Filed under: Software Update, Macbook Pro, MacBook
Apple releases Trackpad firmware update for MacBook and MacBook Pro
This firmware update addresses an issue where trackpad clicks may not be recognized on MacBook (Late 2008) and MacBook Pro (Late 2008) systems.
Apple notes that because this is a firmware update, you will need to follow the on-screen instructions after the download is completed through Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update). If you wish to download the installer file directly, you can do so by going to Apple's update download website. After you install the update, come back here and take part in our poll -- we would like to know if this took care of your Trackpad woes.
Thanks to everyone who sent in this tip!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dave said 7:22PM on 11-17-2008
I haven't encountered the problem, but the firmware update appears not to have broken anything, at least.
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bibi-pov said 6:51PM on 11-17-2008
One word: w00t!
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aelle said 6:52PM on 11-17-2008
Seems to be ok... But i need to other tests...
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CarbonRod said 7:10PM on 11-17-2008
So far so good on my 2.0Ghz Macbook. I'm glad, too. The problem was consistently occuring.
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bmoney said 8:29PM on 11-17-2008
To chime in, now that I've installed the trackpad firmware update (previously I was not encountering any trackpad issues at all) I am having an issue where the first tap (not physical click) isn't recognized, I tap again and it registers as a double tap. Pretty darn annoying and no amount of rebooting or PRAM zapping is making it go away.
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Liisa Benmergui said 2:07AM on 11-19-2008
I am also experiencing the same type of bug, but I noticed it just before I updated the trackpad firmware. So, now I am wondering what this new found annoyance can be from. Brand new, about a week old, and all of a sudden the trackpad started acting up :( No amount of rebooting will help me now. Is anyone else experiencing this problem?
robertdalesio said 7:39PM on 11-17-2008
I never had any problems on my new MacBook Pro. I bought it October 25. I guess I'm just lucky!
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Gilbert Tang said 9:07PM on 11-17-2008
Not lucky. Likely. No probs here either.
ropeburn said 8:44PM on 11-17-2008
I'm cured, it was pretty annoying and now it's perfect :)
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Lo Aul said 8:45PM on 11-17-2008
I never experienced any issues with my trackpad. My troubles are on the Windows side. I am waiting for the day they put out Boot Camp 3
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Seth Brundle said 11:10AM on 11-21-2008
Apple completely sabotaged the Windows touchpad driver. Its hell.
There are multiple long threads on the Apple forums with users screaming for a fix, but people post that when they talk to Apple support about it, they swear its the first time anyone has complained. My support email just went unanswered.
Supposedly, the trackpad is supposed to work the same way under Windows that it does under MacOS, but it doesnt.
You would never know this without searching google forums, but bootcamp requires a 3-finger physical (no tapping) click to perform a right-click - yes its as awkward as it sounds, and it rarely registers correctly. right-click-Dragging is like some sort of masochistic finger yoga.
If you highlight anything with the trackpad (like a section of text), it immediately UNhighlights itself as soon as you remove your finger from the trackpad.
Its a nightmare.
Mit said 10:07PM on 11-17-2008
Meh, I hate the new trackpad and glossy screen. I hope Apple updates the Mac mini soon. It's the only Mac worth buying at this point, unless you like glare and staring at yourself.
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Simon Arch said 1:04AM on 11-18-2008
I'd just like to ask in all seriousness if you've actually been in the presence of one of these new machines. If you haven't, you really need to actually see one before you write them off. I was really angry about the gloss and the lack of Firewire on the basic MacBook, but five minutes with a Pro at Fry's changed my mind. The gloss is nowhere near as bad as that. In fact, it's nowhere near as bad as the gloss on my MacBook and that isn't bad at all. Plus those things are SOLID. My MacBook is pretty tough, but I reckon I could drive a tank over one of the new 'Books and it'd still boot.
navstar said 1:37AM on 11-18-2008
You needed D) No clicking problems before or after update.
I bought my MBP last weekend at a Best Buy special event (quad points!!) and it works just dandy.
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Dave said 1:43AM on 11-18-2008
I too thought the new machines were going to be annoyingly over mirror-like and wasn't enamoured with the concept of track pad or keyboard but once I actually worked with it for a couple days I'm sold on the updates. It's still best to configure a Display Profile to enhance the gamma and black levels.
My only sticking point now is that they need to toss out another patch for the user documented issues with USB devices, and setting the machine into sleep mode. I closed the lid, tossed it in my bag, went to a friends and opened the bag to find the machine not in sleep, but running full tilt without adequate cooling operating. A roaster to be sure. New tech, stupid quirks. Perhaps not enough QA, perhaps just an uncaught bug. Either way, unsafe and needs to be fixed.
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Emil said 2:17AM on 11-18-2008
Romanian people doesn't heard about Apple almost anything. At a presentation conference for the students there were only 4 students. I read here:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2esibiustandard%2ero%2f19826%2fn%2dau%2dauzit%2dde%2dapple%2ehtml
Emilian,
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/
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Orijnal said 3:32AM on 11-18-2008
I don't understand why people continue to complain about the glossy screens on the new MBP... a number of vendors now offer custom fitted screen protectors for the screen (for as little as 20 bucks) that essentially give it a matte finish. The endless whining in the comments on these posts never ceases to amaze me...
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Michael said 4:20AM on 11-18-2008
Well, i only knew mac from my good 'n old hackint0sh machine overt here. But lately all this stuff disturbed me, so i went around to the next shop, and bought one of those 2,4 Ghz macBooks they had there. First, the screen angered me a bit, but i musst sa that it's not as bad as i thought it is. You get used to it very well. But this shouldn't be the topic.
I went ahead and updated the Trackpad firmware, as i encountered problems like bmoney above which was having an issue where the first tap (not physical click) isn't recognized, I tap again and it registers as a double tap and also the secondaryclick in either one of the 2 lower corners didn't work.
Now, after the update it seems all fine for me! Now i'm glad that i have one of those wonderfull MacBooks :) !
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Hawkman said 5:59AM on 11-18-2008
Worked for me! But not before I'd got highly suspicious of clicks and tried to avoid them except where necessary... Time to retrain again, I suppose.
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purrza said 8:28AM on 11-18-2008
The update seems to have fixed all trackpad issues thankfully, although while trying to find a workaround I did discover the trackpad 'tapping' option I now rather favour. I also have had some issues with having my MBP not go to sleep mode when asked, and a few occasions where it would not awaken and I had to go through a hard restart. Not common, but annoying.
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