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[melba_frilkins]

I just got a new laptop and I'm sort of hating it. I'm not sure if it's me, the particular model I have, or just the way laptops are.

My big complaint is the touchpad. My hands drag over it while I'm typing and it does weird stuff as a result.  The most common problem is that as I'm typing it will jump and all of the sudden I'm typing in the wrong spot. The worst thing was once when it abruptly restarted while I was in the middle of something. I've messed with the touchpad settings, but in reducing the sensitivity to avoid those errors, it's then sluggish when I'm actually wanting to use the touchpad.

It's also annoying that the entire keyboard is black keys/black background. Year, it looks cool, but there's no frame of reference for finding various types of keys. And I don't appreciate that the function keys are dual-use (e.g., f10 doubles as the increase volume key) and in order to use them as traditional function keys, you also have to press an "fn" key AND the specific function key.

So is it just me, will I get used to all this? Is my computer poorly designed? Tips?

[wet_blanket]

Apart from the sensitivity of the touchpad, you might find either disabling tap-to-click or turning the pad on and off as you go will prevent the random jumping cursor.

But if you're really hating the machine, exchange it.  Go into Best Buy or similar where you can play with them all and hopefully figure out what features suit you.

[daniel_von_flanagan]

Just disable the touchpad and use the trackpoint.  (Assuming, of course, you bought a ThinkPad, otherwise I have no useful advice.) - DvF

[zharkov]

Just disable the touchpad and use the trackpoint.  (Assuming, of course, you bought a ThinkPad, otherwise I have no useful advice.) - DvF

Or turn off the pad and plug in a mouse.

[cc_alan]

So is it just me, will I get used to all this? Is my computer poorly designed? Tips?

I bought a new laptop a couple of years ago and the trackpad on it is much larger than what I was used to. Additionally, the trackpad allowed one to use gestures (swiping, tap combinations for screen dragging, etc.) that took some time for me to learn. I had a habit of dragging my thumbs across the trackpad while typing which resulted in weird jumps on the screen.

It took some time to train my hands but it's no longer much of an issue so I think you will adjust. I love not having to use a mouse and the reduced strain on my hands from not having to push buttons is great. I do get mixed up from time-to-time because I use 4 different computers (this laptop, home desktop, work laptop, media station in the classroom) using two different operating systems. Well, three if you consider two different versions from the same company. My brain occasionally feels squishy because of it...

Alan

[pink_]

You will get used to it. But if the thought of getting used to it makes you crazy, go see if there isn;t something else out there that you like better. Or (if you are a Mac user) you might find that getting one of those new trackpads that you can reposition next to your computer instead of directly below the keyboard is better for your working practices.

[seniorscholar]

A wi-fi mouse (with a little gizmo to plug into a USB slot) will work even if the computer is not currently connected to the net -- and the one I've had for several years (still in use on the second laptop I've had in the time) was quite inexpensive.

[eigen]

A wi-fi mouse (with a little gizmo to plug into a USB slot) will work even if the computer is not currently connected to the net -- and the one I've had for several years (still in use on the second laptop I've had in the time) was quite inexpensive.

Just to clarify, this likely isn't a "wi-fi" mouse, but a wireless mouse. Wi-fi refers to a particular standard of wireless communication, but there are a lot of wireless devices that are not at all related to internet connection.

Most newer computers will also support bluetooth mice, which are nice due to not taking up one of your USB ports.

Of the USB wireless mice I've used, I found the Microsoft Arc to be once of the nicest- comfortable, easily portable, and really long battery life.

[melba_frilkins]

Thanks so much. I feel like there's hope and my first step will just to be patient and let myself get used to it over time. Like Alan, I use many different computer set-ups throughout the day. I've adjusted to all the other variations, this one will just take a little more time.

The wireless mouse is a good back-up plan, but they only work if you're sitting at a desk or table (no actually lap-topping), right?

[seniorscholar]

Just to clarify, this likely isn't a "wi-fi" mouse, but a wireless mouse. Wi-fi refers to a particular standard of wireless communication, but there are a lot of wireless devices that are not at all related to internet connection.

Thank you. I was looking and looking for the word "wireless" in my head, but couldn't find it before I ran out of time this morning.

[systeme_d_]

The wireless mouse is a good back-up plan, but they only work if you're sitting at a desk or table (no actually lap-topping), right?

I love my wireless mouse, and I just used it by moving it along my thigh.  My computer is on a flat surface (table), but this mouse runs without even needing a mousepad.

It's a Logitech M510, in case you're interested.

[tee_bee]

Thanks so much. I feel like there's hope and my first step will just to be patient and let myself get used to it over time. Like Alan, I use many different computer set-ups throughout the day. I've adjusted to all the other variations, this one will just take a little more time.

The wireless mouse is a good back-up plan, but they only work if you're sitting at a desk or table (no actually lap-topping), right?

You don't have to "get used to it"! If your laptop has the trackpad and the buttons near it, you can rely on the buttons and not use the tap to click features of the touchpad at all. It's likely to be an option that can be turned off in the software that came installed on the laptop to manage the mouse, but if not, you can also handle it through the Control Panel in Windows. Sorry to be so vague--I've done this on three or four laptops I've had, to the point where finding the way to turn this off had become the first thing I'd do with a new machine.

[melba_frilkins]

Thanks so much. I feel like there's hope and my first step will just to be patient and let myself get used to it over time. Like Alan, I use many different computer set-ups throughout the day. I've adjusted to all the other variations, this one will just take a little more time.

The wireless mouse is a good back-up plan, but they only work if you're sitting at a desk or table (no actually lap-topping), right?

You don't have to "get used to it"! If your laptop has the trackpad and the buttons near it, you can rely on the buttons and not use the tap to click features of the touchpad at all. It's likely to be an option that can be turned off in the software that came installed on the laptop to manage the mouse, but if not, you can also handle it through the Control Panel in Windows. Sorry to be so vague--I've done this on three or four laptops I've had, to the point where finding the way to turn this off had become the first thing I'd do with a new machine.

Ok, I think I've got that. The touchpad now works only to move the (*!) cursor around but not for tapping.


*(AUGHHHH! Maybe not quite fixed yet. Just then as I was typing it abruptly scrolled to the bottom of the page.)

[bibliothecula]

I had the same touchpad issue with my netbook. I was able to disable it completely, and now I just use a wireless mouse. Just know that for some machines, you can't plug in the mouse until you've begin booting, or it will try to boot from the mouse's usb.

As for the keyboard, if you don't get used to it in another few days, go swap out the model for something you like more.

[cc_alan]

Thanks so much. I feel like there's hope and my first step will just to be patient and let myself get used to it over time. Like Alan, I use many different computer set-ups throughout the day. I've adjusted to all the other variations, this one will just take a little more time.

The wireless mouse is a good back-up plan, but they only work if you're sitting at a desk or table (no actually lap-topping), right?

You don't have to "get used to it"! If your laptop has the trackpad and the buttons near it, you can rely on the buttons and not use the tap to click features of the touchpad at all. It's likely to be an option that can be turned off in the software that came installed on the laptop to manage the mouse, but if not, you can also handle it through the Control Panel in Windows. Sorry to be so vague--I've done this on three or four laptops I've had, to the point where finding the way to turn this off had become the first thing I'd do with a new machine.

That's a great idea! The touchpads on the two different laptops feel so different to me that I disabled all of the extra features on my work-issued one so all it does now is move the cursor. I stick with the buttons on that one and no trackpad-tapping for me!

Alan