s made in the same aluminum style as Apple’s latest keyboard, meaning there’s plenty of design continuity when they’re sitting side by side on your desk.

If you weren’t convinced by the Magic Mouse, this might do the trick. It’s available now for $69.

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Topics

Apple Macintosh, Multi-touch, Apple Inc., Computer, Desktop Computer, Magic Trackpad, Desktops, Productivity, Hardware, Andrew Nusca

Andrew J. Nusca is editor of ZDNet and SmartPlanet.

Disclosure

Andrew Nusca

Andrew J. Nusca does not hold any investments in the technology companies he covers.

Biography

Andrew Nusca

Editor

Andrew J. Nusca is an editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet. As a journalist based in New York City, he has written for Popular Mechanics and Men's Vogue and his byline has appeared in New York magazine, The Huffington Post, New York Daily News, Editor & Publisher, New York Press and many others. He also writes The Editorialiste, a media criticism blog.

He is a New York University graduate and former news editor and columnist of the Washington Square News. He is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He has been named "Howard Kurtz, Jr." by film critic John Lichman despite having no relation to him. He lives in his native Philadelphia with his wife, cat and Boston Terrier.

Follow him on Twitter.

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Why do I even try to help you?
kenosha77a 29th Jul 2010
@David Gewirtz

David, David, David ... you really don't know how to do basic research do you?

Try this link for your Windows 32 and 64 bit drivers. It can be found on Apples software support page.

http://support.apple.com/downloads/
View in thread
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What's in a name.
nlefevre 27th Jul 2010
It better work well because "Tragic MacPad" is just too easy.
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Contributr
RE: Apple Magic Trackpad: multitouch for desktops; $69
David Gewirtz 27th Jul 2010
Interesting. I'm reading this sitting on my couch, typing into a Windows PC I use as our media center. This gadget might be just the ticket for mousing on the couch arm since a regular Bluetooth mouse is a little awkward.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Apple is providing drivers, but I wonder if it'll just show up as a Human Interface Device in Windows anyway.
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Why do I even try to help you?
kenosha77a 29th Jul 2010
@David Gewirtz

David, David, David ... you really don't know how to do basic research do you?

Try this link for your Windows 32 and 64 bit drivers. It can be found on Apples software support page.

http://support.apple.com/downloads/
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Or... you could look past the Apple brand...
TheWerewolf 27th Jul 2010
Wacom's Bamboo Touch was doing this a year ago - and the Bamboo Pen + Touch adds a full digitiser pen to the mix for precision drawing and writing as well as multitouch.
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So true!
trickytom2 27th Jul 2010
@TheWerewolf

I've been using Wacom products for years. As you said, their pen works beautifully; very accurate and very sensitive.
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RE: Apple Magic Trackpad: multitouch for desktops; $69
rfoto 27th Jul 2010
@TheWerewolf
That Bamboo Pen + Touch looks great! I like Apple gear but if the Wacom's multitouch is as good I would go that route. Do they make a cordless model?
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deleted
banned from zdnet Updated - 27th Jul 2010
deleted
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A work of art...
grillomalta@... 27th Jul 2010
I don't own an Apple (pretty rare in Malta), but this is beautiful... if there was a way to connect to a pc... (dreaming...)
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Trackpads are crap
Randalllind Updated - 27th Jul 2010
I am disable so using a trackpad over a mouse is hard and a no go for me. A lot of people not just handicap uses mouses due to issues they have with pads.

beside it as big as a keyboard that makes really crazy to have on a desk.
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RE: Apple Magic Trackpad: multitouch for desktops; $69
michael.tindall@... 28th Jul 2010
This was NEEDED...the new Apple pointing controls increasingly rely on being able to use your fingers to do things like zooming and scrolling. Macbooks, iPads, and even iPod touches (one of which I bought this weekend for my son's birthday) all have this functionality built in...but desktops still have mice. I bet this provides an indicator where the overall Mac OS environment is headed.
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RE: Apple Magic Trackpad: multitouch for desktops; $69
DeusXMachina Updated - 28th Jul 2010
@ Randalllind
"Trackpads are crap"

What a ridiculously stupid statement. Why make such a declarative statement for something that is clearly a personal opinion?
"I am disable so using a trackpad over a mouse is hard and a no go for me. A lot of people not just handicap uses mouses due to issues they have with pads."

And even more use trackpads for the same reason, so what is your point. By your own metric, mice suck.

"beside it as big as a keyboard that makes really crazy to have on a desk."

Um, no it isn't.

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