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therobertman · Apr 23, 2005, 10:46 AM

There was a trackpad issue on the new 15" (and possibly 12s and 17s) that got solved with the update to x.3.9. But Tiger was already being shipped at that point.

So, if we install Tiger (either clean or archive) what happens to the trackpad 'improvement'? How do we know that it won't be coming back? Does the retail version of Tiger include the trackpad improvement? Was the problem specific to Panther?

Should we just wait until the first update of Tiger before installing Tiger--if this is an issue?

vinster · Apr 24, 2005, 12:56 AM

I don't really think there's any way to correlate fixes in 10.3.9 with bugs in Tiger. Who knows when Apple became aware of the trackpad issue and fixed it in either version of OS X, so 10.3.9 being posted after the announcement for Tiger doesn't mean that Apple wasn't aware of the trackpad problem and fixed it before the final build or that it even exists in the first place.

TailsToo · Apr 24, 2005, 09:08 AM

The rumor is that Tiger will have a quick update when it's released to fix these kinds of issues. (recent bug fixes) I'm pretty sure that they would address the problem quickly, if it's not already fixed.

therobertman · Apr 24, 2005, 09:18 AM

Thanks to you both for this. Vinster's point is well taken. A great piece of forensic reasoning. You would make a great lawyer!

vinster · Apr 24, 2005, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by therobertman

Thanks to you both for this. Vinster's point is well taken. A great piece of forensic reasoning. You would make a great lawyer!

Thanks! I think my reasoning comes from many years of Apple secrecy and denial when it comes to acknowledging bugs. I find they usually end up getting fixed (and for the most part acknowledged) in OS updates or sometimes just mysteriously disappear without notice after an update.

GSixZero · Apr 25, 2005, 03:12 AM

I've heard the trackpad problem isn't a problem in 10.4.

Ray James · May 3, 2005, 02:02 PM

Why would anyone think that APPLE has...or even could...fix the TRACK PAD PROBLEM with TIGER?

This HARDWARE issue plagues all NEW PowerBooks that use APPLE'S own hardware for TWO finger scrolling.

I recently tested the 12", 15" and 17" POWERBOOKS in an APPLE STORE all running TIGER.

Trying to use the trackpads on all three versions was extremely frustrating...i often waited an average of 1.5-2.5 minutes for the TRACK PAD to become 'usable'. ( i also saw APPLE salespeople becoming frustrated while trying to demo the powerbooks to potential customers).

Even when it 'works' the new track pads all have a very odd feel to them. No where near as accurate to use as all older versions of the G4 powerbooks.

This is a very serious drawback to what used to be an exceptional product line.

I eagerly await when APPLE uses better hardware because i want to buy a new powerbook...and i doubt software fixes will ever restore the quality of the previous hardware.

osxisfun · May 3, 2005, 02:13 PM

works great for me. new alu 1.67. very nice tracking speed and scrolling.

still want sidetrack though. it just does more.

javadesigner · May 3, 2005, 04:24 PM

Does your new 1.67 alu powerbook have
a trackbutton button as clicky as say an ibook
or is it more mushy and harder to click ?

osxisfun · May 3, 2005, 04:29 PM

i'd say its mushier than my ibook button. but i've only used it for a couple hours over the past 2 days so take it with a grain of salt..

Chito · May 3, 2005, 04:48 PM

I don't have a bit of trouble with the trackpad on my 1.5 gHz powerbook.

Ray James · May 3, 2005, 07:10 PM

i can only hope that the successes others say they are having with their new POWERBOOKS are true...i eagerly await a valid report of a fix. i have heard that if you re-set the track pad...it can work well for awhile...but ultimately revert back to having problems again.

if the problem truly could be fixed... why would 4 out of 4 NEW PowerBooks (two 15", a 12" and a 17") in Apple's own store still exhibit the problem while running TIGER?

