MacBook Pro Trackpad Button Has 2 Sensors?

How nice would it be if your MacBook Pro's trackpad actually (already) had two button functionality? And all that you needed was a software update so that you could enable "Primary" and "Secondary" clicking similar to the Mighty Mouse.

Yes, I know you can already right-click by placing two fingers on the track pad or CTL + Click. This is different.

If you own a MBP, investigate your trackpad button. It definitely feels like there are two buttons: one on the right side and one on the left with a fulcrum in the middle. Do you MacBook owners notice something similar?

I read this thread over at InsanelyMac from 2006 and have been wondering about this for some time now. It seems unlikely, but I thought I would open up the topic here for speculation anyways.

Also, here is a direct link to another thread on the same topic.

Peace.

 

Yes, it feels like two, separate buttons, and probably is. Whether it can be upgraded to two software driven buttons remains a mystery. I'd go for a two button trackpad.

 

I'm certain there are 2 buttons. I just don't know if they lead to the same sensor or not.

If there are two separate sensors and it's possible to update the software to allow the trackpad button to function like the Mighty Mouse's primary/secondary click, why would Apple not have done so already? Maybe a "hidden" feature in Leopard (Or the OS X 10.4.11 Update); something they're just not advertising?

 

i dont know, but you just sparked my curiosity, because i noticed the same thing

 

If you look at disassembly pictures you can see the ribbon cable leading from the trackpad buttons. The ribbon cable is pretty wide for just two 2wires, so Id say theres 4 in there.
So yea I would assume that theres a way to separate the two, unless apple coded the firmware in the chip funkily, or something along those lines.
Im kinda surprised no one has released something two do it, or documented it or something.

 

Funkily is a good word, . Which pictures are you talking about? iFixit? Will you please post them (or links) here? If you're talking about iFixit, I wonder if anything has changed with the newest MBPs. I think the iFixit pictures are from from the Core Duo MBP.

 

Yea they are, but Id assume theyd keep it the same. I originialy had a link but lost the post and was too lazy, but here it is
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/85/images_large/12.jpg
the ribbon coming from the bottom of that image is from the trackpad(pretty sure)
Im pretty sure the original picture I found you could actually see the bottom of the buttons coming from the trackpad, and it also looked like two buttons were there, but i cleared my history and stuff so i cant find that link again.Although in that picture it looks like one of the traces is pretty wide in the ribbon >_>

 

Hey guys there is only one microswitch. I've had the touchpad area apart in the past and that is what I found. What some people think are switches are just fasteners (actually more like marks left when the fastener is bonded to the metal backing plate) that hold the button in place. On the previous generation PBs there were screws in place of the fasteners. Here's a pic.

 

Maybe apple is keeping it as one whole button to steer clear from imitating Windows too much??? Just an idea

But the right click would really make some things easier. Like opening lots of threads quickly.

 

I really don't have an issue with the lack of a right click button. I just do the two finger tap. The only time I ran into problems was in Bootcamp. Windows is heavily dependent on contextual menus, and not having a right click button is a hindrance. Since switching to virtualization the problem has been resolved.

 

As a new MacBook owner, I haven't been bothered one bit by the one button touch pad. I find that the "two fingers on the track pad and click" is extremely intuitive, especially with my fingers available from two finger scrolling.

 

I hate to dig up this thread, but Xander you did link to it.

If you take out your battery, and look right under there you can see that ribbon cable that was posted earlier at a different angle.

The ribbon cable itself does have 3 traces, although I can't see whats on the other side of it, but from what can figure out is that one is the common ground, and the 2nd is a button.
Although I don't know what the third one is cause it doesnt seem to go anywhere.

So maybe apple halfway built in two button support?

--This is what I can figure out with some electrical knowledge. I'm assuming that that is the trackpad buttons cable, and I'm just having to guess based on what I can see. I could be completely off--

 

Holding down the right side of the button, I can't press the left side of the button. So, I don't see the point.

 

lol, I never did that, and I guess I just find it curious that they have three traces in there.

Seems like such a simple thing that I never tried ;p

 

Also interesting to note that Asus is the ODM for the Macbook, and the EEE PC has a single mouse button with two sides for a right and left click. Read the review on this site.

Just something to think about.

 

two finger tap is way more efficient than a second button, with a second button you basically always have to remove your hand or put it in a awkward position to use the second button.