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    A few tips to increase your TrackPad/TrackPoint Experience

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Marcham93, Mar 20, 2011.

  1. Marcham93

    Marcham93 Notebook Evangelist

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    Back in my dark years I owned two MacBook Pros. While not ThinkPads they had arguably the best multi-touch TouchPads out there, so when I received my T410s I was a bit disappointed with the TouchPad. In addition I found the TrackPoint to be nice, but lacking (note I had never used a TrackPoint before). So here are my tips which in my opinion make the ThinkPad TouchPad far better and also make the TrackPoint more useful.

    TouchPad Tips

    1) Turn palm check down to the 4th notch on the slider. This disables the annoying lag you experience when switching between the keyboard and TouchPad. (Setting can vary by ThinkPad model)

    2) Turn gesture filtering off. This will allow you to do multi-touch gestures anywhere on the TouchPad instead of limiting you to the center.

    3) Turn scrolling speed down to the 2nd notch on the slider. When using two fingers to scroll this setting really benefits. I have no idea why Synaptics felt rocketing through the page would be useful.

    TrackPoint Tip

    1) Enable Press-to-Select. This will allow you to tap the TrackPoint to make a selection. Must faster and easier then going for the bottom TrackPoint buttons in some situations.

    Once again these are just my preferences and I felt that they really improved my experience a lot so I would share them. In my opinion I feel that with these settings and this wonderful textured TouchPad the experience is on par with that of the MacBook Pro TouchPad.

    Enjoy. :)
     
    Marcham93, Mar 20, 2011
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  2. junglerumble

    junglerumble Notebook Consultant

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    Great thread. I'm about to but my first thinkpad (x120e) and I'm really nervous about the touch pad. I use 2 finger scrolling A LOT!
     
    junglerumble, Mar 20, 2011
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  3. Marcham93

    Marcham93 Notebook Evangelist

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    Welcome to the ThinkPad family then! :D

    You may find that due to the size of the X120e the TrackPoint may be easier and more comfortable to use (after some practice), but the touchpad should be fine also.
     
    Marcham93, Mar 20, 2011
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  4. Pseudorandom

    Pseudorandom Notebook Evangelist

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    For scrolling, most people I know that don't normally use a trackpoint computer use the trackpoint exclusively for scrolling on my Thinkpad. Its easier, a middle button is very useful.
     
    Pseudorandom, Mar 20, 2011
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  5. KnightZero

    KnightZero Notebook Consultant

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    Good luck to those who try this - I have never been able to get along with press to select. My thumbs are close enough from my standard keyboarding distance that I prefer to shift that way. To each their own, though.

    I'll certainly be trying out your touchpad recommendations, especially if my next Thinkpad forces me to have one, as I suspect it will.
     
    KnightZero, Mar 20, 2011
    #5