/article-new/2012/01/express.jpg?lossy "express")
At CES, Bullettrain announced their new eXpress keyboard platform that offers a single enclosure for the Magic Trackpad and Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard.
The enclosure mimics the layout of an Apple laptop, placing the trackpad below the keyboard. This gives it a bit more of a familiar feel for those transitioning between a notebook and a desktop setup. Both the keyboard and Magic Trackpad snap into place, and can be easily removed from the eXpress.
/article-new/2012/01/pad_t.jpg?lossy)
The enclosure will be shipping in March and will cost $79 for silver version and $99 for colored versions, a couple of which are shown above.
Update: This post originally described the enclosure as aluminum per a description on BulletTrain's website. BulletTrain has informed us that yesterday's announcement actually concerned a new lower-cost line constructed of glass-reinforced polycarbonate and available in ten colors. The new product is an alternative to the company's existing aluminum enclosure priced at $139.
Top Rated Comments
I was checking out the website the other week for the eXpress enclosure...
1.) It's a GREAT product enhancement if you're using an HTPC... using a PC or Mac hooked up to an Home Theater setup. Most 'keyboard' remotes and mice just don't do the trick for such setups. This product brings the very best of a Mac (ie. the keyboard / trackpad for MacBook Pros) to such setups. I don't think most buyers will use it at a desktop, which seems to be what most posters here think, but rather for an HTPC or 'Media Center' computers...
2.) That said, the $139 list price on their website is way too expensive, even for a product such as this, machined in small quantities. Hopefully if they've upped their manufacturing ability, they are now able to drop the price down to $79... which, despite protest from other posters is perfectly reasonable for what it allows in an HTPC setup...
3.) Unless they've addressed the underside of the eXpress in the last few weeks, the bottom looks very unfinished... and needs either a 'pillow' bottom (such as old 'lap desks' had) or a rubberized non-sip bottom (like the Logitech lap desk i'm using for my wireless keyboard/mouse right now)...
4.) While I think the invention is GREAT, the guy hawking it is ridiculous... It's no where near as revolutionary as he's making it out to be, and 95% of his website is pure marketing fluff... I remember all my professors in college complaining about how long my essays were bc of all the unnecessary 'BS' I loaded them with... yeahhh, this guy would def get a stern talking to from my professors for saying the same thing in 99 diff ways to promote his product...
5.) Don't hate on me... I'm using an HTPC setup w/ a Dell still... But, knowing that this BulletTrain eXpress product is available (and knowing how much I LOOOVE my MacBook Pro), it makes me wanna run out and get a Mac MINI, and wireless keyboard / trackpad, and, well, this BulletTrain eXpress product.
Thoughts?
This is just lame.
If you want to carry your keyboard-trackpad bundle around in a compact way and with real Apple-like style, look at this thing.
http://twelvesouth.com/products/magicwand/
The enclosure will be shipping in March and will cost $79 for silver version and $99 for colored versions, a couple of which are shown above.
Funny, their web site says $139.