A tip came in this weekend from someone with a fleet of new MacBooks. His complaint? Every 50 or so clicks and the trackpad freezes for 5 to 10 clicks and then wakes back up. The tipster writes:
So we’ve bought about 10 of them, all of them have awful problems recognizing clicks. The trackpad has a bug where it does not click about 60% of the time.
A little digging reveals a huge discussion thread on the Apple Discussion boards describing the recurring problem. Hopefully it’s just hardware as one poster comments:
I have found however one solution that I think did work for me (could be placebo effect but figured I should share regardless).
In System Preferences go to Trackpad, then at the top move the slider for “Tracking Speed” up one notch, I was uncomfortable at first but got used to it and it seemed to make the problem better.
Regardless, im pretty sure this is a software issue (disclaimer: this is just an opinion and is not based on any specific knowledge). Seems to me its the same problem that has occured in every laptop refresh apple has done in recent memory. When they released the first Powerbook with two finger scrolling users reported issues such as trackpad freezing, same with when they first introduced multy-touch, and now its happened with this, and every time they have fixed it pretty quickly. Anyways just my thoughts.
Anyone else seeing this? Hopefully this is just a driver issue. Sounds like maybe a cache problem?
No Mac ever has issues. What heresy is this?
LOL! I’m sure this is what all Mac lovers are saying. People that worship Macs are very similar to people who worship Obama. Blind faith.
I was in Costa Rica talking to a young lady from Nebraska and she said she voted for George Bush even though she didn’t know any of the issues. Seems to me most people vote blindly without much thought.
You don’t get it. McCain is going to trigger massive economic growth by giving large tax cuts to Apple and other large corps. After all, these companies make cap ex decisions based on tax rates, not on consumer demand. It’s trickle down economics at its finest!
I agree with you. When us Canadians travel we have to make sure we have big Canada pins on our bags or people think we are Americans. People outside Disney World think Americans are all idiots. I don’t totally agree with them, but I also must ask why Bush was re-elected, but I am extremely pleased with the ‘08 election.
Comedy gold.
“”"People that worship Macs are very similar to people who worship Obama. Blind faith.”"” Best quote ever. I see a Microsoft ad in there somewhere.
Let us see whose faith wins tomorrow at election :-)
Or all the idiots that worship Palin for that matter.
Says the dude from Utah, the land of polygamy and blind faith in magic underwear.
Maybe some day these ignorant retards (Jeff) will get over Mormons.
There you go again! Ugly monkey face Obama shows again…
You are very kind calling it “blind faith” when in reality it is supreme ignorance and utter stupidity!
Give this a try when you talk to one of these young drones: ask them what Obama stands for when it comes to important issues… They HAVE NO CLUE!! –The response I get is an angry one along with a suggestion of “go visit Obama’s site”
Precisely.
@Jeremy - You are very kind to call it “blind faith” when in reality is ignorance and stupidity…
Try to ask the young Obama drones about his position on *real* issues [not that "he will pay for my tuition"] and you will be advised to visit Obama’s site…
They have no clue! and think that they may actually vote –they will not when they learn that it will take about three hours to do so –waiting in line…
Love the double-post SPAM with generic names. :-)
I *heart* McRage.
Lol.. Everyone is screaming that the other side is “Ignorant” and that they somehow, are the only ones that see what’s REALLLY going on :)
I’m a scientist, so it’s really simple for me. One of two candidates is old, and has selected a high functionality retard as running mate… he’s disqualified.
Yeah! You are a “scientist” on what? An expert on dog poop? Or on sexual self-satisfaction? or Both?
stupid republican windows loving idiot
My iBook had issues {seesmic_video:{”url_thumbnail”:{”value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/4R0kfG5czU_th1.jpg”}”title”:{”value”:”My iBook had issues ”}”videoUri”:{”value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/Bseii0EivS”}}}
Napoleon Dynamite uses a Mac?
How did this post become so political?
Bought two. Both exhibit this problem.
Yes. The new trackpad is terrible. It either doesn’t register a click, or mistakenly registers a right click around 10-20% of the time.
I don’t understand what was wrong with including a button for the mouse. Why get rid of it?
You’re cool only if your mouse doesn’t have a button
No, you’re ULTA-cool only if your mouse doesn’t have a button.
Yes, absolutely have this problem. Brand new Macbook Pro.
It got so bad that I’ve given up clicking the pad and have switched on the software click (where you tap the pad lightly to click).
The other issue I have with clicking is that it is FRICKING LOUD compared to the macbook trackpad buttons of the past.
