Ondrej Holzman At least half a decade old Mac accessories have received a well-deserved update. In addition to the trackpad and mouse, Apple also upgraded the keyboard with the nickname Magic, but that's it magic sometimes hard to find. The most interesting is without a doubt the new Magic Trackpad 2, but probably not even because of it - at least for now - hands will not be torn.
Apple decided to release the new accessories together with the new iMacs, but of course also offers them for purchase to all other Mac owners. We tested the new keyboard, mouse and trackpad to see if it's worth it if you already have older Apple accessories at home. It is and it is not.
The keyboard lacks charm
The only thing missing from the keyboard, which Apple offered in wireless and still in a wired version with a number pad, was the Magic moniker. Apple has now fixed it and we can find the Magic Keyboard in its store. But those who expect "magical" changes will be disappointed.
The big change that unites all the new products is the transition to an integrated rechargeable battery, thanks to which it is no longer necessary to charge pencil batteries into the keyboard, but just connect it with a Lightning cable and charge it, however, that alone would not be enough of course.
The Magic Keyboard comes with a slightly changed design, although the grom remains the same - the top of the keyboard slopes ergonomically for more comfortable typing. This should also ensure an improved scissor mechanism under the individual buttons, which have been slightly enlarged, so that the spacing between them has decreased.
In addition, their profile was reduced, so the Magic Keyboard came closer to the keyboard from the 12-inch MacBook. Many users struggled with it, at least initially, and the Magic Keyboard is somewhere on the borderline. The change compared to the previous "classic" keyboards is not so significant, but you will feel the transition from the wireless Apple keyboard.
The enlarged buttons have remained in place, but you can tell the difference in size. Especially if you type blindly, at first you may have a bit of a problem to hit correctly, or not to press two keys at once, but this is a matter of habit and a little practice. Those who fell in love with the 12-inch MacBook will be delighted with the Magic Keyboard. Fortunately, the profile is not so low, the buttons still provide a solid response, so these changes in the end should not be a problem for most users.
The changed profile and appearance of the buttons are still more cosmetic changes. The keyboard would really deserve the nickname Magic if Apple added, for example, backlighting, which so many users missed when working at night, and they didn't get it even now. At the same time, competing manufacturers who make keyboards for Macs add backlighting.
Unlike the competition, the Magic Keyboard can't even easily switch between multiple devices. So if you have an iMac and a MacBook (or maybe an iPad) on your desk and you want to type on all of them with one keyboard, you sometimes have to wait for a very annoying pairing that delays. Fortunately, it's no longer always necessary to call up a Bluetooth connection, as you just need to connect the keyboard to the computer with a cable, but this does not work with the iPad.
So, Apple has more or less introduced a stylish wireless Bluetooth keyboard for its computers, which many will prefer over the competition just because it has the Apple logo, but no additional functions. For 2 crowns, this is definitely not a product that every Mac owner should necessarily have. If you already have an Apple keyboard, then you can stay calm.
The new trackpad is great, but…
The same cannot be said at all about the new Magic Trackpad 2. It is the biggest step forward and has deservedly earned the most attention from the introduced novelties, but for now it also has its "buts".
The fundamental change is in the dimensions – the new trackpad is almost three centimeters wider, and the (almost) square is now a rectangle. Thanks to this, the entire hand can now comfortably fit on the trackpad surface, which Apple has made unusually bright white, and gestures can be made with maximum comfort, even with all five fingers.
The change inside, related to the "click" area, is similarly significant. In the new trackpad, Apple couldn't forget about Force Touch, which it started introducing in MacBooks, and now the pressure-sensitive surface is also coming to desktop Macs. In addition, four pressure surfaces under the surface ensure that you can click anywhere on the Magic Trackpad, so you no longer click on the edge of the pad and wait in frustration for a response that does not come.
Although Force Touch is undoubtedly the most significant technological innovation in the Magic Trackpad, we have to add that it is definitely not something that would make it necessary to buy it immediately. Unlike the iPhone, where 3D Touch caught on in applications of all kinds very quickly, the implementation of new controls on the Mac is slower, so Force Touch does not have that much use yet.
