I'd certainly contribute to a fund to raise money for a way of making the internet easily browse-able using the keyboard.
Then I would not need a pointing or scrolling device at ALL.
Which would be heaven.
Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
41–50 of 347 posts
Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
#42[deleted]
Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
#43I have been using 12" MacBooks since they came out because I live out of a backpack and travel a lot. I cannot find anything comparable in terms of size/weight/battery and build quality. Especially the trackpad, nothing is remotely close. Otherwise I'd get that and put Arch on it. People complain Apple is expensive, not so sure. The TCO may actually be less because of the high resale value. It is also more convenient…
How frequently are you traveling? And is it usually for extended periods of time? I'm curious for more details, if you can share.
I'd also like to know more about your config restoration process. Is it literally just running your script? What other things does it do?
My process is fairly streamlined as is, with most things except software installs done automatically. But I'm always on the lookout for improvements.
Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
#44I have been using 12" MacBooks since they came out because I live out of a backpack and travel a lot. I cannot find anything comparable in terms of size/weight/battery and build quality. Especially the trackpad, nothing is remotely close. Otherwise I'd get that and put Arch on it. People complain Apple is expensive, not so sure. The TCO may actually be less because of the high resale value. It is also more convenient…
Wouldn't it be easier to just wipe the drive before TSA?
Really depends on their comfort/paranoia level. If the device is taken out of their sight for more than a few minutes, they'd be highly suspicious. More so if you are crossing borders of countries known to be hostile.
Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wouldn't it be easier to just wipe the drive before TSA?
yeah if you're going through the trouble of selling and buying a new mac it really seems a drive wipe is more than sufficient but I may be missing something. in general traveling without a computer is easier than travelling with one.
I can see how selling a used MacBook(purchased in the USA from a state without state taxes) could just be sold off as a used item in say Europe, before returning back to the US. The difference in cost could actually be a net positive.
Now, if all your files live in the cloud, and you have your setup automated completely, why not?
Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
#46Is the touchpad driver in the macOS kernel? If yes, the kernel itself is open source, would it be crazy to try to extract the driver from there and make it Linux compatible?
Other question: When are you actually using the touchpad? I use my notebook 99% of the time with a screen + keyboard/mouse.
Next question: Can we get to the level of a Macbook touchpad only with software? Is there no magic sauce inside the hardware itself? How does the touchpad feel when installing Windows or Linux on the Mac?
Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
Something like https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/solutions/migr-73183
yep, but i prefer the newer style keyboards. id also make it smaller, no palm rests - closer to a 60key keyboard size.
Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
#48Yes, please do! I've spent some time researching this as well, and to me it seems like the author has missed one thing; the Mac touchpad hardware is so much better than other touchpad hardware. (As I understand it, the competition is barred from making similar touchpads due to patents)
I have been running Linux on MacBook Pros for many years, and the touchpad is a constant source of disappointment. For the effort to be worthwhile to me, the goal would have to include getting Apple's touchpads working excellently in Linux.
I would definitely participate in crowdfunding this effort. (Kickstarter or otherwise)
Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?
#49A cheap mouse allows finer and faster control than the best touchpad that currently exists, so... I plug in a mouse. (Don't believe me? Play an FPS game with touchpad against a mouse user.)
That said, Synaptics touchpad support on Linux is bad. In my case, it's the touchpad on a Thinkpad T440s. It can run in a legacy/standard protocol mode or a "modern" protocol mode. Linux supposedly supports the latter (where palm detection should work) since a few years, but I don't see it being used or palm detection working.