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cpac · Jan 31, 2005, 04:50 PM

So the new trackpads aparently differentiate between two touch points moving at once (scrolling) and one touch point moving (moving the mouse).

Couldn't Apple (or a third party now that the hardware's in place) allow the track-pad to differentiate between a one point tap and a two point tap? This, in my book, would be a very elegant solution to the current lack of a second button on PBs.

TailsToo · Jan 31, 2005, 07:13 PM

It's more than likely a hardware change... I would think that someone would have came out with it years ago if that wasn't the case. (Trackpads have been around for more than 10 years.

cpac · Jan 31, 2005, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by TailsToo:
It's more than likely a hardware change... I would think that someone would have came out with it years ago if that wasn't the case. (Trackpads have been around for more than 10 years.

I wasn't saying it was a software change.

All I'm saying is that whatever hardware improvement there is that allows it to distinguish one moving finger from two moving fingers might also be able to distinguish one tapping finger from two tapping fingers, which would get us to right-clicking.

And yes, I'm well aware that trackpads have been around for (over) 10 years - they made their Mac debut back in th3 520 series powerbooks (when you could still get them in grayscale)

vexingv · Jan 31, 2005, 07:21 PM

i saw one of these trackpads at the ny digital life expo. it was a standalone trackpad and it was hooked up to a mac in fact (i cant remember the name of the product or company). it could recognize many different finger inputs and by programming could make alias/shortcuts to various motions. i wouldnt be surprised if a 3rd party app came out with these functions.

but right now you can even use sidetrack to allow you to do a tap for right click. (i have it set as the bottom right corner)

TailsToo · Jan 31, 2005, 10:27 PM

Originally posted by cpac:
I wasn't saying it was a software change.

All I'm saying is that whatever hardware improvement there is that allows it to distinguish one moving finger from two moving fingers might also be able to distinguish one tapping finger from two tapping fingers, which would get us to right-clicking.

And yes, I'm well aware that trackpads have been around for (over) 10 years - they made their Mac debut back in th3 520 series powerbooks (when you could still get them in grayscale)

Sorry, you are correct! I had responded before I had enough coffee I guess.

That would be a great thing - I hate having to use the control key!

wuzup101 · Feb 1, 2005, 07:45 AM

You could try sidetrack... now that it's not free many people look it over. It's definitely worth the $15 trust me! I'd much rather see a two button trackpad/mouse; however, until 2009 when Apple figures out how to put an inovative spin on an extra button, I'll make due using the upper left corner of my trackpad as "right click."

markponcelet · Feb 1, 2005, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by wuzup101:
You could try sidetrack... now that it's not free many people look it over.

I bought it, and it's pretty slick. Good interface. And yep, the thing I used it for the most was the right-click.

One beef I had with it, though, is that it is sometimes unresponsive when the scrollbars are enabled. (Sometimes you can start dragging in the "scroll" zone when you mean to be dragging in the normal zone, and it confuses it until you lift up your finger.) Still, you can turn those off without turning off the right-click option. I look forward to installing this on my new 17", if it's compatible.

Since it's less than $20, it's an automatic buy for me.

Gotta support those shareware developers.

Mark

Paco500 · Feb 1, 2005, 06:21 PM

Based on these reccomendations, I downlaoded and installed sidetrack. What a great app. My $15 is on the way.

wuzup101 · Feb 1, 2005, 10:04 PM

Yeah it's definitely worth it. I origionally started using it when it was free. When it came out of beta and became $15 shareware there was no possible way I could live without it. I probably would have paid upwards of $50 for it just because it makes me so much more productive as I typically only use my mouse at my desk and my powerbook is always with me.

Wiskedjak · Feb 1, 2005, 10:15 PM

Rather than spend my money on Sidetrack (which is a clever product and serves to highlight how Apple cripples more functional hardware), I opted instead to buy a wireless multi-button mouse.