:/
I guess this is the price I pay for being a Rev A buyer. Hopefully I’ll be able to send it in for a fix if it’s accepted as a fault by Apple.
The click is very loud. Agreed. I also have issues with clicks not registering, but generally I am hooked up to a 24″ Dell monitor with a real mouse, so not too big of a problem for me.
ahh! and i thought, im paranoid. yes, i have this problem too.
This problem seemed to happen to me when I had the trackpad set to enable dragging without clicking. After I turned of the drag and drag/hold options it seemed to get much better.
I’m having this issue on the 4 new ones that I bought (MacBooks and MacBook Pros).
Even more infuriating though is the track pad issues that the late 2008 MacBooks (Pro) are having with Boot Camp. It is impossible to drag anything, highlight text/files, or to click using the physical button with your thumb. Check out this thread over on Apple’s discussion boards: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1755486
I agree that the click is quite loud, which I why I enabled the tap to click option. So now I’m not sure if I’m having this hardware problem on my new MacBook Pro.
yep, tap is the way to go.
BTW, 5 days an no probs on my new mac book pro. It’s a fab piece
Just got mine.. Haven’t had a problem yet. I’ve even for a few hours using nothing but the trackpad and ‘buttonless’ click.
I meant to say “edited with Final Cut Pro for a few hours” haha
Классная статья! Спасибо!
I’ve got two alu-macbooks– and I haven’t really noticed the problem yet. Anyone have any thoughts whether this is a hardware thing or something that a quick software update might fix?
Happens to me all the time. Was wondering if I should take it in…
I have one of the very first aluminum macbook and no souch problem. So i guess it’s not software related.
Agree about loud click and also dodgy click on MBP.
However, I am more concerned about the quality on the machines. I’m about to get my 4th - first had dead pixels, second scratches on case, and yesterday, my third had a chip off one corner and scratches.
All of these were right out of an untouched box. Not happy :(
Back when I ordered a C2D MBP right when the first came out, I had to go through 6 before I got a good one! It was insane! Apple always has problems with the MBPs and most people have defects on their laptops but just don’t notice them. I’ve learned to buy in the store now and open the box and inspect before I leave.
Definitely seeing this problem!
I hope it’s not a hardware issue. There are encouraging signs that it’s not!…
When I drag a window, I can’t seem to let go of it unless I tap again, even when I have that setting disabled.
weird…Mac is not used to major bugs!
Yeah, I work in an APR and both of our demo units have this problem. It’s nothing major, just occasionally a click is not recognized.
yeah, my new Macbook has the same problem. it’s a bit disappointed. I have to buy another mouse which cost me $100.
It has been discovered that you, sirs, simply have fat fingers.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8349140#8349140
http://notimeforclocks.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/15/
А ваш блог можно читать в fast reader?
I have the “go to sleep” problem with a new MacBook Pro. Sometimes it just seem to lock on a scroll bar and stay on. Seems to go away with another click. I don’t use click on the pad–just the button, by the way.
I can smell the new Microsoft ads already!
PC: “Hi, I am a PC.”
Mac: “Hi, I’m a Mac.”
PC: “I hear you are in therapy for a loud trackpad click.”
Mac: “Yes, I am. But my O/S is better than yours.”
PC: <>
Been an avid MS supporter, defender and user for ever. Got my first Mac last week. Never again MS…..never…
trackpad problem…
yeah new macbook isnt my old pc when it comes to tools in ps and ai
anyone have tips for using the new macs with adobe?
I’ve noticed that when I don’t click far enough in the left lower quadrant of the trackpad, it doesn’t always register the click. Is that a defect or the way it’s designed? I haven’t gotten the hang of right clicks at all yet …
I have the new macbook (not a macbook pro), and have yet to experience this.. I tried it out, and still, it worked fine.
- Scott from http://venturedig.com
I have a MacBook and a HP windows XP laptop. They both work perfectly fine for me…
Yes same problem….. VERY annoying. Wish they would have just kept the button.
I am currently running a Sony Vaio (my Blue&white G3 sort of gave up the ghost and I haven’t gotten it fixed yet) and I have noticed a similar problem with the track pad and clicks. The thing is the number of clicks required before it starts working again is varied and it doesn’t seem to be a timing problem.
Seeing how Apple is using “industry standard” parts they have less control over the quality than when they controlled the whole process.
Since it is happening on Windows and Mac it is most likely a trackpad problem.
Ясно, лаконично, понятно все написано.
Hey Jeremy — Sweetheart, just can it. Republicans or Dems — there are idiots on both sides, and you just proved it yet again.
