Do a lot of people make this mistake when clicking their trackpads?

[jshbckr]

I've noticed a lot of people with MacBook Pros try to physically click the trackpad other places than the bottom (where the physical button used to be).

Maybe it's because Apple has advertised the new trackpad as "the whole thing is a button" and it's led people to believe they can press anywhere on it to click. Of course, it's obviously hinged at the top and becomes incredibly hard (if not impossible) to click, the further you go up.

Is this a pretty common mistake? I feel like I've seen quite a few people do this.

 

[alexh123drum]

It's not a mistake. People can click the trackpad wherever they choose surely?

 

[milkybrainuk]

you can tap anywhere on it. Just turn on tap to click in the system preferences.

 

[entatlrg]

Two finger tap on track pad gives you right click no matter where you tap?

I don't understand maybe?

 

[splashnader]

I tap the trackpad, instead of actually clicking it. Just easier for me.

 

[jshbckr]

I don't mean "tap to click" or two-finger right clicking.

I mean the act of physically pressing the trackpad to click. There is a lot more resistance in click as you move up the trackpad.

I feel like I've seen people slide their finger up the track pad to, for example, click on the Safari URL bar. When they click, they press down exactly where their finger is, often the middle or top of the track pad.

Perhaps I'm not explaining it right or no one can tell the difference between click the middle/top of the trackpad and the bottom. But it feels to me like they are still meant to only be "clicked" on the bottom.

 

[jzuena]

I have an older MBP with a physical button, so clicking at the bottom is more natural for me, but I did notice what the OP is talking about when playing with a newer MBP. I tried clicking further up once and it wouldn't move so my thumb naturally went to the bottom of the trackpad to click from then on. I suppose someone new to Macs might not be used to the right way, although since most Windows laptops have the buttons under their trackpad, too, I would think people new to laptops in genera would be most likely to repeatedly try to click near the top.

 

[Dozerrox]

That's not a 'mistake', it's what apple state you should do, click wherever. It's just that it's harder to click at the top.

Click where you want.

 

[SA22C]

That's not a 'mistake', it's what apple state you should do, click wherever. It's just that it's harder to click at the top.

Click where you want.

Incorrect. Try clicking on the uppermost 1/4 of the trackpad. It's impossible because, as the OP pointed out, the trackpad is hinged at the top.

I tend to physically click on the trackpad in the bottom 1/2 or so, depending on what I'm trying to accomplish.

 

[andrew086]

Incorrect. Try clicking on the uppermost 1/4 of the trackpad. It's impossible because, as the OP pointed out, the trackpad is hinged at the top.

I tend to physically click on the trackpad in the bottom 1/2 or so, depending on what I'm trying to accomplish.

That's not completely incorrect.. only the very top isn't "clickable." They didn't make the entire trackpad a button just so there is a centimeter more space for moving the cursor. If they intended for you to always click the bottom, they would have made it something like the Air's trackpad.

 

[rdowns]

Clicking is so 80s. Tapping is where it's at.

 

[wandrer2]

I made this "mistake" a few times.

I also notice that, while I enabled tapping, I find myself clicking more and more often. Especially for dragging, where a tap tends to "stick", and continue dragging even after a brief removal of the fingers.

 

[mingoglia]

Clicking is so 80s. Tapping is where it's at.

LOL, though I agree. I've configured my machines for years to allow tapping as the click. I don't think I've clicked a keyboard "mouse button" for several years now unless I'm right clicking (on windows).

 

[milomak]

I would suggest the portion that is not clickable at the top is about a 1/6 of the whole pad

 

[alphaod]

I click on the bottom if I can, I only click in the middle if I need to drag and drop something.

I, however, would have preferred the Air-like trackpad for the physical button.