why do gaming laptops have such terrible trackpads?

[Ashleyyyy]

so i got a used msi laptop (GS72 6QC)  and the trackpad is awful. 

 

to 2 finger scroll i need to hold my fingers a relatively long distance apart, the acceleration curve is terrible and the pressure required to press down is way more than comfortable. 

 

why do gaming laptops still have such awful trackpads? i just don't understand. 

 

my 7 year old macbook's trackpad is SO much better....

[Phentos]

Trackpads are a huge afterthought in gaming laptops since it's assumed that the customer will just use a decent mouse.

[Ashleyyyy]

Just now, Phentos said:

Trackpads are a huge afterthought in gaming laptops since it's assumed that the customer will just use a decent mouse.

most of the time i do, but when i just want to sit on the couch and browse youtube or something i want a good trackpad. 

[RollinLower]

it's in the name basically, nobody games on a trackpad, so the manufacturers just assume the costumer would use a mouse with the system, eliminating the use of a trackpad.

this is also why some laptops have the trackpad integrated in the numpad, essentially making it an option to even use it at all.

[Phentos]

Just now, firelighter487 said:

most of the time i do, but when i just want to sit on the couch and browse youtube or something i want a good trackpad. 

I hear ya. My 5 year old Lenovo Y510P has an absolutely horrible trackpad.

[Jurrunio]

because they reused trackpads on their business laptop models?

[Ashleyyyy]

1 minute ago, RollinLower said:

it's in the name basically, nobody games on a trackpad, so the manufacturers just assume the costumer would use a mouse with the system, eliminating the use of a trackpad.

this is also why some laptops have the trackpad integrated in the numpad, essentially making it an option to even use it at all.

so they just assume customers will use that laptop for nothing but gaming?

 

2 minutes ago, Phentos said:

I hear ya. My 5 year old Lenovo Y510P has an absolutely horrible trackpad.

yeah lenovo trackpads are useless. the thinkpad one's are ok though...

[RollinLower]

3 minutes ago, firelighter487 said:

so they just assume customers will use that laptop for nothing but gaming?

well, it's a pc ofcourse, not a console. so they assume that they will use it for a lot of things, but with gaming as the main usecase.

 

the trackpad isn't great, but it is functional enough to use the PC for other things. so there's really no need to put a better trackpad in it which would essentially drive up manufacturing costs and lower profit margins, while most people would just use the trackpad as is on the road and a proper mouse while gaming.

[Ashleyyyy]

1 minute ago, RollinLower said:

well, it's a pc ofcourse, not a console. so they assume that they will use it for a lot of things, but with gaming as the main usecase.

 

the trackpad isn't great, but it is functional enough to use the PC for other things. so there's really no need to put a better trackpad in it which would essentially drive up manufacturing costs and lower profit margins, while most people would just use the trackpad as is on the road and a proper mouse while gaming.

but why then put a trackpad in it that's annoying to use? how is the trackpad the only thing nobody's copied from Apple? Apple's trackpads are so good... 

[Tog Driver]

It's to make you buy a Gaming Mouse.

[Ashleyyyy]

1 minute ago, TheClueLessMajority said:

It's to make you buy a Gaming Mouse.

*puts on tinfoil hat*

 

i still can't believe that, even with my tinfoil hat on... 

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 hour ago, firelighter487 said:

but why then put a trackpad in it that's annoying to use?

Then what else are you supposed to use for mouse input? Including a mouse would defeat the purpose of the use-case you want and adding a touch screen would cost even more money.

 

I suppose the nipple is an option, but it's even more annoying to use unless you've gotten used to it.

Quote

how is the trackpad the only thing nobody's copied from Apple? Apple's trackpads are so good... 

Dell XPS's trackpad is arguably one of the best trackpads that doesn't come from Apple.

[Ashleyyyy]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

Then what else are you supposed to use for mouse input? Including a mouse would defeat the purpose of the use-case you want and adding a touch screen would cost evne more money.

i could have worded that better. my point there was why put in something that's just going to annoy the user. in a premium device premium input devices should be used. 

 

2 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

Dell XPS's trackpad is arguably one of the best trackpads that doesn't come from Apple.

i've never tried that one. 

[Mira Yurizaki]

2 minutes ago, firelighter487 said:

i could have worded that better. my point there was why put in something that's just going to annoy the user. in a premium device premium input devices should be used.

May as well start asking these laptops to have mechanical keys then.

 

All in all, gaming laptops from Acer, ASUS, MSI, etc. I feel are corner cutters. They'll find everything and anything they can to save money because on the flip side, they're more affordable than say an Alienware. And often times they'll cut corners in places that for the market they're selling these to, won't really affect the value perceived quality of the product.

[Tog Driver]

5 hours ago, firelighter487 said:

*puts on tinfoil hat*

 

i still can't believe that, even with my tinfoil hat on... 

That means your tinfoil hat needs more tinfoil.

[genexis_x]

Some models do have decent touchpad, but very rare