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By the time I bought my next laptop (a PowerBook 1400c), Apple had switched to trackpads, and I came to prefer them over trackballs. I got hooked on trackballs with my PowerBook 165 back in the day and used trackballs with my desktop systems for years. I also have a long-standing distaste for computer mice.
Trackpad magic mac#
It also has Touch ID built in, which comes in handy with my Mac Studio. Unlike some of my colleagues, who crave the feel of an IBM Model M keyboard, I prefer the shorter key travel of the Magic Keyboard. And it’s not just because they match my Apple gear perfectly (they do) or because I care about aesthetics (I do). I find the Magic Trackpad to be more comfortable, and the pinch-to-zoom gesture works with my personal workflow.(Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.)īelieve it or not, I love the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad. I have both and use them both interchangeably at my desk. If I were to recommend one over the other, however, I prefer the Magic Trackpad. The Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad are ideal on Mac because they support certain gestures that no other mouse or trackpad support. On the other hand, the Magic Trackpad can still be used while charging, so you never lose productivity while in the middle of something important.
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You have to wait at least 15 minutes for it to juice up enough for you to finish your current project, and then you can plug it in for the night. You can't use the Magic Mouse 2 while it's charging. This was likely the only place they could put the port and still keep the iconic low-profile design. With the Magic Mouse 2, Apple did this unusual thing and put the charging port on the bottom. If your wallet is thin and saving money is your top priority, the Magic Mouse is the better priced of the two, especially if you're buying a Mac desktop because the price is zero extra dollars.
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If you're buying a Mac laptop or already have a desktop, the price of both goes up, but the Magic Trackpad is still more expensive than the Magic Mouse, and getting either in Space Gray will set you back an additional $20. That's if you're buying a new Mac desktop. If you want both the Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse, you'll pay a total of $129 for both. A Magic Trackpad will cost an additional $50. If you're buying a desktop Mac, and price matters the most, the Magic Mouse is a no-brainer. Again, like 3D Touch on the Home screen, it's nice, but not anything that totally changes the way you use your Mac. You'll feel a second sort of click when it's been triggered.įorce Touch only accesses Quick Look and Look Up, which are nice additions but not overly helpful on Mac. You click on the trackpad surface and then press down. The Magic Trackpad also supports Force Touch, which is sort of like 3D Touch on an iPhone. The Magic Trackpad, however, has a couple more cool gestures, like pinch-to-zoom and image rotating.
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Trackpad magic full#
The Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad support almost all of the same gestures, like swiping between pages and full apps, scrolling with one finger, and double-tapping to access Mission Control.
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