Anyway, back to the real issue here…
There is a very good reason that I never, EVER buy 1st Generation tech products. I’ve been burned before, and I can’t remember the last time (Mac or PC or whatever) there was a flawless launch or a similarly totally redesigned/realigned product… i.e. a first-of-its-kind trackpad like that is just ASKING for trouble.
Nailed it. And then nailed it again. Simple wait until at least rev g (they go alphabetical) or higher. The new Macbooks (back when “new” meant Intel) went through 7 revs in 2 months. Just be patient and wait a month or two.
This goes for any technology — cars, computers, or remote control robots.
The glass trackpad’s mechanical switch is located beneath the pad, near the front edge (where the button is situated on earlier MacBooks). The consequence is that the button only clicks reliably when the trackpad is pressed near the bottom. Some reviewers have pointed this out.
I don’t think Apple makes it clear to users that the new trackpad is intended to be clicked with the same thumb-action you are used to using. Although clicks will register up to about the top third of the pad, it requires progressively more pressure to do so.
So if you can’t click anywhere on the pad, how is getting rid of the separate button an improvement? The answer is that the larger track pad allows dragging over a much bigger area. The bottom of the trackpad now serves a dual purpose: as both an extension of the draggable area, and as a button.
If “tap to click anywhere” is what you want, then that requires a separate setting in Preferences. It employs touch-sensitivity and doesn’t require the pressure to cause a physical click.
OT: It’s sad people have so much faith in Apple products, a company that reminds me more and more on the business route Microsoft did years ago. Their hardware is beautiful. Their software; so many stuff happens in the background you have no control of. Good for the majority probably. But simple things, like not being able to lower the preamp on your Ipod when choosing EQ (everything clips), no perfect gapless playback, is pathetic for such a huge company. Almost no detailed technical manuals on their website. Can’t understand why so less people have actual taste for quality. And the funny part is, that the hardware is mostly build by others, its the actual software and dist. what Apple does, and they do a really bad job, so yeah basically my point is, this company sucks big time for certain people. And the ironic part is, I bought an ipod.
>>>> GREAT NEWS!!! GREAT NEWS!!!
>>>> McCain-Palin are ONE POINT above the Messiah with independent voters!!!
>>>> McCain-Palin are SEVEN POINTS ABOVE the Messiah with investor voters, who are TWO OUT OF THREE TRUE AMERICAN VOTERS!!!
“McCain-Palin are ONE POINT above the Messiah…”
I didn’t know Jesus was running for president of Apple?
OBAMA HAS LOST ALREADY!!! AND HE IS CRYING ALREADY!!!
Well, it is the agony of defeat, and he certainly deserves it.
The Bradley effect works like a charm…
So, you’re praying for racism? Nice…
Hi all,
My name is Jack Summers. I’m new and hope to learn from you.
I live in sunny Miami. Anybody from Miami?
In typical Apple fashion, they release a beta Rev-A product on customers to do their beta testing for them. There has never been a Rev-A Apple product that is flawless, they are always fucked up and failing, learn from others mistakes and don’t pay $1600 to beta test.
I love the new trackpad but after 1 day of clicking I switched to tap to click. Much better.
I love how this thread turned into a fierce political battle, haha, keep it going guys, just one more day to complain about the other candidates shortcomings, then it’s back to talking about the shortcomings of the new Macbook.
MACS NEVER HAVE ISSUES!
A total nightmare. My trackpad just doesn’t work half the bloody time. I’m replacing my mainboard tomorrow, and if that doesn’t cut it, I’ll be taking this sucker to the Apple Store for a war.
I have the exact same problem with my brand new MBP - very frustrating as it’s happening to me every 10 or so clicks.
after years of using PCs, I believed all the hype about macs never having problems and bought one of the new MacBooks. What a piece of shit this thing is. The trackpad randomly stops and starts working without any apparent reason. The people on the phone helpline are completely useless - they just had me restart the stupid computer about five times, to no avail. Now I have to trek back to the Mac store and hope they can fix it. Macs SUCK.
tap-to-click breaking is still happening (brand new MacBook 2.0GHz), my trackpad firmware is up to date according to the recently released firmware updater. very annoying.
My MacBook had this problem when I got it back in October, but it has been completely resolved by the relatively recent firmware update.
I use Macs and PCs, and there are plenty of things that I hate about both. In general, I’ve still had more luck with Apple laptops than any of the PC laptop brands.
Отличные новости, так держать, удачи в будущем.
Стоит ли ждать обновления?.
Могу предложить много инфы по данной теме, нужно?.
Как часто публикуете новости по данной тематике?.