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trackpad drag release delay, is the a way to get rid of it?

R

rozner

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 14, 2007
34
0
Hi,

I've had the macbook pro now for about a month. First Mac ever, been a PC user for a very long time. I'm converted, I really like the system and Mac OS but still trying to work out some minor usability issues. The one that really kills me is the delay when I'm trying to drag something with the trackpad, I lift my finger, and I have to wait a second for it to actually release whatever I'm dragging. I can see how this may be useful in some cases, but personally it annoys the hell out of me. I want it to release instantly and I can't seem to find a setting for this in the preferences. Am I missing something there? If I wanted this type of behavior I would turn on the "Drag lock" option. Anyone know if it's possible to get rid of this delay? Thanks.
 
rozner said:
Hi,

I've had the macbook pro now for about a month. First Mac ever, been a PC user for a very long time. I'm converted, I really like the system and Mac OS but still trying to work out some minor usability issues. The one that really kills me is the delay when I'm trying to drag something with the trackpad, I lift my finger, and I have to wait a second for it to actually release whatever I'm dragging. I can see how this may be useful in some cases, but personally it annoys the hell out of me. I want it to release instantly and I can't seem to find a setting for this in the preferences. Am I missing something there? If I wanted this type of behavior I would turn on the "Drag lock" option. Anyone know if it's possible to get rid of this delay? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Dragging a file around between windows, or dragging text in a document? Do you have 'clicking' switched on for the trackpad (system prefs > keyboard and mouse)?
 
Dragging files around, or Windows (also resizing windows), it also happens on Google Maps for instance if I'm trying to scroll through the map. In the settings I have "Clicking" and "Dragging" enabled, the drag lock one is not checked.
 
rozner said:
Dragging files around, or Windows (also resizing windows), it also happens on Google Maps for instance if I'm trying to scroll through the map. In the settings I have "Clicking" and "Dragging" enabled, the drag lock one is not checked.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I think that's a feature, not a bug. On my screen, I can't get all the way from one side to the other using the trackpad without lifting my finger and putting it back down on the other side (know what I mean?) - so, with the 'drag using trackpad' selected, if it let go immediately that I let go of the trackpad, I'd be constantly dropping stuff half way to its destination.

Make sense?
 
I understand the purpose of the feature, like I said, I can see it being useful in some cases, like the one you just mentioned, but for my use, I can usually get it where I need in one movement, if not I use the actual button. At least that's the way I'm used to doing it back in my PC days. I'm just used to it being released instantly, so what happens is I drop something, then try to something else, but wait I'm still dragging the other thing around. I'm just saying there should be a way to turn it off, or it would be even better if you could adjust the delay between 0 and 1 second. But it clearly doesn't exist.
 
Drag lock is kinda half way to what you need - click again to let go immediately.

There might be an actual solution - I only turned on the feature to see what you were asking about.
 
rozner said:
Hi,

I've had the macbook pro now for about a month. First Mac ever, been a PC user for a very long time. I'm converted, I really like the system and Mac OS but still trying to work out some minor usability issues. The one that really kills me is the delay when I'm trying to drag something with the trackpad, I lift my finger, and I have to wait a second for it to actually release whatever I'm dragging. I can see how this may be useful in some cases, but personally it annoys the hell out of me. I want it to release instantly and I can't seem to find a setting for this in the preferences. Am I missing something there? If I wanted this type of behavior I would turn on the "Drag lock" option. Anyone know if it's possible to get rid of this delay? Thanks.
Click to expand...

I wonder what is the way you drag stuff?
 
Hi,

I have just switched to Mac (new Macbook Pro), and like Rozner, I have the exact same major gripe about the "drag lock" that happens for a short time after you release a dragged window (dragging option enabled, drag lock option is of course disabled).

I would like to know if there is any way to disable this forced drag lock.

Thanks.
 
I have the issue - It's absolutely maddening when I try to move cards around in a solitaire game.

What gives?????
 
Yes, I don't like this feature either.

The full second delay (or however long it is) is just too much. I changed my settings and turned "Drag Lock" on. This way, I can just click to immediately drop the item.

It sounds like it would be slower because of the extra click needed, but that extra click is much faster than waiting for the default delay.
 
sort of a solution

i just purchased my macbook and have never used a mac before; i encountered the same problem and it's frustrating. what you can do as a pseudo-solution is to not use double click for dragging, but simply use your free (non-mouse) hand to press down (click) on the touchpad and use your mouse hand to drag whatever it is you want around... then when you're done, let go and there won't be any drag release delay... seems sorta obvious, but for this long-time pc user, it seems to be the only comfortable solution... i wonder if mac users do this already as the drag feature is not automatically turned on... :rolleyes: btw, i registered on this forum just to share this... :)
 
well, I got used to when I double tap and drag, then instantly tap again to release it.
I found its useful sometimes when you have secondary screen and you want to drag a window over it becomes in handy.
Apple should have the option for the quick release tho.
 
I dont see whats so hard about it - you dont even need 2 hands. I was at the Apple store last night testing out the trackpad because I was afraid without a button it would be hard to drag windows, but you can just apply pressure to click with the finger you are dragging with and release it when you have moved the window to where you want. I didnt notice anything funky about it but maybe I missed it.

Has anyone tried that? Just go to drag the window and apply pressure to the trackpad using the finger you are dragging with, its pretty easy to move the window around like this.
 
OasisNYK said:
I dont see whats so hard about it - you dont even need 2 hands. I was at the Apple store last night testing out the trackpad because I was afraid without a button it would be hard to drag windows, but you can just apply pressure to click with the finger you are dragging with and release it when you have moved the window to where you want. I didnt notice anything funky about it but maybe I missed it.