.. does anyone have a permanent BEFORE and AFTER software related fix story?

roadracr · May 3, 2005, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Ray James

i can only hope that the successes others say they are having with their new POWERBOOKS are true...i eagerly await a valid report of a fix. i have heard that if you re-set the track pad...it can work well for awhile...but ultimately revert back to having problems again.

if the problem truly could be fixed... why would 4 out of 4 NEW PowerBooks (two 15", a 12" and a 17") in Apple's own store still exhibit the problem while running TIGER?

.. does anyone have a permanent BEFORE and AFTER software related fix story?

I have a new 15-inch 1.67 GHz PB that I purchased in mid-March. I'm running 10.3.9 and have not had a bit of trouble with the trackpad. The two finger scroll feature is a real winner - I hope they incorporate this type of function into a future mouse (as some of the rumors suggest).

TailsToo · May 3, 2005, 10:23 PM

When I first got my 1.67, the trackpad was slow - after YEARS of working with the older trackpads on 2 iBooks and a TI, I got used to how they operated. Now with the update, it seems that the new 1.67 works just like the old models. Two finger scrolling works fine for me too!

adamberti · May 3, 2005, 10:30 PM

Bought my PB couple of weeks ago, certainly seemed different than my TiBook. But I just adjusted the trackpad options in the System Prefs and all is good. (Running 10.3.9 right now)

The button is a little strange sometimes - I dont think I've pressed it, but I actually have. Definatly not as much tactile feedback as my Tibook. But no issues with the trackpad itself. Two finger scrolling is great - way better than trying to find the scrollings 'edges' on my TiBook with that software.

vinster · May 4, 2005, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by javadesigner

Does your new 1.67 alu powerbook have
a trackbutton button as clicky as say an ibook
or is it more mushy and harder to click ?

Definitely mushier. I had a 1.5GHz (rev B) model that I bought in April 2004 and it was replaced by Apple with the rev C. The first thing I noticed was the mushier trackpad button.

Thanks for confirming - I'd actually asked this question in another thread.

nila mu'hari · 09:28 AM

well well well ...
I have a trackpad problem (freezes, stucks, hangs, stuck again, reset, stuck, sometimes ok, 15 min no touch, stuck again etc.) with my brand new 1.67 128VRAM 15" PB out of the box. That was 10.3.9 !
The Trackpad was replaced by an apple tech. now running 10.4 with exactly the same thing !

Do you guys have any idea what the problem could be like with this 15" PB ?

much thanks an a nice day!
nila

UPDATE !
Now the mainboard was replaced by an apple tech.
No imrovement at all... After 5 or so mins of doing nothing with the PB the mouse won't move at all untill i reset the trackpad... :-(

teerexx52 · May 18, 2005, 02:43 PM

My wife and I both have 2 month old 15" powerbooks. The trackpad scrolling worked fine until we installed 10.4.1. Has anyone else had problems with scrolling after installing 10.4.1? Thanks

TailsToo · May 18, 2005, 09:33 PM

still works fine here!

KenDallas · May 19, 2005, 09:25 AM

I have a 15" Powerbook 1.67 that was purchased during the first week of April. Initially it had panther installed and the trackpad problem was so bad that I had to start carrying a mouse with me so I dont have to use the trackpad. There was an update released for Panther that was supposed to fix the trackpad problem, in my case, it improved the situation but it still had a hint of "wierdness" to it.

Going on two weeks now I have been using Tiger. I was surprised to know that the trackpad problem was completely gone even prior to installing 10.4.1. As soon as 10.4.1 was releases, I install that as well and I couldn't be happier. Everything works fine, including the trackpad.

ccsccs7 · May 21, 2005, 01:37 AM

My Late 2001 iBook had a problem with static or something at one point. The trackpad used to stop responding. A sleep cycle fixed it. That hasn't happened for probably 1.5 years.

