If Apple brings full multi-touch to Leopard, will the Mouse button go bye-bye?

Seth Weintraub
|
July 29, 2008
Share

A little speculation on whether or not the glass trackpad will mark the end of the trackpad button...what do you think?  Is the mouse next?

Let us know in the comments!

Update: sorry about mouse image...changed

Comments (20)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 29, 2008 - 10:13pm

you are right. Mouse dead.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 29, 2008 - 10:46pm

That picture of the mouse caught in a mousetrap is disgusting and unnecessary.

Eimantas (not verified) | July 29, 2008 - 11:47pm

I don't think mouse will die after the trackpad button dies. The trackpad will stay alive for quite some time since one inch tracking on the trackpad is half the screen of pointer movement .)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 12:00am

Well, having a few mice as pets, I've now blocked all images from this site for good. Nice job.

MadMike | July 30, 2008 - 7:33am

As you have admitted to owning mice and being such a freaking wuss that you were offended. You've blocked all chances at finding a woman also. Nice Job. F&*$ing Hippy.

"Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here, but..." - Dennis Miller

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 8:39am

I don't think my wife would appreciate me finding another woman. I'd hate to confuse my kids as well. One mom's enough for them.

LD (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 10:59am

Gay. It's not YOUR mouse that's dead. you're just being melodramatic.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 12:18am

Haha. Poor little mouse. I don't see the end of the mouse quite yet- Something I've wanted ever since I got used to this iPhone, is multi-touch gestures on the mighty mouse. I've actually tried -out of habit- to zoom into an image using two fingers on the top of the mouse. -it already has that big, smooth top, and the virtual right click....
With all that said, I would LOVE a multi-touch/screen desktop, with a full keyboard plugged in. A multi-touch interface with final cut pro (video editing) would be AMAZING.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 12:57am

I wonder if a glass track pad will be the next mouse for the imac? Just a thought.

mark (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 1:56am

I think you'll find that's a rat caught in that trap not a mouse, s dirty dirty rat. :-)

Kev Orng (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 6:21am

Well, having had rats as pets, I'd find that more offensive than seeing a dirty ol' mouse. :-)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 3:06am

Haha, nice picture :P

I don't understand how they can get rid of even the button. How would you drag and drop?

Yo Daddy (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 6:55am

Try holding your arm up for 10, 15, 20 minutes pushing magnets or something on a refrigerator. Touch technology is meant for the lap/tablet where handwriting has an ergonomic ease of use. Touch screens will be out and about, just don't expect the mouse to fade away quickly.

When sight tracking is available then touch will be out dated. Then I can say the mouse will die. In the meantime keep the mice/rats of the traps...

Mac-o-Rama in Montreal (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 7:36am

One thing I don't understand is why no third party company has integrated a trackpad into a keyboard. Take a look at the fab Apple keyboard (the one that comes with the desktops). The wired version has the numberpad on the side. The wireless one has no numberpad, but no mouse, either. How useless is that! So why doesn't someone make an Apple keyboard with a full size TRACKPAD in place of the numberpad?!?! C'mon, wouldn't that make sooooo much more sense!

Pure (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 11:13am

Why is everyone always trying to get rid of my number pad? Leave it alone!

BTW, there are plenty of 3rd party keyboards with trackpads built in...just not apple trackpads.

Instead of getting rid of the trackpad button they should let it *easily* be remapped to a right-click/ctrl click contextual menu.

The General Public (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 8:05am

I've found the new touch technology integrated into the trackpad on the MacBook Air to be awkward, finicky and ultimately just a novelty for selling an overpriced computer. Multi touch sounds cool, but when you need to get work done, nothing beats a mouse.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 9:35am

Just had a thought. Glass Trackpad? How about glass touchscreen? What if they are replacing the trackpad with an iphone like touchscreen? Could be used as a standard trackpad, as well as open up a work of possibilities.... ie displaying different icons, based on the app being used. Makes sense...no?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 4:44pm

come on boys! think about games!
you surely won't appreciate playing DOOM III with touch screen or trackpad.

evan (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 7:39pm

I barely use the mouse button now.

Jason (not verified) | July 31, 2008 - 7:42am

The mouse is about as dead as the keyboard.