I like aluminum trackpads better than glass

[Mhkobe]

I much prefer the aluminum trackpads on macbook air's to the glass ones on all other macbooks. I really like the entire trackpad is a single button thing, but I like the feel of the aluminum ones much better. With an update sure to come sometime this year (I hope), I am worried they will cover it in glass just like the others.

Is there anyone else out there who prefers the aluminum to the glass?

 

[Scottsdale]

I much prefer the aluminum trackpads on macbook air's to the glass ones on all other macbooks. I really like the entire trackpad is a single button thing, but I like the feel of the aluminum ones much better. With an update sure to come sometime this year (I hope), I am worried they will cover it in glass just like the others.

Is there anyone else out there who prefers the aluminum to the glass?

I think it's plastic not aluminum.

I greatly prefer the glass trackpad on the other Mac notebooks... the silky-smooth glass trackpad offers not only the best feel but also the buttonless design/usability and right click capabilities I greatly prefer in Windows 7.

I pray Apple puts a glass trackpad in the next MBA even if it doesn't allow enough space to incorporate the buttonless design (some conclude that buttonless glass used in other Macs wouldn't fit in MBA). I believe Apple could do both, but if it cannot I hope it at least uses glass for the trackpad itself.

 

[tsubikiddo]

Been using MBA rev.B for 15mths, and
just received my MBP 17" w/ i7 & 7.2krpm HDD

The glass trackpad is really really smooth
it's such a pleasure to put my fingers on
However, I am extremely disappointed that the 'tap-to-click' is gone,
I absolutely hate that clicky sound of the trackpad.

This is the sole reason I still prefer my Air's touch pad.
I rarely use the button, I just tap-click everything

 

[nidserz]

^^ you can tap to click on the MBP... check trackpad settings. I never actually click the button on my aluminum macbook.
unless did this rev remove it?! i don't see why they would... did you check the trackpad settings? sorry if that sounds like u didn't, but this would be really strange if they removed it.

To the OP, really? I love the glass and I am waiting for a MBA update hoping it get the glass trackpad... as soon as it does I am going to switch over!

 

[waloshin]

Glass > Aluminum

And I thought all other trackpad were plastic, once again Glass > Plastic.

 

[elppa]

The plastic trackpads were rubbish.

It was fine to begin with, but after about a year of solid use mine had gone all smudgy/shiny and smooth in the middle and dull on the edges, which meant that it no longer tracked finger movements and gestures a nicely as when the surface was new and slightly matte.

Whereas the glass doesn't wear. That's the main thing it has in it's favour. Clicking is a bit harder though (and noisy!) so I do turn on tap to click.

Although I'll do a click and hold for some things, like dragging.

 

[stoconnell]

^^ you can tap to click on the MBP... check trackpad settings. I never actually click the button on my aluminum macbook.
unless did this rev remove it?! i don't see why they would... did you check the trackpad settings? sorry if that sounds like u didn't, but this would be really strange if they removed it.

For whatever reason, Apple does not enable tap-to-click by default. When I reinstalled to move to Snow Leopard, I found myself constantly tapping on the touchpad and being dismayed that it wasn't working (during the initial install phase -- tap-to-click is completely burned into my brain). Turning it on as well as dragging and drag lock were some of the first things I did.

 

[PsyD4Me]

i dont like the drag on the aluminum, because it feels less natural, you have to give it more effort, the glass on the other hand is like butter, it lets your whole hand relax, especially if you are left clicking a lot

 

[Scottsdale]

i dont like the drag on the aluminum, because it feels less natural, you have to give it more effort, the glass on the other hand is like butter, it lets your whole hand relax, especially if you are left clicking a lot

I really don't believe the trackpad is aluminum. It feels like plastic 100%. Now the button on the trackpad is aluminum and it feels great.

I have been saying ever since the original MBA was made that the keyboard keys need to be made from aluminum. I would love aluminum-capped keys. Aluminum feels amazing, glass feels great, and plastic feels like crap!

 

[Eric S.]

I have never liked the glass trackpad on my Macbook. Sliding my fingers across it often fails to register, and the pointer does not move smoothly. Clicking the large button is awkward. I don't like tap to click either; I turned it on once and was always clicking when I didn't intend to. And another complaint is that I use Windows XP a lot and using the trackpad under XP is still an aggravating experience.

Actually the trackpad/button on my old Blackbook was much better all around.

 

[manhattanboy]

I actually like the MBA's trackpad. The rough silver feels good on my fingers when I'm doing two-fingered scrolling. Also, call me old fashioned, but I like having a button to press for things (even though I have tap to click enabled). I preferentially use the button for dragging items around for some reason. Because the button doesn't register my thumb's presence on it, I am actually faster using it. I leave my thumb there and use multiple fingers all over the trackpad to get stuff done clicking and non-clicking whenever appropriate. On the glass trackpad, I can't rest my thumb there, it just freezes the trackpad.

