Ye Macce Threade

[Smeggy]

I've been using mine for the last eight years or so more or less constantly. it's the only input device attached to one of my work PCs and I love it to bits which is how I know Ill be getting one of the new ones. if you take to them they are really nice, much better to use than the shitty small trackpads on laptops.

It's not going to have the sheer level of customization my old touchstream has but then that thing is on steroids and is programmable out the wazoo.

[VPI]

But Dinny is an angry man. He needs to be angry at it for a bit before he will accept it.

If he had a front porch he would be on it now yelling at the youngsters to get off his lawn.

[tyrion]

He's probably already doing it from his balcony.

[Salt Peanuts]

Well, if he's angry enough, he can just buy one and take it apart.

[Salt Peanuts]

check the litter box.

Well, it wasn't in the litter box, but I did find the missing ball for my trackman. Of course, this means that I won't be getting the unicorn-dust-encrusted trackpad, at least not yet.

[The Monkey]

But Dinny is an angry man. He needs to be angry at it for a bit before he will accept it.

If he had a front porch he would be on it now yelling at the youngsters to get off his lawn.

^This. Right now I'm annoyed at it. But I'm going to allow it some time to befriend me.

And if it wasn't for these meddling kids...

[n_maher]

Apple is starting to overuse the whole "magical" thing in their marketing and naming.

[shellylh]

Agreed Nate. I am definitely an Apple fangirl but I am getting a little annoyed with the *magical* devices.

[Grahame]

Magical, Revolutionary, Insanely Great, restoring a childlike sense of wonder.

[Sherwood]

grrrr.... what am I supposed to do with this tiny magic mouse that I never stopped hating now?

[The Monkey]

Smash it to little bits of course.

[Smeggy]

Will it blend?

[Salt Peanuts]

Smash it to little bits of course.

At which point, you should be able to recover the Unicorn Dust.

[tyrion]

I would say just give it to me but I may go for the new magic over your old magic.

[Sherwood]

i.e. it's not worth giving away.

[tyrion]

i.e. it's not worth giving away.

Then you should smash it to pieces as Dinny suggested.

[Grahame]

Film the destruction, and post on youtube to become a viral sensation!

[Sherwood]

deal. I've got some leftover fireworks, I think.

[Salt Peanuts]

Film the destruction, and post on youtube to become a viral sensation!

Good thing YouTube just extended the maximum duration to 15 minutes!

[Knuckledragger]

FOXNews.com - For Apple Followers, It's a Matter of Faith, Academics Say

Its tablet computer can't play most of the videos on the Web ... its cell phone has trouble making voice calls ... and yet its products are wildly popular, selling millions worldwide and engendering a cultish devotion among followers.

Apple is the new religion, say several academics. It's not a matter of rationality, it's a matter of faith.

In a research paper published this month by two professors at Texas A&M University, the authors argue that the only way to understand the slavish adoration and over-the top financial success of Apple and its "Jesus Phone" (the iPhone) is to understand its minimalist, white-walled stores as the new churches of the tech generation.

"The religious-like behavior and language surrounding Apple devotion/fandom is an example of 'implicit religion,'" Prof. Heidi Campbell, one of the authors of the study, told FoxNews.com. Implicit religion can happen when the use of, say, technology becomes a substitute for belief and behaviors once attached to religion and religious practice, she said.

That, according to the authors, explains why fans still believe when the leader of the Church of Apple, Steve Jobs, blames consumers for the poor reception of the company's cell phone (clearly, users are holding their phones incorrectly). In fact, they flock to buy the device despite its serious design flaws.

Even the pope has fretted about this new religion.

In his 2006 Christmas address, Pope Benedict XVI rhetorically asked if a savior was still needed in the modern wired world. The response from prominent technology blog Gizmodo: "Hopefully, our shepherd, Steve Jobs, will unveil Apple-Cellphone-Thingy, the true Jesus Phone ... It shall lift the hunger and disease you speak of from the land..."

The post was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but it also revealed the rapture with which many Apple fans follow the company and its products.

University researchers note that Apple's history has elements that reflect basic elements of more traditional religions:

-- Apple's creation story epitomizes the humble garage origin of its technology -- not unlike the humble manger of Jesus' birth.

-- Apple CEO Steve Jobs is perceived as a messianic leader who was fired but rose again to save the company.

-- Apple has traditionally had an evil archenemy, the Devil, as represented first by Microsoft and now by Google.

So if they wanted to, could Apple devotees actually create an official Apple religion? After all, many believe in the power of the iPhone and millions of consumers would buy any product the company introduces, flaws and all.

There doesn't seem to be an associated belief in a supernatural power connected to Apple, but that doesn't matter: To establish a religion, such a belief is not necessary -- at least, legally speaking in the U.S.

The Church of the SubGenius enjoys religious status in the U.S. under the First Amendment, for example. Its 10,000 reported followers believe primarily in the power of "slack," the sense of freedom that comes by achieving personal goals.

Indeed, it would be interesting if Apple were to apply for such a status in the future. Just think of the tax implications.

Ahh, Fox News.

[Dusty Chalk]

Apple-stles.

Pronounced, "apple sauce".

[Smeggy]

Picked up the trackpad today and a new remote. Seems pretty nice so far.

[morphsci]

Anyone else besides Dinny have the mega-trackpad long enough to form an opinion? I'm looking for a non-angry take on it? But you still have to get off of my lawn!

[deepak]

Any recommendations for a USB wireless thing for OS 10.5?

[Smeggy]

I downloaded the drivers for the trackpad and took ye olde Mac to work to give it a test drive and compare to it's great grandfather. Verdict, I likes it! Good range of movement, nice angle, smooth operation a d ten switches have enough resistance that you don't click the thing accidentally.

The customization options are a bit limiting compared to the original finger works which really is a tour de force of customization. Having said that, for it's target market and in how it integrates with the rest of the touchy stuff it works well. I managed to get it set up more or less how I wanted it. Good enough to be worth the cash if you like these types of devices, I do and still have two of the original fingerworks keyboards this technology is based on, so yes I am a fan of touch/gesture pads and this fits well with me.

So there ya go.... ORF MY LAAAAAAWNNNN!