Does anyone else find the trackpad on their MacBook Pro more convenient to use than a mouse?

[Hieveryone]

I sit at my laptop at my desk with a television and a couple external monitors to the side.

My laptop is the main screen and keyboard I use.

I do have a Magic Mouse but I find myself using the trackpad on my laptop more than the mouse.

It just feels easier and more natural.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I like Apple's trackpads. I like them so much I've bought an external Apple trackpad. However, for most of my work/gaming I prefer to use a 2.4Ghz high DPI mouse. But for relaxation, posting here, reading, and what not - I much prefer the trackpad.

 

[Hieveryone]

I like Apple's trackpads. I like them so much I've bought an external Apple trackpad. However, for most of my work/gaming I prefer to use a 2.4Ghz high DPI mouse. But for relaxation, posting here, reading, and what not - I much prefer the trackpad.

True. I agree that for work and gaming a mouse is good. For just general stuff trackpad is better. Your post reminds that I actually do have an external trackpad. Never cared to use it because of the trackpad on my laptop, but I might put it in the place of my magic mouse and see how that goes.

Would look kind of odd having 2 trackpads that are basically next to each other but hey it's my setup

 

[circatee]

Am new to using a MacBook, and thus far, I still prefer my Logitech MX Master 3.
When using the trackpad, I feel like it is a lot of work. Then again, am still new to this...

 

[xraydoc]

I definitely prefer to use the trackpad rather than a mouse when I'm sitting at my laptop. The trackpad right in front of the keyboard is a natural spot.

However when sitting at my desk with external display, keyboard, etc., I actually prefer to use a mouse. I have a Magic Trackpad but for some reason having it off to the side as is necessary with a desktop keyboard (instead of directly in front of the keyboard) causes me some wrist and finger fatigue which I don't get with a mouse.

I anticipate doing some desk reorganization at some point soon, so I'm still debating as to whether I'm going to keep my MBP docked & closed in clamshell mode on its little shelf, or if I'll move the laptop to the middle and use it open while docked as the primary keyboard/trackpad and as a second display.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I use the Mac trackpad as well as a stand-alone unit Trackpad. For me, it works much better than trying to use the Apple mouse.

 

[unrigestered]

the trackpad is great for general navigation inside the OS. Especially on a laptop it is indeed more convenient - though dragging & dropping files across the whole screen is still not so great imo, but for more delicate work like photo editing, a mouse still can't be beat.

 

[Hieveryone]

Am new to using a MacBook, and thus far, I still prefer my Logitech MX Master 3.
When using the trackpad, I feel like it is a lot of work. Then again, am still new to this...

I have heard so much about that Logitech mouse. I'm using the Magic Mouse lol. Know how people feel about that

 

[Hieveryone]

I definitely prefer to use the trackpad rather than a mouse when I'm sitting at my laptop. The trackpad right in front of the keyboard is a natural spot.

However when sitting at my desk with external display, keyboard, etc., I actually prefer to use a mouse. I have a Magic Trackpad but for some reason having it off to the side as is necessary with a desktop keyboard (instead of directly in front of the keyboard) causes me some wrist and finger fatigue which I don't get with a mouse.

I anticipate doing some desk reorganization at some point soon, so I'm still debating as to whether I'm going to keep my MBP docked & closed in clamshell mode on its little shelf, or if I'll move the laptop to the middle and use it open while docked as the primary keyboard/trackpad and as a second display.

It's actually quite nice to re-arrange your setup from time to time lol. I think we've all done it for no other reason than for just a re-fresh

 

[Hieveryone]

the trackpad is great for general navigation inside the OS. Especially on a laptop it is indeed more convenient - though dragging & dropping files across the whole screen is still not so great imo, but for more delicate work like photo editing, a mouse still can't be beat.

I agree. Anything that requires precision, I think a mouse works better. If I'm just browsing I like trackpad for sure.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

I feel the same way! I actually feel like using the trackpad makes me more accurate in my work due to the haptic feedback when doing things like aligning objects in Illustrator. It could just be years of experience, but I do feel like I’m more efficient with a trackpad as well, using the four-finger shortcuts and such.

 

[Pakaku]

It's a mix of the hardware and software that brings it together. I've tried a Magic Mouse and it was a horrible experience trying to do anything beyond basic scrolling, and even then, the mouse is too narrow for good horizontal scrolling. And every time I've booted into other OS on my Macbook, the trackpad drivers just don't match up. A standard button mouse is still my preferred input in that case

 

[BotchQue]

Especially on a laptop it is indeed more convenient - though dragging & dropping files across the whole screen is still not so great imo...

That was my answer too, a week ago.
However, I recently turned on "Three-finger dragging", and after about a week, I may be changing my mind. Its not under Preferences > Trackpad, but rather under Accessibility > Pointer Control. No more contorting your fingers to gain that last 1" of screen travel!

I'll still use my mouse, or Pencil, to edit photos/draw.

 

[Knightimer]

I think the trackpad is great. My hands and fingers are stationed in one area. I don't have to leave the laptop keyboard and reach over to a mouse. Once you used the trackpad, it feels right, at least in my experience.

