macbook air trackpad not slick enough

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Level 1

62 points

macbook air trackpad not slick enough

has anybody noticed with their macbook air that the trackpad is not very smooth. i mean when you slide your finger on it fortrackpad gesture, the finger doesnt glide smoothly and there is friction. i have a macbook pro mid 2009 and the trackpad produces much less friction so that it is very easy to use trackpad gestures on it. the only thing that i can think of is that maybe they are all like that when they are very new but get slicker over time. before i bought the air i took the only precautionary measure i could think of which was to try out the trackpads on the other macs in the applestore to see if they were all like that or only the air. it seemed to me that they were all the same. maybe a redesign of the trackpad on all macs then. i cant find any threads about the issue on here or anywhere else. any ideas?

macbook pro 2009 mbA 13"2010 iphone4, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Nov 15, 2010 5:38 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Nov 15, 2010 6:19 AM in response to ericcartman

No problems on mine.

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Answer 2

ericcartman Author

Level 1

62 points

Nov 15, 2010 7:11 AM in response to Tony T1

thanks for the feedback. do you have or have you used a multitouch trackpad on another machine? the reason i ask is that probably if i hadnt experienced the smoother trackpad on the other machine, i would just have assumed that this is how multitouch trackpads behave. and its and odd thing, because between my old 3g and iphone 4 the touchscreen is slicker i guess because of the oleophobic coating. i would have thought that is the way to go with trackpads and touchscreens, towards the point when there is less friction between the finger and the surface it is sliding on .

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Answer 3

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Nov 15, 2010 7:24 AM in response to ericcartman

No, but I did notice that after awhile, it helps if I wipe it with a cleaner (I use OmniCleanz)

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Answer 4

josemari

Level 1

110 points

Nov 15, 2010 12:46 PM in response to ericcartman

It is as smooth as the Magic Trackpad and noticeably smoother than the trackpad of the previous Air.

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Answer 5

Nov 15, 2010 12:55 PM in response to ericcartman

Hi ericcartman,

Over time, as the trackpad gets more use, it will become smoother. You have to wear it down a bit before it is very smooth.

I suspect the reason that the MacBook Airs in the Apple Store have not-so-smooth trackpads is because they are very new and have not been used much. The other models (i.e. MacBook Pro, MacBook) have been out for longer and may have smoother trackpads once they are used a bit more.

Hope this helps you!

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Answer 6

thanon

Level 1

79 points

Nov 15, 2010 12:58 PM in response to Isaac Bardin

And there's always hand soap - couldn't resist . 😉

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Answer 7

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Nov 15, 2010 1:07 PM in response to Isaac Bardin

Isaac Bardin wrote:
I suspect the reason that the MacBook Airs in the Apple Store have not-so-smooth trackpads is because they are very new and have not been used much. The other models (i.e. MacBook Pro, MacBook) have been out for longer and may have smoother trackpads once they are used a bit more.

I agree with Isaac. There's definitely some 'break in' time with the new glass trackpad. I find that it'll definitely get better with time (and usage). But as far as 'out of the box' I noticed no difference between a brand new 13" MBP and an 11" MBA that I set up for some users late last week.

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Answer 8

(n_n)

Level 2

355 points

Nov 15, 2010 11:03 PM in response to JasonFear

Hi,

Have you guys realized that once the Air is on, the trackpad and even other part of the Air will has more "friction" like electrostatics?

Try it: rubbing any part of the Air (aluminum) when it is on and off. You will feel the difference.

Or this only happens to mine?

Cheers

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Answer 9

anubhavy

Level 1

14 points

Aug 25, 2012 12:22 PM in response to ericcartman

did it get better with time ???....i am having same issue with my brand new air ...hoping it gets better with usage

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Answer 10

q-bit

Level 1

28 points

Aug 25, 2012 3:14 PM in response to anubhavy

Yes, the track pad of the MBA definately gets smoother over time as you use it. I've had my MBA for about 2 months now and the t-pad is a much smoother surface now.

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Answer 11

anubhavy

Level 1

14 points

Aug 25, 2012 4:21 PM in response to q-bit

at a slightest hint of moisture on my finger there is friction with trackpad...with dry fingers the trackpad is pretty smooth...does the trackpad's ability to handle moisture also gets better with time

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Answer 12

q-bit

Level 1

28 points

Aug 25, 2012 4:27 PM in response to anubhavy

Yes it does. Actually, I play guitar and the tips my left hand fingers have some pretty dry calluses. Now, they don't track as well as my right hand fingers do.

You will find over time that the trackpad surface smooths out....

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Answer 13

orfew

Level 1

5 points

Aug 25, 2012 4:48 PM in response to q-bit

Since I play guitar as well I had to try this. You are right, I have experienced the same results.

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Answer 14

LukeM13

Level 1

15 points

Nov 26, 2016 11:40 AM in response to ericcartman

bit of a long shot that you'll see this but if you do, did your trackpad get smoother over time?

I've just a brand new air and there is a fair bit of friction compared with my 7 year old macbook. But I can't remember if that also started off with a bit of friction.

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Answer 15

ericcartman Author

Level 1

62 points

Nov 26, 2016 12:46 PM in response to LukeM13

Oddly enough I saw this immediately, but don't remember seeing any of the earlier responses. Yes, fear not, it does get a lot smoother. I have a 2009 pro and a 2010 air. I have both in front of me now and there is no difference in smoothness- I just checked. I'm curious as to what the mechanism of it is - presumably whatever the glass is coated with wears down rather than the glass itself.

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