Can the touchpad be considered as a full-fledged alternative to the usual computer mouse controls? In search of an answer to this question, we tried two unusual manipulators from well-known manufacturers - Microsoft Touch Mouse and Logitech Touch Mouse M600.

The fashion for gadgets with touch screens influences the development of an increasingly wide range of devices. Desktop peripherals are no exception. For example, graphics tablets Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch series: the well-known manufacturer considered it advisable to implement in these devices a multi-touch input function using fingers, which complements the usual stylus. In addition, multi-touch panels (such as the Logitech Wireless Touchpad and Touch Lapdesk N600) are available to control desktop and laptop PCs using natural hand movements.

Here we cannot help but recall that the very idea of ​​​​using input devices with touch panels to work with a PC is by no means new and was implemented long before our vocabulary was enriched with the words “smartphone” and iPhone. For the past decade and a half, the role of a standard positioning device for the vast majority of laptops has been played by touch panels based on capacitive technology. But, despite all the efforts of manufacturers, this solution never became popular. It is no secret that many owners of laptops and netbooks (or rather, the majority) to this day consider the built-in touchpad to be an extremely inconvenient tool and prefer to connect a familiar mouse to their mobile PC at the first opportunity. Even the fact that last years functionality The touch panels of laptop PCs have been noticeably expanded. For example, in many modern models Scrolling and multi-touch input capabilities with gesture recognition are implemented.

At the same time, the army of enthusiastic owners of smartphones and tablets is growing day by day. The conclusion is obvious: if in some cases replacing buttons and other familiar controls with a touch panel allows you to improve the usability of work and implement new opportunities, then in others the effect is exactly the opposite. What can be said about a computer mouse with such a device? During the operation of two unusual manipulators, we will try to find the answer to this question. And now is the time to introduce readers to a couple of experimental “rodents”.

The Microsoft Touch Mouse model appeared last fall. This mouse has a symmetrical body measuring 120x62x37 mm and is available in two versions - black and white. The manipulator is equipped with a proprietary BlueTrack optical sensor, which ensures movement recording accuracy of up to 1000 cpi.

Approximately half the area of ​​the upper part of the body is occupied by the touch surface - for greater clarity, it is covered with a geometric pattern. In addition, the mouse has two hidden buttons that respond with a noticeable click when you press the left or right front of the top panel. The travel of the buttons is quite large, and pressing them requires significant (compared to the keys of conventional mice) effort.

Microsoft Touch Mouse

The connection between the manipulator and the PC is carried out via a radio channel at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. A miniature standard receiver is installed directly in USB port. There is a special niche on the bottom panel of the mouse into which you can stow the receiver during transportation.

The range declared by the manufacturer is only about 3 m. However, looking ahead a little, we note that during testing the mouse functioned stably even at a much greater distance from the receiver. But just in case, the package includes a USB extension cable that allows you to install the receiver closer to the manipulator.

From this angle, the elongated “nose” is clearly visible.
Microsoft Touch Mouse cases

The mouse is powered by two standard AA batteries. Access to the battery compartment is provided by a removable panel on the bottom plane of the case. According to the manufacturer, the mouse can operate for up to three months on one set of alkaline batteries. A mechanical power switch located next to the optical sensor window helps reduce wasted energy consumption during storage and transportation. To assess the condition of the batteries, there is a light indicator in the center of the top panel. When it is time to replace the batteries, it starts flashing red.

To install batteries in Microsoft Touch Mouse
you need to remove the cover on the bottom panel of the case.
To the left of it is a niche
for storing the receiver

Even from the standpoint of wireless models, this mouse is quite heavy when loaded: 80 g of its own weight plus two AA batteries. It is also unusual that the center of gravity is noticeably shifted towards the thickened part of the body, on which the palm rests. This was done, apparently, on purpose - in order to prevent unwanted movement of the manipulator on the table when pressing buttons and when working with the touch panel. This assumption is also confirmed by the properties of the material from which the two pads on the bottom plane of the case are made: they are much less slippery compared to those that mice are usually equipped with. As a result, significant effort is required to move the mouse across the working surface.

The innovative Logitech model was introduced at the beginning of this year. The body of the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 has a symmetrical shape and resembles a water-cut stone. Its dimensions are 111×64×29 mm. Like the Microsoft model, part of the top panel is a touch surface, and the functions of a pair of main keys are performed by two hidden buttons.

Logitech Touch Mouse M600

The Logitech Touch Mouse M600 is equipped with an optical sensor based on Advanced Optical technology. The connection of the manipulator to the PC is carried out via a radio channel at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. The package includes a miniature Logitech Unifying receiver that allows you to connect up to six wireless devices from this manufacturer. The range stated in the specification is 10 m.

The Logitech Touch Mouse M600 has a low body height

The manipulator is powered by two standard AA batteries. But, unlike the Microsoft model, this mouse can also operate on one battery, which helps reduce its weight. According to the manufacturer, two alkaline batteries can power the mouse for six months. If you install one battery, time battery life will be reduced to three months, which, you see, is also a lot.

Installing batteries in a Logitech mouse
Touch Mouse M600

Access to the battery compartment is provided by a removable cover on the bottom plane of the case. There is a niche underneath where you can put away the standard receiver during transportation. For rational use of electricity, there is a mechanical power switch located next to the optical sensor window. There is also an indicator light here that allows you to monitor the condition of the batteries.

