I hate the trackpads on unibody mbp

[Benito]

I LOVE the trackpad on my new unibody MBP, it is much better than the older trackpad on my 2007 MBP. I love the sensitivity and size of it. In fact, it is better without the button. It is more sensitive to taps. But if you're used to moving the pointer with your finger and tapping the button with your thumb, you can still do that and click with your thumb. But, you can even click with your thumb with just a tap of your thumb and not actually having to activate the physical click, thus using less pressure.

 

[vnle]

I agreed with the OP when I first got my unibody but now, I can't imagine living without it. Whenever I use my friends' laptops, I can't stand their trackpad so much that I have to ask them to pair a mouse. It just takes some time getting used to

 

[outphase]

I don't use tap to click as it always accidentally activates..

On the old trackpad I leave a trailing finger for right click and click the button.. the new one seems a pain because you have to be at the bottom and if you leave a second finger on it's a right click.

The multifunction as in gestures is great.. the standard click I find very annoying.

You can turn off two-finger right click.

 

[koruki]

lol nice one... wait you are joking right? I can't imagine a notebook without it.(actually yes I can, they are PC laptops urgh..)

 

[Miss Terri]

I don't use tap to click as it always accidentally activates..

I've found this too, and I can't find any way to adjust the sensitivity. Although, I had the same problem on my 2008 Macbook, which was not "all one button."

I even put a Moshi palm guard piece over the trackpad, hoping it would be less sensitive and I could use tap to click (because... wow, the click button is stiff), but I still get stray clicks even when I'm trying to be oh-so-careful when I'm scrolling and moving around. Constantly clicking on things I didn't mean to click on!

I would really, really like to be able to use "tap to click," as I have tendinitis that is aggravated by regular clicking. A friend who uses Windows suggested I adjust the sensitivity of the trackpad, but I cannot find any way to do this.

Since it looks like the OP would appreciate this too, I'm not hijacking

Miss Terri
2010 MBP 13"

 

[h00ligan]

Yes, it happens on the preunibody, and all pc's.. i'm clearly not ergonomically designed for tap to click.

I guess I'd get used to it.. but the 4 times I've used the trackpad.. i've found advanced functionality great, but just generally clicking to be annoying.

No I won't turn of the two finger right click because I right click a lot. Honestly I wish they'd just put some bloody buttons on it.

 

[vincenz]

How can you hate it? The whole thing IS a button, what more could you ask for?

 

[h00ligan]

I really wish I could explain it better. I can only say that if I use it as I use the preunibody trackpad it's much slower to use, misclicks all the time...it just takes a different motion, one that goes against the last 8 years (roughly) of touchpadding for me. Again, it's just about muscle memory. I can use one trackpad a certain way and the same motions etc just don't provide the same result.. it's like learning to type dvorak to a lesser extent.

I suppose I'd get used to it.. but it will be annoying to do so!

 

[tigress666]

I love the trackpads on unibodys... absolutely hated the old trackpads. It was the new trackpad that is one of the biggest selling points IMO... best thing ever.

I can't dig the Magic Mouse though... its just way too flat and not comfortable at all to use. The Bluetooth trackpad for desktop Macs now is pretty cool though.

I've gotta agree. And OP, why do you have to lift your finger to click, practically the whole pad can be clicked on (Except for maybe at the very top, and honestly, who clicks on that area anyways, that would be uncomfortable).

Especially after having the new full, "buttonless" trackpad, I can't stand the old style. It's one of the biggest reasons I had been wanting a new macbook before I got my current MBP (I had a 2007 with a trackpad with a button. As soon as they came out with the new trackpad I wanted. All that real estate to scroll and move the mouse around really makes a difference. And really, you can click anywhere for the button which is nice. And use two fingers for a right click, something you couldn't do with the old trackpad which had no right click option except to hit a button on the keyboard at the same time).

Oh, and I never liked the idea of tap to click (because i knew I'd accidentally make clicks). Which is why I have tap to click turned off .

 

[vipergts2207]

And use two fingers for a right click, something you couldn't do with the old trackpad which had no right click option except to hit a button on the keyboard at the same time).

