The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Synaptics TouchZones

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by ZoinksS2k, Jan 19, 2008.

  1. ZoinksS2k

    ZoinksS2k Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    525
    Messages:
    2,223
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Greetings,

    I just returned from a business sabatical and have just started using my M1330 which is replacing my old Sony VGN-SZ120PB. I'm really liking this laptop!

    I expected to have a few areas to relearn in using a new laptop from a different vendor, but I have to say that the M1330 is very well designed. I'm loving the keyboard and the touchpad responsiveness, but...

    I'm accustomed to the touch gestures on the Sony's ALPs touchpad. I really used the swipe gesture to move back a page in IE. Just slide your finger across the top and to the left to go back a page, to the right to move forward.

    I was pretty lost without this simple, but very valued function.

    Whilst tweaking the new dell, I downloaded the 10x series driver from Synaptics and found the extended feature set extremely valuable. I didn't see a dedicated post on these forums, so I thought I'd post some screenshots since the options are pretty well hidden in the control pannel.

    Head over to http://www.synaptics.com/support/drive.cfm and download the driver for your OS. Uninstall the Dell Synaptics driver, reboot. Install the new driver.

    Once you reboot, launch the Mouse Properties dialogue from the Control Pannel.
    mouse properties.jpg

    Next, hit the Device Settings tab
    mouse properties2.jpg

    Hit Settings under devices. The Tapping selection and Tap Zones
    TapZone.jpg

    Tons of config fun in there.
     
  2. kylerg

    kylerg Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    240
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have a 1705 and downloaded the updated drivers. I get no advanced features available. Maybe because I didn't uninstall first?
     
  3. ZoinksS2k

    ZoinksS2k Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    525
    Messages:
    2,223
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    prolly, uninstall first. Also, it may not be an option for your device.
     
  4. BlackRussian

    BlackRussian Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    239
    Messages:
    1,206
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Synaptics Utilities

    DrumPad (620 KB)
    Rock out with your Synaptics TouchPad by turning your TouchPad device into a virtual drum set with the DrumPad utility. Requires Synaptics driver 7.5 or later.


    Sketch (156 KB)
    This software application allows you to draw or write using the Synaptics TouchPad.


    Theremin (33.1 KB)
    Get musical accompaniment for your finger movement on your TouchPad with the Theremin utility.


    TouchPadSays (248 KB)
    Test your memory with a Synaptics update to the classic Simon Says game. Requires Synaptics TouchPad driver 7.5.0 or later.

    http://www.synaptics.com/support/utili.cfm

    @ZoinksS2k thanks buddie ;)
     
  5. crash

    crash NBR Assassin

    Reputations:
    2,221
    Messages:
    5,540
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I had installed the latest Synaptics touchpad driver, but once I realized that there was no more middle click functionality, I reverted back to the Dell driver.
     
  6. NovaRev

    NovaRev Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    34
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I just came here to ask about the same issue: no more middle click. Did I just miss the option or is it really not there? The tap zones and other options are really cool, but I am more accustomed to having a middle click than having tap zones so I've reverted to the Dell driver also.

    Thanks for pointing out this driver though, it was fun to play around with.