XPS M1530 touchpad features

I tried to configure my touchpad on my new M1530 today and realized that there aren't any other features in the software other than horizontal/vertical scrolling. I've never used any laptop touchpad that wasn't configurable with different touch options for shortcuts.

Are there any other drivers that restore these features that have always been available with every Dell Inspiron I've owned (don't know if XPS's are different)?

Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

 

Is it Dell customised software? I'm interested in this also. I understand they use an Alps touchpad.... I was recently playing with an Alps touchpad on a Toshiba and it had some nice setttings such as the touch area shortcuts you were mentioning. Perhaps try getting generic Alps drivers and software direct from Alps?

 

Yeah, it's an Alps.

Driver version 7.1.102.7

Same version on Dell's site.


I just couldn't believe that the configuration page is so generic, without any options for even "forward/back" for web browsing. I use these kinds of shortcuts quite frequently, and was surprised that this is the first laptop I've seen that you can't configure the pad with ANY of them.

Dell chat was about worthless. Was on hold while they "checked" on my issue for 15 min. just to be told that it must simply be that way.

 

You can try Alps drivers available from Toshiba and/or Fujitsu. You'll need to uninstall the existing drivers before trying the new ones.

 

Thanks, duff. Will definitely look into that.

Out of curiosity, I tried to use the same drivers that I have on my Inspiron 9300.

As expected, the incompatible warnings came up, but I installed them anyway. All the gestures that I've been used to are there and work, but the movement of the cursor leaves a lot to be desired. Not exactly precise. Dang it.

Uninstalled and back to the M1530 driver.


I just find it irritating that I can't slide my finger back and forth on the top of the touchpad to move back and forth through pages. I know it's seemingly a small thing, but for me, I do a lot of work going back and forth between sites. Having that gesture available, instead of moving the cursor up to the forward/back arrows each time, is very convenient.

Not to mention the other gestures I had in programmed in each of the 4 corners of the touchpad. However, those were of a distant secondary importance.

Thanks again.

 

One thing I have noticed with Alps drivers is that when you install a new version you have to remove the old one first or there will be some strange behavior. Uninstalling using the traditional method (Add/Remove Programs) doesn't seem to work very well. I usually go to the Alps directory where an Alps uninstall program resides. Run that after changing the touchpad driver from Alps to a generic M$ mouse.

 

Settled on using an Alps driver from Fujitsu. Working pretty good so far. Have my gestures back.

Thanks.

 

Pointed here from another thread, and asking the posters here: Did you get the results you wanted and are you satisfied?
And exactly which driver vers did you use? Links?

 

Update: See my last post in this related thread for some info on what I found today: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=207184

Unfortunately this solution may apply only to Win XP, but as that's what I'm on, I'm happy with that...