Apple Magic Trackpad

A few months ago I started getting quite a bit of pain in some of my fingers in my right hand and had the odd shooting pain coming from my fingers and after a visit to the Doctors it turns out I have RSI from all the mouse clicking I do at work.

I began looking for a mouse alternative and then I came across the Apple Magic Trackpad.  I've had it for a while now and I have to say it's a lot better than I thought it would be.

Although I have a laptop that already has one of these things built in, I have a 22" monitor connected to it and have my laptop on a stand so both screens are at roughly the same sort of height - therefore I use a USB keyboard etc.

Using the Apple Magic Trackpad at home has reduced the amount of pain I now get in my fingers as with the trackpad you can use any finger you like to tap/click and drag/drop and have your hand/fingers in any position that is the most comfortable for you.

In fact, you can use multiple fingers (up to 4) all at the same time to do everything from a right-click to showing you all the programs you have running!

Despite it's expense this was one of my best purchases for my computer as it's helped me with my RSI pain.

If I didn't have RSI, would I use this or a mouse?  I'd have to say mouse for the simple reason I've been using one for years and can move a mouse so much faster than I can use one of these trackpad things - I guess I'll get quicker with time.

Apple iPad Preview Review

I have to say, I'm slightly disappointed with the iPad - but I will reserve full judgement until it's released and I can go and see one at my nearest Apple store.

Why am I disappointed? Well, it's the OS I'm disappointed with, I was kinda expecting a cut-down version of OS X to be installed on it so you could install OS X software on it. People keep commenting on how Flash isn't on the iPad - well it wasn't on my MacBook or Dell desktop, but I could install it if I wanted it and was expecting to be able to do the same thing with Apples new product but this doesn't seem to be the case.

Before it was revealed, it was rumoured Apple was going to release a Tablet computer and the iPad is most definitely not a Tablet - Tablets are similar but have a 'proper' operating system. What Apple have done with the iPad is invent a product that is a cross-between an e-Book reader and a Netbook.

Just like what they did with the App-Store and the iPhone, it makes good business sense to do what they've done as something similar to the App-Store is on it's way for use with the iPad.

The one thing that people seem to be getting confused about is exactly what use the iPad is. It is designed for people who browse the internet, read news websites, go on to social network sites, watch videos online, go online to quickly look something up, updating their blogs, checking their emails, reading e-books and many other use

What it's not primarily for, is for creating websites, writing essays, creating large documents, photo editing, video editing or anything else that you really need a proper keyboard and mouse to do! I'm not saying you can't do these things on the iPad (maybe when the right software comes along you can) - but it wont be as quick and easy to do than if you had a laptop with a proper keyboard and scratchpad.

e-Book readers haven't really taken off yet and nobody really knows what to do with a proper full-size Table computer, Apple's iPad is likely to either revolutionise this or put a stop to it once and for all.

Will the iPad to to e-books and Netbooks what the iPod did to MP3 players? Only time will tell.

Apple USB Keyboard With Numeric Pad

The standard keyboard you get with a Mac is OK, but if you want extra functionality then the Apple USB Keyboard With Numeric Pad is well worth buying.

Not only do you get the handy numeric keypad, but several additional keys such as DELETE, PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN.

If like me you have a MacBook then having an external keyboard to the built in one means you can position your MacBook in a more comfortable viewing position and if you have an external monitor that is larger than the screen on your MacBook then it also makes sense to have this item.

AirPort Extreme Base Station

The AirPort Extreme Base Station is basically a wireless access point that you can connect to your existing broadband internet connection.

You can use it to share your internet connection with other computers (both Mac’s and PC’s).  It has a single USB port on the back so you can connect either a compatible USB printer or external hard disk drive which can then be shared across your network.  If you want to connect more than one USB device to the Base Station then simply plug in a USB hub and connect up your devices.

I have two external USB hard disk drives that I have plugged in to a USB hub which is in turn connected to the USB port on my Base Station.  One of the hard drives I use to store my downloads on and the other I let OS X Snow Leopard use backup my MacBook with using Time Machine.