Microsoft is putting a big effort into improving trackpad navigation for Windows 10. While Windows 8 introduced new precision trackpads with the help of Intel, Microsoft is building on its previous work by standardizing gestures for laptops that use precision trackpads. Windows 10 will include multi-finger gestures to access new features like the notification center, Cortana, and virtual desktops. Windows trackpads have traditionally been a pain point for laptop owners, and it’s something PC makers have largely ignored despite it being the primary input mechanism and key to using a laptop.
I’ve heard this promise so many times from Microsoft and its OEMs, but while improvements have been made, they’re simply not even close yet to Apple’s trackpads.
If I’ve skim-read that correctly (the link doesn’t work by the way) it looks like trackpad swipe gestures have been removed in Windows 10.
In my opinion that’s one of the best UI decisions Microsoft have made for a while. Those edge swipes work on a touch screen, but on a trackpad they’re one of the most insanely annoying UI features I’ve ever encountered.
Nothing has ever made me want to throw a computer across the room more than repeatedly triggering the useless fucking Charms bar on a borrowed Windows 8 laptop. Yes, I do know it’s fixable with registry editing or 3rd party software, but the work laptop I was using didn’t permit that kind of tweaking.
Getting a MacBook Pro was at least partly an impulsive reaction to that miserable and frustrating experience with Windows 8. If Windows 10 isn’t terrible, and they really can pull off a trackpad that matches the MacBook, I might be tempted back…
Windowskey + C
I know you can quickly show/hide the Charms bar with that shortcut, but I still found it very frustrating to accidentally activate it every time my finger happened to move near the right side of the trackpad.
Judging by the number of people I’ve seen looking for a way to disable edge swipes, I’m not the only one who found it a serious irritation. I’ve seen people give a presentation on a Windows 8 laptop and accidentally pop-up the Charms bar multiple times while doing so. It was just a bad idea on computers using a trackpad for navigation.
The thing I find really annoying is that Microsoft didn’t provide a setting to disable it, instead requiring 3rd party software or registry editing to stop the behaviour.
If they pull this off, does that mean the Magic Trackpad will become really usable on Windows? I’ve wanted to get one for a long time, but always heard it didn’t work well on a Windows machine. But if it DID work, and you could wire it up with AutoHotKey to customize gestures on a per-application basis, that would be the camel’s nuts
I think it would certainly help with my RSI.
Edited 2015-03-18 23:37 UTC
You know, I’ve waited for decades for my computer to realize when I’m extending my middle finger at it, and expecting it to either shut down, or wander off and shoot itself.
It’s really the only gesture I’m interested in. “point” “tap” or “double tap” are really all I care about.
Then again– I’m a luddite. I have this strange idea that a full-size keyboard + mouse is actually an optimized interface for a computer, and that trackpads are at best, a half-hearted attempt to regain some of that functionality, usually by making my keys farther away from the edge of the keyboard.
I must be a luddite as well. The keyboards and trackpads on any device are always less good than a proper keyboard and mouse. They aren’t necessarily bad, but simply not as good because they have to fit and be mobile. I do love myself a good touchscreen though. There is just something that makes it work for certain applications/games when you can touch exactly where you see something that you want to influence.
“Windows trackpads <snip> being the primary input mechanism and key to using a laptop.”
Nope, that would be the keyboard. A trackpad is more a control mechanism than an actual input mechanism. I could live without a trackpad, but not without a keyboard
Synaptics trackpads are still crap. Constantly registering “palm” taps while I’m typing unless I’ve got the sensitivity cranked down so I can’t use them anymore with my fingertip. Registering taps and clicks during typing or even just moving the laptop. It’s madness.
These are constant problems with the hardware/drivers, and they’re things I never experienced on my MacBook Pro. I gave up on the IdeaPad Y500 I used at home, and the ThinkPad W540 I use at work… I’ve got wireless mice hooked to both.
Synaptics or someone needs to suck it up and license Apple’s trackpad tech.
