Does the Magic Trackpad (and I guess the Magic Mouse) “work its magic” when using Windows 7 or 8 either in Boot Camp or in VmWare Fusion /Parallels etc.
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Simon
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Does the Magic Trackpad Function When Using Windows Via Boot Camp or Virtulization Software ?
Comments: 9 Responses to “Does the Magic Trackpad Function When Using Windows Via Boot Camp or Virtulization Software ?”
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Yes and no. It works. Apple provides drivers for it, in fact.
But the gestures do no work because the gestures aren't part of the TrackPad, they are part of the OS X operating system. So expecting them to work in Window is like taking the steering wheel from one car, putting it in the other and expecting the other car to drive like the first. Know what I mean?
Now, perhaps some third party has written some software to make some gestures work on Windows, but I would expect that is limited because gestures need to work across lots of different types of software.
But perhaps some of the Magic Trackpad works because the Apple drivers enable it. Like two-finger scrolling acts like a scroll wheel, I believe. Anyone had expensive experience or tried a third-party extension and like to share?
Thats interesting, and a great analogy. So when someone buys a Magic Trackpad, are they buying it primarily for gesture control or ease of use, or both I guess.
Right. Gestures are an important part of OS X Lion and Mountain Lion. More than half of new Macs sold are MacBooks with built-in trackpads, and of the rest many are sold with Trackpads. So the majority of Mac users are utilizing gestures. See http://macmost.com/mouse-or-trackpad.html
Well hopefully someone will share their experience of a third party extension that they have used to achieve this. I am aware though that Logitech have brought out a touchpad similar to the magic trackpad which I believe offers gestures for Windows 8. (again solely for Windows 8 to my knowledge)
Right. But remember it is not just about the device or drivers allowing gestures. The software has to understand them. To use the car metaphor again: You can't take handle from a car with an automatic transmission and stick it in a car with a manual transmission and expect it to change the car. See what I mean? On a Mac a three-finger swipe will take you to the next Mission Control screen. But Mission Control is part of OS X. So a three-finger swipe won't magically add Mission Control to Windows.
Yes I agree, a three finger swipe gesture probably exists for Windows 8 but obviously the end result will be completely different. Hopefully there will be a developer watching this !!
I found this article about making the Apple Multi Trackpad work with Windows 8 (however not in english), if it can be translated may prove very worthy:
http://ariel4ever.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/mengaktifkan-apple-multi-trackpad-pada-windows-8/
One can use google translate for the above link to convert into english
I have a rMBP with Parallels. The multitouch gestures that are inherent to Win8 work just like they should, i.e. two finger scrolling, three finger switching, swipe up start menu, swipe open sidebar, etc.
This also means that some wise programmer should be able to extract those drivers from that software to make the magic trackpad work with those gestures in a pure PC environment.