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Microsoft to Require Precision Touchpads in Future Windows 10 Laptops

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Re: Microsoft to Require Precision Touchpads in Future Windows 10 Laptops

#51

Post by 0xcoffee »

wluu wrote: post #47
zbrozek wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed they should! I'd like to have a good pointer that I can glue to my keyboard and use leaned back. I'd also like to configure what the gestures mean; there's no way to make three finger tap act like middle click. I use a Surface Pro 4. Microsoft has been very heavy handed about insisting you gesture only the way they want you to gesture. I really don't need a gesture to launch an already-disabled Cortana.

You can set three finger tap to do "nothing" instead of Cortana. You just need to goto the touchpad settings screen. See https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/microsoft-surface/7232/surfa... Wish there were other things I could set it to though.

Using the insider builds you have more options. Mine is set to middle click.

Re: Microsoft to Require Precision Touchpads in Future Windows 10 Laptops

#52

Post by 0xcoffee »

rbanffy wrote: post #44
abrowne wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're already out there, such as in the Dell XPS 13. IIRC some of the features work better with libinput.

I wonder if I can use gestures like I do on macOS for things like switching desktops.

By default 4 finger swipe switches desktops iirc

I changed it to 3 finger swipe on my xps

Re: Microsoft to Require Precision Touchpads in Future Windows 10 Laptops

#53

Post by 0xcoffee »

chokolad wrote: post #46
bicubic wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even Microsoft's own flagship Surface Book has a touch pad which is abysmal compared to what MBP offered on it's debut. I constantly experience issues ranging from jerky movements to completely failing to scroll until rebooted on my Surface Book. It's mind blowing that this still happens in 2016.

You probably have a faulty device. Swing by Microsoft store if you have one nearby and show them those issues. I have no problems with mine.

Actually I agree with him. The touchpads on the xps and MacBook are similar in optimal conditions, but the XPS one seems way more sensitive to sweat/oils from the hand and then stops working until it is cleaned. I have hyperhydrosis so my hands sweat alot, never caused an issue on my MacBook, but the XPS doesn't handle it as well.

On the software side, the MacBook can also handle finger movements quickly followed by a tap much better, while on the XPS if you do really quick movements followed by a tap the cursor will jump back a little. (Annoyingly enough to accidentally hit the close tab button when trying to switch tabs). I reported this to dell and they said the issue lies in the MS driver.

Re: Microsoft to Require Precision Touchpads in Future Windows 10 Laptops

#54

Post by zarify »

Arainach wrote: post #11
zarify wrote: post #3

I haven't tried the Surface Book, but you're lucky if you can even fit three or more fingers on the trackpads on the Surface Pro. Maybe MS could show some leadership there as well.

Are you looking at the original 2012 Surface Pro? The SP4 has a trackpad roughly as large as the Macbook Pro, as does the Surface Book.

I use a Surface Pro 3 for work, with students currently being given the 4.

I don't remember noticing much difference between the covers on the 3 and 4, and I find the trackpad on the 3 is bordering on unusable for anything that requires a large range of movement.

I really like the Surface as a hardware product, but the type covers are just gross.

Re: Microsoft to Require Precision Touchpads in Future Windows 10 Laptops

#55

Post by BillinghamJ »

basch wrote: post #42
BillinghamJ wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The trackpads built into the Surface computers are still nowhere near the level of Apple's.

the Pro and Book have completely different trackpads.

I have used both.
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