Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing? • Hacker News Board

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#251

Post by _seemethere » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:43 PM UTC

nogridbag wrote: post #248

trash_panda wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reading this thread makes me wonder if I live in the same universe as HN. I'm amazed at the level of exquisiteness of the requirements of the HN crowd. I mean, I've been using computers all my life and used almost every Linux, Windows and OS X systems. I do get that Macbook touchpads are god-tier and unrivaled so far by other hardware manufacturers. That being said, I rather have my old Lenovo x220 with an external m…

People choose a Macbook because they can walk into an Apple store and walk out with a quality product. Compared to the average PC a macbook has: * Better display * Faster hard drive * Better battery life * God-tier touchpad :) * Premium build quality and materials * Better sound * Better resale value * An Apple store nearby where they can get factory support Sure there are laptops which are superior in certain aspect…

It's the same for Android vs iOS as well. With Android you have so many options that it's overwhelming, with an iPhone you'll have a product that is better than most Android phones and you don't have to worry about the chance of choice.

For a lot of people that's comforting.

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#252

Post by trash_panda » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:44 PM UTC

na85 wrote: post #230

trash_panda wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reading this thread makes me wonder if I live in the same universe as HN. I'm amazed at the level of exquisiteness of the requirements of the HN crowd. I mean, I've been using computers all my life and used almost every Linux, Windows and OS X systems. I do get that Macbook touchpads are god-tier and unrivaled so far by other hardware manufacturers. That being said, I rather have my old Lenovo x220 with an external m…

Where do you work that you have room to use a mouse? Coffee shops, planes, trains, passenger seat in a car, literally on my lap in waiting rooms or transit terminals, etc. This is where I use my laptop, and I don't have room for a mouse in these places.

Most of the time in a desk, I do travel a lot though. And when I'm using my laptop on my lap, I use the clitoris-like trackpoint, which I think it's terrible but I can work just fine with it.

I also have a Dell XPS and the touchpad is decent, I can work fine with it.

As I said, I'm not questioning the fact that Macs touchpads are superior, but I'm curious as to what are your use cases that make you think that you really need that superb touchpad? are you a graphic designer?

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#253

Post by masklinn » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:47 PM UTC

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #196

masklinn wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah odd it's as if different people have different sensibilities and my experience with trackpoints has no influence on yours and the other way around . How surprising.

You were the one expressing in absolutes.

> You were the one expressing in absolutes.

No, I was not. Go back and actually read my comment, I very specifically talked about myself and my precision using a trackpoint. In support of lokedhs professing to the same. And as an expression of the uselessness and irrelevance of isostatic's comment answering a question nobody'd asked.

But as usual the trackpoint zealots can't even take an expression of personal issues as anything but a personal attack on their way of life. Ya folks are tiring.

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#254

Post by balladeer » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:48 PM UTC

nerdponx wrote: post #169

101km wrote: post #11

I 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…

Agreed. Apple makes the best consumer mobile computer hardware by far, repairability issues aside. The touchpad is originally what sold me on my first MacBook (2013 13" Retina) and it is still the feature I miss the most on other laptops.

I had kept repairability issue aside until I had to go for flash drive replacement of my 2012 13" MacBook Air recently.

Apple support (which is a 3rd party in my country) said ~$400 and local repair guys quotes like $350 or so. The new MBA (last year's) is available for ~800 here. Apparently I can't get any other brand's flash drive fit in there.

That laptop worked just fine (battery, screen all). I wish I can find a way to give it another year or two. Maybe boot from a memory card or so and leave it plugged all the time?

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#255

Post by hajile » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:54 PM UTC

Has there been any consideration of the driver Google uses for the pixelbook? The touch experience is at least as good as a macbook and I think it's superior.

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#256

Post by rconti » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:55 PM UTC

101km wrote: post #11

I 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…

I think it's funny how your entire comment reads as a love story, then ends with "There is no alternative. I feel trapped".

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#257

Post by rconti » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:57 PM UTC

"but the Touchbar Era has taught me that it sucks to have my user experience tied to the whims of a singleminded hardware company."

He's negative on Apple, sure, but this should really read as "it sucks to have my user experience tied to the whims of a company". And that makes a better OSS tagline anyway.

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#258

Post by trash_panda » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:57 PM UTC

nogridbag wrote: post #248

trash_panda wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reading this thread makes me wonder if I live in the same universe as HN. I'm amazed at the level of exquisiteness of the requirements of the HN crowd. I mean, I've been using computers all my life and used almost every Linux, Windows and OS X systems. I do get that Macbook touchpads are god-tier and unrivaled so far by other hardware manufacturers. That being said, I rather have my old Lenovo x220 with an external m…

People choose a Macbook because they can walk into an Apple store and walk out with a quality product. Compared to the average PC a macbook has: * Better display * Faster hard drive * Better battery life * God-tier touchpad :) * Premium build quality and materials * Better sound * Better resale value * An Apple store nearby where they can get factory support Sure there are laptops which are superior in certain aspect…

Most of the regular (as in non-tech) people I know even though they like Macs (because they are beautiful) don't buy them (even if they have the money) because they don't think they're worth it. The people that do buy them are the ones that already bought into the Mac eco system, mainly because of the iPhone.

About the technical aspects you listed, I think most of them are debatable. But I do believe that none of them are the driving factors that explain why people but these computers.

What I don't understand is why we, technical people, are afraid to admit that we are also vulnerable to the extremely effective marketing campaigns of Apple.

You wanna talk about quality? I spilled a full cup of hot tea TWICE on my lenovo, and nothing happened. It turned off because it has a circuit that closes when it gets wet (to protect itself) but other than letting it dry, the computer is working just fine (I don't put sugar in my tea :) ). I dare you to try that in your new Macbook!

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#259

Post by yunyu » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:59 PM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #236

peterburkimsher wrote: post #140

I'll volunteer 2 months full-time development for free, with a few conditions. - I'm looking for a job in New Zealand, Australia, or Canada. Not Seattle (sorry Bill). I'd stop job hunting to work on this, so someone else will have to find me a job. - I'd develop for the MacBook Pro 2014, because that's my hardware. Only one Linux distro (probably Ubuntu). - Weekly check-in emails (maybe twice a week). A plan set out…

I hate to be negative, but what makes you think you can do in two months what Microsoft has failed to do in several years (Microsoft's Precision Touchpad is still a ways away from a Mac touchpad).

Really? Outside of the lack of force touch, I haven't found the Surface touchpads to be any worse than Macbook ones in terms of accuracy.

Re: Linux touchpad like a Macbook: goal worth pursuing?

#260

Post by oldgun » Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 3:59 PM UTC

I'm actually very interested in all the input devices for Linux. I feel like Desktop Linux is not as good on user input devices, compared to MacOS/Windows, e.g. touch screen, hand gesture, stylus support, and of course touchpad.

Would like to see them all improved. If there's such an initiative I'll definitely donate.