DarlaS Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 (edited) Do you use a touchpad or mouse? If you use a touchpad, how long did it take you to get used to it. I like the touchpad on my new laptop (Got it yesterday!! :D) much better than my old one. Now I just need to figure out how to zoom. ETA: Touchpad users, do you have any little tricks you've learned to make mouseless computing easier? Edited November 3, 2012 by darlasowders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I use the touchpad when using a laptop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 It depends. I hated the touch pad on previous Toshiba, so I had this awesome wireless Microsoft Arc Touch mouse that folded flat, that I used. I've recently gotten a macbook and I'm using the touch pad on it. It's confusing as heck because you use one finger to do one thing, 2 fingers to do another, and 3 to do yet another. Sometimes I forget how many fingers to use for what and end up somewhere totally different than I wanted. Sadly, my mouse doesn't have mac OS listed on the box (probably because it's made by MS), so I haven't tried installing it. I am thinking of getting a mouse for the macbook though, because sometimes my fingers feel all crampy from the way they bend and move in relation to the keyboard. Boo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalknot Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Hate touchpad. My husband totally humored me by finding - and paying more for - a laptop that didn't have it. It has that red button thing in the middle of the keyboard instead. Much better :D. Signed, Happy Wife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Youchpad. I hope they soon invent the thing where you can just think what you want to do on the computer and it does it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
courtney.byrum Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Mostly a wireless mouse unless I'm in a situation where it wouldn't work well then the touchpad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Hate touchpad. My husband totally humored me by finding - and paying more for - a laptop that didn't have it. It has that red button thing in the middle of the keyboard instead. Much better :D. Signed, Happy Wife I had a co-worker who swore by the red button thingy. I just never got used to it. My work laptop has a textured touchpad and I have worn the texture off. However, I recently bought an ergonomic split keyboard and a Logitech Trackman that I plug into whichever laptop I am using at the moment. I love the Trackman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypatia. Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Touchpad, my laptop is usually on my lap. It's been so long since I've used an actual mouse that when I do need one (gaming with DH), it takes me a while to get used to using one again. When I first started playing a RPG with him, I was always getting "stuck" behind objects in the game because I was so clumsy at using an actual mouse. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Fairy Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Touchpad. Practice makes perfect, and I'm better now with a touchpad than I am with a mouse. I tried a tablet, but it's just collecting dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Touchpad. A mouse needs a solid surface which pretty much negates the portability of a laptop. I currently sit with my laptop on my lap - no place to use a mouse. I just got used to it by doing it. Now I don't want to go back to a mouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amey311 Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I mainly use a laptop at my desk, so I use a mouse. I dislike where the touchpad is on this laptop because I end up hitting it when I'm typing which can make the cursor jump. I have the touchpad turned off when I'm at the desk, and I end up just being more careful if I use it other places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DyslexicParent Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Definitely a wired mouse. I'm always multi-tasking and the touchpad is too slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo95 Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 We prefer the pointing stick ("red button thing") in the middle of the keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Mostly a wireless mouse unless I'm in a situation where it wouldn't work well then the touchpad. :iagree: I hate having to use the touchpad sometimes, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I mainly use a laptop at my desk, so I use a mouse. I dislike where the touchpad is on this laptop because I end up hitting it when I'm typing which can make the cursor jump. I have the touchpad turned off when I'm at the desk, and I end up just being more careful if I use it other places. You can turn the touchpad off????? How?? I have a laptop issued by work that is like you said --- cursor jumps when I'm typing --- and I detest using that thing so much that I just bring my personal laptop instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I am comfortable with a mouse or stylus/pen and tablet but I prefer not to use an external device while using my laptop. I had my first laptop when I was in university and was just too lazy to carry a PS/2 mouse as well. I did not like the red button thing on IBM Thinkpads (for me it is too rough to the touch) . Luckily all the companies I had worked for issued me laptops with touchpads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I like the touchpad. The first thing I've had to do with computers though is to disable all those weird touchpad