Control actions and gestures supported by the Logitech Touch Mouse M600

Like the Microsoft manipulator, the center of gravity is shifted towards the part of the body above which the palm is located. However, moving the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 around your desk is much more convenient. This is explained by both a better choice of material for the sliding pads and the lighter weight of the manipulator (about 60 g without batteries). The advantage becomes even more noticeable if you install only one battery in the battery compartment. As a result, the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 provides a much more comfortable working environment, especially during intensive use.

Touch functions

Having become familiar with the design features of manipulators, we move on to studying their capabilities. Of course, our focus will be on those actions that can be controlled via the built-in touch panels.

It should be noted that the full potential of the manipulators in question can be fully realized only when connected to a PC running Windows 7. The fact is that proprietary software that provides support for all touch panel functions is presented only in the version for Windows 7. To work with the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 will need to install Logitech Flow Scroll software, for Microsoft Touch Mouse - Microsoft Intellimouse software. The corresponding files are available for free download on the manufacturers' websites.

With older ones Windows versions Mice also work, but the touchpad's functionality is limited to vertical scroll control only. The same goes for Mac OS.

The main function of the touch surface of the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 is to control scrolling along the vertical axis. This action is performed by smoothly moving your finger along the touch surface of the manipulator in an up or down direction. The scrolling speed changes in proportion to the change in the speed of movement. A sharp sliding movement in the up or down direction allows you to quickly move to the beginning or end of the page, respectively (these gestures work similarly Home buttons and End on the keyboard). Finally, finger movements on the touch surface from left to right and in the opposite direction correspond to the “forward” and “back” buttons in the file and web browser.

Microsoft Touch Mouse Touchpad Settings Section

The Microsoft Touch Mouse offers the user a more diverse set of touch control functions. After installing Microsoft Intellimouse software, two additional tabs appear in the mouse system settings section. One of them concentrates the settings of the functions of a pair of main buttons of the manipulator, and the other allows you to change the operating parameters of the touch panel.

Unlike the Logitech pointing device, the touch surface of the Microsoft Touch Mouse allows you to control the scrolling of the contents of the active window both vertically and horizontally. The scrolling speed changes according to the speed of your finger movement. A sliding gesture followed by lifting your finger off the touch surface activates high-speed scrolling in the corresponding direction. In this case, the software simulates the operation of a flywheel: the scrolling speed gradually decreases and after a while the movement stops. The initial speed depends on how sharp the finger movement was. A single tap on the touchpad can instantly stop scrolling.

As it turned out during tests, the touch surface of the Microsoft Touch Mouse has very high sensitivity. So the ability to adjust the scrolling speed in the properties tab of the mouse touchpad turned out to be quite useful. It was possible to achieve acceptable scrolling control accuracy only after the control slider was set almost to the minimum.

Control actions and gestures supported by Microsoft Touch Mouse

The mode of smooth scrolling control along two axes simultaneously turned out to be very convenient when working with spreadsheets, as well as when viewing enlarged fragments of images, books and documents. Of course, now mice are produced with a wheel, the design of which allows you to control scrolling along two axes at once. However, such a wheel provides scrolling speed control only along the vertical axis, while horizontal movement is carried out at a constant speed.

The Microsoft Touch Mouse also includes two gestures for moving forward and backward in the file browser and web browser. These actions are performed by moving the thumb along the side of the case (“forward” - from the edge of the panel to its center, “back” - in the opposite direction). Since the body of this mouse has a symmetrical shape and is equally suitable for both right-handers and left-handers, the settings provide the ability to select the hand that controls the manipulator. So, when selecting the right hand, the “forward” and “backward” gestures will work on the left side of the body and vice versa.

Another feature of the built-in touchpad of the Microsoft Touch Mouse is that it allows you to recognize multiple gestures performed with two and three fingers at the same time. These gestures are used to manage windows and switch between applications. In particular, parallel movement of two fingers allows you to switch the size of the active window, minimize and restore it. It is not difficult to remember the functions of these gestures, since they are analogues of the standard Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts (the Start button in combination with one of the cursor movement control arrows). Accordingly, movements in the up and down direction switch the active window between minimized, normal and full-screen display modes. A similar gesture in the side direction allows you to place the active window on the left or right half of the screen.

Finally, a three-finger swipe down allows you to minimize all windows, and the same gesture in the opposite direction allows you to quickly jump to the desired application.

Impressions from work

Contrary to initial fears, I managed to get used to the unusual manipulators very quickly. It is possible that extensive experience working with laptop touch panels helped.

Of course, the new owner of a Logitech Touch Mouse M600 or Microsoft Touch Mouse will have to adapt to some of the features of these manipulators - primarily to the specific response of a pair of main buttons. After a regular mouse, the hidden buttons of these models seem too heavy, which, however, is understandable: after all, you have to press virtually the entire top panel, and the travel of the buttons is too long. In addition, the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 model has a “proprietary” feature: the buttons seem to “stick” when pressed for a short time, which makes it somewhat difficult to perform actions such as double and triple clicks.

Serious disadvantages of the Microsoft Touch Mouse are its heavy weight and increased resistance to movement when moving the manipulator. During intense work, this creates noticeable discomfort and increased stress on the arm muscles.

The operation of the touch scroll control function, which in theory should be one of the main trump cards of the mice in question, cannot be called ideal. As for the Logitech Touch Mouse M600, its touch scrolling works only along the vertical axis - so, by and large, it has no fundamental advantage over the dual-mode wheel that is equipped with expensive models from this manufacturer. Quite the contrary: the wheel clearly looks like the favorite in this comparison, since it is a more accurate and versatile tool than the touch surface.

