PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => General Tech Discussion, News & Q&A => Topic started by: sam on April 16, 2010, 00:43

Title: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: sam on April 16, 2010, 00:43
Quote
Having reviewed several laptops in the last year, there is one thing that I have learned I can always count on: the trackpad on PC laptops is going to be a disaster. Every time. At least, a relative disaster, when you consider the quality of the trackpad that comes with every MacBook and MacBook Pro.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/15/wont-somebody-please-think-of-the-trackpads/
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Rik on April 16, 2010, 09:27
I have to agree with his sentiments, most touchpads I've used have been rubbish.
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: sam on April 16, 2010, 14:26
they are getting better though
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: sam on April 16, 2010, 14:26
and I hate most trackpads. Need a proper mouse.
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Rik on April 16, 2010, 16:29
I certainly do, Sam.
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Clive on April 16, 2010, 20:30
After all these years I don't understand how they haven't come up with a better idea   :bawl:
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Simon on April 16, 2010, 21:27
Why can't they make the actual trackpad 'clickable', so you press it to click, instead of tapping harder and harder to make it work!  They've done it with BlackBerry screens.
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: sam on April 17, 2010, 05:32
Why can't they make the actual trackpad 'clickable', so you press it to click, instead of tapping harder and harder to make it work!  They've done it with BlackBerry screens.

mine has buttons underneath it... I'm confused what you mean?
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Simon on April 17, 2010, 09:28
Well, make the whole pad a button, as well as the other buttons, so you point and press, rather than point and tap.
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Rik on April 17, 2010, 10:51
Still not with you, Simon. Are you looking for pressure sensitivity, eg so much pressure is a point, anything more is a click?
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Simon on April 17, 2010, 14:15
You're making it more complicated than it should be.  ::)  On most touchscreen phones, you 'touch' or 'tap' the relevent icon on the screen to get it to do what you want it to, yes?  Like any touchscreen computer or other device.  With the BlackBerry, the whole screen is like a big button, and you put your finger on, say, the Email icon, and press ('click') the screen to open the app.  When I am typing, I am 'pressing' the keys, almost like a 'solid' keyboard, so you get the tactile feedback when you type a character.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/23/video-storm-2s-new-touchscreen-tech-explained-with-mindblowing/

So, why cant they make the touchpad on a laptop 'clickable' using similar technology?  Obviously, what you're doing appears on the monitor, rather than actually under your fingers, but surely the principal is the same?
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Rik on April 17, 2010, 16:58
Right. Never met that kind of touchy feely screen. :)
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Simon on April 17, 2010, 17:03
So, what do you think?
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Rik on April 17, 2010, 17:05
Sounds a good way forward to me. The pad could also be backlit, so that you could see what you were doing on it...
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Simon on April 17, 2010, 17:14
You wouldn't need to, as you would be looking at the screen.
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: sam on April 17, 2010, 17:18
still I won't be giving up my mouse just yet.
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Simon on April 17, 2010, 17:22
Oh, me neither!  I attached mine to my laptop for the first few months of using it!  ;D
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: sam on April 17, 2010, 17:26
mine is always connected to my laptop.... though this is my main machine at the moment.
Title: Re: Won’t Somebody Please Think Of The Trackpads?
Post by: Rik on April 17, 2010, 17:26
I need to keep a close eye on my fingers. ;D