 

[Mhkobe]

Interesting to know, thanks for all your input; I suppose it's safe to say that the majority of us would prefer a glass trackpad over aluminum. I think that this would probably be the simplest way to improve the majority of peoples user experiences, however, I am guessing apple will stay away from the one large button with the air. The one large button trackpads are top-mounted, and therefore require a very large movement at the bottom in order to allow it to be useable throughout the trackpad (with the exception of the top eighth of it).

 

[tigres]

Glass FTW

 

[Scottsdale]

Interesting to know, thanks for all your input; I suppose it's safe to say that the majority of us would prefer a glass trackpad over aluminum. I think that this would probably be the simplest way to improve the majority of peoples user experiences, however, I am guessing apple will stay away from the one large button with the air. The one large button trackpads are top-mounted, and therefore require a very large movement at the bottom in order to allow it to be useable throughout the trackpad (with the exception of the top eighth of it).

Are you still not seeing that the trackpad is plastic and the button is aluminum? One can even look at it and see the button is aluminum. The trackpad itself feels and looks exactly like PLASTIC! NOT ALUMINUM...

 

[Jodles]

I have never liked the glass trackpad on my Macbook. Sliding my fingers across it often fails to register, and the pointer does not move smoothly. Clicking the large button is awkward. I don't like tap to click either; I turned it on once and was always clicking when I didn't intend to. And another complaint is that I use Windows XP a lot and using the trackpad under XP is still an aggravating experience.

Actually the trackpad/button on my old Blackbook was much better all around.

Are you sure you don't have a hardware issue? On my late 2008 MB the glass trackpad never fails to register (it's supersensitive, I barely have to touch it.. more sensitive than the screen of my iPhone), and I can create perfect smooth lines in any direction...

 

[nph]

Have to agree with the old timers that prefer the MBA track pad. Cant stand the clicking on the glass version. Dont know why, call me old fashioned, but an actual button feels good to have...

 

[Mhkobe]

Are you still not seeing that the trackpad is plastic and the button is aluminum? One can even look at it and see the button is aluminum. The trackpad itself feels and looks exactly like PLASTIC! NOT ALUMINUM...

sorry, my bad.

 

[Kingcodez]

Glass is the best, the extra room because you don't have that button.
And the 'button' is still there, it's just part of the whole pad now.

I usually always click with the button, using my index, or even my thumb.

 

[Eric S.]

Are you sure you don't have a hardware issue? On my late 2008 MB the glass trackpad never fails to register (it's supersensitive, I barely have to touch it.. more sensitive than the screen of my iPhone), and I can create perfect smooth lines in any direction...

I don't think it's a hardware problem. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it's annoying.

 

[Veinticinco]

I really don't believe the trackpad is aluminum. It feels like plastic 100%. Now the button on the trackpad is aluminum and it feels great.

I have been saying ever since the original MBA was made that the keyboard keys need to be made from aluminum. I would love aluminum-capped keys. Aluminum feels amazing, glass feels great, and plastic feels like crap!

I seriously doubt the new trackpad is glass either. A silica veneer perhaps but not the cold tactile surface you think of when 'glass' is mentioned. Just feels like smoother plastic to me.

As for Alu-capped keys, that's something I believe I mentioned way back. Would look fantastic and make keyboard use a real pleasure compared to the current experience with plastic chiclet keys.

But there's a very good reason we'll never see aluminium keyboards on a laptop. The potential to scratch the display when closing/closed remains far too likely a scenario. Screens mark from plastic alone (TiBook was notorious) so god knows what metal would do to an LCD. For years, I've always used a Radtech cloth between keyboard and display, but that's not the point.

 

[elppa]

I seriously doubt the new trackpad is glass either. A silica veneer perhaps but not the cold tactile surface you think of when 'glass' is mentioned. Just feels like smoother plastic to me.

It is glass. HTH.

 

[Scottsdale]

It is glass. HTH.

Agreed. It is noted from Apple, and we can see how it breaks like glass too. It might have a coating on it to prevent it from completely breaking like a car windshield, but it's still glass none the less.

Maybe he means that he thinks the current MBA's trackpad is the silica veneer? Or maybe he means the top of the glass is coated? I believe it's painted or something is used to coat it, but it definitely feels and breaks like glass. The point is the TEXTURE, and the glass is a lot smoother. Whether it's painted or the silver color is inside of the glass itself I don't know, but I do know that it's far better to the touch than the plastic used on the MBA's trackpad.