As for the Microsoft Touch Mouse, one of its most attractive features is smooth two-axis scrolling control with a high-speed scrolling function activated by special gestures. However, here it is appropriate to recall the Mouse Scroll mode, support for which is implemented in the drivers of many modern manipulators.

As operating experience has shown, the fundamental disadvantage of touch scrolling is the lack of step-by-step control of movement, which is provided by the usual wheel with a ratcheting mechanism. And this is really important, because in a number of applications, step-by-step scrolling (either on its own or in combination with modifier keys) allows you to control page turning, zooming, quick choice the desired item in the drop-down list and other functions, and in many games it is used by default to quickly switch weapons.

There are also complaints about the accuracy and predictability of the response of the touch controls. The problem is that the touch surface's response to touch changes depending on external factors - in particular, the degree of moisture on the skin of the user's fingers. The movements do not always work the first time, and sometimes, on the contrary, false positives occur. In Microsoft Touch Mouse model software sometimes incorrectly recognizes gestures. For example, if your finger is near the edge of the touchpad, the "back" or "forward" command may work instead of scrolling horizontally.

In general, returning to a familiar mouse with classic buttons and a scroll wheel caused genuine joy.

Conclusion

So, it's time to answer the main question. As operating experience has shown, touch panels can hardly be considered as a full-fledged alternative to traditional computer mouse controls. This, however, was predictable: after all, as practice shows, specialized solutions (in this case, hardware buttons and a scroll wheel) have much higher accuracy and reliability compared to universal ones (that is, a touch panel). In addition, the creators of the manipulators in question, by and large, failed to play the universality of touch control card. The range of touch functions is extremely limited, and the proprietary software does not boast a variety of settings. In particular, users are unable to add new gestures or associate other actions with those specified by the manufacturer. This looks, at least, strange: after all, the possibilities for customizing the functions of a pair of main buttons are as wide as in other models. In some situations, it would be convenient to control the cursor by moving your finger on the touch surface, but for some reason the Microsoft and Logitech developers did not provide this option.

To be honest, it is not clear for which category of users these models were created. Obviously, due to their large weight and shifted center of gravity, such manipulators are unsuitable not only for dynamic games, but also for working with applications that require a large number of mouse movements - graphic editors, systems non-linear editing sound and video recordings, etc. By and large, the phlegmatic “character” of the Microsoft Touch Mouse and Logitech Touch Mouse M600 are only suitable for web surfing and (with some stretch) office applications. But here another question immediately arises: how many buyers are willing to pay almost $100 for a manipulator with such disabilities? (At the time of writing these lines, the minimum retail price Microsoft Touch Mouse in the capital's stores was about 2300 rubles, and Logitech Touch Mouse M600 - about 2600 rubles)

Probably, the creators of these models hoped to attract the attention of the owners mobile devices, equipped touch screen. However, from the point of view of these users, the set of “gesture” tools available on the Microsoft Touch Mouse and especially the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 is very limited. After all, even the built-in touch panels of many modern laptops provide a much more diverse set of functions. And for those who want to equip their desktop PC with a touch input tool, specialized input devices are produced - for example Touchpad Logitech Wireless Touchpad (which, by the way, will cost significantly less than both mice reviewed) or Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch graphics tablets. We are still faithful to manipulators with familiar buttons and a wheel.

Success of the touch mouse Magic Mouse from Apple prompted other manufacturers to produce similar solutions, in particular the main opponent in the person of Microsoft, which this moment has several such models - Touch Mouse and the recently announced Wedge Touch Mouse. Touch manipulators can also be seen in model ranges companies Verbatim, Rapoo and SPEEDLINK – Wireless Optical Touch, T6 Multi-touch and CUE Wireless Multitouch Mouse respectively.

The Swiss company Logitech did not ignore this trend, introducing this spring a touch mouse, which we will get acquainted with in this review.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Logitech
	Touch Mouse M600
Sensor type	Optical (Logitech Advanced Optical)
Resolution, dpi	About 1000
Interface
Connection	Wireless
Receiver type	Logitech Unifying USB Receiver (2.4 GHz Logitech Advanced)
Radius of action, m
Number of buttons	1 + Touch surface
Number of available actions/programmable actions
Gesture support	Absent
Sole type
	2 AA batteries
Additional features
	Black gray
Dimensions, mm	111.3 x 64.3 x 29.2
Software	Logitech Unifying Software Logitech Flow Scroll (Scroll App)
Supported OS	Windows XP/Vista/7
Official guarantee	36 months
Products webpage

Delivery and configuration

The manipulator comes in a small black cardboard box, on the front side of which, in addition to several logos, there is a large cutout that allows you to familiarize yourself with the appearance of the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 and the tiny Logitech Unifying USB receiver. Shown on the reverse side brief descriptions main features, as well as images possible actions, which the touch surface can process. On the sides there is information about what can be found in the box.

So, in the package, in addition to the mouse itself, you can find:

USB receiver;

suede cover (bag);

2 AA batteries;

a brochure describing the main features;

brochure for setting up the manipulator;

brochure with warranty information.

One of the first, and most importantly important, features is the use of the Logitech Unifying USB receiver, which not only has a miniature size and operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, but also provides the ability to simultaneously connect up to six compatible devices. It is worth noting that the receiver encrypts the transmitted signal with a 128-bit key using the AES algorithm and has built-in protection against interference.

