Improved MacBookPro Trackpad
I am really enjoying my new MacBookPro. I am contanstly finding little nuggets of sweetness that I had no idea existed. I was had been using the MBP for a few days already when I remembered the updated trackpad actions, which let you scroll web pages and documents by placing two fingers on the trackpad and moving them up and down.
May latest little nugget is something that I found out about while combing over the reviews of the new Apple MacBook, which was just released yesterday. Apparently, there is a feature on the trackpad of the MacBook that you can enable which simulates a right-click action.
Go to System Preferences > Keyboard and Mouse > Trackpad. There is a option there that, when enabled, allows you to place two fingers on the trackpad and click the button for right/secondary click actions.
The suprise to me was that it was also included on the 17″ MacBookPro, but not the 15″ MacBookPro. I wonder if that is something that can be added via a firmware update or if it is something specific to the trackpad itself?
May 17th, 2006
Not to burst your bubble, but that’s been around even since the days of Powerbooks.
May 17th, 2006
Really? I don’t see it in the Trackpad config from my old 17″ Powerbook G4.
Granted, my Powerbook was a 1.5Ghz model, and did not have the improved trackpad gestures (scrolling, etc).
May 18th, 2006
Hmm. I’m sure I’ll be pleased with the ability to right-click, but it sounds clumsy. If the Apple Mighty Mouse can tell which side of the mouse you’re touching when you click, surely they could do a similar thing on a trackpad button if they still want to stick with a single button.
May 19th, 2006
Nathan Jones: Actually, the method Mighty Mouse employed to recognise the side you are clicking is mechanically.