Filed under: Hardware, Software Update, Steve Jobs, Macbook Pro, MacBook
MacBook/Pro trackpad fix coming soon
Several people who own the new, unibody MacBooks and MacBook Pros are reporting trouble with the glass trackpads. Specifically, it's been failing to register clicks, seemingly at random. One user even told PC Pro, "I don't even attempt to use this machine unless I'm at a desk using a mouse."One user sent a complaint to Steve Jobs via email, and (reportedly) received the brief reply, "Software fix coming soon." We couldn't confirm that Steve himself actually sent this message, but he has responded to user emails in the past.
Personally, I've only used a new MacBook for a few hours and didn't experience any issues. We'll let you know as soon as this update becomes available.
[Via AppleInsider]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
oldefortran said 12:57PM on 11-05-2008
Excellent news. Many had suspected it was a software issue on Apple's discussion boards. Radar also lit up with huge numbers of complaints as well.
If you haven't experienced the problem, try doing any extended work in Photoshop (or a lot of drag selection in the finder) and you'll see how problematic inconsistent (in the case of clicking) or erroneous/excessive (in the case of tapping) it is using the glass-pad.
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Doctor said 1:00PM on 11-05-2008
I have to agree about the new glass trackpad. The new Macbook is my first Mac, and the machine doesn't always register clicks. I've found that for best success, I have to hit at the very bottom left of the trackpad for it to register as a click. The trackpad also seems to appreciate two finger clicks in the center of the trackpad. I thought that the problems I have experienced were due to my inexperience with the Mac platform...it makes me relieved to know that it isn't just me. I will add, however, that the machine is PERFECTLY USABLE with the trackpad, but sometimes you need to click more than once. No worries. I wouldn't fail to use the Macbook just because I don't have a mouse...and if you are truly using the computer as a portable notebook computer...you don't always have the room to use a mouse, either.
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mathamoz said 1:10PM on 11-05-2008
I haven't noticed any issues with the actual push click of my macbook's trackpad. The right click option works well too. I have noticed a few times that trying to just tap the pad to click hasn't registered for me as well as sometimes it not registering that I'm trying to move the mouse around, however, I have this issue with all trackpads on any laptop I've ever used.
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guiltyblade said 1:27PM on 11-05-2008
Where I have the most trouble is right click. I have it spaced for the bottom right, but it does no register that correctly. Additionally its too senstive, when placing fingers on it registers it as a tap and clicks things at times. Defiantely off. I took the tap function off and just did a whole pad as a click expect right click works like a donkey.
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Zokuga said 1:43PM on 11-05-2008
There is definitely a glitch...it seems to happen when you accidentally and briefly touch the pad with two fingers, then movement is totally disabled for up to five seconds. I haven't been able to reproduced it on a consistent basis, but it happens quite frequently.
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Andrew said 1:52PM on 11-05-2008
Awesome, it is an irritating bug. Good to know it will be fixed, but I will log it with support just to make sure.
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vandil said 1:55PM on 11-05-2008
And the public beta test of the new unibody models continues...
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Jon said 2:01PM on 11-05-2008
It's happening to me a little, but it's not as worrying as the general QC on MBPs. I'm on my 6th, yes 6th machine after having dead pixels, scratches, and dings.
We opened up three machines in store yesterday evening and the first two had VERY noticeable scratches near the trackpad plus funny small imperfections on the case.
The one I am using now is not perfect either - a small screen imperfection and a couple of case anomalies, but this is the best of the bunch.
I'm staggered the QC is so bad - I'm not new to Macs by any stretch of the imagination, but this is the worst I've seen in terms of bad quality.
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Luis said 7:48PM on 11-05-2008
l00l0 I'm on my sixth mac too (5 penryn macbook pro's and now this one ... has a dead pixel apl will trade it again)
BobYele said 3:33PM on 11-05-2008
Also experiencing problems with MB Pro which started last night. However, my problem isn't failing to register clicks, instead my mouse becomes disabled at random times, whether it's disabled or seriously lacking, the problem will continue for about 5 seconds at a time. It happened so often last night I was ready to pack up and return the unit while I'm still under the 14 day swap out period.
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Darren said 3:47PM on 11-05-2008
Do you have the "ignore accidental trackpad input" option enabled? If so, try turning it off.
oldefortran said 4:16PM on 11-05-2008
@Darren
The 'ignore accidental' option has been removed for the Late-2008s
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BobYele said 4:21PM on 11-05-2008
Darren, I don't have that option enabled, however I just sent Steve Jobs an email about my issue, let's see if I get a response.
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Phil Heywood said 7:24AM on 11-06-2008
Hang on, you e-mailed Steve Jobs directly because your trackpad's not working right?
I hope President-in-waiting Obama's ready for when the bulb in your streetlight goes...
BobYele said 8:11AM on 11-06-2008
Phil: You do realize that Steve occasionally writes back to people who email him as noted in this post? I didn't email him in the hopes of him fixing my issue, I just wanted to see if he would write back. Furthermore, O'Bama will be fixing street lights, lots of them, with all the new found taxes he'll be taking from me.
Drakfyre said 5:08PM on 11-05-2008
Just for the record, I have had my new Macbook Pro touchpad not register clicks occasionally. I've found that turning off the right-click option on the bottom right corner of the pad helps some, but it still happens on occasion. That being said, have you guys tried to use the touchpad in windows? It's complete garbage! I can't even drag select things 90% of the time. I know it's a software issue, I just am surprised they didn't ship with more robust drivers for windows.
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Larry said 9:33AM on 11-06-2008
Are you saying the new MBP's have the option to "ignore accidental trackpad input"? I have the MBP that I bought 6 months ago and it doesn't have that option and know it was in the previous generation MBP's. If these have it then I might have to go get one and sell mine...
Luigi193 said 5:42PM on 11-05-2008
Just add a way to disable the special gestures, and i'll be a happy camper!
Photoshop is almost unusable with the two finger zoom and rotate..
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Will said 7:47PM on 11-05-2008
This is great news. I thought it was a hardware problem with my Machine. Glad to see I am not alone.
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Tim said 2:04AM on 11-06-2008
I'm very glad to see that I'm not the only one who's been having a lot of issues with the trackpad.
Now if only there were something about the fuzziness of the iSight video and the graphics display. Those both are driving me insane lately.
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