Sidetrack
A $15 Powerbook upgrade for
trackpads.
Apple got a fair bit of coverage recently when it
announced its new Powerbooks would include the ability to use
the trackpad to scroll through windows. Yet again, this was a feature that Mac
users have been using for some time with Sidetrack, a $US15 ($A20) shareware utility from
third-party software maker Raging
Menace.
The new trackpad driver installs for every user of your system, each with their own settings, which are changed through Preferences.
Every imaginable setting is defined by the user, including the vertical and horizontal scroll areas, location (left-right, top-bottom) and the speed. Scrolling through a window or options with the driver enabled is as easy as running a finger down the edge of the pad where it meets the chassis of the notebook. The driver can be set to continue scrolling when a finger hits the end of the scroll area on the pad.
A useful function is the ability to set the four corners to perform a specific task, such as automatically double-clicking, a right-button click, or keystroke combination, for instance. The size of the tap area can be set from small to large, just like the size of the scroll area. But be warned if you have whopping big paws this may not be too convenient. Settings can be set globally or just for certain applications -- useful for game players.
In practice, I find the trackpad on the G4 iBook a little tight for space given my fingers, which can lead to unpredictable results if I am not alert. But the bulk of users would find this a very useful utility that speeds their productivity.
The new trackpad driver installs for every user of your system, each with their own settings, which are changed through Preferences.
Every imaginable setting is defined by the user, including the vertical and horizontal scroll areas, location (left-right, top-bottom) and the speed. Scrolling through a window or options with the driver enabled is as easy as running a finger down the edge of the pad where it meets the chassis of the notebook. The driver can be set to continue scrolling when a finger hits the end of the scroll area on the pad.
A useful function is the ability to set the four corners to perform a specific task, such as automatically double-clicking, a right-button click, or keystroke combination, for instance. The size of the tap area can be set from small to large, just like the size of the scroll area. But be warned if you have whopping big paws this may not be too convenient. Settings can be set globally or just for certain applications -- useful for game players.
In practice, I find the trackpad on the G4 iBook a little tight for space given my fingers, which can lead to unpredictable results if I am not alert. But the bulk of users would find this a very useful utility that speeds their productivity.
Posted: Wed - April 27, 2005 at 03:58 PM
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Switxer (pron: switcher), n. - A convert to Mac OS X.
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Published On: Apr 27, 2005 04:04 PM
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Published On: Apr 27, 2005 04:04 PM