 

[phrehdd]

A simple history or evolution -

PC + mouse
PC + Kensington trackball
PC + K trackball + tablet
Laptop + small trackball and "J" key
Mac Pro + Apple Mouse + K trackball
Mac Pro + K trackball
various Mac Minis + K trackball
MBP + built in trackpad + desktop magic trackpad
Mini 1 + Apple Magic trackpad

Bottom line is I don't use a mouse unless I am forced to do so. I have early on switched
to using my right hand for all of the above. Only use my left hand for stylus work.

-- If there is one Apple product that reflects best of breed it would be their laptop and more so desktop Magic trackpads.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

Apple's consistent trackpad accuracy and experience is the reason why I haven't switched back to Windows in over a decade.

They've got the best trackpad in the business.

 

[Cide]

Apple's consistent trackpad accuracy and experience is the reason why I haven't switched back to Windows in over a decade.

They've got the best trackpad in the business.

They do have the best, I too switched from Windows-based to this and haven't looked back. Don't want to/need to ever go back to anything less than an Apple Trackpad.
I think R&D wise, they should leave it alone, its perfect. I'd hate to see a Trackpad recall happen as a result of doing something regressive like they did with the butterfly keyboard.

 

[sasho648]

On a laptop I use trackpad (and yes the Mac - in my case Air - one is better than on my chunky Acer for example).

I don't understand why you would use anything else.

On a desktop I use regular mouse.

 

[StandingGoose]

It doesn't have to be either/or. When using a desktop, my keyboard has a trackpad on the left and a mouse on the right. Having switched to a laptop at work, I pack a mouse so I can have both with that setup as well.

 

[pshufd]

I always used an external mouse with my 2015 MacBook Pro 15. I just use the trackpad on my 2021 MacBook Pro 16. The larger trackpad is an obvious reason but I think that the trackpad on the 2021 is more precise too. I'm not sure why it feels this way.

So, when traveling, I don't have to bring a big charging brick nor a mouse nor an external keyboard. I often brought an external keyboard on trips but don't feel the need to do so now. Instead of bringing the big MacBook Pro charging brick, I just bring a small 40 Watt USB-C charger.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

I think R&D wise, they should leave it alone, its perfect. I'd hate to see a Trackpad recall happen as a result of doing something regressive like they did with the butterfly keyboard.

Agree, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Dear Apple, leave your trackpad alone.

 

[zachz]

100% agree -- so much that I've only ever used a Magic Trackpad since 2012 despite using an iMac 95% of the time. Used a MacBook Pro for a year then sold it for an 11" iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard and I usually forget it's a touchscreen. Even that tiny trackpad I prefer over touch/mouse haha

Upgraded to the Magic Trackpad 2 when it came out and I've never been able to use a mouse since, I dread using one at work. It's so much more convenient for me to use a trackpad.

 

[Madhatter32]

The trackpad is more convenient to use when on the go or lying in bed. But when I am at a desk, I always prefer to use a mouse. It feels so much better and I never experience hand fatigue of any kind. I find right and left clicking much easier as well.

 

[XboxEvolved]

Yeah I think I like either equally but I'll be honest I forget the keyboard shortcuts from Expose and other stuff half the time so then it ends up being easier. I am considering buying an external trackpad but damn why do they have to be so expensive.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Yes and no. Everything about the trackpad is great except one detail, but for fast and accurate mousing there is nothing that compares to a Wacom Intuous 3 or 4 Mouse set to absolute coordinates. Once you set your perimeter and dispaly proportion is matched within that, it's consistent in every direction in every move of your mouse on the digitizer pad corresponds to exactly those same coordinates on the display, so it takes away the effect of chasing your cursor around on the screen, and in no time, your mind knows exactly where to position the mouse and your hand can get there at maximum speed, so you can just machine gun mouse moves with the speed and accuracy of typing.

Since they can be had relatively cheap on ebay at this point, in case anyone is thinking of doing it, the Intuos 3 had the better mouse but had buttons 4 & 5 as R & L side buttons and the driver only works becuase some guy in France updated it for Monterey himself, while the intuos 4 had better positioned buttons on top with fore//mid/aft and is still supported, but can develop a double-clicking habit in Big Sur & beyond. After the 4, they quit making mice and went pen-only. If Wacom was in the business of making products that people wanted they'd do a better job of any of this currently, but as usual they can't be bothered.

But if no Wacom, then the other extreme, the trackpad, or specifically the 2015 and earlier sized trackpad. The gigantic trackpad comes so close to the front edge of the MBP, there's no clearance there for your hand to rest, and I get palm interference constantly, which makes it pretty frustrating. There is still plenty of room for improvement in trackpads. There's no reason why Apple couldn't code their trackpad to operate in Absolute Coordinates, so you have that same instantaneous response and don't have to drag your cursor around on screen. It'd make multitouch gestures more reliable as well. And they might as well make the touch surface out of aluminum, and make it seamless with the top of the case, using a sandblasted texture to delineate the surface area, and haptic feedback to reinforce the edges. Among other things.