I hope it comes in a wired version. I hate having to replace batteries every couple of weeks.
I've been running my Apple Bluetooth keyboard for months, never turning it off, on the same batteries. Granted, it's on my Mac Mini connected to a TV set so I don't use the keyboard that much, but still...
I wouldn't mind if this thing worked like a notepad -- so you could sit back in your chair and sketch notes, drawings and the like into your computer. It would be a lovely thing when working on a proposal at the early stages, or when doing corrections of a document.
just my thoughts (I work in organic chemistry, to interfacing images and text is key to me)
As a Mac desktop and laptop user here's what I want for my desktops: A keyboard / trackpad combo unit laid out exactly like the keyboard / trackpad on the MacBook Pros.
The keyboard should have black keys, just like the MacBook Pros (white keys on something you handle most of the day? really! what were you thinking?). The key layout should exactly match that of the most recent MacBook Pros. The trackpad should exactly match that of the most recent MacBook Pros. You could even make the keys glow in the dark like that in the MacBook Pros.
This seems so obvious. It's something I've wanted since my first iBook. One set of input memories for my hands and brain.
While this rumor is a step in that direction, it places the trackpad to the side rather than below the keyboard. Like the mouse it would replace, it would require a different set of motions than a trackpad positioned just like the laptops.
The end of conventional Mac OS to be replaced by iPhone OS with it's own App Store.
There's no way Apple is getting rid of OS X. That would nullify so many of their other products and software like Logic. It's just yet another input device they will sell.
1. It solves a problem Apple does not have. They just introduced the Magic Mouse, and while it's not perfect, this moves away from that in terms of usability. I'd figure they'd incrementally improve the MM instead of crafting a whole new breed of input devices.
2. Apple is moving away from input devices altogether -- why would they throw even more resources at something they're trying to eliminate?
3. The rubber bottom. I think it's probably photoshopped form an Airport Extreme or an Apple TV, or perhaps a Mini. Those have rubber bottoms to keep them from sliding around on a surface. The bottom of this thing, with the battery compartment holding it up, would never even contact a flat surface except at the front edge. They wouldn't waste all that rubber when a little strip or perhaps 2 feet at the front would do the trick.
Edit: Looking at the pics again, perhaps the bottom is plastic -- it looks like there's little feet. I still wonder what utility it serves?
the only company I've seen do that is Wacom and they probably hold several patents that would make it difficult for anyone else.
that said, I agree. I would be happy to see some compet in that market cause $2200 is steep.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevie
Wouldn't it be an iPad at that point?
not at all. there's no CPU brains it in to do actual work. just enough to display and send back input.
you could take it two ways.
1. Is the Wacom Cintiq route. They are used by a lot of creatives for drawing and such. Being able to have a digital sketchpad where you can look at the previous work and the new at the same time (without moving your head) is invaluable for coloring and shading comics for example
2. a changeable keyboard. there was a concept idea maybe 2 years ago. the idea was that you would basically have a flat keyboard which would adjust according to language, DVORAK v QWERTY preference, even shortcuts in programs like Final Cut and Logic
Except when you are sitting on a couch and the screen is your tv...
That's exactly why I've been desperately waiting for such a device for the last 18 months. Mac Mini connected to a large TV in the lounge, used for watching things like BBC iPlayer or for my son to play on the internet and be able to keep an eye on him.
If you've ever tried to use a mouse on your knee or arm rest of a sofa for any length of time you'll see how absolutely essential a Bluetooth trackpad is.
Apple may as well just set up a webcam in their labs and save everyone the trouble.
As for a trackpad for desktops, what a ridiculous idea. Trackpads are HORRIBLE compromises for portable computers - the best of a very bad job etc. A mouse blows a trackpad away in every possible way every single time, and no I don't care about pinching/zooming/twiddling when I'm in 3D Studio Max or Photoshop.
No worries then. It probably won't work on Windows anyway.
Apple may as well just set up a webcam in their labs and save everyone the trouble.
As for a trackpad for desktops, what a ridiculous idea. Trackpads are HORRIBLE compromises for portable computers - the best of a very bad job etc. A mouse blows a trackpad away in every possible way every single time, and no I don't care about pinching/zooming/twiddling when I'm in 3D Studio Max or Photoshop.