The presence of a suede case made in the form of a bag allows you not to worry about the appearance of scratches and abrasions on the mouse body during various trips, and also removes fingerprints that have accumulated during work.

Appearance and arrangement of elements

The Logitech Touch Mouse M600, due to the absence of familiar controls, looks very unusual and very original, and thanks to its smooth contours and the almost complete absence of sharp edges, the manipulator is quite reminiscent of some decorative element or a stone well ground with water, rather than a device for positioning the cursor . This impression is also facilitated by the abundance of gloss with an unusual texture on the “back”.

The mouse body turned out to be too squat, its height is only 29.2 mm versus the usual 40 ± 3 mm, so many, especially those with large palms, may find it uncomfortable. However, you can get used to this feature quite quickly. In addition, thanks to the symmetrical shape of the body, the manipulator is suitable for both right-handed and left-handed people.

The upper part, painted black, is smooth and carries only a large touch panel, occupying approximately half of the entire area. The underside is also black, but has a matte rough surface. There is an optical sensor on it, significantly shifted to the front, with a power on/off button and LED indicator, as well as two fairly large Teflon legs and a plastic cover.

Removing the cover reveals a compartment for installing two AA batteries and a socket for a USB receiver.

On the side edges, as well as the front and back, you can only see a large translucent border made of glossy gray plastic. There are no more additional elements in the Logitech Touch Mouse M600.

Mouse Features

Undoubtedly, the main feature of the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 is the presence of a touch surface, replacing two standard and two additional buttons, as well as a scroll wheel.

However, the mechanical button, although there is only one, is present and when it is triggered, it is not the usual area in the front part of the case that is pressed, but the entire top part mouse, which in turn affects convenience, but more on that below.

In total, the manipulator offers the user only six actions, all of which are very simple: left and right clicks, vertical scrolling and the “Back” and “Forward” functions. Unfortunately, it does not implement actions such as the middle button or any gestures that would certainly be useful.

However, it is interesting that at the hardware level, the touchpad used has the ability to process multi-touch actions, so it is likely that Logitech will soon release new drivers with support for this function and a set of several gestures.

It is also worth noting that for normal operation of the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 it is enough to install only one AA battery, but then it will only last three months, instead of the stated six when installing two batteries.

BY: Logitech SetPoint and Logitech Flow Scroll

To configure the parameters of a touch mouse, software is provided that must be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

The program, which has a fairly simple design, is, as usual, divided into two tabs - “My Mouse” and “Tools”. Moreover, each of them has several points.

In the “Button settings” item, you can select the left or right button, although you cannot assign any other function to them. Also from here you can invert the functions of the buttons, which will be useful for left-handed people, and restore the default settings.

Next comes the “Pointer and scrolling settings” item, where you can change the speed of the pointer movement, i.e. dpi value (though no specific numerical values not here), select the desired pointer acceleration and enable the Smart Move feature, which automatically places the cursor on the button by default when the dialog box appears. You can also enable the pointer trail, select the scroll increment, and enable smooth scrolling.

The “Mouse Batteries” item displays information about the charge level of the batteries or accumulators being used.

The last item in this tab is designed to launch the Unifying program ( Logitech Unifying Software), with which you can connect additional compatible devices. This application must be downloaded and installed separately.

The first item in the “Tools” tab is “Information”, where you can find out the software and mouse driver versions, go to the support site, install the PS/2 driver and save the system report.

In the “SetPoint Settings” item, you can configure the display of the SetPoint icon in the notification area (tray) and pop-up status indicators, as well as check for software updates and return all settings to the default value.

The last item, as such in the “My Mouse” tab, is intended to launch the Unifying program.

Utility Logitech Flow Scroll, or rather an add-on or extension, contributes to smoother scrolling in different browsers, namely in Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 6 and later, and Chrome 13 and later. It is worth noting that Flow Scroll only works under Windows 7.

Impressions from work

Working with the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 is quite convenient, however, only after getting used to the very low body and the non-standard location of one single button - under the entire upper part of the manipulator. The result of this arrangement is an uninformative, one might say sluggish, process of pressing the button, while it feels a little “sticky” in the pressed position (after all, the button has to lift the weight of almost the entire mouse), which makes it difficult to make a quick double tap. Also, the consequence of using only one button is the impossibility of simultaneously performing actions with the left and right mouse buttons, which is often found in games when you first need to aim and then shoot. However, the manipulator is not designed for games.

Otherwise, there are no comments. The touchpad perfectly detects all six available actions, and they are very convenient and perfectly designed. Moreover, after the M600, when working with a regular mouse, at first you just want to go to the previous or next page by simply swiping to the side. In addition, it is worth noting that Teflon feet facilitate easy sliding on surfaces.

Although the touch mouse is expensive, it uses an optical sensor rather than a laser one. This model is equipped with Logitech Advanced Optical, which is more than enough for the purposes for which the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 is designed. Thus, the sensor does an excellent job of positioning on all frequently used surfaces, in particular ordinary plastic mats, hybrid playing surfaces and various types of tabletops, including varnished ones. Mirror and glass surfaces, as befits optical technology, remain inaccessible.

