Magic Trackpad targets humble computer mouse

by Steven Mostyn - Jul 28 2010, 06:12

Building on the Multi-Touch gesture navigation established through its popular line of Mac notebooks, Apple has unleashed the wireless Magic Trackpad, its latest attack on the humble computer mouse.

Granted, it may look like a miniature Wacom tablet, but the sculpted aluminium Magic Trackpad and its glass surface construction allows users to scroll smoothly up and down the page with inertial scrolling.

According to Apple, simple fingertip swipes also enable the user to enjoy pinch zooming, image rotation and quick flipping through Web pages and photo collections.

Beyond the advantages of almost 80 percent more surface area than a MacBook Pro trackpad, the wireless Magic Trackpad functions on Bluetooth technology (at a distance of up to 33 feet) and can also be configured to support single-button or two-button commands. It also supports tap-to-click as well as physical click navigation.

While Apple is offering the Magic Trackpad as an optional extra alongside its revamped Mac Pro, not everyone will want to stump up well in excess of $1,000 USD to secure the sassy little navigation device.

Thankfully, the wireless Magic Trackpad can also be purchased as a standalone computer accessory for a slightly more pocket-friendly price of $69 USD.

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