I guess he also thinks I have stolen his idea on aluminum-capped keyboard keys too, LOL. Apparently every idea I have is a copy of his from "way back." The thing is, I never suggested that Apple would use such a material in the keyboard on the MBA, I just wish the keyboard was made from aluminum because the aluminum feels better than the plastic; one can feel the difference by touching the trackpad button then the keyboard. The aluminum trackpad button feels so much better than the plastic. Also, I believe the keyboard could be lowered (as it currently is) to ensure the keyboard keys do NOT touch the keyboard. Right now none of the keyboard touches the display. The only part of the bezel that touches anything is the trackpad button. Other than that there is a thin strip of rubber material around outside of the bezel touches the base of the MBA.

 

[Veinticinco]

Agreed. It is noted from Apple, and we can see how it breaks like glass too. It might have a coating on it to prevent it from completely breaking like a car windshield, but it's still glass none the less.

Maybe he means that he thinks the current MBA's trackpad is the silica veneer? Or maybe he means the top of the glass is coated? I believe it's painted or something is used to coat it, but it definitely feels and breaks like glass. The point is the TEXTURE, and the glass is a lot smoother. Whether it's painted or the silver color is inside of the glass itself I don't know, but I do know that it's far better to the touch than the plastic used on the MBA's trackpad.

I guess he also thinks I have stolen his idea on aluminum-capped keyboard keys too, LOL. Apparently every idea I have is a copy of his from "way back." The thing is, I never suggested that Apple would use such a material in the keyboard on the MBA, I just wish the keyboard was made from aluminum because the aluminum feels better than the plastic; one can feel the difference by touching the trackpad then the keyboard. The aluminum feels so much better than the plastic. Also, I believe the keyboard could be lowered (as it currently is) to ensure the keyboard keys do NOT touch the keyboard. Right now none of the keyboard touches the display. The only part of the bezel that touches anything is the trackpad button. Other than that there is a thin strip of rubber material around outside of the bezel touches the base of the MBA.

One hell of a lot of assumption on my part there Scottsdale. I actually did mean the 'glass' trackpad as the veneer. To me it feels too warm to the touch and textured to be a slab of glass. Not seen any breakages either. But hey if it is glass, fine. I still don't think it's anything worthy of starting a thread over. Far more important things required from the next version, if it comes.

As for the accusatory tone about the keys, maybe you read that wrong - I did mention it way back and recall we had this very amicable discussion about it, very much in agreement. I know you wax lyrical on the subject, but I never took you as being so touchy and defensive. Apologies if my post came across that way, was not intentional I can assure you. No real need to get all uppity and start making things up ("every idea a copy"?) though is it?

 

[Scottsdale]

One hell of a lot of assumption on my part there Scottsdale. I actually did mean the 'glass' trackpad as the veneer. To me it feels too warm to the touch and textured to be a slab of glass. Not seen any breakages either. But hey if it is glass, fine. I still don't think it's anything worthy of starting a thread over. Far more important things required from the next version, if it comes.

As for the accusatory tone about the keys, maybe you read that wrong - I did mention it way back and recall we had this very amicable discussion about it, very much in agreement. I know you wax lyrical on the subject, but I never took you as being so touchy and defensive. Apologies if my post came across that way, was not intentional I can assure you. No real need to get all uppity and start making things up ("every idea a copy"?) though is it?

I thought it was you who brought up the black aluminum MBA? That is what I recall you mentioning... I don't recall any discussion of aluminum keyboards, except I have been championing the idea in all of my "visions" for my dream MBA.

 

[Veinticinco]

I thought it was you who brought up the black aluminum MBA? That is what I recall you mentioning... I don't recall any discussion of aluminum keyboards, except I have been championing the idea in all of my "visions" for my dream MBA.

Yes, a high spec black Alu (like the previous gen iPod nano) limited edition was something I was advocating to generate some interest in the MBA. Albeit I was the Scott rather than the Amunsden of that particular idea - I forget the name of the guy who first put something similar forward.

But yes I do remember us having that discussion - think it was part of the 'who hates chiclet keyboards, even the silver plastic Powerbook keys were better, why not etched aluminium keys, would look fantastic and be unbelievably tactile' thread somewhere.

Not that any of this matters, the who or what - at the end of the day we all share a similar vision, a new MBA with upgraded specs, and form factor design tweaks. Really cool cosmetic details are way down the list - it's like concept cars, the tiny design details look fantastic but we all know they'll never make it to the production model. Difference being we never get to see concepts of Apple products, and that's the issue - nothing to even whet the appetite, or salivate over. Just frustration and endless speculation, which I'm increasingly of the opinion, is pointless given Apple's MO and direction these days.