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Level 1

9 points

I hate the narrow scroll bars in Lion. How to adjust?

I recently upgraded to Lion, which all seems realtively nice and well designed to me. In years of Apple developments, I have learned to appreciate the changes and gradually have come to appreciate most of the stuff they come up with. One thing really annoys me seriously, though, and that is the very narrow scroll bars! When I could easily find the scroll bar in 10.5, an 6. I now have to waste my energy on pointing the mouse at the very narrow scroll bar. Who the **** had the great idea to narrow it? 😢😠😠 There is NO WAY I can live with this.

Has anyone come up with a fix? If this is not fixable, I will downgrade to 10.6 again.

Kimster66

Posted on Dec 9, 2011 5:14 PM

33 replies

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,668 points

Dec 10, 2011 6:37 AM in response to Tom in London

Tom in London wrote:

So everything has to be narrowed down.

Narrowed down? I'd like them gone completely. I haven't used one since installing Lion and getting a Magic Trackpad.

Dec 10, 2011 6:40 AM in response to Tony T1

Tony T1 wrote:

Tom, if you dislike Lion so much, why not downgrade to Snow Leopard?

Why have you assumed that I didn't?

FYI I did and I now have a stable, user-friendly OS to work with, over which I have full control.

Your big mistake is in thinking that moving to Snow Leopard is "downgrading". It isn't.

I also have Lion on another computer, which I fire up every once in a while as a curiosity when I'm not doing anything serious. I regard it as a toy.

Dec 10, 2011 6:42 AM in response to Barney-15E

Well, bully for you. Some people (myself included) can't use trackpads.

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Dec 10, 2011 6:50 AM in response to Tom in London

Tom in London wrote:

Tony T1 wrote:

Tom, if you dislike Lion so much, why not downgrade to Snow Leopard?

Here's how:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3557105?answerId=16956285022#16956285022

Why have you assumed that I didn't?

The assumption was made as this is the Lion Forum.

I hate Windows, but I don't troll the MicroSoft forums commenting about how much I hate Windows every day.

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,668 points

Dec 10, 2011 7:37 AM in response to Tom in London

Tom in London wrote:

Well, bully for you. Some people (myself included) can't use trackpads.

Then you shouldn't be using Lion. Its whole UI is geared around gestures.

A lot of it can be done with the keyboard, but it is so much simpler to get around with a trackpad.

kimster66 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 10, 2011 7:46 AM in response to Tony T1

I can only repeat my point here: I am generally pleased with Lion, but like a number of others I think that Apple would have done better to give people a choice. Read this as an example: http://simurai.com/post/8083942390/force-lion-scrollbar

Tony: Sarcasm is generally judged by effect and not by intention. Clearly this point escapes you. To put down users who feel frustrated and to try to ridicule them by smug sarcasm is a common mistake often repeated by the poorest of pedagogues: "Oh, your problem is so s m a l l that it's not even worthy of my empathy..." Your attitude is a dead giveaway, mister. Don't impress me much.

Apparently, you believe its your right to moralize as to my behaviour as a consumer. It may come as a surprise, but your 'advice' is actually unwanted, nonconstructive and in poor taste. I suggest you rather spend the time staring at your own reflection. I'm certain you will be extremely pleased.

I for one have better things to do.

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,668 points

Dec 10, 2011 7:41 AM in response to kimster66

kimster66 wrote:

...but like a number of others I think that Apple would have done well to give people a choice.

Apple hasn't given anybody a choice since the choice between Graphite and Blue and the highlight color. Hoping that it happens now is highly unlikely.

kimster66 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 10, 2011 7:53 AM in response to Barney-15E

Quite the contrary: you can adjust your trackpad to suit your pref, right? So what is the principal difference between adding adjustment for a mouse and a scroll bar? Apple gives users choices all the time. It's part of the deal. They just could not be bothered with the scroll bar. I will probably survive a narrow scroll bar. My point was simply that it could have been adjustable. I am not hoping it will happen, I just - perhaps naively - asked if anyone knew how to adjust it.

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Dec 10, 2011 8:35 AM in response to kimster66

kimster66 wrote:

I for one have better things to do.

As one who cannot adapt to small scroll bars ("There is NO WAY I can live with this"), I don't think you do...

Edit: I'm happy to see that you have come to grips with this devastating problem that Apple has bestowed upon you ("I will probably survive a narrow scroll bar"), but if you change your mind and want to downgrade to SL, see: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3557105?answerId=16956285022#16956285022

Tony

Dec 10, 2011 10:55 AM in response to Tony T1

Tony T1 wrote:

I hate Windows, but I don't troll the MicroSoft forums commenting about how much I hate Windows every day.

Frankly I'm not that interested in how you feel about Windows, and how you don't troll the MS forums. I just don't see what that has to with the Lion discussion forums.

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Dec 10, 2011 12:30 PM in response to Barney-15E

Barney-15E wrote:

Tom in London wrote:

Well, bully for you. Some people (myself included) can't use trackpads.

Then you shouldn't be using Lion. Its whole UI is geared around gestures.

A lot of it can be done with the keyboard, but it is so much simpler to get around with a trackpad.

The interesting thing is, Tom in UK doesn't use Lion, he's still on SL (he just likes stirring the Sh*t in the Lion forum, just ignore him)

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,668 points

Dec 10, 2011 12:35 PM in response to Tony T1

The interesting thing is, Tom in UK doesn't use Lion, he's still on SL (he just likes stirring the Sh*t in the Lion forum, just ignore him)

But I enjoy stirring up Tom. It's easy, but some days you have to take it easy.

Tony T1

Level 6

10,232 points

Dec 10, 2011 12:37 PM in response to Barney-15E

😁

Subbu44

Level 1

8 points

Dec 14, 2011 9:57 AM in response to Tony T1

I, like kimster66, find the scroll bars way too narrow in OS Lion, not to mention its barely noticeable color. Reason being I use an external ergonomic keyboard and mouse and so rarely ever use the touchpad except when I am using the MBP strictly as a laptop. I love my MBP, but find laptop keyboards too small. Call me old-fashioned, but as you get older you will relate to people like me better.

I don't mind Apple listening to those customers who wanted the scroll bars out, but should give those who want it retained the option to widen it. Shouldn't be that much of a programming job I would think.

Subbu

Dec 14, 2011 10:26 AM in response to Subbu44

Tell Apple

I hate the narrow scroll bars in Lion. How to adjust?