Who here has used the "two-finger scroll" and what do you think of it?
For myself, I think that two-finger scrolling is one of the most intriguing and brilliantly simple innovations in computers in many years. I should put that in bold: two-finger scrolling is one of the most intriguing and brilliantly simple innovations in computers -- surpassing the mouse itself.
Thank you to the unsung engineer at Synaptics or at Apple or wherever who invented this great concept. It is fantastic. (Who is that hidden geek?)
It's amazing how much of an effect something as simple as this has on the simplicity of using a computer.
For those of you who haven't seen it or had a chance to try it, find yourself a newish Macintosh laptop computer (older machines may not have the feature) and give it a try.
The simple idea is that if you put two finger tips on the touchpad then the contents of the active window will scroll in the direction that you move your fingers. So simple, but once you try it you realize that it's just amazing.
Tap two-fingers and you get the context menu -- like right-clicking in Windows; just simpler.
The two-finger'ed gestures on the touch pad make manipulating your computer so much simpler and faster.
You wouldn't think that reaching for a mouse is such a big deal, but as soon as you get rid of it you realize that it's a HUGE waste of time and effort. Just flipping your fingers on the touch pad is so much easier and makes so much sense!
There's been some talk that Apple may be patenting this wonderously simple idea and I wouldn't blame them for it, but I do hope that it becomes available for Windows computers too. I've also read somewhere that it is actually an innovation created by Synaptics, the people who make Touchpads. That would make sense, but there seems to be no mention of two-finger scrolling at their website (www.synaptics.com).
I'm already looking forward to tossing out my mouse to switch to a two-finger touchpad -- including for my desktop PC. If I could just find a two-finger scrolling driver, my mouse would be gone! (It's that good.)
I just hope that I don't have to toss out my whole Windows computer to do it!
try this link http://code.google.com/p/two-finger-scroll/
2 finger scrolling is protected by a patent from Apple. That is why PC drivers are not available. On a Macbook running a virtual XP windows system, 2 finger scrolling works fine.
Wow; this is an interesting question. The multi-touch gestures that Apple has developed are pure genius -- no doubt -- but once disclosed, important interface communications techniques are too important to lock to limited technology platforms.
Apple is due something for these breakthrough and the resources consummed to invent them but, whatever they get, it shouldn't be at the cost of forcing the rest of the world to the limiting, limited and poorly supported ATT wireless service or to the overpriced autocratic country of Apple computers.
I read that Microsoft is trying to come up with a body of universal and standardized multitouch gestures. I hope that Apple will be encouraged to step up and join in this process, Whether the encouragement comes from within Apple or from elsewhere makes little difference to me, Joe Consumer.