I disagree completely. I was thinking about getting the wacom equivalent to this several months back, but heard about some issues with it. I'd love multi-touch capability at work on my iMac, this could be the trick.
Anyone who thinks this is a universal remote is not thinking it though.
I could imagine an iPhone being one, but not a trackpad. Besides, the physical piece of hardware is designed to be placed on a table, which is anti-living room.
2. a changeable keyboard. there was a concept idea maybe 2 years ago. the idea was that you would basically have a flat keyboard which would adjust according to language, DVORAK v QWERTY preference, even shortcuts in programs like Final Cut and Logic
If you are going to have a third input device sitting on your desk anyway, the touch screen/ keyboard could have almost unlimited features. I think this is where the technology is eventually going. Not ideal for word processing but for graphics, 3D, video editing, etc, it could be useful.
OH oh oh, I see. I thought that was a thick side when I first looked at it. It seemed very un-apple like to have something so thick looking. That makes much more sense and now that I look at it I don't even know how I saw it as a side, it is clearly the bottom. Silly me.
It looks like a fake, but if it is not a fake, it could mean only one thing...
The end of conventional Mac OS to be replaced by iPhone OS with it's own App Store.
Not at all. the Mac OS is already friendly to pad based input. Wacom makes a whole line up that is sold in the Apple stores.
And Jobs has already said that he has no desire to create a Mac OS app store and vet every possible app. And doesn't feel the need since the Mac computer hardware is hardier, faster etc. There's less crash risks, which is one of the main reasons why they vet for the iphone OS.
also someone on another board brought up an idea for while some folks might go for a pad instead of a mouse. Apparently writing in Kanji etc is harder with a mouse. It can be done rather well on an ipad with a finger or a stylus. So this would give that option to desktop users in a similar style
Comments
I hope it comes in a wired version. I hate having to replace batteries every couple of weeks.
I've been running my Apple Bluetooth keyboard for months, never turning it off, on the same batteries. Granted, it's on my Mac Mini connected to a TV set so I don't use the keyboard that much, but still...
just my thoughts (I work in organic chemistry, to interfacing images and text is key to me)
The end of conventional Mac OS to be replaced by iPhone OS with it's own App Store.
As a Mac desktop and laptop user here's what I want for my desktops: A keyboard / trackpad combo unit laid out exactly like the keyboard / trackpad on the MacBook Pros.
The keyboard should have black keys, just like the MacBook Pros (white keys on something you handle most of the day? really! what were you thinking?). The key layout should exactly match that of the most recent MacBook Pros. The trackpad should exactly match that of the most recent MacBook Pros. You could even make the keys glow in the dark like that in the MacBook Pros.
This seems so obvious. It's something I've wanted since my first iBook. One set of input memories for my hands and brain.
While this rumor is a step in that direction, it places the trackpad to the side rather than below the keyboard. Like the mouse it would replace, it would require a different set of motions than a trackpad positioned just like the laptops.
Thank you for your consideration.
The end of conventional Mac OS to be replaced by iPhone OS with it's own App Store.
There's no way Apple is getting rid of OS X. That would nullify so many of their other products and software like Logic. It's just yet another input device they will sell.
1. It solves a problem Apple does not have. They just introduced the Magic Mouse, and while it's not perfect, this moves away from that in terms of usability. I'd figure they'd incrementally improve the MM instead of crafting a whole new breed of input devices.
2. Apple is moving away from input devices altogether -- why would they throw even more resources at something they're trying to eliminate?
3. The rubber bottom. I think it's probably photoshopped form an Airport Extreme or an Apple TV, or perhaps a Mini. Those have rubber bottoms to keep them from sliding around on a surface. The bottom of this thing, with the battery compartment holding it up, would never even contact a flat surface except at the front edge. They wouldn't waste all that rubber when a little strip or perhaps 2 feet at the front would do the trick.
Edit: Looking at the pics again, perhaps the bottom is plastic -- it looks like there's little feet. I still wonder what utility it serves?
I hope it comes in a wired version. I hate having to replace batteries every couple of weeks.
I get a couple of months out of my wireless magic mouse and wireless keyboard. You should at least get the same or better life on the pad.
