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I HATE The Macbook Pro trackpad

N

NJRonbo

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 10, 2007
3,278
1,316
There is so much to love about the new 17" MBP but alas
one flaw that almost makes me wish I never bought the thing...

The trackpad!

Specifically, the gestures. You know, the same kind of finger
sizing you do on the iPhone.

I use this laptop for hours each day. I constantly have a problem
with accidental resizing of a webpage. It's the biggest nuisance
I have ever encountered on a laptop.

Apple needs to put something in their next software revision that
allows users to turn off the gesturing.
 
NJRonbo said:
Apple needs to put something in their next software revision that allows users to turn off the gesturing.
Click to expand...

I LOVE the trackpad, but I certainly agree that Apple should allow for more options where the gestures are concerned. While I never accidentally resize anything, I also never use most of the multi-touch gestures. The four-finger down-swipe (for Exposé) is the only one I've ever used.
 
I hope Apple is hearing the feedback on this.

I just installed MultiClutch and it has solved the problem,
but at the same time it has created another. Now my Safari
suddenly disappears (mimimizes itself) for no apparent reason
if I move my fingers on the trackpad the wrong way. It only
happens now and then, but I need to figure out why.
 
You hate the Trackpad, huh that is the one feature that made me by my uMB as opposed to a white one, I even looked at the MBA but since it had a button I stayed away, in fact I find myself looking for that feature while using a keyboard and mouse on My Mini it is kinda funny as I slide the mouse across the table and wait for something to happen then realize I am not on the macbook....LOL

Sorry to hear that, it seems it is one great invention I personally can not live without anymore.


Good Luck
 
I constantly switch between 2 laptop PC's and my MBP and find the trackpad to be a relief - although it does take a minute to adjust to.
 
How can you hate the track pad - It is one of the things i love about macbooks compared to pcs.
 
You know, I wonder if some people actually read before
they respond.

In general, I have always preferred the trackpad on any
device over a mouse.

However the new MacPro trackpads are a problem for the
single fact of the gesturing that cannot be turned off.

And this is not a problem related to me alone. Read the
other complaints and the link that is included here to them.

Don't worry, nobody is saying trackpads in general are bad.
 
I love the monolithic trackpad. I used to use a mighty mouse. Now I use the trackpad exclusively. The mighty mouse is gathering dust.
 
hmm... I've never had a problem with the gestures on my 13" macbook pro. Works like a charm for me... I don't like rotating pictures and stuff though... Don't know why you have to have your 2 fingers horizontal or vertical to start off with.
 
joehahn said:
youre going to ask why yoiu ever had a dedicated button in the first place
Click to expand...

Having used the new MacBook Pro's, I have to say that I believe the MacBook Air has the best solution. I much prefer having a small button at the bottom of the trackpad to having the whole trackpad be the button.

As for gestures, I really wish that Apple allowed you to customize them to do exactly what you want. As four finger swipe to either side is not very useful to me currently as I'd rather have it be a keyboard shortcut.
 
I personally love the gestures and use them quite frequently, but everyone is different. I initially had some trouble with the text resizing, but after having my MBP for 9 months, I haven't had that problem recently. Maybe after getting used to, it won't happen as often, if that makes sense.
 
joehahn said:
youre going to ask why yoiu ever had a dedicated button in the first place
Click to expand...

I love the dedicated button, like when scrolling through presets or whatever, which requires clicking the same tiny button over and over, im thinking if the whole trackpad was a button the cursor would move a little with each click, which would suck.
 
I rather like the trackpad. I've had my MBP for about an hour now, and its pretty easy to use. I guess in OP's case, its a little too easy to use. I agree that Apple should let the user have the option of turning the gestures on or off. But like I said, I'm enjoying the trackpad. I don't "wonder how I ever lived without one", but its still pretty nifty.
 
Coming from a 17" Powerbook I love the new trackpad. I use other laptops and get frustrated when I try to do gestures. Scrolling and the 3 finger swipe is awesome!
 
NJRonbo said:
You know, I wonder if some people actually read before
they respond.

In general, I have always preferred the trackpad on any
device over a mouse.

However the new MacPro trackpads are a problem for the
single fact of the gesturing that cannot be turned off.

And this is not a problem related to me alone. Read the
other complaints and the link that is included here to them.

Don't worry, nobody is saying trackpads in general are bad.
Click to expand...

I still don't get it.

I just tried the hardest to get my 2-fingers gesture of scrolling up and down a website to 'accidentally' resize the fonts and I couldn't do it. The only way scrolling up and down can do a resize is if I do it with my thumb and index finger. Of course I'd never scroll up and down using my thumb and index finger (kind of dumb, when I think about it :)), so this will never happen to me.

What exactly did you do?

Edit: and btw, you did mention at the title that you "HATE the trackpad", not just a 'lack of option to turn off gesturing' :D
 
There seems to be a bit of a drag on the trackpad.

When the finger races faster than the trackpad can handle
it stops the mouse cursor and starts resizing.

However, you can't just blame me on this one no matter
how much you try.

There are many, many documented complaints on this
forum, some of which have already been linked in this
thread and through an additional search many more.
 
NJRonbo said:
There seems to be a bit of a drag on the trackpad.

When the finger races faster than the trackpad can handle
it stops the mouse cursor and starts resizing.

However, you can't just blame me on this one no matter
how much you try.

There are many, many documented complaints on this
forum, some of which have already been linked in this
thread and through an additional search many more.
Click to expand...

Well *are* you using your thumb and index finger while scrolling? If so, then that is understandable (although, like I said, kind of dumb :D).

Oh, and make up your mind. Just admit that you really do HATE the trackpad in general, or simply change the title of this thread to reflect what you really think.
 
I think my point is very clear. Sorry you have a problem
understanding it.

I am using my index finger only.
 
thegoldenmackid said:
I am not sure how I am going to like the lack of a button.
Click to expand...

I find my sister's uMB's trackpad very annoying because it doesnt have the button. The feel though is much improved over my MBP, they should have kept the button in and provided the option to turn multi-touch off.
 
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