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Last Post
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Apr 8, 2009 4:37 PM
by: Sgathaich
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Posts:
13
Registered:
Jun 27, 2006
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New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 17, 2008 9:55 PM
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The new computer is amazing..... except for the trackpad which is erratic in operation.
Sometimes it registers the clicks, sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes the cursor moves, some times it doesn't.
Sometimes one puts the cursor over a menu item to select, and when pressing the pad, the cursor jumps off without the item getting selected.
It's erratic about 10 of every 100 click.
Looking online, it seems I am not the only one with this problem.
Does any one know of a software patch to address the problem?
12" Powerbook G4 1.5GHz
Mac OS X (10.4.6)
1.25GB RAM
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Posts:
2
From:
Tokyo
Registered:
Oct 18, 2008
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 17, 2008 10:19 PM
in response to: Branwell McClory
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yep, very erratic here too...
I found that placing thumb and index on the trackpad at the same time, and immediately dragging index up (the most perfectly basic use of the trackpad) will NOT result in the cursor moving up in 30% of the cases.
It seems to depend on WHERE the thumb hits the pad (close to the bottom edge or more in the middle)
Try:
- place thumb in bottom 1/4 of pad. THEN, place index higher on pad and drag. Cursor moves.
now:
- place thumb just a bit under the middle of the pad, THEN place index finger higher on pad and drag. The cursor doesn't move.
That means, you must:
A. never leave your thumb on the pad while you are tracking with the index, only touching the pad with your thumb when you need to click and lifting it off there right after.
Which means you need to hold your thumb up all the time which is tiring (I used to leave it on the button).
B. OR make sure that your thumb never touches-down on the pad above the bottom 1/4 when you leave it on the pad while tracking.
Which is hard for people with big hands or people that are not used to it...
So basically, it means we need to learn to get used to the B solution... which sounds counter productive and enraging at times... the trackpad of the AIR sounds much more attractive... big pad and small button (that you can't miss)
However, I am hopeful that Apple will adjust the settings of that pad in a future fix, to make it more "forgiving"...
Thoughts?
MacBook Aluminium 08
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
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Posts:
4
From:
Essen, Germany
Registered:
Sep 6, 2008
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 17, 2008 10:59 PM
in response to: Branwell McClory
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Hello,
same problem here. One out of ten klicks isn´t recognized.
So now I have to figure out why this happens. I don´t think that it is faulty hardware. Sometimes I have the feeling the trackpad is going into a kind of sleep mode???
Maybe there will be a Firmware update in the near future.
MacBook, iPhone 3G
Mac OS X (10.5.4)
Apple Certified Macintosh Technican
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Posts:
1,608
From:
London
Registered:
Apr 2, 2006
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 18, 2008 2:36 AM
in response to: Branwell McClory
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I noticed this at the store on the Pro's as well. Maybe it needs a driver update.
MacBook Black
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
2.16GHz, 4GB, 200GB @ 7200, iPhone
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Posts:
11
From:
USA
Registered:
Oct 15, 2008
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Posts:
260
From:
Broken Arrow, OK
Registered:
Dec 10, 2004
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 18, 2008 10:07 AM
in response to: Branwell McClory
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Am seeing the same thing on a new MacBook (aluminum) purchased last night. Sometimes I have to click the trackpad 3 times in order for the click to "register". I've also seen the cursor jump when clicking the trackpad....can be frustrating at time.
Here's hoping this can be fixed via some sort of update.
3.06GHz Alum iMac; iPod 80GB Classic; Epson RX680 AIO
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
4GB RAM
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Posts:
9
From:
Left Coast USA
Registered:
Nov 20, 2007
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 20, 2008 5:04 PM
in response to: Branwell McClory
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This is driving me freakin' crazy!!!!!
4-6 clicks sometimes before the click registers. Mostly I can work around by tapping but somethings require a press and hold, selecting text for example. It's really f^$king fun to position your cursor, press the button, swipe over the txt you want only to get nothing, then have to go back and do that 4 or 5 more times.
Come on apple if you can't build it right (you seemingly can't) at least acknowledge the problem and/or provide a fix!
alu macbook
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
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Posts:
11
From:
USA
Registered:
Oct 15, 2008
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 20, 2008 5:14 PM
in response to: Branwell McClory
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I stopped by the apple store in King of Prussia today and noticed this issue doesn't present itself with the demos when they are sitting on the table. My guess is that since you're standing over it and essentially pressing straight down in a harder motion the mouse works almost every time. Try sitting at the table and using the mouse and the issue happens consistently.
I even noticed some people testing them and having issues. The funny part was that two people came in a exchanged their new macbooks for other units because of a trackpad issue while I was there. This appears to be wide spread now.
macbook aluminum
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
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Posts:
1,608
From:
London
Registered:
Apr 2, 2006
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 21, 2008 1:34 AM
in response to: Everyday215
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Oddly, I noticed this issue on the demos at the Apple Store I went to. Both MacBook's and Pro's seemed affected. I am sure there needs to be an driver update, or possibly settings configuration.