You could do that with the old trackpad too, it just wasn't the default setting.

 

[Adidas Addict]

Best notebook trackpad in the world, bar none!

 

[tigress666]

You could do that with the old trackpad too, it just wasn't the default setting.

Hrm? It had one button? Was it some sort of thing that you tapped with two fingers? Cause as far as I know the mouse button on the old trackpad just had one click area (and not like magic mouse or current trackpad that it could sense how many fingers you were clicking with so there would be no way to make it differentiate on the actual physical button which is right click and which is left click). In which case, current trackpad is still better imho.

1. As I stated, I hate tap to click.

2. Having to make sure to hit higher on the trackpad to tap it to make a right click is a lot more awkward than just hitting the general area they usually put a mouse button. Current trackpad lets me just hit whatever area my fingers happen to be.

 

[C01E]

The missing button sucks. Anyone else feel that way? I now have to lift my finger to click, I find it very very cumbersome.. did you hate it before, did you adjust?

It's a BIG problem to me as it's the only source of input.

When they were new I HATED them with a passion, Now, I can't see how I could go back... They tend to grow on ya...

 

[vipergts2207]

Hrm? It had one button? Was it some sort of thing that you tapped with two fingers? Cause as far as I know the mouse button on the old trackpad just had one click area (and not like magic mouse or current trackpad that it could sense how many fingers you were clicking with so there would be no way to make it differentiate on the actual physical button which is right click and which is left click). In which case, current trackpad is still better imho.

1. As I stated, I hate tap to click.

2. Having to make sure to hit higher on the trackpad to tap it to make a right click is a lot more awkward than just hitting the general area they usually put a mouse button. Current trackpad lets me just hit whatever area my fingers happen to be.

The old trackpad didn't have all the multitouch functions that the current one has, but it was able to sense two fingers to allow for a right click. You could also scroll by using two fingers.

 

[tigress666]

The old trackpad didn't have all the multitouch functions that the current one has, but it was able to sense two fingers to allow for a right click. You could also scroll by using two fingers.

Um, we're talking about the one that had an actual seperate button, right? Like my 2007 MB had?

Cause that button had no sensing ability to tell if you had two fingers on it, it was an opaque plastic button. The trackpad might be able to sense it, but the button couldn't. And hte trackpad could not be used as an actual physical button, so the only way it would be able to do a right click is if you tapped to click on the trackpad which 1. once again, I hate tap to click 2. would be awkward cause you'd have to avoid hitting the actual button and try to hit above it. Not very ergonomical.

 

[vipergts2207]

Um, we're talking about the one that had an actual seperate button, right? Like my 2007 MB had?

Cause that button had no sensing ability to tell if you had two fingers on it, it was an opaque plastic button. The trackpad might be able to sense it, but the button couldn't. And hte trackpad could not be used as an actual physical button, so the only way it would be able to do a right click is if you tapped to click on the trackpad which 1. once again, I hate tap to click 2. would be awkward cause you'd have to avoid hitting the actual button and try to hit above it. Not very ergonomical.

Yes, I had a 2007 MBP. I don't see what you're saying the old trackpad could do that the new one can't.

 

[tigress666]

Yes, I had a 2007 MBP. I don't see what you're saying the old trackpad could do that the new one can't.

I'm saying the old trackpad (on the 2007) can't do some of the stuff the new one can.... I don't know if you meant to say that or got yourself switched around (did you mean to ask what the old trackpad couldn't do that the new one can?).

The new one can let you use two fingers as a right click while actually clicking, not using tap to click. Also, you don't have to try to avoid the button area to do that right click (the old one the button did not have sensors, if it did allow you to use two fingers as a right click it would have to have done it as tap to click on the actual trackpad area which meant avoiding the button which took up the bottom real estate which is awkward and using tap to click).

 

[h00ligan]

To right click on the old ones..

leave two fingers touching trackpad + click button.. this is one of the issues I am running into with the new one.

It actually involves three fingers..

The only one can't pinch.. that's about it.

