The glass multi-touch trackpad introduced by Apple today, is significant for a number of reasons. First of all, it's glass, duh. Secondly, Apple has removed the button our thumbs have come to know, and possibly love, from the equation.

I had a chance to try out the new multi-touch trackpad at the MacBook event. My first impression was finger induced confusion. How many fingers do I need to swipe to the next app? How do I right-click? Suddenly, it all came into focus. I was navigating quickly from app to app, and pinching, twisting and dragging, with the best of them.

Steve remarked that they worked to create the least amount of friction on the trackpad. I'm happy to say that they succeeded. It was smooth like butter. I would say it is smoother than the current MacBook trackpad, but you have to take into account the amount of invisible grime that's built up on my current MacBook over the past year. I was concerned that the trackpad being a button would result in lack of tactile feedback. Fortunately, the trackpad is actually depressed when you push on it. Use of the button will take some getting used to, but after a few minutes I was able to right click without trouble.  

I was impressed with the new trackpad, although I expect a picture of the glass shattered to appear on the Internet within two weeks. A full review of the new MacBooks will appear in Mac|Life magazine and MacLife.com soon.