Elantech's Multitouch Trackpad

That's about the only use I've been able to think of for a multitouch trackpad (unless you count the scrolling and modifier functions that PowerBooks/MacBooks have long had).

Someone should tell him to try his thumb and finger--like you would do with a real object. He tries every way of getting two contacts BUT that :)

Seems clunky and unresponsive. Very unimpressive.
IMO, not much usability potential, it's more of a gimmick.

I'd be happy with proper Glidepoint drivers for OS X - USB Overdrive isn't really all that great.

It also seems to be a waste of real estate space. The whole front area only has the trackpad only taking up about 4 by 4 inches of space. Why didn't they make the trackpad larger? Not well thought out it seems . . .

Hmmm.... Apple's got to have a patent on that kind of thing. I smell a lawsuit coming on; or at least a threatening letter from Cupertino lawyers.

I really hope Apple's version of multitouch is not a lame as this! But, I must agree with another persons comment... what else would you use it for? Maybe that's what I want to see... more examples of why I need this and why its going to save me time???? Again, maybe Steve will be able to answer these questions with uses we have yet t think about?

It also seems to be a waste of real estate space. The whole front area only has the trackpad only taking up about 4 by 4 inches of space. Why didn't they make the trackpad larger? Not well thought out it seems . . .

I know someone else here on the forum did a mock up of a laptop with a widely expanded track pad as their take on the multitouch trackpad... I think this is not good because your hands will rest on it and before you know it, unintended touches are going to be taken as real touches and you'll be zooming and panning all over the place while you type! I can see it now!

Michael

mmm...

while kind of cool...

I think having a multitouch screen is much better. Touch screens can make it feel like you're actually touching it... but the touch pads fill about as much like touching things onscreen as a keyboard fills like using a pencil.

Looks clumsy and inefficient, like all trackpads. Ditch the trackpad idea. Use touchscreen. Just for mouse features. Keep the keyboard.

I know someone else here on the forum did a mock up of a laptop with a widely expanded track pad as their take on the multitouch trackpad... I think this is not good because your hands will rest on it and before you know it, unintended touches are going to be taken as real touches and you'll be zooming and panning all over the place while you type! I can see it now!

Michael

That depends. If your multitouch sensor is fine-grained enough, it will be able to easily detect the difference between a palm touch and a finger touch. That will be the important thing for a touch pad to have if it's going to be super-wide. I think they'll be able to make it work. Again, needs a higher-resolution than a lot of trackpads likely have.