Results

In general, the touch mouse is a very interesting device that will definitely find its buyer, but it is not particularly popular. First of all, due to the rather high cost, and secondly, due to the not very comfortable body, which is too squat. However, if you need a stylish and unusual mouse that will spend most of its time as an addition to your laptop rather than as your main device for controlling your desktop PC, then the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 could be excellent option when choosing.

Of course, the manipulator, due to the lack of support for multi-touch gestures at the software level, offers only six fairly simple, and most importantly quickly memorable, actions, unlike its main competitors in the form of models from Apple and Microsoft, however, it offers up to 6 months of uninterrupted operation. By at least After using the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 as the main one for a week, the battery charge level remained the same.

Logitech for providing the touch mouse for testing.

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Mouse and touchpad

Let's look at setting up frequently used devices such as the touchpad and mouse. The touchpad usually comes with special software that allows you to expand its functionality.

Get access to standard settings mouse can be through Control Panel by entering the section Printers and other equipment. Click on the icon Mouse, after which a window will open Properties: Mouse(Fig. 13.14).

Rice. 13.14. Mouse settings. Buttons tab

On the first tab you can change the basic parameters of the mouse. In particular, these include a button configuration that can suit the left or right hand. If you set the switch For lefties, That left button will perform the functions of the right, and vice versa.

This may be useful for left-handed people who prefer to use their left hand. Although almost all ergonomic mice (that is, designed in a special way for the human palm for maximum comfort) are produced for right-handers. They are uncomfortable to use with your left hand.

You are given a choice: to configure both the touchpad (in Fig. 13.14 its setting is included) and the mouse. All available devices are listed Devices.

In area Double click speed The speed of double-clicking the left mouse button is adjusted. This is done using the slider Speed. Typically, users are satisfied with the standard setting.

In area Mouse Button Stuck There are settings for the so-called sticking. When enabled, if you click on an icon and hold it down for a while (2-3 seconds), you can move the icon without holding down the mouse button. This feature is disabled by default, but can be enabled if desired. The time required for sticking is configured using a window called up by pressing a button Options.

On the tab Signposts you choose the design of the mouse pointer (Fig. 13.15).

Rice. 13.15. Customizing Mouse Pointers

By default, Windows has many schemes (groups of pointers designed to display certain system states) that can be selected in the Scheme.

On the list Settings current pointers for all states are displayed. By highlighting one of them and pressing the button Review, you can change the appearance of the pointer by selecting the appropriate file. Check box Enable pointer shadow assumes the presence of a “soft” shadow under the pointer.

Additional pointer options are configured on the tab Pointer Options(Fig. 13.16).

Rice. 13.16. Index Options tab

A frequently changed parameter is the movement speed, which is adjusted in the area Moving. Using the slider, you set the speed at which the pointer moves across the screen. At the minimum value, to move the pointer from one end of the screen to the other, you will have to move the mouse across the entire pad (or your finger across the entire touchpad); at maximum, on the contrary, no more than a quarter of this distance is sufficient. Please note that the higher the movement speed, the more difficult it is to hit small elements. Even checking the box won't help. Enable increased pointer accuracy, although it certainly won’t make things worse.

The remaining parameters are rarely used, and their default settings are usually sufficient. If you check the box On the default button from the region Home position in dialog box, then the pointer will automatically hover over the button Default when opening a new window. Not since May required function, although there is no arguing about tastes.

In area Visibility the parameters for displaying the pointer are specified. For example, by checking the box Show mouse trail, you will turn on the cable that will follow the pointer. At first it’s interesting and new, but over time this property will get boring and even get in the way.

If you check the box Hide the pointer while typing, then the pointer will be hidden when typing. Enough useful feature, available by default. Last checkbox Indicate the position of the pointer when pressing CTRL set if necessary to quickly find the pointer on the screen. When you press a key Ctrl it will be indicated by several rapidly disappearing circles.

On the tab Wheel you can customize the operation of the scroll wheel (Fig. 13.17).

Rice. 13.17. Customizing the Mouse Wheel

Mice with scrolling have firmly entered into everyday life - now even the cheapest devices are equipped with them. The touch panel does not have scrolling in the classical sense, but this function is implemented through special software (discussed below).

You can set the number of lines to scroll per click when you turn the wheel. By default, this value is 3. If desired, the entire screen can be scrolled. This means that one click of the wheel will correspond to a key press Page Up And Page Down.

Tab Equipment is not of great interest to you - it does not have settings that can affect the usability of the mouse. Tab Device settings very useful for making the touchpad more convenient to use (Fig. 13.18).

Rice. 13.18. Device Settings tab

It is not always present in this window because it is not a standard Windows feature. In our case, it is specifically responsible for its presence installed program Synaptics company. Its software for touch panels is the most common.

The list of devices for which the program is responsible (although it would be more correct to call it a driver, see Chapter 7) is in the area Devices. This is one item - the touchpad of a laptop. Once selected with the mouse, you can turn it off by clicking Disable, and then turn it on with the button Turn on.

At the bottom of the window there is an area System tray icon. Here you can configure the display options for the Synaptics program icon. You can choose the following options: disable the icon (switch Hide the taskbar icon), display a static icon (switch Fixed icon on taskbar) or select an animated version of the icon (switch Animated taskbar icon).

Fine-tuning the touchpad can be done by pressing the button Options(Fig. 13.19).

Rice. 13.19. Touchpad Settings Window

In the window that opens, you can set the sensitivity of the panel, specify additional functional zones, configure the sticking described above without having to press buttons under the touchpad, set movement parameters, etc. All features are described in great detail in the program itself. In addition, you can see an example of setting up the touchpad in the video “Lesson 13.2. Setting up the touchpad."