It's certainly a future where all Apple computers will have such a trackpad, but even then, users can stick with the older trackpad without regret. The second generation costs a staggering 3 crowns, which many prefer to add to the purchase of a new computer.
The upgrade is not necessary right away
But if you are really buying a new desktop Mac, then on the other hand, it is worthwhile to add 1 crowns and take the Magic Trackpad 600 instead of the Magic Mouse 2 that is otherwise supplied. This is because it has undergone the least changes in the second generation, practically only replacing the pencil batteries with a built-in accumulator , so if you don't want a wired mouse, which is only supposed to ensure smoother gliding on any surface, then you can skip the Magic Mouse 2 straight away. In addition, most users are now used to the trackpad from MacBooks, which they already commonly use on desktop computers.
In conclusion, we can say that the new Magic accessories bring some nice changes (in addition, for example, another Lightning cable to your collection, which is always useful), but it is definitely not necessary to buy a new keyboard or trackpad right away. With a set price policy, it is worthwhile for many to purchase accessories only with, for example, a new computer, because buying seven thousand for a MacBook, which you only occasionally connect to a large monitor, keyboard and trackpad, may be unnecessary.
What about the numpad keyboard, will it still be for sale?
And one more question, please, because I have no experience with the tackpad (except for the easel, where I only use it when I don't have a magic mouse at hand), can it really be fully replaced for work in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator? Does anyone have experience with this?
I use the trackpad for normal work (safari, iwork, imovie...) and I am satisfied with it. The advantage is that you can place it on the table where it suits you, which makes work more comfortable than when using it on a macbook. Otherwise, I prefer to use a wacom tablet for Photoshop, which is much faster to work with than a mouse or trackpad.
The trackpad on the Mac is great, I don't use a mouse at all - the gestures are great.
When I work with Photoshop or some other graphic program, so
I use a classic cape - it's better to work with. The wacom tablet is good
if you paint freehand.
I use a Wacom tablet or a Magic Mouse to work with InDesign, PhotoShop and other Adobe apps. I'm not used to the Magic TrackPad, it's not as dexterous in these applications as, for example, a tablet + pen, but I believe it will find use. Ideally, rent it somewhere and try it on, maybe it will fit you ;)
I need a keyboard for MacBook Pro Retina with backlight and the same layout including Czech labels. What do you recommend?
I can't put an unlit keyboard on my desk anymore, even if it was hand-assembled and signed by Timecek himself. Personally, I think that a real full-fledged keyboard is one of the main reasons why a person works on a desktop or why he connects an external keyboard to a laptop. Connecting a laptop keyboard without a numeric pad to a laptop is probably a bit pointless. If a person needs to connect a keyboard to a tablet, then it is great that the tablet can be plugged into the keyboard. I have logitech K480. It can pair with up to 3 devices. It cost about 600 on Alga when it was black friday. In any case, the absence of the numerical part is quite a fail. Or at least they could have a version with a numerical part and nothing. Personally, I liked the classic wired Apple keyboard with a numeric part and USB port much more. Great for connecting flash drives. Especially with the mac mini, where all the ports are at the back. But most of the Applist would buy it for the design, even if it lacked vowels on the keyboard.
I used a fullsize Apple wired keyboard for 5 years. I've been using wireless for half a year, which is, as you say, a copy of a laptop, without a number pad. I got so used to it in a week that I couldn't put my hand on the full-size keyboard. I discovered that I didn't need numeracy at all, and in fact, neither did anyone. I'm not an accountant who crunches numbers all day. Btw, I'm a coder, a programmer, and I don't have the slightest problem with that. The only thing that bothers me is the absence of backlight, which can only be solved with an additional light - that's the only fail. So it is not at all true that a person would buy it because of the design. It's smaller, my hand is closer to the mouse, the number pad actually just got in the way. In addition, I often use a computer without an external keyboard and I have no problem with a slightly different layout compared to the original fullsize.
Is there any reasonable Czech alternative to the standard flat Apple keyboard (ideally backlit, perhaps also mechanical) with a numeric pad?