shortcuts because otherwise the touchpad thinks I'm trying to double click things and open and close things every time my finger slips slightly or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 It took me a long while to get used to the touchpad on my first laptop. The surface was very slick, so if your fingers are warm, they can stick. I have a new laptop and the touchpad is awesome, but not in tandem with Windows 8.:tongue_smilie: Windows 8, so far in my experience, is much better with a mouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 It took me a little time to get used to the touchpad. I also waited on getting one in the first place because of the touchpad. Now I prefer it though the kids use a mouse for things like Dreambox, Reading Eggs, etc. Oh, and both of my big kids use the mouse for gaming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted November 4, 2012 Author Share Posted November 4, 2012 Okay, so I'm going to going to try to go mouseless. It didn't matter much with my 17" Dell, since it was pretty unwieldy. This one is much smaller and lighter. I keep going on little unplanned adventures though (I didn't click on that!) and selecting and dragging stuff without meaning to. I bought ds (15) a Wacom Capture last year that he doesn't use. I might borrow that for photo editing or break down and get a mouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I use the touch pad but i dont remember how long it took me to get use to it. I have my left finger on the left "mouse" button and then use my right finger to "touch"/scroll on the pad. I do have a mouse for when the kids use my laptop. I turn off the touch pad for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I use a touch pad DD uses a mouse unless she is somewhere that is isn't practical DS ditto Dh uses a touch pad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted November 4, 2012 Author Share Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) Okay, I've zoomed a couple of times, and just figured out that it has a pinch zoom. Nifty! Even my son did not know that. He did set it up so scrolling is easier though. I love love love the screen on this thing though. Everyone is so much better looking. ;) ETA: This is SO weird. The poll is gone. Did I do that? Or am I seeing things? :confused: Edited November 4, 2012 by darlasowders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DusksAngel Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I use both. When I'm setting at a table or desk, I use my wireless mouse. If I'm sitting in my chair or on my bed, I use the touchpad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamzanne Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I started out using a mouse with my MacBook because I couldn't get used to the touchpad and I use my computer for graphic design work. The best thing that happened was that my mouse broke and I couldn't pick one up for a few days. It forced me into using the touchpad and now I would never go back to a mouse. It only took two days, tops. That being said, I've used bad touchpads and I use a mouse if I didn't have a MacBook or a similar quality touchpad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth in MN Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Touchpad. I normally use my laptop in bed, and a mouse would get lost in the bed. I almost dislike mice now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 When I first got a laptop (MacBook) with a touchpad, I detested it and complained. The complaints lasted all of a week. I now complain when I have to use a mouse. :D I will say, though, that for me, it depends on *where* the touchpad is located.... on my Mac, it's dead center, but on the dc's laptops, it's offset a bit and I am *always* dragging the 'meat' of my hand across it when I type. I will not buy a laptop with an offset touchpad. I will go back to a mouse before I do that. So, for me, I voted "touchpad", but that's because mine is in the center where I don't hit it while typing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 You can turn the touchpad off????? How?? I have a laptop issued by work that is like you said --- cursor jumps when I'm typing --- and I detest using that thing so much that I just bring my personal laptop instead. I won't even pretend to act like I know what I'm talking about, but on my Mac, I have a touchpad icon under my "hardware" button (for lack of proper terminology). It's in there that I can make changes. If I think way back to when I used a pc (assuming you are using a pc), I would guess you could find what you need in the "My Computer" file and go into "Hardware" and poke around. Maybe someone who knows more will come along with some 'real' help. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) You can turn the touchpad off????? How?? I have a laptop issued by work that is like you said --- cursor jumps when I'm typing --- and I detest using that thing so much that I just bring my personal laptop instead. Different versions of Windows change the way you do it but it should be something like this: Control panel, hardware/sound, mouse, mouse settings...there should be a box to click that turns the touch pad off. If you look in the bottom right hand corner of your screen in the icon area, there may be an icon for you touchpad. Mine looks like a grey box that fills in with blue when I touch the touchpad. Just hover over the various icons to see if one says "touchpad". Then click it. This should take you to the same location as the above directions. Edited November 4, 2012 by Tap, tap, tap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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