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Today it is difficult to find a modern laptop without a touchpad. In other words, without a touch mouse. With its help, you can navigate the menu, surf the Internet, even draw in photo editors. We invite you to get acquainted with the features of the functioning of such a mouse. We will also tell you how to enable/disable it and what to do in case of problems.

What is this?

Why, in fact, is a touch keyboard and mouse called a touchpad? The answer to the question is the translation of the word from English: touch - “touch”, pad - “platform”. That is: “touch a special area.” Namely, this is how the device is controlled via the touch panel. A very convenient alternative to the usual optical one.

The main difference between a touch mouse and a conventional one is that the device is completely motionless. You do not need to move it to orient yourself in the program; on the contrary, you must perform certain movements with your fingers on the touchpad. This is somewhat reminiscent of working with a smartphone or tablet.

Pros of the device

Let's determine the main advantages of a touch mouse over a conventional one:

• Compactness. You don't need to carry any additional device for working with a laptop. Touch mouse - a small rectangle on working panel.
• Versatility. In older models, a touch mouse on a laptop consisted of a field for surfing (moving by touching the cursor with your fingers) and two buttons - right and left, which performed the same functions as in a standard optical mouse. More modern variations consist of only one field. Selecting a menu item on it is done by lightly tapping your finger twice. In some models, by moving your hands you can zoom in/out on the image, rotate it, etc.

Disadvantages of the device

Many laptop owners, despite the presence of a touch panel, still prefer to connect a familiar optical mouse to the computer. Or its wireless variation. For what?

It's all about the disadvantages of the device:

• Convenience. If working with a touchpad on a smartphone is a pleasure, then on a laptop it can sometimes be a pain. There is a high probability of false clicks, it is inconvenient to call up a pop-up menu or direct the cursor on a large screen. Some users are simply more comfortable using a traditional mouse.
• Sensitivity. The touchpad is highly sensitive in most cases. You can move the cursor, select the wrong action, accidentally touching the touchpad with clothing, a finger, or an elbow. In some programs, such an awkward movement becomes fatal - the text is erased, the desired window is closed without returning, and the settings are lost. What if it's choosing "Don't save" instead of "Save"?

Activating/deactivating the touchpad: option No. 1

How to enable touch mouse? The easiest way to cope with this task is for owners of HP laptops. They will see an indicator light in the top corner of the touchpad. Let's reveal a secret: he is also touch button. Tapping it once activates or deactivates the touchpad. Why is this necessary? For the case when you want to work with a regular mouse connected via USB.

Activation/deactivation of the touchpad: option No. 2

How to disable touch mouse? If your touchpad does not have such a button, it means that you need to turn to the functional + required button F1-12). The small problem is that different manufacturers laptops made different buttons “responsible” for the touchpad.

Take a closer look at the keys. Usually, the desired one has an explanatory schematic drawing: a square panel and a hand reaching towards it. If you didn’t notice the image, we present a number of standard combinations for turning the touch mouse on and off:

• Acer: Fn + F7.
• Asus: Fn + F9.
• Gigabyte: Fn + F1.

Other manufacturers can make the F6 and F8 keys “responsible” for the mouse.

Activating/deactivating the touchpad: option No. 3

For many users, the easiest way to enable and disable a touch mouse is through the Windows Settings menu. This is easy to do using the following path: “Control Panel” - then “Mouse” - “Settings”. Next, choose the action you need: enable or disable.

Let's also introduce another convenient option for those users who often connect a regular optical mouse via USB. In Windows 10, just go to Settings, then Devices. Stop at the "Touchpad" section. Uncheck the "Do not disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected" checkbox. Save your settings. Now, when a mouse is connected, the touchpad will always be disabled.

Touchpad does not work: solution No. 1

Sometimes a problem arises: the touch mouse on a laptop does not work. First of all, we advise you to try to activate it using one of the above methods. Most often it does not function due to the fact that it is simply disabled.

Does not help? Clean the touchpad with regular soft cloths. If it is dusty or greasy, it may not respond to touch. In addition, the touchpad does not respond when operated with wet hands.

The touchpad does not work: solution No. 2

If cleaning does not have satisfactory results, then the next step is to go to the BIOS. Each manufacturer assigns specific keys to access the system. Moreover, even different models from the same manufacturer may require different keys to access the BIOS: F1-12, Delete, Esc, etc. Therefore, for clarification, we recommend that you refer to the instructions for the device and the manufacturer’s official website.

Got it? Now let's start setting up:

1. Restart your computer.
2. Immediately after the system starts, press the required button several times.
3. A typical BIOS screen should appear in front of you.
4. We need the Advanced tab. Navigation using arrows on the keyboard, selection using "Enter".
5. Now we need the Internal Pointing Device section.
6. Select it by pressing "Enter".
7. Enabled - activates the touch mouse, Disabled - disables it.
8. To confirm your settings, press Y.
9. Exiting from my BIOS is carried out as standard by pressing Esc.
10. Next, the device reboots, after which the settings take effect.

The touchpad does not work: solution No. 3

If working with the BIOS did not help the situation, then there is another way to solve the problem yourself - reinstalling the drivers. The action is not complicated - you just need to know exactly what model of laptop you have. This is indicated in the instructions for it, the warranty card, the sticker on the back panel, and the box of the device.

