I seem to be in the minority within the group of ‘two device’ people in that the right side of my keyboard has just an Apple Magic Mouse, not a fancy MX Master. And of course a Magic Trackpad on the left.
I have come up with a really simple way of describing what I use each for. The trackpad is for ‘gross motor movements’ and the mouse for ‘fine control’. I do randomly switch between the two for simple tasks, but certain things always fall to one device.
Trackpad — switch Spaces, Exposé, back and forward in Safari, pinch-zooming.
Mouse — precision clicks (anything with a small target like window controls). precision drags (such as in graphics software), precision scrolling (if trying to position a scroll view for a screenshot for example).
Either — basic point and click, simple scrolling (like a web page).
I also find if I have to hold a drag for a long way, it’s easier on the trackpad because it does not require much pressure compared to holding the mouse down.
I’m team Magic Trackpad only . Have been doing it for a couple of years now since a really got wrist pain from using a mouse and can’t imagine using any other device anymore.
After my wrist pain started I tried all sorts of ergonomic mice, Trackballs and for some time I settled on using a Wacom pen on my Windows Machine … that worked for my wrist but took quite some getting used to . Since I’m mostly working on a Mac now I do it all with a Trackpad … I love how to me the usage of all Apple Devices (Phone, iPad, Mac) feels similar now with hand gestures and such things.
Occasionally I use a mouse (either Magic Mouse or ergonomic random brand mouse) but my wrist starts hurting again pretty quickly so I switch back to my beloved Trackpad. My wife did the same recently and now we have like 4 Magic Trackpad at home
I recently got a Magic Trackpad from my work. I’m quite happy with my Logitech MX Master 3 mouse, as I have all of the extra buttons mapped to either Keyboard Maestro conflict palettes or PopClip. Now, I have been casually using the Trackpad in conjunction with the mouse, but primarily for swiping and scrolling, so I’d love to hear about any highly useful gestures for the Trackpad used in conjunction with apps like BetterTouchTool. @SteveMac has some nice ideas. @arasmus , any really useful ones from that list of 39 (!) you might share? I’m looking for ideas if anyone would like to share—thanks!
My keyboard has been flanked by a Logitech MX Master 3 on the right and a Magic Trackpad on the left for a few years, and before that I used a Magic Mouse. Every year or so (including about a week before this thread appeared), I put the mouse aside and try to use the trackpad alone for a while.
Mostly I like it, but two crucial issues always arise eventually, often in succession: text selection and right-clicking. I just cannot do either of them as quickly or as precisely with a trackpad as I can with a mouse. And I do them both a lot.
I always end up putting the mouse back into service and sliding the trackpad over to the left for scrolling and a few other gestures.
Oh welcome to the BetterTouchTool rabbit hole, it goes deep, but it is fun. Here are a few more:
Another little tip, don’t forget the per application gestures, allows you to perform the same type of function across apps with the same gesture:
Tip Tap left two fingers is setup to archive or close window (ie archive in mail, close tab in safari etc)
Tip Tap right two fingers is setup to forward or open new tab (ie reply all in spark, new tab in safari, new document in pages)
I still use three finger swipe gestures, however specifically mapped (I’ve disabled all of the system ones), three finger up for Mission Control, down for application expose.
I’ve also setup the corner force click gestures for various things also, as they are reliable and not easily triggered.
I also love the “automations & named & other triggers”, you can do some great stuff here.
When screen unlocks, close all notifications (this gets rid of disk connection errors)
When my Apple Watch goes out of range, lock machine.
When battery goes below % percent, turn on low power mode
etc
3 finger tap: brings up an app-specific palette of actions
3 finger swipe left/right: move eindow to the next monitor
3 finger swipe up: App expose
3 finger swipe down: Mission control
4 finger swipe left: previous app
4 finger swipe up: previous window
4 finger swipe down: hide this app
5 finger swipe right: show desktop
Those are the greatest hits. I also have some for actions specific to my workflow. 39 seems like a crazy number to have to remember, but I use all of those actions often enough that it’s soon muscle memory.
I’m another one of the many people who puts the trackpad on the left and the mouse on the right. I’m in Figma all day, so it is useful for me to have a quick way to pan and zoom around. I also value the precision of a mouse pointer for my design work. The ancillary benefit of the whole thing is that I’m also able to scroll with my left hand while sipping a beverage with my right.
I (currently) have an ergo tenting style keyboard at my desk so I use a trackpad slightly underneath it, mostly in the centre. Usually use that with my right hand (it’s a similar location to on a laptop), and use a trackball with my left hand. I find this naturally leaves me using each about 50% of the time which seems to help with reducing strain.
Lots of interesting ideas here—thanks for sharing! Certain gestures that would do the same thing across different appplications sounds like a very good idea.
And of course a Magic Trackpad on the left.
. Have been doing it for a couple of years now since a really got wrist pain from using a mouse and can’t imagine using any other device anymore.