But Macs don't have a 'right click'

[kolax]

The way I use the trackpad means that even if there was a right-click button, I'd find it really awkward to use.

My right hand sits at a 45 degree angle to the trackpad, I move the cursor with my middle finger, scroll with my index and middle finger and have my thumb on the clicker. Then to right-click, I don't have to re-adjust my hand or anything, just place two fingers down (tap) or click.

Guess it depends how you actually use the trackpad.

 

[jzuena]

"I disabled that. Most annoying thing ever."

Well, then, OF COURSE you don't have a "right click".
You disabled it.

Simple solution to your problem:
If you want the right click back, turn the option for "secondary click" BACK ON.

Otherwise, hold down the control key as you click.

Unless the OP has also disabled the Two Finger Secondary Click, shouldn't it be possible to just put two fingers on the trackpad when clicking, as nick9191 stated? My MBP isn't a unibody, but if I put two fingers on the trackpad while clicking, I do get a secondary click. Of course, 99% of the time when my MBP is on my desk, I have a mouse plugged in and can just right-click for real.

 

[EndlessMac]

Unless the OP has also disabled the Two Finger Secondary Click, shouldn't it be possible to just put two fingers on the trackpad when clicking, as nick9191 stated? My MBP isn't a unibody, but if I put two fingers on the trackpad while clicking, I do get a secondary click. Of course, 99% of the time when my MBP is on my desk, I have a mouse plugged in and can just right-click for real.

Yes, a two finger click is another way to do a "right click". The OP just wanted to know what the technical name for right click is which is secondary click. For some people, like myself, the term right click is still accurate but on Macs you can do a secondary click in other ways besides right clicking.

 

[Jason Beck]

I <3 Secondary click.

 

[Balaamsdonkey]

you can set the mac mouses to right click

Am I the only on who has a bear of a time getting the secondary-click feature on the track pad to work the way they have it work? Whenever I click where the video indicates where one has to click it doesn't work. It does work most of the time a little further up (towards the screen) but *most* of the time doesn't cut it. It should work every time.

Anyone else had problems with the secondary click function?

 

[sngx1275]

The only Mac I've spent a lot of time on since OS X has been my Powerbook G4. I just option+click on it.

But, on another forum someone was bashing Macs and saying that they don't really have a 'right-click' to begin with, its just a software emulated option click. Is that true? Not sure it makes any difference anyway. But, does FreeBSD or any BSD actually have a 'right click' in the sense that Windows does?

 

[Patrick J]

The way I use the trackpad means that even if there was a right-click button, I'd find it really awkward to use.

My right hand sits at a 45 degree angle to the trackpad, I move the cursor with my middle finger, scroll with my index and middle finger and have my thumb on the clicker. Then to right-click, I don't have to re-adjust my hand or anything, just place two fingers down (tap) or click.

Guess it depends how you actually use the trackpad.

This. When I use my friends Windows laptops I'm always frustrated when I have to click the stupid right click button manually, instead of double tapping wherever my fingers happen to be.

 

[0dev]

I'm always reading/hearing people say/telling people to right click. But Macs only have one button. And "Control click" or "Two-finger click" sounds really wanky.

So what do you call it?

Last time someone told me that, I asked if they were living in 1999, because Macs have had right click for years

 

[416049]

Last time someone told me that, I asked if they were living in 1999, because Macs have had right click for years

The 2 finger is damn easy I don't get why people don't use it

 

[0dev]

The 2 finger is damn easy I don't get why people don't use it

Yeah, it's a habit for me now, on any laptop I try using the two finger thing on the trackpad, and I actually get annoyed when I'm on a PC which dosen't support it.

 

[416049]

Yeah, it's a habit for me now, on any laptop I try using the two finger thing on the trackpad, and I actually get annoyed when I'm on a PC which dosen't support it.

Exactly and it looks ugly having two big buttons for the mouse

 

[0dev]

Exactly and it looks ugly having two big buttons for the mouse

Yeah, and it's less comfortable when you use it one handed as well.

 

[Patrick J]

Yeah, and it's less comfortable when you use it one handed as well.

The Macbook Pro trackpad defines Jony's philosophy - a button/indicator/something is only useful when it is needed, otherwise it is a waste of space.

Check out the indicator light in the aluminium wireless keyboard, or the sleep indicator in the Macbook Pro. When not needed it actually disappears.

The same applies to the right click button - a physical right click (or indeed left click) button on the trackpad only uses up precious trackpad space when it is not needed. Making a virtual right click button or shortcut completely eliminated this problem.

 

[0dev]

The Macbook Pro trackpad defines Jony's philosophy - a button/indicator/something is only useful when it is needed, otherwise it is a waste of space.

Check out the indicator light in the aluminium wireless keyboard, or the sleep indicator in the Macbook Pro. When not needed it actually disappears.

The same applies to the right click button - a physical right click (or indeed left click) button on the trackpad only uses up precious trackpad space when it is not needed. Making a virtual right click button or shortcut completely eliminated this problem.

Yup, more so on the new Apple laptops which have no buttons at all. Those are great to use, and I've even seen complete idiots come into Apple Stores and get the hang of them very quickly.