The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

1. Go to the official website of your computer manufacturer.
2. In the search bar, copy and rewrite the exact name of the device model.
3. In the new window you will need the "Utilities and Drivers" tab.
4. It is important to indicate the exact version operating system installed on a laptop. For example, "Windows 10".
5. From the list provided, find the latest version of drivers for the touch mouse and download them to your device (usually free).
6. Install the driver. This happens in the same way as installing any program or game.
7. After the installation wizard finishes, it is important to restart your computer.
8. If the touchpad is not physically damaged, it should begin to function. If the touch panel is technically faulty, then the only remaining input is to replace it at a service center.

A touch panel or touchpad is an almost complete replacement for the usual optical mouse on laptops. However, not all users like this innovation; many find it inconvenient and non-functional. Therefore, it is important to know how to activate and deactivate the touchpad on your device. You also need to remember what to do if the touchpad has problems.

IntroductionA keyboard with a touchpad is a rare phenomenon, but still familiar to many and does not evoke any special emotions. But this is the first time we’ve seen a mouse with a touch surface (for the PC platform, of course - this is no longer new for the Mac). How convenient and functional will it be in using Microsoft Touch Mouse compared to the usual models? Let's try to figure it out. But first, let's go over the main milestones in the still short history of mice with touch-sensitive coating.

The history of mice with touch controls is still quite short and only lasts about six years. It is possible (or rather “very likely”) that individual concepts were born earlier, but the first such serial cursor control device went on sale in August 2005.

It was the Apple Mighty Mouse, which caused quite mixed reviews from users: while admiring the new control capabilities, they noted the lack of selectivity of the touch sensor (sometimes confusing, for example, the left and right “buttons”) and the rapid contamination of the scroll ball, which was not easy to clean.

In October 2009, this model was replaced in the Apple product line by the Magic Mouse with multi-touch support, which received less criticism, and the design still delights not only Apple fans.

Apple's eternal rival, Microsoft, is noticeably behind in terms of release dates for mice with touch surfaces. The company's first mouse with touch controls, the Arc Touch Mouse, was released only in the fall of 2010, and its capabilities for controlling touch to a surface were very limited. All Arc Touch had was a small touch strip in place of the scroll wheel with a middle button, which obviously can't compare to the touch-sensitive coating that takes up 3/4 of the surface of the Apple Magic Mouse.

So it’s only now, almost two years after the release of Magic Mouse, that Microsoft has launched a full-fledged response. The first truly serious competitor to Apple's touch beauty, the Microsoft Touch Mouse, will hit the shelves this summer - we'll test this mouse right now.

Appearance and equipment

The packaging of the Touch Mouse can hardly be called typical for Microsoft pointing devices. Instead of the usual blister packaging with the mouse exposed under the company’s previous decisions, the new Touch Mouse is enclosed in a small but rather tall cardboard box in the traditional red color for Microsoft hardware with a magnetic lid clasp. On almost every side of the container, in different font sizes, it is emphasized that the Touch Mouse is designed specifically for use in systems under Windows control 7, and also lists some features of the device.

The scope of delivery is somewhat more extensive than one might expect from a modestly sized package. The mouse itself hides inside a pair of pre-installed Energizer AA alkaline batteries (although the manufacturer’s website at the time of preparation of the material talked about two AAA batteries) and a compact USB radio receiver “Nano Transceiver” in a recess on the bottom.

Traditionally, for wireless models, there is a battery compartment on the bottom, in the middle of the lid there is an island with a power switch and an optical sensor. The batteries are located on the sides of this protrusion.

The mouse rests on two rather large supports placed across the body at opposite ends of the device: on all the surfaces we tested, from a worn rubber mat to denim, they ensured easy gliding without excessive effort.

In addition, the box contains a USB extension cable about one and a half meters long to place the receiver closer to the mouse and an envelope made of thick paper that hides inside a stack of traditional waste paper and a pair of self-adhesive Velcro for fixing the end of the extension cable.

From the inscriptions on the packaging, you can only learn that the mouse is equipped with an optical sensor that uses BlueTrack technology, and has a touch surface with multi-touch support. Other characteristics will have to be dug up in the documentation on the official website, where you can find out that the Touch Mouse boasts the following:

sensor resolution - 1000 dpi;
optical sensor reading speed - up to 8000 frames/s;
mouse movement speed on the surface - up to 1.83 m/s;
the average operating life from a set of batteries is 3 months;
button resource - 3 million clicks (with processing of no more than 4 clicks per second).

The mouse has a symmetrical shape and therefore is equally suitable for both right-handers and left-handers. The dimensions of the Touch Mouse are not too large - approximately at the level of typical inexpensive “office” mice, but due to the use of a pair of relatively large and heavy AA batteries, this baby weighs a lot.

The touch-sensitive part of the body cover is decorated with a sand-colored cross-shaped pattern, between the elements of which there are dots of the same color, which somewhat enlivens the utilitarian black appearance of the mouse.

The contrast between the snow-white “belly” of the Touch Mouse and the dark top is somewhat surprising. In my opinion, a black base would look more harmonious, but we will assume that Microsoft designers know better.

Note that Microsoft did not take the radical path of completely abandoning conventional buttons. The standard left and right keys have a mechanical design with a fairly tight, but clearly fixed press.

