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Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

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Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#141

Post by yoavm »

LorenDB wrote: post #90

I'm confused what this is trying to achieve. In my four years of Linux usage, I have had no complaints about the touchpad[0]. [0] Other than the issue where sometimes my touchpad requires an extra finger touch to work after resuming from suspend, but I have a hunch that is a hardware/firmware issue. In fact, I seem to recall that happening on a Windows machine once.

Same here. ThinkPad user for years, never had any issues. Whenever I help a friend with a MacBook I often feel like I cannot control the touchpad and so I ask the friend to do the clicking. I think the whole story here is people moving from Apple to Linux and wanting things to feel exactly the same.

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#142

Post by IshKebab »

bheadmaster wrote: post #88
criddell wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> they can put the price tag they want on it. Want they spend 100$ on a trackpad, they can, but a PC manufacturer can't Why can't they?

Because they will have a more expensive laptop with nothing to show for it on the label, and customers will buy cheaper ones with "the same specs". You can't really put "better touchpad" on a label... or can you?

This whole thread is about people buying Macs because they have great touchpads (and I agree with that - I also would never buy anything else because of the touchpad).

Apple doesn't put "better touchpad" on their labels either. It's just very very obvious that they're better.

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#143

Post by windowsrookie »

mewpmewp2 wrote: post #139
nerdjon wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is an interesting thing to think about, I have friends that use Windows that are shocked that I willingly chose to get an external trackpad when I use my Mac as desktop. Even more interesting is when I see my partner try to do something on my Mac using a trackpad, he seems... apprehensive? Like he is so afraid of doing the wrong thing and for me this trackpad has never done something I didn't want it to do. Like w…

My work laptop is a macbook and I have been using it for over 5 years, but I still can't get a handle on it, even for a right click. I am not sure how people find MacOS so good. It just constantly goes against my intution and muscle memory. I also hate how I have to constantly turn of the mouse acceleration at random times using CLI.

Right click is just tap with two fingers. What issue are you having?

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#144

Post by samatman »

yencabulator wrote: post #105
samatman wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a categorical difference between preferring one sort of input over another, and there being only one acceptable implementation of that category. As you indicated, if the keyboard cough nub, let's call it a nub, is your mouse pusher of choice, you pretty much own a ThinkPad, because the other ones suck. If you like a trackpad, you have a Mac, for the same reason. I don't know if it's the hardware or the firmwa…

> If you like a trackpad, you have a Mac, for the same reason. Weird fanboyism. I've migrated from nubs to touchpads because Lenovo ruined Thinkpads, and I'm perfectly fine without a Mac thankyouverymuch.

Weird hostility. Apple's trackpads are best in class, there's no serious debate about this. There are plenty of other considerations as to what machine or machines someone might use, I don't care what sort of computer you prefer or even want to know, really. "Fanboy" is your insecurity talking, nothing more.

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#145

Post by wtallis »

yencabulator wrote: post #105
samatman wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a categorical difference between preferring one sort of input over another, and there being only one acceptable implementation of that category. As you indicated, if the keyboard cough nub, let's call it a nub, is your mouse pusher of choice, you pretty much own a ThinkPad, because the other ones suck. If you like a trackpad, you have a Mac, for the same reason. I don't know if it's the hardware or the firmwa…

> If you like a trackpad, you have a Mac, for the same reason. Weird fanboyism. I've migrated from nubs to touchpads because Lenovo ruined Thinkpads, and I'm perfectly fine without a Mac thankyouverymuch.

It sounds like you don't like trackpads, so you're not providing a counterexample to that statement.

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#146

Post by unethical_ban »

LorenDB wrote: post #90

I'm confused what this is trying to achieve. In my four years of Linux usage, I have had no complaints about the touchpad[0]. [0] Other than the issue where sometimes my touchpad requires an extra finger touch to work after resuming from suspend, but I have a hunch that is a hardware/firmware issue. In fact, I seem to recall that happening on a Windows machine once.

As someone who has had multiple vendors with Ubuntu and Fedora installed, and having a work macbook, I can tell you the trackpad experience is much better on Apple. To me, it's the same user experience as going from a 60 hz screen to a 120 hz screen smoother animation, more immediate response, and better " intuitive " acceleration.

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#147

Post by bmicraft »

pmontra wrote: post #132
ralphist wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I filed an issue[1] on cosmic in hope they'll get it right, but I don't have too high hopes that this is of much interest. That's insane but you're right. Firefox on Ubuntu had awful trackpad scrolling 10 years ago and it's still bad. How do you make an OS where the main pointing device on half of the market sucks and assign that low priority?

I've been using Firefox on Ubuntu from 2009 to 2022, 08.10 to 22.04, then switched to Debian, but I never noticed any problem. I always used X11, a laptop, touchpad and two finger scrolling. Maybe is it a Wayland thing? Or it is very subjective.

Try enabling "XINPUT2" in firefox, you'd be surprised what a difference it makes

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#148

Post by eep_social »

yencabulator wrote: post #103
seszett wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been reading this kind of opinion for years, but I have always found the touchpad to be annoyingly slow under macOS. On the other hand, MacBooks are basically the only laptops with a large enough touchpad to be comfortable, I don't know if there's some other secret sauce Apple algorithm in the firmware that contributes to the experience, but to me the perfect combination is with a MacBook running Linux, which is…

> MacBooks are basically the only laptops with a large enough touchpad to be comfortable This is surprisingly tough to google, but apparently at least some Apple laptop touchpads are 13cm wide, and my Framework 13" touchpad is 11.5x7.66cm (and making it any taller would increase the size of the whole chassis).

Just measured a stand-alone, a 2020-era macbook pro 13” and a M1 Air. The pro and stand-alone are 13cm and the air is 12cm wide. For depth, the stand-alone is closer to square though at 11cm while the laptops both seem to be around 8cm or so.

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#149

Post by kiwijamo »

redundantly wrote: post #3

I welcome any and all improvements to touchpads on Linux and Windows systems. Switching from my personal MacBook to my work ThinkPad is like traveling back in time in terms of usability.

Was the Thinkpad running Windows? I find Linux (Debian distro running Wayland) on Thinkpads to be exceptionally good -- on par with (and in fact I would dare say better than) MacOS on Mac hardware.

Re: Linux Touchpad Like MacBook Update: 2023 Progress on Smooth Scrolling

#150

Post by kiwijamo »

marcodiego wrote: post #78

I think windows touchpads have also been improved after windows 10. Just a few years ago you could easily recognize windows user using notebook because they always brought a mouse with them, such bad was the touchpad on windows; actually it was way way worse than on linux. That habit seems to be fading out, so I guess the touchpads have also been improving for windows users recently.

I've recently switched back to Windows 11 from Linux and while it is certaintly better than what it was, is still way behind what Linux has.
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