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Women. Geeze. And they say MALES are the ones that can't read directions....

What an idiot!!

Oh, and seriously, who reads CNET anyhow? Journalism? There? Come on, it's not April anymore, it's almost June.

As with many other typical Windows droids, I'm sure she'll find some other reason not to switch.

would someone registered tell her - for the love of god! lol

Hmmm, the two fingers on the track pad and then clicking the button works quite well on my macbook. You would think that would be easy enough for people who run virus scanners, adware removers, and constantly repair their registry on a regular basis. 10 seconds to learn a new way to use the track pad or hours every week trying to keep a windows system running. Touch choice.

I just won't fly on jets until they have propellors!

Windows people just can't think outside of the box.

How do people like this get to write any article that has to do with technology? Really.

No excuses. She is an utter dumbass

Does the two finger click work if you're using Windows via BootCamp?

MDN, Yes, the Macbook and Macbook Pro offer the secondary click when using two fingers on the trackpad, however, she seems to be only talking about when running in Windows "all the livelong day".

I can't try it right now, but is that feature supported when running Windows?

Mind you, I'm not doing her arguing for her, just pointing out that she seems to be complaining about lack of support for that on the Windows booted side of things.

Or she could have simply never thought to try it (if it does work automatically).

Just got a new 15" MacBookPro last week, and I didn't know you could do the 2 finger trackpad click. Gotta start reading the directions.

Does anyone know if the 2 finger clicking works in Bootcamp/Windows?

Is there a way to do it for us PowerBook users?

She must have once worked on the Longhorn team. Hopefully, she is sterile.

This FUD needs to be explained/advertised by Apple. I heard the same thing this weekend in a Best Buy store, a PC user was inquiring about Macs and the sales guy basically told him to forget about it because there's no right click. Come On!!!
Apple needs to better adverstise Advertise ADVERSTISE! to dispel some of these fears.

Is she blonde?

A quick question for anyone that has one (a MacBook Pro or a MacBook).

When you have "Boot Camped" into Windows, do the Apple drivers allow this trackpad "right-click" functionality?

I understand the above described option from within "System Prefs" (in OS X), but don't actually know if Apple has the same solution available within the Windows environment.

Just curious...

Izod

In the time it took to write my question - it has been asked two other times!

(Yeah!)

izod

Molly,
It is obvious that in sitting down at the keyboard, you will be using... the keyboard. Shortcut keys are provided for just about every function in every application written; on both Windows and Mac OSes. You use them, your friends use them, your parents uses them, everybody uses them to one degree or another. The more you rely on a computer for daily tasks, the more you find yourself picking up on these shortcuts. It is only natural that as a person works – typing a little bit, then mousing around, typing, then more mousing – that one hand will stay on the keyboard while the other goes to move the mouse. A person will find themselves working like this to be more efficient.

So, while one hand remains on the keyboard, it can easily hit that command key or option key or control key or shift key or escape or whatever to become more efficient and have access to more options than you ever could with a 2-button (or 3 or 4-button) mouse.

Then, Molly, consider the move to a laptop machine, as you had mentioned in your article.

You are not going to be able to easily pull out (and in some locations, it will just be impossible) and plug in a mouse – be it a 1-button OR 2-button OR 5-button mouse. This is another reason the keyboard hotkeys, functioning in conjuction with those cursor clicks, will obviously come in more handy than a 2 button mouse.

As a user of the Mac OS, I find that the simple conventions are best and most productive. It is unfortunate that you are stuck in the unproductive conventions tied to the Microsoft world but don't be unreasonable by blaming Apple for it.

I bouhgt a brand new MBP with a glossy screen (week 21) and that option is not available to me. Bummer.

But, I have used it on the MacBook and it is a grea feature.

@Turd Ferguson

Perhaps this thread can help:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55769

you nerds wouldn't be criticizing molly if you knew how hot she is.

I am on a MacBook Pro and the 2 finger right click is not an option. Am I missing something?

Why is this not available on my MacBook Pro? I'm looking for it but it isn't there. Any advice other than a third party? I'm assuming Apple has built this into the OS.

Well, I've got a MacBook Pro, running 10.4.6. I don't have that option in the Trackpad diaglog box for two finger right clicking. So I called Apple and here's what they told me:

"Apple does not offer that capability at the moment. There's a rumor going around the web that you can do this in OS X, but it's not something that the OS supports right now."

He did go on to say that there's a possibility that this functionality may be available in a future release.

Is there something I'm missing here, 'cause it sure looks like a lot of people have it, judging from the postings?

> Why is this not available on my MacBook Pro?

Perhaps because of the very reason I just mentioned above.

Funnily enough, it isn't there on my Macbook Pro either. Is this a Macbook specific thing?

I have a MacBook Pro, and that option isn't available to be either. MDN has failed to do their homework yet again - that feature is not available in all Intel Mac laptops.

It sucks big time that Mac laptops still only have one button. How long will it take Apple to get a freaking clue? Pathetic.