MacBook Black
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
2.16GHz, 4GB, 200GB @ 7200, iPhone
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Posts:
305
From:
Northampton, UK
Registered:
Jan 24, 2001
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 21, 2008 1:44 AM
in response to: Nick A
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My experience was slightly different: the MBPs were fine; the MB trackpads "felt" odd when clicked and cursor movement was erratic too. I'm going back to MK later today to give them a another go.
iMac 24 inch
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
3GB 2.33GHz C2D, 500GB TV x 2 iPhone 3G 16GB
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Posts:
4
From:
Chicago, IL
Registered:
Oct 21, 2008
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 21, 2008 11:57 AM
in response to: Michael Blake
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My brand new Macbook is having this issue. Most of the time the trackpad works fine, but sometimes it suddenly becomes unresponsive (i move my finger around and it does nothing until i lift it back up), or choppy/laggy. I called tech support but they couldnt do anything to fix it, so I'm taking it into the genius bar tomorrow.
My fear is that they won't replace it unless i can clearly demonstrate the problem, but it is very intermittent. Anyone have any suggestions?
Aluminum 13-inch Macbook
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
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Posts:
71
From:
Houston
Registered:
Jul 12, 2008
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 21, 2008 12:58 PM
in response to: Branwell McClory
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Just so everyone knows:
I did get my macbook replaced, and it STILL has the same problem. I used the ones in their store for a while and it did the same thing. It is a universal software/hardware issue, so there is no use getting yours replaced (if you are considering that) at this point
Aluminum Macbook 2.4 Ghz
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
iPhone 3G
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Posts:
224
Registered:
Jun 26, 2006
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 21, 2008 2:20 PM
in response to: blues tank
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Good Afternoon,
I was about to purchase a new Macbook, but now I'm reading about this trackpad problem, as well as a problem with the wireless N signal. These are the kinds of problems that I just don't want to deal with.
I'm disappointed, because I was planning to have this finally be the time I made the big switch from Windows to Mac OS.
Any idea when Apple will be addressing these problems?
Thanks,
Matthew
Windows Vista
iPod Classic 80GB, iPod Touch 8GB, iPod Nano 8GB
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Posts:
2
From:
toronto
Registered:
Oct 21, 2008
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 21, 2008 4:11 PM
in response to: MSchenker
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I prefer definitive answers to wild speculation and off topic meanderings, and since my macbook was also plagued by this mysterious non-responsive click at the top of the trackpad I felt the need to get some answers.
So, is the whole trackpad supposed to click in the first place? Well, Apple's says:
"All-new, smooth glass Multi-Touch trackpad.It’s redesigned with even more room for even more gestures. Now the entire glass trackpad is also the button, so it’s clickable everywhere." (see apple.com/macbook )
And further:"The amazing new trackpad doubles as a button — just press down anywhere and consider it clicked." (see apple.com/macbook/features )
Admittedly Apple has taken a somewhat different stance here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3211 where they say "Unlike typical trackpads, this MacBook and MacBook Pro trackpad is a button in itself; you can click almost anywhere on the trackpad."
With this information in hand I took my Macbook back to my local apple store (toronto eaton centre). At first I was greeted with much distain. "No", they "told me, you are not supposed to be able to click at the top of the trackpad".
"To which I replied but what about this information on the website?" I said.
"Oh well, you can TAP anywhere, but the trackpad is not clickable everywhere" They said.
Of course I pointed out that this is not how the website describes the features, so this turned into a bit of a discussion. Mac "geniuses" became involved, a manager at the store... The decision: "Store-wide, the top of the trackpad is not supposed to be clickable" (not his exact words, but something to that effect).
To be fair the employees did allow me to exchange my macbook, subject to the fact that I would have to pay a restocking fee if i opened it and wanted to return it again.
Feeling a bit worried (from reading these forums) that my replacement macbook would also suffer from the same defect, I felt I needed to reconcile the difference between the store's position and whoever writes the words on apple.com/macbook.
I called the store again, spoke to a manager, tried to get an explanation as to how they could take a position that was different from what the website reported, and is this a manufacturing defect or is the machine simply not supposed to be clickable at the top of the trackpad. The store stuck to their position that the machine is not designed to be clickable at the top of the trackpad, but hey, we understand your confusion, if you have to return it, we wont charge you the restocking fee, even if its opened.
Happier about the fee, but still unsatisfied, I called the folks at apple care. They would know the answer, right?
After communicating the above information, the apple care tech took some time to review the materials provided by Apple and confirmed that indeed the tackpad SHOULD register a click at the top, and if it does not, there is a problem. He was bemuddled by the position of the Toronto Eaton Centre Store, but assured me that if my new machine had the same problem, it could be returned or exchanged.
That's my report on the issue, take what you will from it. Hopefully this answers some questions or concerns. For myself, I'm still debating if I should wait for that second revision of the Macbooks sometime next year, given this issue.
aluminum macbook 2.4
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
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Posts:
12,055
From:
Seattle, Washington
Registered:
Aug 25, 2000
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Re: New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad
Posted:
Oct 21, 2008 4:45 PM
in response to: MSchenker
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These are the kinds of problems that I just don't want to deal with.
MSchenker, keep in mind not only are you in the "Mac hospital" here but you're in the emergency room. Not everyone with a new MacBook is having problems. My new MacBook's trackpad is functioning as I would expect. Not EVERY MacBook is experiencing this problem.
-Doug
2GHz Intel iMac 2GB RAM, 500GB HD SD / 2.4GHz Al.MacBook 2GB RAM, 250GB HD
Mac OS X (10.5.5)
AirPort Express / EyeTV Hybrid / 32GB iPod touch 8GB iPod nano (3G)
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