Software

There was no disc or flash drive with device drivers in the box, as could already be seen from the description of the package. I couldn't help completely and Windows Update: despite the fact that the mouse is specially “tailored” for Windows 7, which is emphasized by numerous inscriptions on the packaging, it only “downloaded” the USB receiver drivers, after which the mouse started working, but, so to speak, not at “full power” . Most of the touch functionality, which is the main feature of this input device, was left behind: only a couple of mechanical keys worked, and of all the touch capabilities, only vertical scrolling, similar to a regular mouse wheel, was available.

However, it is worth noting that on another system running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (the first system tested had Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit) Center Windows updates completed its tasks completely, downloading and installing not only updated receiver drivers, but also latest version IntelliPoint.

After installing the current version of IntelliPoint software (8.1.5 at the time of testing), the “touch” problems were left behind: the mouse began to do everything that was stated in the brochure included in the package. The possibilities for controlling gestures are very wide. Commands given with one, two, or three fingers are supported.

You can use your index finger to scroll data in any direction or zoom the image (moving quickly will trigger fast scrolling). The thumb, which with the most comfortable grip of the mouse is located on the side, in the area of ​​the highest point of the device, is responsible for the “forward/backward” rewinding (up/down movement, respectively) that is typical for the side keys. IntelliPoint allows you to choose a left or right thumb configuration.

Two-finger movements control windows. You can maximize a window to fill the entire screen (swipe up) or exit full-screen mode (swipe down), and you can pin or unpin the active window to half the screen, as the Snap feature in Windows 7 allows you to do (swipe to the side).

A triple “strokes” with your fingers allows you to minimize all windows and show the desktop (movement down) or display thumbnails of all open source software to select the one you need at the moment (move up). The size of the preview image is scaled depending on the number open windows, the program preview window over which the cursor is positioned is slightly enlarged, and the desktop background is darkened.

Movements with two or three fingers are accompanied by a corresponding indication on the screen (the number of dots shows the number of fingers involved, and the trail behind them indicates the direction of the gesture). This feature, active by default, can be disabled if desired.

Since the way to control this mouse is not yet familiar to the user, IntelliPoint has built-in video hints for all the gestures used.

General impressions

Although, if you wish, you can find fault with the not too large size of the mouse and its considerable weight, even long-term work with the Touch Mouse did not cause discomfort: the grip is quite comfortable (which cannot be said about the analogue made by Apple), and the material of the case is pleasant to the touch and does not slip.

Although the package contains a USB extension cable, in practice it is unlikely to be needed. With a communication radius of 10 feet (3.05 m) stated in the specifications, we observed stable operation at approximately twice the distance of the mouse from the signal receiver.

An accuracy of 1000 dpi is quite enough for everyday work or entertainment, but it may seem insufficient, for example, to fans of dynamic shooters. However, shooters clearly do not belong to the area of ​​​​programs in which the Touch Mouse will show itself in all its glory. The reason for this is not only insufficient sensitivity (for most users, except for particularly picky players, it will be enough), but also in the imperfect operation of touch scrolling, which in such games is traditionally responsible for changing weapons.

Actually, scrolling is the least successful aspect of the Touch Mouse even when working in regular applications (say, in office programs or browser). It is easy to scroll the page further than required with a strong “strokes” of the finger, and weak touches are sometimes not recognized (especially often in cases where the mouse has been inactive for some time before).

In general, in terms of accuracy and stability of scrolling, the traditional wheel will give Microsoft's touch scrolling a hundred points head start, and the Logitech MicroGear dual-mode wheel will be offended in the best feelings by the very fact of such a comparison.

In addition, it was noticed that at times of high load on a weak system (Athlon 64 3000+ with 1 GB RAM), touch gestures sometimes worked with a delay or did not work at all. Moreover, no such problems were observed with a parallel-connected conventional mouse: in situations where the touch scrolling of the Touch Mouse “went into itself,” the usual mechanical wheel confidently scrolled the page. However, it is unlikely that buyers of an $80 mouse will use it on such “calculators,” and no such problems were observed on a more powerful computer.

However, despite some problems with scrolling, system control when Microsoft help Touch Mouse turned out to be very convenient. Where previously you had to press a combination of buttons on the keyboard or make unnecessary movements with the cursor (say, to fix a window using the Snap function), you can now get by with an almost instantaneous gesture.

Conclusion

Let's see what the Microsoft Touch Mouse offers the user.
The model has the following advantages:

the touch control system is somewhat unusual at first, but generally very convenient in everyday work;
good ergonomics;
“omnivorous” BlueTrack sensor;
long battery life;
Wide range of customization options for gestures and multiple taps (including individually for different applications);
pleasant and strict appearance.

But it was not without its drawbacks:

low scrolling accuracy;
unclear processing of touch commands under high load on weak machines;
Compatible with Windows 7 only.

Overall, as you can see, the balance of pros and cons generally leans in favor of the Touch Mouse. However, it is worth noting that this mouse is not suitable for everyone.

For a user who frequently works with big amount open programs, but not too keen on dynamic games, the Touch Mouse is almost guaranteed to bring a lot of pleasure, providing the most convenient controls (even the not very successful implementation of scrolling is lost against the background of overall comfort) with ergonomics that do not cause significant complaints. However, enthusiastic gamers or owners of low-power systems may be disappointed in such a purchase.

Other materials on this topic

Microsoft compact mice: Arc mouse and Mobile Mouse 3500
Logitech MX 1100 mouse: revolution at a discount
Blue-eyed mouse - Microsoft Sidewinder X8