why are touchpad shifted left? anyone makes right shifted ones?

[taltamir]

how come most new laptops come with a touchpad that is on the left side of the laptop? did laptop users all become left handed all of a sudden? I want a touchpad on the right side of the laptop so I don't have to reach as far in such an awkward fashion.

 

[corkyg]

Not so sure I agree with you that most are "left shifted." Most of the ones I see are centered.

 

[coldmeat]

I was wondering about this myself. What is the advantage to having one shifted to the left?

 

[Brainonska511]

Mine is centered under the spacebar, but the spacebar is not in the very center of the keyboard, making the touchpad slightly left shifted.

 

[Rottie]

my netbook and compaq notebook has centered touchpad...if you dont like left or right touchpad dont bother buy it.

 

[notposting]

My Acer has one you would consider left-shifted. It is centered under the spacebar, which is to the left since there is a numeric keypad on the right. It's right where it should be, since otherwise it would be in the way of my right hand when typing.

 

[corkyg]

I can guess that a laterally shifted touchpad makes for better, error free typing by eliminating a lot of wrist motion on the touchpad that causes unplanned cursor/insertion point jumps.

This is why I never use the touchpad - always disable it and use a mini mouse. Then it doesn't matter where the T/P is.

 

[taltamir]

aha... so the problem is that if it isn't under the spacebar, you are going to "press" it with your wrist, causing the mouse to jump around, the scrollbars to scroll, and maybe even "tapping" type selection?
that all happens to me even with a pad under the spacebar... when typing with a laptop without a mini mouse (on the rare occasion that happens) i just hold my wrists an inch in the air to avoid it; or press the "disable touchpad" button.

what I would like to see is a laptop with a keyboard on the front and left, and a touchpad on the right.Thanks for explaining to me why it is actually done. pretty insane, but at least it has a reason.

 

[DrDoppio]

I would kill to have a laptop with the touchpad on the right-hand side. I am well aware of the "logic" of putting it to the left below the space bar, but there are better solutions, such as the on/off switch in some laptops.

I have a computer-use related shoulder pain that got much worse since I changed my laptop to one with a very assymetric touch pad. When I use a mouse, I usually have it far to the right, near the edge of the desk. When I'm on the move and a mouse is not an option, I would like to have an ergonomic touchpad.

I suppose left-handed people would like to have it further on the left, which should open for additional models -- something most manufacturers like...

 

[TheStu]

aha... so the problem is that if it isn't under the spacebar, you are going to "press" it with your wrist, causing the mouse to jump around, the scrollbars to scroll, and maybe even "tapping" type selection?
that all happens to me even with a pad under the spacebar... when typing with a laptop without a mini mouse (on the rare occasion that happens) i just hold my wrists an inch in the air to avoid it; or press the "disable touchpad" button.

what I would like to see is a laptop with a keyboard on the front and left, and a touchpad on the right.Thanks for explaining to me why it is actually done. pretty insane, but at least it has a reason.

The Razor Switchblade concept gaming laptop thing had a trackpad all the way over on the right side.

 

[corkyg]

The left offset is more to accommodate touch typists rather than left or right handed users. Touch typists make no distinction between right and left handedness. Hand positions are based on a "home" key.

 

[TheStu]

The left offset is more to accommodate touch typists rather than left or right handed users. Touch typists make no distinction between right and left handedness. Hand positions are based on a "home" key.

Yea, but trackpad usage, much like mousing, is generally based on hand dominance.

I am right handed, so if i pull my hands off the keys to move the cursor i will be moving my right hand, i would rather have the trackpad centered or even right shifted slightly to accommodate this.

 

[DrDoppio]

Yea, but trackpad usage, much like mousing, is generally based on hand dominance.

I am right handed, so if i pull my hands off the keys to move the cursor i will be moving my right hand, i would rather have the trackpad centered or even right shifted slightly to accommodate this.

Exactly my thoughts... Typing and navigating are two unrelated actions. Acer Timeline has a touchpad lock, other brands too, I believe.

Or else, I could just learn to use the trackpad with my left hand. In that case, it would be useful to move the scrollbars and window control on the left too :hmm:

 

[TSDible]

But then left-handed individuals would have to remove both hands from the keyboard to use the trackpad...

