Magic Trackpad - Windows 8?


Recommended Posts

Anyone else tried this?

I am a Mac only person, but last night I bought Windows 8, installed it onto a Laptop (with bluetooth), and gave it to my brother. But since I have a Retina Macbook Pro, I don't need my Magic Trackpad anymore, so I said if we can get it working on Windows 8, he can have that too.

Anyone tried this and got it working? I've found some stuff on Google but nothing solid that I'm sure will do the trick.

Plus, it's all for older OS's.

:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

if it's a laptop it already has a trackpad, so why, if you're going to connect a pointing device, another useless trackpad is pointless, get a cheap mouse which is better in every conceivable way

It'll probably work with win7 drivers though, but won't support the 8 gestures

Link to comment
Share on other sites

if it's a laptop it already has a trackpad, so why, if you're going to connect a pointing device, another useless trackpad is pointless, get a cheap mouse which is better in every conceivable way

That all depends on the capabilities of the build-in trackpad. Whether it's "better in every conceivable way" is a matter of opinion and if you want access to more advanced multi-touch gestures or not. On my iMac I only used my Magic Mouse for Pixelmator, InDesign and Final Cut Pro, for all other tasks a Magic Trackpad. It suited me very well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was talking about a mouse though, if he's going to plug in an extra pointing device.

trackpads are horrible no matter how good they are, and are only usable for quick usage when you don't have your mouse or just quick usage when you don't need to, for that, the built in will be fine. and if you're going to drag around another pointing device and plug in, another better but still horrible trackpad don't make sense.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was talking about a mouse though, if he's going to plug in an extra pointing device.

trackpads are horrible no matter how good they are, and are only usable for quick usage when you don't have your mouse or just quick usage when you don't need to, for that, the built in will be fine. and if you're going to drag around another pointing device and plug in, another better but still horrible trackpad don't make sense.

This really isn't true anymore, and as much as I hate to admit it, it's because of Apple. The magic trackpad works great and is precise. I've considered getting the new Logitech trackpad for the Windows 8 gestures and because I've tried it and it's almost as nice as the magic trackpad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

trackpads are horrible no matter how good they are, and are only usable for quick usage when you don't have your mouse or just quick usage when you don't need to, for that, the built in will be fine. and if you're going to drag around another pointing device and plug in, another better but still horrible trackpad don't make sense.

In your opinion they're horrible. I find the Magic Trackpad to work brilliantly for all general tasks, especially due to its extensive multi-touch gesture support. Overall it's a pleasure to use. The only moment I switch back to a mouse is when pinpoint accuracy is absolutely required, in most cases it isn't though. That said I felt the exact same way as you before Apple introduced its new generation trackpads.

Anyway, let's just stick to the question at hand instead of turning this into a whole pro/con trackpad debate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

a mouse beats multi touch gestures any day of the week. as for precision, show me anyone who does any work in 3DS MAX or Photoshop with a trackpad, or anyone who does any form of gaming on it, even angry birds.

As for the question I already answered it. it'll work with the win7 drivers, but it won't support win8 gestures. and in all likelyhood, since he just bought a win8 laptop, the built in trackpad most likely does support win8 gestures, including swipe from the sides and bottom.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

a mouse beats multi touch gestures any day of the week. as for precision, show me anyone who does any work in 3DS MAX or Photoshop with a trackpad, or anyone who does any form of gaming on it, even angry birds.

I already covered that part. Twice. Not going to repeat myself a second time.

FYI Angry Birds for OS X is great in combination with the Magic Trackpad, the experience is nearly identical to that on the iPhone/iPad. Beyond that I have no idea who you're trying to convince or what you're getting out of this debate. If you don't like trackpads, that's fine. Others do enjoy using one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was talking about a mouse though, if he's going to plug in an extra pointing device.

trackpads are horrible no matter how good they are, and are only usable for quick usage when you don't have your mouse or just quick usage when you don't need to, for that, the built in will be fine. and if you're going to drag around another pointing device and plug in, another better but still horrible trackpad don't make sense.