Has anyone tried that? Just go to drag the window and apply pressure to the trackpad using the finger you are dragging with, its pretty easy to move the window around like this.
Click to expand...
unless you reach the edge of the trackpad and find out you still have to drag farther.

There was also another discussion about how turning on tap to drag for the trackpad delays input double-taps by about 0.5sec. The two problems are probably related, and there was no fix except to turn off dragging.
 
Drag-lock won't let go

I had some joy by folding a 1/8 inch x 4 inch piece of paper in half, then quarters, eighths, sixteenths until I have a tiny square.

I took out the battery and there is a circle underneath that is under the trackpad button. I taped it in place and put the battery back in; the battery pressing the paper hard against the button.

This made the button VERY firm, almost unclickable. After I took it out, clicking worked fine for both trackpad button and tapping the trackpad.

It was as if the trackpad button was locked in the down position and this shove upward from below unstuck it.

If the problem returns, keeping a thinner pad that still allows clicking may work permanently, though this isn't tested yet. :apple:
 
williamjacobs - I think you have miss-understood the problem being discussed.

I too agree with the OPs opinion. The delay before the 'tap to drag' releases the item is annoying and there seems to be no way to disable it.
 
I don't like this feature either. During the dragging, you have to wait for the system to 'let go' before you can click anything else so sometimes the subsequent tap does not register. This is especially bad when some non Mac user uses my laptop and thinks the trackpad is unresponsive and I see them tapping away at the trackpad thinking 'stupid Mac".
 
Stupid Mac

Yeah actually it is a 'stupid mac'.

I have the same problem obviously, and have been virtually going insane trying to figure out how to solve it, which based on all evidence there apparently is no solution.

My Macbook Pro was forced on me by my work and I have found several examples of what I'll call: 'Steve Jobs' Way Or The Highway' type of design. This is one good example of that. The Apple philosophy is apparently that they know what's best for the user in all cases. In this case, it's been decided that users need to have some extra time (a full freaking second? who are these slow users? oh wait... never mind) to pick up their finger and keep dragging after a tap-drag. There is no need to make this delay time configurable (like on a typical PC) because.... say it with me kids... "Apple knows best, always"... that's right.

I feel like I have a new religion instead of a new computer, because the typical Mac Addict's response to a PROBLEM (not a feature) such as this is just to swallow more Kool-aid and change the way I use MY computer. I don't get this. Computers are supposed to be a tool to make my life easier, but on the Mac I feel like the computer is somehow training me to use it the way it wants to be used. I resent this.

Some of the comments in this post make me want to bash my face in. I particularly love the one about "no Mac user has ever had this problem in 13 years". How odd, how totally STRANGE then that so many PC users crossing over have this EXACT problem?

You know what I think... I think it's a problem with the PC. Because it couldn't be a problem with the Mac.
 
Same problem drives me mad when highlighting in Mail and forum text boxes
Double tap & drag to highlight some text
Lift your finger
press delete key quickly
The highlight remains
Start typing, you immediately over-type the newly highlighted text
Grrrrr
Only way around it is to wait for the half second or so for the drag to be forgotten
That's pants.
 
A couple month bump...just wondering if anyone has found a solution to this since I too am somewhat frustrated by this problem/feature
 
archdelux said:
A couple month bump...just wondering if anyone has found a solution to this since I too am somewhat frustrated by this problem/feature
Click to expand...

Two year bump.. I am new to the Mac and this is driving me bananas.. anyone know how to cure it?
 
Hello, I have just switched to Mac and this drag release lag is driving me crazy. Wanna buy a mouse, but I'm not sure about Apple Magic Mouse, it have a multitouch surface just like a trackpad and I wanna ask you about do it have the same issue like my MacBook Pro trackpad? If it have, I better choose other mouse. Thanks for your replies.

Sorry for bad English
 
Found a solution !

Hi guys,

I'm proud of my MacBoo Pro 13" bought a few days ago.

After one week using the trackpad the release delay made me CRAZY !!

I've found a solution (not the best... hope to find something better)


This tool can solve the problem : Bettertouchtool (freeware)

http://blog.boastr.net/?page_id=1722

2 steps after installing the little tool above :

- Disable dragging option from pref panes
- Open Bettertouchtool and go in the touchpad settings tab then click the little option (experimental dragging) at the bottom of the window.

That's it.

At this time it worked for me with all apps (inc photoshop) but fails with some other like screen capture and itunes (then I use the clic with my other hand). But It worth the inconvenient !!!!!

Please let me know you're experience

Now I feel FREE!!! cheers
 
At last!

Thanks for the solution, Imajo, I'm now trying it out, as I personally find the delay detrimental. Installation took seconds, and so far so good. It seems the screenshot issue actually completely prevents using the trackpad for screenshots (requiring the use of the mouse instead).

For what it's worth here my hypothesis as to why different users like or do not like the delay feature:

- Users who have their trackpad at a fast setting do not require the delay feature because you can drag across the entire screen with one movement over the trackpad.
- Users who have their trackpad at a slower setting may benefit from the delay feature.

On some PCs that I've used the mouse automatically keeps moving when you get the edge of the trackpad, which gets around the problem of needing to drag something which requires a movement that is bigger than the trackpad. This feature is a bit cumbersome in my experience.

Apple would do well to come up with a solution for all users, in my opinion.
 
I don't have my new MBP but can't you just use your thumb to click down the trackpad then drag with your index finger? That is how I have always done it on my old Macbook.
 
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