They should have incorporated a screen..
the only company I've seen do that is Wacom and they probably hold several patents that would make it difficult for anyone else.
that said, I agree. I would be happy to see some compet in that market cause $2200 is steep.
Wouldn't it be an iPad at that point?
not at all. there's no CPU brains it in to do actual work. just enough to display and send back input.
you could take it two ways.
1. Is the Wacom Cintiq route. They are used by a lot of creatives for drawing and such. Being able to have a digital sketchpad where you can look at the previous work and the new at the same time (without moving your head) is invaluable for coloring and shading comics for example
2. a changeable keyboard. there was a concept idea maybe 2 years ago. the idea was that you would basically have a flat keyboard which would adjust according to language, DVORAK v QWERTY preference, even shortcuts in programs like Final Cut and Logic
My thoughts exactly.
Except when you are sitting on a couch and the screen is your tv...
That's exactly why I've been desperately waiting for such a device for the last 18 months. Mac Mini connected to a large TV in the lounge, used for watching things like BBC iPlayer or for my son to play on the internet and be able to keep an eye on him.
If you've ever tried to use a mouse on your knee or arm rest of a sofa for any length of time you'll see how absolutely essential a Bluetooth trackpad is.
Apple may as well just set up a webcam in their labs and save everyone the trouble.
As for a trackpad for desktops, what a ridiculous idea. Trackpads are HORRIBLE compromises for portable computers - the best of a very bad job etc. A mouse blows a trackpad away in every possible way every single time, and no I don't care about pinching/zooming/twiddling when I'm in 3D Studio Max or Photoshop.
No worries then. It probably won't work on Windows anyway.
Apple may as well just set up a webcam in their labs and save everyone the trouble.
As for a trackpad for desktops, what a ridiculous idea. Trackpads are HORRIBLE compromises for portable computers - the best of a very bad job etc. A mouse blows a trackpad away in every possible way every single time, and no I don't care about pinching/zooming/twiddling when I'm in 3D Studio Max or Photoshop.
I disagree completely. I was thinking about getting the wacom equivalent to this several months back, but heard about some issues with it. I'd love multi-touch capability at work on my iMac, this could be the trick.
I could imagine an iPhone being one, but not a trackpad. Besides, the physical piece of hardware is designed to be placed on a table, which is anti-living room.
2. a changeable keyboard. there was a concept idea maybe 2 years ago. the idea was that you would basically have a flat keyboard which would adjust according to language, DVORAK v QWERTY preference, even shortcuts in programs like Final Cut and Logic
If you are going to have a third input device sitting on your desk anyway, the touch screen/ keyboard could have almost unlimited features. I think this is where the technology is eventually going. Not ideal for word processing but for graphics, 3D, video editing, etc, it could be useful.
Welcome to my ignore list. FIRST person ever to earn that honor on this forum. Guess you actually really were first at something. LOL.
Re: the actual device: I WANT THIS. I prefer the MBP trackpad to a mouse any day.
Your ignore list is going to fill up quickly if that innocuous post sent you over the edge. ....
BOO! Am I on it too, now?
Because it's being viewed at an angle.
OH oh oh, I see. I thought that was a thick side when I first looked at it. It seemed very un-apple like to have something so thick looking. That makes much more sense and now that I look at it I don't even know how I saw it as a side, it is clearly the bottom. Silly me.
I hope it comes in a wired version. I hate having to replace batteries every couple of weeks.
I don't think so. My wireless keyboard has lasted for 4 months now and my mouse for about 2 months. Not sure where you got two week usage.
Wouldn't it be an iPad at that point?
It looks like a fake, but if it is not a fake, it could mean only one thing...
The end of conventional Mac OS to be replaced by iPhone OS with it's own App Store.
Not at all. the Mac OS is already friendly to pad based input. Wacom makes a whole line up that is sold in the Apple stores.
And Jobs has already said that he has no desire to create a Mac OS app store and vet every possible app. And doesn't feel the need since the Mac computer hardware is hardier, faster etc. There's less crash risks, which is one of the main reasons why they vet for the iphone OS.
also someone on another board brought up an idea for while some folks might go for a pad instead of a mouse. Apparently writing in Kanji etc is harder with a mouse. It can be done rather well on an ipad with a finger or a stylus. So this would give that option to desktop users in a similar style