Synaptics shows off new MacBook-style "ClickPad" multitouch trackpads for netbooks

Synaptics has always been quick to pick up the latest innovation in the multitouch space -- whether its own functionality, or something Apple's brewed up. This latest innovation is squarely in the latter category, with new ClickPad trackpads offering that love-it-or-hate-it buttonless design of the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros (pictured). Synaptics is targeting the new pads at netbooks, which many manufacturers have had trouble fitting regular clickers onto. ClickPads work with Synaptic's latest Gesture Suite 9.1, which includes all the regulars, along with three-finger flick and three-finger press, which lets you start up your computer along with up to six predetermined startup apps. SGS 9.1 is also officially Windows 7 ready, and will be available in OEM systems out of the gate.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 2nd 2009 8:23PM]

Look at that ugly preposition!!!!
Synaptics is targeting the new pads at netbooks, which many manufacturers have had trouble fitting regular clickers ***onto***.

Now:
Synaptics is targeting the new pads at netbook, onto which many manufacturers have had trouble fitting regular clickers.

The preposition is a hideous part of speech which should never find itself at the end of a sentence!

Sorry.

[simbr Posted Jun 2nd 2009 9:00PM]

So how do you right-click?

[lizardboy Posted Jun 2nd 2009 9:43PM]

IIRC, if it's like the Macbook you simply click with two fingers at the same time.

[bdav Posted Jun 3rd 2009 5:43AM]

I think you can set it so that when you click the bit where a RMB would be, it right clicks.

[Tetris Posted Jun 2nd 2009 11:09PM]

The trackpad may seem like a shitty idea at first, but it actually works pretty well IMO. I've had my aluminum macbook for 7-8ish months and I'm much quicker at doing most tasks than I was with a desktop and a mouse.

The key is turning on tap to click. It's absolutely silent and lightning fast.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 3rd 2009 2:10AM]

Personally, I think the glass trackpad on my mbp is brilliant. I just wish there were more gestures...

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 3rd 2009 3:13AM]

hey paul i think it hate-it-or-love-it not love-it-or-hate-it.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 3rd 2009 3:18AM]

Well, this should be good news for non-Apple laptops. The trackpad on the current MacBook/Pro laptops really is excellent - there is absolutely no need for buttons and the increase in available trackpad space makes overall use much better. Once used I highly doubt that anyone will want to go back to the old designs. The "click the pad to click" may seem odd at first but that will pass once your memory muscle adapts.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 3rd 2009 7:58AM]

a lot of the time I don't use trackpad buttons anyway, both Windows and OSX can be configured to recognise a slight tap as a click (and on my first gen Macbook a slight two fingered tap is a right click), I find this a very natural way to work and easier than using a button. So the latest Apple trackpads and this new one from Synaptics suit me down to the ground, I had a go on a Dell Inspiron Mini 10 yesterday and that appeared to have something similar.

[Hackettman Posted Jun 3rd 2009 11:14AM]

You know for me it doesnt make sense on the large uni-mbp but on netbooks this is the tech to use.