How To Optimize Your Touchpad (Update)

Update:

You can now enable advance gestures on older touchpad.

I will just post the link as I am too lazy to type 

As of now almost all Synaptics Touchpad support multitouch (even legacy ones) thanks to Synaptics who decided to include multi touch support even for legacy Touchpads.

You need to update the drivers to the latest version here then use this guide to optimize the settings

The information below is outdated refer to the above.

New features : Disable touchpad when USB Mouse is attached.

I think some of you have seen the synaptic icon on your taskbar but don't really care what it does.

In this blog I will show you how to properly configure it so that it will perform even better for you



Firstly, Synaptic Touchpad software is consistently updated

You won't get the latest version from Official Synaptic Website

However you can get it at laptopvideo2go

Let me clarify Synaptic Touchpad Software is universal there is no specific version to install

As long as you have a touchpad on your laptop the latest version will always be compatible to your laptop if you haven't install it, install it now.

• Firstly Right Click on the Synaptic icon in the taskbar


• Select Pointing Device Properties


• Select Pointer Options Tab


• Set the Pointer Speed bar as shown below

The above picture is just a gauge

The optimal setting should be the when you drag your finger from the top of the touchpad to the bottom the cursor should traverse from the top to the bottom in one single motion

---

Next Check that Tapping is enabled as shown below

When tapping is enabled when you touch the touchpad twice quickly at the same spot is acts like a double left click

When you touch once it acts as a single left click

After you do this it effectively replaces your left mouse button

---

Next we shall set the most comfortable setting for the touchpad

Set both bar to as low as possible because

• I don't think people rest their whole palm on the touchpad while using it


• It makes your touchpad more responsive and you no longer have to apply any pressure to it. You just need to rest the weight of your finger on it


• Latest version of Synaptics Software will not detect invisible movements and move your cursor randomly

---

Next we shall explore additional features



Enable Virtual Scrolling as shown below

It will allow you to scroll up and down, left and right by dragging your fingers in the regions shown below

Adjust the size of the scroll region

---

Next we shall find a Alternative Right Click Button for convenience

Do the following

This will create a "new" right click button as shown below

To Right Click simply tap the region once

Adjust the size of your "Right Mouse Button"

The new configuration will need some getting use to but you will no longer need to apply pressure to the touch pad for normal usage

If you get use to this you will not need to use the right mouse button hence less likely of spoiling it

If you require finer control you can always fallback on the buttons

In conclusion don't be lazy, the default setting on Synaptic Touchpad sucks to get comfortable settings for use, experiment and find the setting you are most comfortable with.

---