Edited 2015-03-19 12:11 UTC
No coincidence that Apple is far and above the competition in the actual man-machine interface of track pads. I’ve been using these gestures on OSX for for 5+ years now.
The touch guestures on iPad/iOS are also far more effective and better designed than on competing tablets.
This is a simple outgrowth of Apple’s ethos to design machines easy to use. This is the result of taking the time to design and test various input methods. There are surely lots of fiery meetings at Apple a year before we see their new designs.
To achieve good machine design, the very point that you touch and manipulate them can’t be clumsy, or the entire thing is clumsy. Imagine a $80k car with a horrible steering wheel and dashboard controls that only sort of work.
Computer manufacturers not named Apple have rarely cared about how clumsy or useless a feature is in practice, as long as it markets well and could sell a machine.
They have no interest in your long-term happiness, since whoever made the hardware can blame the software and vice-versa. There are few true attempts at customer satisfaction because they won’t do the R&D & design necessary to make the feature most satisfying.
Edited 2015-03-19 12:55 UTC
[citation needed]
I’ve used tablets of all kinds, including iPads. And unless you’re dealing with a cheap drugstore tablet, I’ve never noticed much of a difference.
Not sure what you consider cheap drugstore, by my son got a samsung galaxy kids edition and the touchscreen is decent, but it has no swipe gestures that work properly, and there’s all kinds of weird behavior about needing to turn off to charge the battery. It was probably $150 new.
I agree the tablets aren’t that different, it’s the laptops where Apple is usually far easier to use and more reliable, at least verse windows machines. I haven’t had much experience with the chrome books. I know windows laptops have always been like going back in time for me.
Well, there is your problem right there. You went out and bought a cheap-ass, piece of crap tablet and you’re comparing it to an iPad; hardly an apt comparison. Reminds me of people who buy one of those craptastic eMachine Wal-Mart PC’s, realize they wasted their money, replace it with a $1,500 Mac, and then go on to talk about how superior the Mac is. Well, duh?
Personally, I wish Google would forbid the sale of these things. They’ve probably helped to sell more iPads than Apple’s entire marketing department. I guess they wouldn’t be so bad if the nimrods who bought them didn’t expect them to perform like tablets that are 2-3x the price.
Edited 2015-03-20 20:50 UTC
I remember some trackpads being advertised as “compatible” when Microsoft launched the accelerators in Internet Explorer. They were actually useful, but right now I guess all of us forgotten about this functionality and so did the developers.
What I’m not aware of on OSX is that are those “hot-keys” available from whatever application you install in the store or just what comes as default on the Mac? If it’s the latter, than this will forever be a problem.
The problem now is that expectations have been raised, and many Apple fans will think of their own kit as the benchmark for quality – regardless of the relative quality of the final competing product. As such, not everyone will agree with the premise, regardless of the outcome.
Edited 2015-03-19 23:43 UTC
The first picture from the aforementioned article says it all. How can a good trackpad even be if you can’t distinguish by feel the difference between the trackpad and the laptop itself? And don’t answer by telling me “with the borders”, I shouldn’t have to wiggle my finger around just to feel the borders of the trackpad. I just tried on an Apple laptop (MacBook Pro mid-2010) and the outer of the trackpad feels just rugged enough so that you immediately notice the difference.
Then there’s also the problem of the “compatible” trackpads vs. other trackpads. I have the, aah, “unfortunate” experience of having to work with a Thinkpad T440 laptop, and this is the worst trackpad I’ve ever had to lay my fingers on. I’ve tried for 2+ hours to find a good configuration by navigating the infuriating Synaptic application and its double tab bar leveled menu, but the thing still registers wrong moves, and on top of that the “whole trackpad traveling down to click” is just horrible. I know it may be in part because I’m used to the MBP trackpad, so I might be expected (well if the trackpad was really good, I wouldn’t) to revise my moves according to the trackpad, but please, the thing just doesn’t work.
So, yeah, I’m not holding my breath for the “Windows 10 trackpad experience” rivaling the Apple trackpad one.