Two Words
Concept Keyboard
I wonder if they patented it?
Mobee has built a niche for itself building accessories for Apple’s Magic line of input devices. This one might just be the cleverest of the lot. The package consists of three film overlays, each printed with a different arrangement of buttons, which allow you to use the Magic Trackpad for tapping in digits. Mobee Magic Numpad …
When a dedicated USB number pad is half the flipping price?!
+ More comfortable to tap digits into
+ Can be used at the same time as the trackpad
+ Half the price of this sticker + software
Okay, price become less of an issue the more you use something, but the dedicated numpad would still be the the best solution if it were more expensive! Oh well... cheaper than an Art Lebedev Optimus Aux, I suppose... http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/aux/
"Targus Numeric Keypad" - £8.25, delivered.
Please amend my my above comment to "a third of of the flipping price [of this sticker]"
I'm not against putting hardware to different uses in principal, though: http://createdigitalmusic.com/2011/07/track-master-makes-your-trackpad-a-midi-controller-a-must-download-for-mac/ seems to make better use of the Magic Trackpad's capacitive multitouch. In this case, equivalent dedicated hardware (Korg's Kaoscilator, for example) is the more expensive, rather than cheaper, option.
Re the review: how accurate is it in use? Is it suitable for people with fat fingers? ('to order your special dialling wand, mash the keypad with your palm now')
Doesn't the fact that Apple has removed the number pad from its keyboards speak volumes about what it assumes about its target audience? Compare the fact that they ship iMacs with wireless keyboards which requires the end user to buy a cheap and nasty wired replacement, because in public places i.e. educational establishments, anything that is not connected or worthless will become the victim of a recidivist. Cheap keyboard and cheap mouse with over-priced iMac - quite funny really.