I massively disagree. While I love my magic mouse more than my trackpad on my Macbook Pro, I design on the Trackpad daily from my sofa when I work from home. It's extremely comfortable. Hands down the best trackpad in the known world and simply a delight to use. The Magic Trackpad is 1) the perfect trackpad, perfect surface etc... and 2) already here in the house.

I do not want to spend MORE money on my brother... a cheap mouse is not better than a high grade and large Magic Trackpad. :)

Ok, so it looks like I should try forcing the Bootcamp drivers to work on 8 ? I need to find them I guess. :D And yeah, I expect two finger gestures to work but don't expect 3 and 4 finger gestures. But really it's just to make use of it as it's so nice.

The IBM trackpad built in is about 2.5 inches and cheap nasty plastic. The Magic Trackpad is a glass coated surface and over 5 inches. There's a huge difference between it and the nasty built in one :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are going to use it under windows 8.....get the trackpad++ program. It will give you back all of the trackpad gestures.

not for the magic trackpad it won't...that only works for the built in MBP and MBA trackpads...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

a mouse beats multi touch gestures any day of the week. as for precision, show me anyone who does any work in 3DS MAX or Photoshop with a trackpad, or anyone who does any form of gaming on it, even angry birds.

As for the question I already answered it. it'll work with the win7 drivers, but it won't support win8 gestures. and in all likelyhood, since he just bought a win8 laptop, the built in trackpad most likely does support win8 gestures, including swipe from the sides and bottom.

I use my magic trackpad regularly to play as sniper on Team Fortress 2 and it's insanely accurate - this is on Windows 8 not OS X as well. I regularly get a KD of 3 and can easily score 60+ points in a round with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I have a Sony Vaio on which I upgraded to Windows 8. Trying to use the laptop trackpad with Windows 8 was nothing short of hell for me, I eventually bought a mouse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a Sony Vaio on which I upgraded to Windows 8. Trying to use the laptop trackpad with Windows 8 was nothing short of hell for me, I eventually bought a mouse.

It depends what model.

I have a Sony Vaio from 2010 and I only use the trackpad (aside when gaming or when using an external monitor, which isn't all that often). It has a great, roomy multitouch trackpad and I love it. If the sensitivity is good and you have decent drivers it can be a joy to work with.

Mine is a Synaptics one. I have two-finger-scrolling (very smooth), endless spiral scrolling (click wheel style), two-finger-tap to right click, two-finger-hold+single-finger-tap for middle click, three-finger-tap for a browser back, ... The speed at which I navigate the web and my PC with this far exceeds what I can do with a mouse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

a mouse beats multi touch gestures any day of the week. as for precision, show me anyone who does any work in 3DS MAX or Photoshop with a trackpad, or anyone who does any form of gaming on it, even angry birds.

As for the question I already answered it. it'll work with the win7 drivers, but it won't support win8 gestures. and in all likelyhood, since he just bought a win8 laptop, the built in trackpad most likely does support win8 gestures, including swipe from the sides and bottom.

Idk..maybe you just haven't tried the Magic Trackpad yet. I love the Magic Trackpad and find it superior to any trackpad I've ever used on a Windows laptop by far. I think every Apple pointing device I've used I've hated up until the Magic Trackpad. Its really a pleasure to use and has plenty of precision for those applications.

As for you argument that he already has a trackpad built into his laptop: yeah, that is all well and good but I doubt it as good as the Magic Trackpad. You also seem to be forgetting that a lot of folks setup their laptops at home with a keyboard+mouse+monitor and use them more-or-less as desktops.

In anycase, the OP's brother is getting the trackpad for free. Do you think it would hurt anything if he just tried it out and see what he thinks about it? If he doesn't like it he can go buy a mouse... don't see why it needs to be a bigger deal than that but you sure are trying to make into one.

@OP - I haven't tried using my magic trackpad with Windows 8 yet. My previous experience with it with Windows 7 on bootcamp were not very good though. I found it less accurate in Windows than on Mac at the time (probably 2 years ago) and it was probably because Apple's drivers were lacking. Would love to hear how well it works out for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.