Joe Egan · May 25, 2005, 08:44 AM

I downloaded and installed 10.3.9 and still have the same nagging issues with my 15" 1.67 trackpad. I got Apple to send me a Bluetooth mouse, but I want a laptop, not a desktop. Where the heck do use my mouse when I'm on an airplane? Obviously the company is baffled by the problem. Why they don't replace the faulty pads with the older, non-scrolling ones is beyond me. Admit the problem, fix the problem the only way they know how to and move on. It bothers me that they made the claim that 10.3.9 fixed the issue. It didn't change it a bit for me.

Grrrrrrrr!

Joe Egan

KenDallas · May 25, 2005, 09:38 AM

Joe,

Sorry to hear that your trackpad issues remain unsolved with the 10.3.9 update. I do agree with you in that Apple should simply admit the problem, fix the problem, and move on. But I can honestly say that installing Tiger on my PowerBook has fixed the problem for me-- how and why? I dont know.

There were two problems with the Trackpad when I purchased my Powerbook in April. First was the disparity in calibration between vertical and horizontal trackpad sensitivity and the second was the zappy movements and the need to "reset' the trackpad according to directions on Apple's web site. The first issue was completely addressed in my case with 10.3.9. The second issue remains with 10.3.9 for me, though much improved.

Installing Tiger has fixed both the problems. I am not one of those people that do all kinds of complex things with the computer to notice all kinds of bugs and so far the only issue I have had with Tiger is that it wont print through my wireless network. This is a big enough problem and enough people are having issues with it to where I am sure they will be addressing it soon, so I am not too worried about it. I am able to print the old fashioned way, so its not that much of a hindrance.

Other than that, Tiger seems to work very well and I am very happy with it.

Originally Posted by Joe Egan

I downloaded and installed 10.3.9 and still have the same nagging issues with my 15" 1.67 trackpad. I got Apple to send me a Bluetooth mouse, but I want a laptop, not a desktop. Where the heck do use my mouse when I'm on an airplane? Obviously the company is baffled by the problem. Why they don't replace the faulty pads with the older, non-scrolling ones is beyond me. Admit the problem, fix the problem the only way they know how to and move on. It bothers me that they made the claim that 10.3.9 fixed the issue. It didn't change it a bit for me.

Grrrrrrrr!

Joe Egan

dad2000 · Jun 9, 2005, 05:54 AM

I have my powerbook since january 2004 and without any problem.
With Tiger I had no problems at the beginning but with the upgrade 10.4.1 I had no more trackball and sometimes hazardous reactions with the keyboard.
Can anyone help me to tell how going back to 10.3 easily ?
Thanks to Apple to deliver such a mess in an operating system upgrade...

Originally Posted by Ray James

Why would anyone think that APPLE has...or even could...fix the TRACK PAD PROBLEM with TIGER?

This HARDWARE issue plagues all NEW PowerBooks that use APPLE'S own hardware for TWO finger scrolling.

I recently tested the 12", 15" and 17" POWERBOOKS in an APPLE STORE all running TIGER.

Trying to use the trackpads on all three versions was extremely frustrating...i often waited an average of 1.5-2.5 minutes for the TRACK PAD to become 'usable'. ( i also saw APPLE salespeople becoming frustrated while trying to demo the powerbooks to potential customers).

Even when it 'works' the new track pads all have a very odd feel to them. No where near as accurate to use as all older versions of the G4 powerbooks.

This is a very serious drawback to what used to be an exceptional product line.

I eagerly await when APPLE uses better hardware because i want to buy a new powerbook...and i doubt software fixes will ever restore the quality of the previous hardware.

Chito · Jun 9, 2005, 06:50 AM

About a month ago I reported having no trouble with my trackpad, since then it's acted a little strange, didn't scroll the way it originally did and seemed like my cursor missed the mark sometimes when I was trying to click on something. I reset the trackpad according to Apple's instructions and it is as good as new. It only took a few seconds and now that I know to do that I'm happy again.
Here's the link:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301047