The ultimate input device for a multimedia PC may just be a flat black 5″ square of plastic, the Logitech Wireless Touchpad for Windows 7. In one foul swoop – swipe ? – Logitech has shifted the PC world towards a finger friendly future. Smartphone and Tablets have changed the touch-screen interface forever, in the process showing the PC world how touch should be done in. The recent release of the Razor Switchblade LCD Touchscreen interface has helped the PC make up ground, a step forward. Now Logitech is bringing the gesture interface to the rest of the Windows 7 PC world. The Wireless Touchpad brings a fantastically familiar interface to the PC, if you’re a touchscreen fan or need to simplify controlling a desktop computer, especially Media-Centre PC’s, the Wireless Touchpad is an elegant solution to a dinosaur’s problem. Plug the incredibly small USB receiver into an empty USB port to drag any PC into the world of gesture and touch.

Touchpads may all look the same but it what’s on the inside that makes all the difference. The Logitech Touchpad is an excellent interpretation of what a touchpad should be. The spacious 5″ touch sensitive surface offers plenty of room even for the most flamboyant gesturers. Powered by a built in Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery, Logitech quotes the time between charges of 4months, plenty of time to point fingers. Jumping on the Logitech Unifying receiver bandwagon the Wireless Touchpad’s ultra compact USB dongle can control up to six Logitech devices, so a mouse or keyboard can easily piggy-back off the one USB dongle. The 2.4Ghz receiver has a quoted range of 25 meters so you aren’t tied to the TV or computer your trying to control, not forced to sit in front of the TV like a 3 year old.

Using different combinations of fingers to access different actions the Wireless Touchpad continues Logitech’s flavour of gesture input. If you have ever used a Logitech keyboard with integrated touchpad then you will be right at home. If your new to Logitech, the gestures are intuitive and easy to learn. The touch sensitive surface offers enough resolution and space for comfortable cursor control, the basic mouse function. Left and right mouse buttons are also built into the lower part of the Touchpad. Single finger motions on the touchpad will control the cursor with a quick tap causing a left click and a double tap providing a right click, the mouse equivalent. Scroll is achieved using two fingers to swipe over the touchpad, scrolling through your favourite web site or document. Three finger swipes, gestures left or right, on the vertical axis are equivalent to the browser back and forward buttons while the horizontal up and down motion are the page up and down actions. Luckily the five inch wide Touchpad is roomy, four finger gestures take a lot of space. The four finger swipe will switch between applications, allowing seamless switching between browser, mail or any other active application.

For those of us trapped with a poor notebook touchpad, the Logitech is a simple wireless USB solution that offers the additional benefit of not being confined or trapped as the built in touch pad usually is. Once you have made the transition to being comfortable using touchpads, usually via a notebook, it is also nice to have the option to bring that interface with you to any Windows 7 PC, desktop, media centre or even living room PC. The wireless touchpad is more than just a backup for your favourite mouse. For some applications it may replace the little rodent altogether. In fact on a Media Centre PC this may be the number one input device, pushing the remote control and keyboards into second and third spots. Plonk the Touchpad down in the most convenient spot and use gestures similar to those your fingers have become so used to doing on your phone. With a complete lack of wires the Touchpad could move with you or simply left on the arm of your favourite arm-chair.

Initially released only for Windows 7 PC’s, Logitech has a rich history of delivering Apple compatible versions of it’s hardware so Apple finger friendly fans should be patient, and while we can’t confirm an Apple compatible version keep their fingers crossed. Available already in America and Europe the Windows 7 version will cost you $49 USD, cheap enough to have one for each machine in your house. The Logitech Wireless Touchpad with its multi finger gestures is bringing the world of expressive finger gestures to any Windows 7 PC, finally we can all give Windows the One Finger Salute every now and then, when appropriate of course.

Source: Logitech Wireless Touchpad Page

Buddha’s Brother out…