trackpadmagic



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Apologies for the cobwebs and spiders

I know, I know, I don't like it either

Many people have emailed me recently saying that it doesn't work on their fancy new Windows 7 Macbook Pros. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to test, as I am still on my 2007 Santa Rosa Macbook Pro and haven't had a chance to work on the code or update it since...last year :)

Currently looking into what new libraries and things are available now for this task and also thinking of rewriting it in my free time.

While you're here, feel free to try it out, but the likelihood of this utility working on the latest 2011 Macbook Pros is dubious at best!

Apple Macbook and Macbook Pro users in OS X

In OS X, this option is available and has been moved to the Mouse and Trackpad section under Universal Access in System Preferences. See this link for more information.

Non-Apple laptop users in Windows

Note: For those of you using non-Apple laptops, check to see if your trackpad uses the Synaptics driver. This option is built into those. See how to automatically disable the trackpad here.

You might need to update your driver to get this option. If so, go here.

Background

After purchasing my first Mac, the Macbook Pro 15", I found it annoying that when I would type or try to play games, my palm would occasionally slip over the corner of the unusually large trackpad and move my cursor to either a different position in the text (or mess up my aim) and I'd mess things up (or die after shooting at the ground). Under Mac OS X, there's an option whereby if an external mouse is connected, the trackpad is automatically disabled. However, there is no option in Windows for this in the mouse properties. The only way to disable it is to go into the Device Manager, right click it and select disable. Well, I wanted something easier, and I couldn't find anyone online that made a utility that does this. So....

I built a small utility that allows you to disable and enable the Apple Macbook trackpad easily, called Trackpad Magic. It even has the automatic mode which mimics OS X's option. Since it worked so great for me, I figured why not see if anyone else has the same issue with the giant trackpads and see if this solution works for them.

Many thanks to Chauncey W. for his much needed help with Windows Vista functionality and getting it to work on his unibody Macbook! He took the time to email me with really useful details of his system and how it worked and helped me get it working on Vista. Appreciate this to the max!

Also, many thanks to all the people that have emailed me about this program thanking me if it worked or letting me know that it doesn't, and how/why. Much appreciation!

Features

Screenshots


Selecting an external mouse


Notification after selecting mouse


Trackpad has been enabled.


Menu options

Notes

Updates

Requirements

Download


Feel free to leave constructive feedback and/or bugs and how you found them: christopher dot lim at gmail dot com

Copyright © 2010 Christopher Lim