 

[tigress666]

To right click on the old ones..

leave two fingers touching trackpad + click button.. this is one of the issues I am running into with the new one.

It actually involves three fingers..

The only one can't pinch.. that's about it.

Huh? Do you mean you have to use three fingers on the old one to right click? Cause that's what it sounds like (two to touch trackpad and one to click on the button).

The new one just involves two fingers to right click though (have no idea where you think it needs three).

I'm sorry, I'm now very confused on the complaint here.

What involves three fingers (the old trackpad which would make sense given what you said how you right click with it, the new trackpad of which case I'd say you're doing it wrong cause I only need two fingers - you click down with the two fingers to right click though I guess I could see how there is an adjustment period if you are used to touching the trackpad with two fingers and using your thumb to click having to go to just using the two fingers to click)? Also what are you referring to when you say the only one can't pinch? That just came out of nowhere and I'm not sure what you meant to say there.

 

[h00ligan]

Huh? Do you mean you have to use three fingers on the old one to right click? Cause that's what it sounds like (two to touch trackpad and one to click on the button).

Yes

The new one just involves two fingers to right click though (have no idea where you think it needs three).

I know, and I don't

I'm sorry, I'm now very confused on the complaint here.

yes

What involves three fingers (the old trackpad which would make sense given what you said how you right click with it

yes

the new trackpad of which case I'd say you're doing it wrong cause I only need two fingers - you click down with the two fingers to right click

yes, that's the point

though I guess I could see how there is an adjustment period if you are used to touching the trackpad with two fingers and using your thumb to click having to go to just using the two fingers to click)?

correct, the issue is that the old way you can click as a quick add to a swipe, the new way requires one to stop swiping - though I suppose with time I'd get used to it and could do it more quickly. It's an extremely firm click, that only registers in the bottom really.. and the muscle memory creates the situation of right clicking unintentionally.

Also what are you referring to when you say the only one can't pinch? That just came out of nowhere and I'm not sure what you meant to say there.

should have read the OLD one - sorry - in reference to what the old one can't do, it only has clicking gestures, not the rest - pinch, rotate, etc

 

[monstar-x]

The missing button sucks. Anyone else feel that way? I now have to lift my finger to click, I find it very very cumbersome.. did you hate it before, did you adjust?

It's a BIG problem to me as it's the only source of input.

I dont like it too.

 

[Santabean2000]

You don't have to lift to click...the trackpad IS a button.

And when it works it's great. But too often the trackpad breaks, the 'click' no longer works. Usually just after one year is up...

Current design needs revisiting to make it more robust!

 

[ZilogZ80]

I guess I'd get used to it.. but the 4 times I've used the trackpad.. i've found advanced functionality great, but just generally clicking to be annoying.

I wouldn't write off something after only using it 4 times. Maybe it will just take you a bit of getting used to. I've never met anyone who didn't way prefer the Mac trackpad after getting used to it.

 

[zenio]

The missing button sucks. Anyone else feel that way? I now have to lift my finger to click, I find it very very cumbersome.. did you hate it before, did you adjust?

It's a BIG problem to me as it's the only source of input.

I feel the opposite, yet I respect you're opinion. I've always found it a waste of money to spend even more for a mouse & keyboard not to mention the extra desk space consumed etc.

There's a tremendous advantage to Apples touch pads, therefore if gone unused I believe you'd be better off to find a nice Windows laptop with a touch pad you like.

I use both and find Windows 7, quite excellent. Never a problem. In fact the tables are turned now especially after SP-1. it's got features better than Mac.

 

[DocNYz]

And when it works it's great. But too often the trackpad breaks, the 'click' no longer works. Usually just after one year is up...

Current design needs revisiting to make it more robust!

You don't have to lift to click and if you set it to tap so it functions like the iPhone screen it's even easier. The bigger size and added functions are much more efficient when you get used to the gestures. I keep my hand in exactly the same position as I used to on the old pad and button with no problem and when I go back to an older comp with the button it's irritating it can't scroll or navigate back and forth or expose the desktop etc. Just go in to system PREFS and track pad and mess with it.