Lap Tops

[Mups]

You know the little square pad on a laptop, which you use to move the cursor about?  I don't know if it has a proper name?
Anyway,  if that starts to get too smooth and worn,  can it be replaced or is that the end of life for the laptop?   

[Michael Rolls]

Touchpad. Can't stand them. Always use a mouse

[JBR]

You know the little square pad on a laptop, which you use to move the cursor about?  I don't know if it has a proper name?
Anyway,  if that starts to get too smooth and worn,  can it be replaced or is that the end of life for the laptop?   

It's a
'touch pad'.
Don't worry.  It won't wear down.  It's metal... unless you have some very rough fingertips, of course.

(Oops!  Mike just beat me to it.)

[Mups]

Ah,  that's the word - Touchpad!   I couldn't remember what it was called.
Thank you Mike and JB.   

Michael,  the only thing with a mouse on a laptop is,  where the 'eck do you put the mouse to use it as there is very little room below the keyboard, is there.


JB,  are you  sure they can't wear out?  Only the metal  is getting to look very smooth and shiny over to one side where I suppose I must tend to use it mostly,  and it doesn't always respond first time.

[Mups]

Oh dear.  I just googled about this,  and apparently the  Touch pad life is usually between 3 - 5 years!
Not sure what to do now . . . .

[klondike]

Mine never wear out. Simple reason for that is because I don't use them if a mouse is available as I find that much easier.

I use the mouse to the side of the laptop. I do the same with desktops. I've never seen anybody try to use a mouse anywhere else.

Only reason to replace a touch pad is if it stops working properly. A mouse would be a lot cheaper. About £20 buys a decent wireless one. Half fhat for a cheap one and half again for wired. You wouldn't get the touch pad replaced for that.

[Michael Rolls]

Like Klondike I use the mouse on the desk.. it is wireless so no cable to get in the way

[Ashy]

My humble reply to the original question is, if the touchpad is worn out it's probably time to replace the whole thing. That way you can get the latest hardware, speed, video quality etc. 

You can also buy a USB touchpad but they are much more expensive than a mouse. Or you may like a wireless keyboard with touchpad.

[klondike]

I doubt Mups needs high end hardware. I'd guess it's mostly browsing and just about anything can handle that. 

[JBR]

Oh dear.  I just googled about this,  and apparently the  Touch pad life is usually between 3 - 5 years!
Not sure what to do now . . . .

Actually, I never use my touchpad.  I use a mouse which connects automatically to the laptop without the need of plugging in.  In fact, I have just tried moving my finger over the touchpad and the pointer on the screen doesn't move.  I even turned off the mouse and the touchpad still doesn't work.  There'll be some setting somewhere, I suppose.

[Alex]

Like Klondike I use the mouse on the desk.. it is wireless so no cable to get in the way

Me too.  After using a desk top PC for so many years at work and home it took me a while to get used to a laptop.  The mouse is much easier and quicker than using the touch pad     I got mine from the Asda it was under a tenner, it's wireless you plug the little thinggy into the side of your laptop and away you go.

[Mups]

Mine never wear out. Simple reason for that is because I don't use them if a mouse is available as I find that much easier.

I use the mouse to the side of the laptop. I do the same with desktops. I've never seen anybody try to use a mouse anywhere else.

Only reason to replace a touch pad is if it stops working properly. A mouse would be a lot cheaper. About £20 buys a decent wireless one. Half fhat for a cheap one and half again for wired. You wouldn't get the touch pad replaced for that.

Thanks very much for that, Klondike.   
Regarding the mouse though,  I meant where could you put the mouse if you weren't using it on a desk though,  e.g. if you had the laptop on your lap?

Today at 02:29:35 PM

Me too.  After using a desk top PC for so many years at work and home it took me a while to get used to a laptop.  The mouse is much easier and quicker than using the touch pad    I got mine from the Asda it was under a tenner, it's wireless you plug the little thinggy into the side of your laptop and away you go.

That's worth knowing.   thanks very much Alex.   


Today at 02:30:11 PM

I doubt Mups needs high end hardware. I'd guess it's mostly browsing and just about anything can handle that.

Too right.   

[klondike]

Thanks very much for that, Klondike.   
Regarding the mouse though,  I meant where could you put the mouse if you weren't using it on a desk though,  e.g. if you had the laptop on your lap?

Two things there. The first is I don't - I use a tablet if I'm not at a desk. The second is - that's why they have touchpads because you can only use a mouse on a flat surface with any success.

[JBR]

Thanks very much for that, Klondike.   
Regarding the mouse though,  I meant where could you put the mouse if you weren't using it on a desk though,  e.g. if you had the laptop on your lap?

I'm sitting on the settee and my mouse is sitting on the next seat (on my right).  It's very happy there!

[Mups]

Two things there. The first is I don't - I use a tablet if I'm not at a desk. The second is - that's why they have touchpads because you can only use a mouse on a flat surface with any success.

Ah,  I see.    I asked because sometimes in the evening I do what JBR just said, and sit on the sofa with my laptop on a breakfast tray thingy,  but the tray is only just big enough for the laptop, there is no spare space, so don't think that would work then.   Thanks anyway.


Today at 04:46:11 PM

I'm sitting on the settee and my mouse is sitting on the next seat (on my right).  It's very happy there!

I hope he's houstrained.