In the mean time, here's where to get a handy tool for Mac laptop users who are running Windows and are SOL thanks to Apple:

http://www.geocities.com/pronto4u/applemouse.html

With such a wide trackpad, why doesn't Apple do a "mighty mouse" on it? Give users the option to have the left side be primary click and have the right side be the secondary click, or vice versa.

My macbook pro doesn't offer the option to use the two finger click trackpad option. Is there something else I need to install?

2 fingers on the trackpad and a click is an option in the keyboard/trackpad control panel for the os that ships w/MBs (at least it is on mine), which were released after the MBPs obviously. i think apple is sneaking some leopard stuff in on us as a way to beta test some features...

I believe the two-finger right-click is only available on the 17" MBP and MacBook, NOT the 15" version. Maybe Apple will release an OS (10.4.7, not Leopard) or firmware update to support this feature in the near future.

For those interested: If you want to take control of clicking, two-finger-clicking and tapping on your trackpad, perhaps you should try out iScroll2.

http://www-users.kawo2.rwth-aachen.de/~razzfazz/iscroll2/

It enables two-finger-scrolling even on pre 2005 Apple-Laptops, including vertical scrolling and iPod-like-scrolling, while allowing you to assign Mouse-Button-Functions to your clicking, which includes the right click - which I love on my old G4 iBook.

and NO, I´m not affiliated ^^, just convinced.

MDN magic word: window.
As in: Sometimes, every window(s) breaks.

ron g, and gang,

Molly insists on mousing with one hand for the obvious reason: masturbating to porn.

I was running Win 2K inside of Parallels on my 17" MBP and I wasn't able to right-click. So I closed out of Parallels and went into Control Panel and went under Mouse settings. I had to enable the two fingers on the trackpad for right-clicking. It wasn't enabled by default. Went back into Parallels and started up Win 2K again and what do you know, right clicking works inside of Win 2K.

> you nerds wouldn't be criticizing molly if you knew how hot she is

If you think Molly is hot, do not call anyone else a nerd. Ever.

This just in: CNET writer won't buy Apple MacBook because he lacks a penis

Gamers won't be using a touchpad to play games with, so that argument is bullshit.

OK! I give up. Let's just adopt all of the inane conventions that Microsoft has created.

To hell with consistency and productivity and ease of use.
Wohoo! 5-button mice and 6 button trackpads for everyone! Who cares that we have to relearn click conventions everytime we sit down in front of a different computer.

While we're at it, lets just put the Shut Down menu item under the Spotlight menu - they both start with an "S"! Makes sense, doesn't it?

I don't know guys, I think you're being a little harsh this time. We all know about OSX's cool little features that don't even get a mention in the manuals, maybe this is one of them. (Anyone out there have a MacBook manual?) Yes, Molly could've investigated the 2 finger click a bit more, but honestly, she shouldn't have to.

Just my $.02

m

cnet gets it wrong, again.

As macnut222 stated above, the right click option is available ONLY on the MacBooks and 17" MacBook Pros. This has been talked about in countless areas on the web and here on MDN.

I was stuck on a desert island for 25 years. None of the computers had a two-button mouse so I couldn't send an e-mail to the Coast Guard to rescue my dumbass. Fortunately, Friday figured it out.

You know what, I'm going to explain the obvious AGAIN.

One, we're not PAID to write articles REVIEWING a product that's right in our hot little hands.

Two, can't you see the obvious logic here? Molly whines that a Mac isn't exactly like a Windows laptop. The goal here is to whine until a Mac is exactly like a Windows laptop, and then whine and whine until Apple reduces the prices, or scratches their butts for them, or meets all the other items on their long list of personal tech fetishes. Then when that's done, they'll bemoan the fact that Apple is NO LONGER IN BUSINESS because they just couldn't keep up with the industry. Then all the laptops will be all the same and everything will run Windows and they WON'T BE THREATENED by something different anymore.

It's all about passing off their fear and ignorance as superior knowledge.

Bore me the freak later!

"Neither the MacBook nor the MacBook Pro comes with--even as an option--a second mouse button."

Sort of true ... you cannot get a two-button mouse from Apple. You need to go third party - as I have been doing for a decade. It isn't hard. You don't even have to go to a Mac-friendly store! Just make sure it says "USB" and lay down your $15-$50 and take it home.

As for Apple's 'solution' ... fergeddit! Apple/Jobs is phobic about that second button and looking for ways to say "see? we can do without it". Well, doing WITH it would be easier and less troublesome for all involved - all except those with a neurosis regarding that second button (AND a scroll ball).

I won't buy this Mercedes because you don't have it with two stirring wheels.

Has she fixed it yet?

iscroll 2

This works great on my powerbook, it gets my vote.

Is it that she wants Appe to include one with her MacBook because she is too lazy to go out and buy on?

Just like a female: gimme or I cut you off

Molly also says "One model even comes in nice, shiny, Nano black."

Hmmm.

Funny. The Macbook I'm typing this on is black, but it damn sure isn't "shiny" like the Nano.

For a "reviewer" to not notice the difference between a very siny nano and the very matte black MacBook shows me that this person is reviewing something she has never actually seen.

Nice journalism, Molly. You make CNET very proud, I'm sure.