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Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

forum.notebookreview.com

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Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#151
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a big part of this is just personal preference. I've never used a Mac until a few weeks ago (for work), and I'm dying to return to my X220 or W530 trackpad. The giant glass pad is sticky and hard to use, and the scrolling gestures feel wrong to me. I've solved it by carrying a small external mouse in my laptop bag, and by using my MBP with a mechanical switch keyboard and a Logitech mouse 90% of the day.

The trackpad should never feel sticky. Something is wrong if it does. My MacBook Pro trackpad feels as smooth as my phone (2009)

A sticky trackpad could be a sign of ... let's just say hygiene issues.

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#152
post #63

In no way am I trying to incite Mac vs. PC, but after years of Apple laptops I grew bored with their aluminum fascism and decided (last year) to buy a top-of-the-line Thinkpad. A couple of months later, taking a huge economic hit, I sold the Thinkpad and returned to Apple. I simply could not handle the trackpad (and I gave up on the weird Thinkpad nubbin back in the early 2000s). I quite literally felt like I had a d…

The Thinkpad nipple mouse on my x220 is glorious to use

It is, however I find that sometimes I get a sore and after a couple hours of use and I have to switch to a mouse.

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#153
post #50

So, really, is there anything left to buy except MacBooks anymore? I'm not a big fan of Apple, and would have to go through all sorts of nuisances to install Linux on it anyway, but the longer I search for solid 13" laptop, the more horrified I become. It cannot be that nobody makes nice laptops, can it?

I have given up on Windows laptops myself. As a developer the Macbook Air is the best laptop I've ever owned. I sold it recently and am waiting to receive a 13" Macbook Pro because I needed more RAM and space.

The biggest issues I've had with Windows laptops are: a) Trackpad is usually horrible. Some of the laptops use a rubber like texture that feels like I'm scraping my finger along a really rough surface. b) Battery life is never as good as the manufacturer claims. It is usually much much worse. c) Updating to a new version of Windows is a gamble. Sometimes you can find all the drivers, other times you get old ones which kind of work (or not at all). Either way it is frustrating to have to hunt them down. d) Support from manufacturers is AWFUL. The only exception I can think of is Dell. They have been pretty good but I'm not sure if they have worldwide warranty. I can take my Macbook to an Apple store basically anywhere and have it fixed.

There are many other small things that add up over time. It's just not even worth it to save a bit of money. I'm not even a massive OS X fan. It works well enough and the hardware is top notch.

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#154
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

New thinkpads from the older lines are good. The original x1 carbon is glorious if you can find them still. But all the latest thinkpad models are junk - awful trackpad, bizarre keyboard design decisions. Yeah macs don't work too well for me either. I will try to ride my x1 forward and hopefully in a couple of years the google Chromebooks will be strong Linux options.

If Lenovo just took the original X1 Carbon, swapped in a 1440p screen, added a 16 GB RAM option, swapped in a Broadwell chip, and improved the battery life, it would be fantastic. I have the original X1 Carbon, and it's the perfect laptop.

The trackpad would still be crap, while I have injury issues with the trackpoint. But ya, it would be nice otherwise (I have an X1 Carbon Touch from work, personally use a rMBP).

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#155

In no way am I trying to incite Mac vs. PC, but after years of Apple laptops I grew bored with their aluminum fascism and decided (last year) to buy a top-of-the-line Thinkpad. A couple of months later, taking a huge economic hit, I sold the Thinkpad and returned to Apple. I simply could not handle the trackpad (and I gave up on the weird Thinkpad nubbin back in the early 2000s). I quite literally felt like I had a d…

Incidentally, as a lifelong PC user every time I have to use a Mac touchpad (which is quite often since a lot of my colleagues have them) I want to throw the light and shiny piece of junk out the window. I don't understand how you people use those things. As a recent Thinkpad convert I've actually switched exclusively to the Trackpoint too, but the touchpad is perfectly fine to me, I just prefer not moving my hands o…

There is this trade-off between making it fast to do big mouse movements and making fine mouse movements possible. Typical high-friction PC touchpads are awful for fine movements. Trackpoints are good for fine movements, but they don't have enough travel to also make it easy to throw the cursor to the other side of the screen quickly. In my experience with both, the high-sensitivity, low-friction glass touchpad on the mac enables as much fine control as the trackpoint while also allowing sweeping large mouse movements.

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#156

In no way am I trying to incite Mac vs. PC, but after years of Apple laptops I grew bored with their aluminum fascism and decided (last year) to buy a top-of-the-line Thinkpad. A couple of months later, taking a huge economic hit, I sold the Thinkpad and returned to Apple. I simply could not handle the trackpad (and I gave up on the weird Thinkpad nubbin back in the early 2000s). I quite literally felt like I had a d…

The ThinkPad click pad is an abomination. After nearly a year after regretfully "upgrading" from the IBM style to the new style... I still can't click with accuracy. Right, left - I have to make several attempts. And many times, the pointer moves during the process. I actually have to lug around an external mouse with my "top of the line" laptop. The keyboard isn't anything great, either.

Few companies have earned as much emotional hated as Lenovo has for making such junk.

Hardware hackers take note. I'd pay hundreds of dollars to replace the layout with one from an older series like the X201 or so. Just put back the triple buttons and the nice full sized keyboard and take my money.

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#157
post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not an either/or situation. You can have physical buttons, and still let you tap for a click.

I'm not talking about tap to click. I'm talking about the whole trackpad being a button.

I have a chromebook designed like this, and it removes any precision in clicking. I push down, and my finger slips as the trackpad depresses.

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#158
post #50

So, really, is there anything left to buy except MacBooks anymore? I'm not a big fan of Apple, and would have to go through all sorts of nuisances to install Linux on it anyway, but the longer I search for solid 13" laptop, the more horrified I become. It cannot be that nobody makes nice laptops, can it?

No idea how solid it is, but there's always the truly hilariously named HP Envy 14" if you want something that looks like a Macbook with a Windows button. http://store.hp.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/us/en/mdp/Lapt...

I have one of these. The trackpad is okay, but not as good as my MacBook Air's. Also, there are a few annoying little things about this laptop that can be get pretty frustrating. For example, there are no separate volume controls for speakers and headphones (at least not by default).

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see how right-click and drag could possibly be natural or easy on anything but a mouse. Apple introduced multi touch to solve problems just like that.

It works perfectly fine if you have two mouse buttons below the trackpad (which every laptop I've ever had before my macbook has had).

With every tech company trying to imitate all of Apple's poor decisions, it is getting hard to find a laptop that has physical buttons. They have all been switching over to having just the trackpad.

Re: Why Asus trackpad driver sets the CPU speed at maximum during scroll

#160
post #87
post #50

So, really, is there anything left to buy except MacBooks anymore? I'm not a big fan of Apple, and would have to go through all sorts of nuisances to install Linux on it anyway, but the longer I search for solid 13" laptop, the more horrified I become. It cannot be that nobody makes nice laptops, can it?

I'm constantly frustrated by this. I mean, HP and Lenovo have become the cheap Chinese knock-off companies of themselves, and there's an unwritten rule that every Asus product must be an absolute dream except for one critical deal-breaker frustration per-product that makes you hate it.

Lenovo business laptops. The consumer laptops are shoddy and thin, but the business laptops tend to be rather durable.
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