Please recommend and alternative to an Apple Magic trackpad...

[Isthmus]

I'm looking for a trackpad for a windows machine. in theory I would love a large multitouch enabled trackpad that behaved similarly to apple's magic trackpad (a device I use in my own computer and generally prefer over a mouse).

I figured this type of peripheral would be something popular, but I'm surprised to find that apple has this particular market almost entirely to themselves. I haven't been able to find a single wireless touchpad (other than apples), and only a couple of wired ones. Of those one was garbage and the other one is the Wacom Bamboo Touch:

Bamboo Touch

Here are a coupe of pics of it. first by itself:

and in use (notice how nice and big it is):

My only issue with it is that it is wired and that the wire seems to be in an odd location for the orientation of the device.

On the plus side it's relatively cheap (about $30)

Do any of you know of any other similar device out there? Preferably wireless and with multi-touch support?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

 

[Isthmus]

No one has any other recommendations?

 

[Isthmus]

Well I went out and bought a bamboo touch tablet annd used it for about 20 hours over two days. I've now put it aside and grabbed the mouse again.

I find this very interesting as I also use an apple magic trackpad which is very similar, and I love that.

Here is how the Apple Magic Trackpad (AMT) and the Bamboo Touch (BT) compare:

- Orientation: The BT lays flat while the AMT is angled (the rear is higher then the front). The result is that the AMT has a more natural ergonomic layout. After hours of use, I found that my hand was cramping and tired on the BT, but not so on the AMT. Win: AMT

- Gestures: This is not an even comparison since the AMT suports many more gestures than the BT. That said, the one and two finger gestures are identical. however, the AMT is better calibrated to its OS than the BT. even with setting fine tuning (which the BT has more options BTW), the AMT is still smother and somewhat more responsive. OS integration might be a big part of why one performs better than the other. Win: AMT.

- Connection: AMt - Bluetooth; BT - Wired (USB). both work great, one relies on batteries and the other on computer power. Advantages and disadvantages to both. Tie.

- Buttons: AMT - 3; BT - 4 (programable). The AMt does a fabulous job oh hiding it's buttons. it does so much like apple's own mouse. No buttons are visible, but if you push down on either lower corner, the entire body will depress and click in that section. pressing the entire trackpad in the center will also activate a button (really just left click but usable for dragging). the BT has 4 dedicated buttons on the side, all of which are programable. while apple has the more elegant layout, the BT buttons are far easier to use and much more convenient. I especially likes that one button can be programed as an application switcher or a clear desktop button, which I found extremely useful. Win: BT

- Price: AMT $69; BT $30. Win: BT

- Size: AMT - about the size of an accouting calculator. BT - about the size of a 7" tablet. The BT has a much larger surface area to work with which you would thing is a god ting. Oddly even though the AMT has a smaller surface area it is no less capable. if anything it's smaller area combined with it's angled shape prevented my palm fro accidentally touching its surface and sending incorrect commands. The extra size of the BT is nice, but I found that it didn't really add any functionality. Tie.

Overall I really like both units and find fault with both. the AMT is noticeably more comfortable smaller and supports many more gestures. The BT doesn't need batteries has better buttons and works with any OS. My biggest grip is that the flat layout of the BT lead to a surprising amount of hand fatigue and that no matter how much I fine tunedthe tracking settings, I just could not get it to be as smoothly responsive as the AMT. It wasn't bad mind you, it just wasn't as good. the votes above would make it seem like it was a tie, but in reality the AMt is simply easier to live with day to day. The BT is nice though and I think it would make for a perfect unit for a young child learning how to use a computer. I think I'll be going back to the mouse on the windows machine and donating the BT to my kid's school.

 

[jroc]

I dont think there are gonna be any more recommendations...lol

I think thats probably the best or only one. Those 2 are the only ones I've heard of.

 

[Isthmus]

I dont think there are gonna be any more recommendations...lol

I think thats probably the best or only one. Those 2 are the only ones I've heard of.

I think you are right. It was very surprising to me. I would have figured there would have been more. It's not like it is a new technology.

 

[kigol]

Hey did you ever decide on one of these? I need a wireless solution and although I'm really not a fan of apple I am actually considering their trackpad for my RAZR.

 

[Gigaparsec]

As this is my first post, I cannont attatch links or images. But checkout the Logitech Wireless Touchpad RRP $49.99 USD

 

[Gigaparsec]

Logitech Unveils Wireless Touchpad: Magic Trackpad for Windows | TechnoBuffalo

Wireless Touchpad for Windows - Logitech

One-finger control
Touch one finger anywhere on the touchpad to control your cursor. Want to click on a link? Just tap and go.

Two-finger scrolling
Scroll up or down with two fingers to easily move through a document or your favorite web page

 

[mrspeedmaster]

The logitech isn't that great.
The Apple one is made of glass and has many more gestures.