That seems short sighted.

Centered on the typing keyboard is the best place to put it ergonomically speaking.

 

[TheStu]

Exactly my thoughts... Typing and navigating are two unrelated actions. Acer Timeline has a touchpad lock, other brands too, I believe.

Or else, I could just learn to use the trackpad with my left hand. In that case, it would be useful to move the scrollbars and window control on the left too :hmm:

Or instead of a physical button to disable the trackpad, some amount of intelligent accidental input rejection while the user is typing would be welcome (I'm looking at you, majority of PC trackpads and drivers).

 

[rabbitz]

Or instead of a physical button to disable the trackpad, some amount of intelligent accidental input rejection while the user is typing would be welcome (I'm looking at you, majority of PC trackpads and drivers).

Most synaptic drivers has a palm check feature... have you tried using that yet?

 

[DrDoppio]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with all of you (while being thankful that you humored me by replying to this thread )

But then left-handed individuals would have to remove both hands from the keyboard to use the trackpad...

That seems short sighted.

Centered on the typing keyboard is the best place to put it ergonomically speaking.

Ergonomically speaking, it should be placed where it's most convenient to use: close to your dominant hand.

Or instead of a physical button to disable the trackpad, some amount of intelligent accidental input rejection while the user is typing would be welcome (I'm looking at you, majority of PC trackpads and drivers).

Most synaptic drivers has a palm check feature... have you tried using that yet?

I don't believe in software solutions to hardware problems.

Anyway, I am already making some progress with my left hand :awe:

 

[rabbitz]

I don't believe in software solutions to hardware problems.

Oh I was replying to the other guy haha. As for hardware solution... just don't buy the laptop!

 

[DrDoppio]

Oh I was replying to the other guy haha. As for hardware solution... just don't buy the laptop!

Well, I need to buy some laptop in the end... and the ones I like most are most left-skewed...

 

[TheStu]

Most synaptic drivers has a palm check feature... have you tried using that yet?

I don't know if I have tried the synaptics one, my work laptop has an ALPS trackpad.

I am comparing PC trackpads to the rejection on MacBooks.

 

[rabbitz]

Well, I need to buy some laptop in the end... and the ones I like most are most left-skewed...

Well you can buy one that is right-skewed then.. think of trackpad position as a feature no different from the colour or shape or the processor of a laptop; there is no 'right' choice... you just have to try to find a laptop that matches as many of your preferences as you can.

I don't know if I have tried the synaptics one, my work laptop has an ALPS trackpad.

I am comparing PC trackpads to the rejection on MacBooks.

Oh you can probably uninstall the ALPS drivers and install the Synaptics drivers... but don't quote me on that

 

[DrDoppio]

Well you can buy one that is right-skewed then.. think of trackpad position as a feature no different from the colour or shape or the processor of a laptop; there is no 'right' choice... you just have to try to find a laptop that matches as many of your preferences as you can.

...

Thank you very much for the suggestion, perhaps you can point me to a model that has that feature?

As to "right" and "wrong" choices, some manufacturers have been wildly successful by doing things differently than everyone else.

 

[taltamir]

But then left-handed individuals would have to remove both hands from the keyboard to use the trackpad...

1. Make a left handed and right handed version.
2. If your company is incapable of making two designs, then making a design that is vastly superior for 90% of the population and draws them away from your extensive competition while pushing away 10% towards your competition is sound business sense. The current design is crappy for everyone, left or right handed

 

[rabbitz]

Thank you very much for the suggestion, perhaps you can point me to a model that has that feature?

As to "right" and "wrong" choices, some manufacturers have been wildly successful by doing things differently than everyone else.

Razer blade

There may be others, trackpad location is not that important to me so I haven't really looked into it.

Yes I know that some manufacturers are more successful than others and I agree that I would like to see some right-aligned trackpads as well.. maybe I misunderstood your point.

 

[DrDoppio]

Razer blade

There may be others, trackpad location is not that important to me so I haven't really looked into it.

...

Thanks, that actually looks quite intersting, even if I don't care particularly about the gaming aspect of it.