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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

#151

Post by layer8 »

pmontra wrote: post #122
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…

If I'll ever use a desktop again I also want an external touchpad and I want to place it in front of the keyboard like on a laptop. But you wrote trackpad. It's it the one with the ball? Probably not because you also wrote about multitouch. So, which trackpad do you use?

Touchpad and trackpad are synonyms. Trackpad is the older term.

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

#152

Post by macintux »

nerdjon wrote: post #109
TonyTrapp wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 without even thinking about it while I was re-reading this comment, I had fingers just resting on my trackpad. I think I'll never "get" drag&drop on MacBook touchpads. Ever…

Since you mention the touchpad being too small, are you trying to drag and drop with one finger or multiple? What I always just do is click with my thumb and move around with my other fingers. As long as my thumb stays down it stays selected. Then just a few quick swipes with my finger gets whatever it is I am selecting where I want to go. Same works for windows and anything you click and drag. Admittedly there is a…

One configuration I always immediately make is enabling three-finger dragging, along with tap-to-click. Significantly reduces the friction (both literal and figurative).

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

#153

Post by mewpmewp2 »

windowsrookie wrote: post #143
mewpmewp2 wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

You are right it works, but I guess I somehow usually expect it to happen in a lighter way, without the actual click going through. And when I do it, it feels weird to me. It feels like I have to exert more force than I would find "pleasurable" or "intuitive" for a right click. Like I either expect there to be a button that I have to actually press, or if it's a touchpad it feels like it should work with a lighter tap. It feels like having to press too hard for something that doesn't actually seem to go physically down enough.

Another thing that feels really weird to me is the cmd button location.

On windows I would use ctrl + c and v, it's easy to use my pinky finger, but with mac I have to twist my thumb and index finger.

I don't know. I just can't get into it. All of those little actions that are smooth for me otherwise feel like quite a chore and a turn off.

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

#154

Post by nikau »

eisa01 wrote: post #19
al_borland wrote: post #6

Why does this seem like such a hard problem to solve for everyone that isn’t Apple, when Apple seemingly solved the Trackpad over a decade ago? Is this it? An unknown ROI? >the highly uncertain ROI for trying to align touchpad acceleration has prevented us from proposing a system change to the default Linux settings. I can only speak for myself, but I gave up using trackpads on anything that isn’t a MacBook many year…

Didn't Microsoft try to do something with the Surface laptops? Did that pan out? But yes, it's mindboggling how bad trackpads are on PCs. I've had corporate Lenovo T-series, X1 Carbon, and Yoga for more than a decade, and while things have gotten slightly better I still need an external mouse I may need to travel a lot by bus to my new job, and I'm now actually considering a Mac again even though Excel/PowerPoint is…

I prefer my x1 over my former mac touchpad by a big margin.

Selecting text is a pain in the ass on mac as the cursor moves when you release the press on the touchpad.

No issue on thinkoads as you just use the separate physical left mouse button.

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

#155

Post by ambichook »

al_borland wrote: post #6

Why does this seem like such a hard problem to solve for everyone that isn’t Apple, when Apple seemingly solved the Trackpad over a decade ago? Is this it? An unknown ROI? >the highly uncertain ROI for trying to align touchpad acceleration has prevented us from proposing a system change to the default Linux settings. I can only speak for myself, but I gave up using trackpads on anything that isn’t a MacBook many year…

i'm going to be honest, maybe i'm just not particularly sensitive to poor input devices, but there have only been 2 trackpads i've used that actually felt bad, the vast majority are just... not noticeable to me? like i just use them and everything just feels fine. the only exceptions were a crappy old chromebook i had back in about 2016 and my current HP probook, itself a few years old now. i have heard very good things about the macbook trackpads, but macOS just doesnt interest me overmuch so i haven't ever bothered purchasing a macbook. it is something i'm considering, however, at least getting a used M1 air, just to try so i can see what all the fuss is about. maybe i'll be converted :)

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

#156

Post by al_borland »

FergusArgyll wrote: post #135
nerdjon wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since you mention the touchpad being too small, are you trying to drag and drop with one finger or multiple? What I always just do is click with my thumb and move around with my other fingers. As long as my thumb stays down it stays selected. Then just a few quick swipes with my finger gets whatever it is I am selecting where I want to go. Same works for windows and anything you click and drag. Admittedly there is a…

Someone I know who's been using apple forever does the same and it always confuses me. Now I know why!

This is also a holdover from how older trackpads with physical buttons worked. The buttons were at the bottom, so click with the thumb and move with the finger(s).

This is how I first used a trackpad 20+ years ago and I never felt the need to change. I tried some of the newer ways to click and drag and they all seemed worse. Tap to click is the first thing I disable on any laptop, that’s what my thumb is for.

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

#157

Post by matternous »

nerdjon wrote: post #59
al_borland wrote: post #6

Why does this seem like such a hard problem to solve for everyone that isn’t Apple, when Apple seemingly solved the Trackpad over a decade ago? Is this it? An unknown ROI? >the highly uncertain ROI for trying to align touchpad acceleration has prevented us from proposing a system change to the default Linux settings. I can only speak for myself, but I gave up using trackpads on anything that isn’t a MacBook many year…

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…

I got an external trackpad recently too for my Mac, but it feels noticeably less responsive than the one built into my MacBook, even when connected with a USB cable.

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

#158

Post by al_borland »

mewpmewp2 wrote: post #153
windowsrookie wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

You are right it works, but I guess I somehow usually expect it to happen in a lighter way, without the actual click going through. And when I do it, it feels weird to me. It feels like I have to exert more force than I would find "pleasurable" or "intuitive" for a right click. Like I either expect there to be a button that I have to actually press, or if it's a touchpad it feels like it should work with a lighter ta…

In the settings you can set how much force is needed, light, medium, or firm. Try changing it to light (if you haven't already). You can also enable tap-to-click there if you prefer the lightest touch. The settings area also shows all the various multitouch things that can be done, which is convenient place to learn them, or get a reminder.

In the settings you can also flip the modifier keys around, like control and command. Though that could lead to other weird things like trying to do control+c in the terminal. I usually use my ring and index, or middle finger and index. If you're using pinky for control, why switch to the thumb when you can use a closer finger that would be over command with your hand in the same position?

I will say the command+c does get a bit cramped, but I think command+v feels better than the stretch of control+v.

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

#159

Post by recursive »

danaris wrote: post #62
recursive wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, I'm not in the target audience. Fine. I would still like to know what it is.

Well, the first thing you need to know is that, as the title of the submission clearly states, this is about touchpads. Not keyboards. So, y'know, pointing out that the down arrow isn't super relevant isn't exactly coming out of nowhere. But assuming that their version of smooth scrolling does, in fact, work the same as Apple's, it's not even a matter of "it smoothly animates scrolling down by one line;" it's that yo…

I see.

If you can move a mouse cursor by a single pixel, that would seem to be enough fidelity to scroll by a single pixel. I've never seen a touchpad that didn't meet that criteria. But then I've never used a touchpad in linux. And maybe I'm just wrong about everything. Wouldn't be the first time.

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

#160

Post by iknowstuff »

k8svet wrote: post #10

I remember this project starting. Not one single thing has changed that affects me as a result and I use Linux everywhere, daily. As far as I can tell it's a lot of small, niche work, that is almost completely immaterial to average users. Meanwhile there's no stop scroll events across the ecosystem. The single biggest win that Linux touchpad needs is stop scroll events. I'll bite my tongue on passing more judgement o…

Depends on what you decided to use I guess. The touchpad experience is neat on gnome on wayland on a macbook/surface.
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