Ready to Scroll

Monday, Jan. 31 2005 | Author: Andrew Day

The new PowerBooks came out today, and despite some criticism I’ve heard from people disappointed they weren’t dual cores or G5s, this is an amazing update. It’s a full system now, no upgrades needed. But the thing that stood out the most is ready scroll:

Scrolling through web pages or large documents on a trackpad can challenge even the most nimble fingers. Thats why every PowerBook G4 features a new trackpad with scrolling capability. Just drag two fingers over the trackpad to scroll vertically and horizontally or pan around any active window. Change this feature to suit your needs: Customize your trackpad settings or turn off scrolling completely via System Preferences.

~~The genius of Apple is coming out once again. Usability is soaring to an all new high.~~ (I’m a dumbass.) I need to go to a nearby store and test it out.

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13 Responses for "Ready to Scroll"

Jeremy Flint

January 31st, 2005 at 11:48 pm
1

To bad this is an actual hardware upgrade and not just a software upgrade that older powerbook users can get (like me).
Scrivs

February 1st, 2005 at 12:21 am
2

Forget testing, I think I will buy one next week. But yeah the scroll thing is such a simple thing, but changes the whole game.
Andrew

February 1st, 2005 at 12:31 am
3

there goes Scrivs flaunting his $xx,xxx again :-}
Jeff Minard

February 1st, 2005 at 1:38 am
4

The genius of Apple is coming out once again.

Please tell me that was sarcastic – or are you just daft? This has been around in hardware and software versions for PC’s for years and years.

Apple didn’t invent, innovate, or any other iWord here.

I love Apple too, but get a grip.
Andrew

February 1st, 2005 at 1:41 am
5

Jeff, I just wanted to hear myself talk
Dylan

February 1st, 2005 at 1:56 am
6

That scrolling feature is by no means a new feature. As Jeff pointed out, this has been out there for years. My HP laptop I’m using right this second has it — it’s how I scrolled down to this comments box. :)

On my laptop I don’t need two fingers. The “scrolling area” is right on the left and bottom edges of the touchpad, exactly where you’d expect scrollbars to be on a window. Of course, it’s completely customizable where the scroll area is, but that’s the default.

Clicking both touchpad buttons together activates the scroll lock you get with a middle-click of a mouse wheel. Quite usable.

My touchpad and touchpad software are from Synaptics.
Dylan

February 1st, 2005 at 2:06 am
7

Everything is stricken out.

FG has always been at peace with Oceania. FG has always been at war with Eurasia.
Andrew

February 1st, 2005 at 2:11 am
8

oops… getting used to MT again
Derek

February 1st, 2005 at 9:31 am
9

This has also been available on Powerbooks for a long time with some add-on software like Sidetrack.
Nick!

February 1st, 2005 at 9:49 am
10

Guys, you seem to be missing the point. The scrolling on the Powerbook ISN’T like those existing scroll systems (I use Sidetrack on my iBook), you can scroll anywhere as long as you switch to two fingers. This IS new — I have not seen anyone else doing this (the examples in the comments are not the same)

Frankly, I like this better than what I get out of Sidetrack. Having to align my finger with the edge of the trackpad doesn’t always work well for me and I hate sacrificing a large area of the trackpad just for some accuracy ( I have mine set reallllllll small, because otherwise I find myself hitting it doing normal scrolling )

All that said, I loathe having to use a trackpad anyhow.
Chris G.

February 1st, 2005 at 11:07 am
11

I find it amazing that people thought dual-core G4’s or a Powerbook G5 would be released. Traditionally, Apple only releases minor product updates at times like these. The big announcements (which is what a dual-core G4 or G5 would be I assume) are saved for those conventions.

Why the hell would Apple release something as important as a PowerBook G5 in such a quite manner? It is very unlike Apple.

These rumor sites get way too greedy sometimes. It is a normal product refresh time for the PowerBook…let’s be realistic here.
cliche

February 1st, 2005 at 2:02 pm
12

Touchpad? What’s that? So that’s what that small square area was!

Seriously. The only time I actually use the touchpad is when my mouse runs out of battery.
Brian Behrend

February 1st, 2005 at 3:30 pm
13

I really like SideTrack too, works just like you’d think it would. My only issue is that it’s $15 to register. For $5 I’d definitely pony up, but at that price I’ll just deal with the annoying registration reminders.