[dnr]

This is one of those religious arguments where no one will every change their mind, but I feel like a trackpad is the dumbest mouse interface and can't use anything but a trackpoint (or a mouse of course).

Consider dragging and dropping: with a trackpoint you click with your thumb, then use your pointer finger to move the mouse cursor any distance you like, without moving your hand, then release. With a trackpad you press the pad and then move your finger some distance and then... oops, you hit the edge of the pad. Better abort and try again, starting the motion from the opposite pad. Except if I'm on a non-apple trackpad, and I have to click near the top of the pad, it's nearly impossible because the click hinge is near the top. Or maybe I do a finger swap to reset the drag position, and hope that the OS doesn't interpret my moment of two fingers touching as some kind of gesture.

Anyway, it does take some time to get used to, so you won't get it in a few minutes or even a few hours. Try a week. Also make sure you're using a lenovo one (the dell/toshiba ones aren't as good), and very importantly, that you have a fresh cap. Worn out caps make it really frustrating.

[turtlebits]

While I'm not going to argue your preference for a trackpoint, dragging with a trackpad is not as you describe. You just leave your thumb "clicked" and reposition your index finger.

IME, using a trackpoint is okay for smaller laptop screens, but going from monitor to monitor kinda sucks.

[TimTheTinker]

macOS has an option (in the accessibility prefs) to enable three-finger trackpad dragging.

It's incredible to use, especially in concert with Magnet (a window management app). Three-finger-drag a window to the top of the screen and it's instantly maximized. Selecting text is also a breeze.

[boogies]

> Three-finger-drag a window to the top of the screen and it's instantly maximized.

Sounds like a lot of work compared to any good tiling window manager. Windows should be automatically maximized on opening, unless there are others on the desktop, in which case just hitting a two finger key chord should do it without requiring contorting a wrist or moving an entire forearm away from the home row.

[TimTheTinker]

I don't do this often, but when I do I appreciate how smooth it is and don't feel at all like I'm contorting a wrist or anything.

I do most of my window rearranging when I'm switching workflows or connecting an external monotor.

[FullyFunctional]

Wow, thanks for that tip. It's awesome and feels so natural.

I really hope Ubuntu and friends get "inspired" by all the touchpad gestures in macOS.

[UncleEntity]

Gnome is all about touchpad gestures—every time I reinstall fedora from scratch (admittedly not very often) I have to go fiddling around to get the “traditional” trackpad buttons and what not working.

[TimTheTinker]

Agreed. If I were to switch to a Framework laptop, the Mac trackpad would be the loss I'd feel the most (closely followed by the DisplayPostscript-powered macOS window manager).

[schmorptron]

Does that not get in the way of the 3 finger swipe-up to open the activities screen?

[TimTheTinker]

Do you mean Mission Control? That can be configured in Trackpad prefs to respond to 4 finger swipe-up instead.

[schmorptron]

Yeah! Didn't know the mac name for it.

[mdavidn]

Mission Control and App Exposé change to 4-finger gestures after 3-finger dragging is enabled.

[schmorptron]

Ah, makes sense. That's handy then

[philjohn]

I was a big proponent of the trackpoint for the longest time - the first laptop I used in the mid 90's (a Toshiba Satellite) had one and then I used Thinkpads for years.

Then I got a MBP at work in 2016 and haven't looked back - but they were far better than most other trackpads for the longest time.