Touchpad or mouse ?

Which do you prefer .....
I prefer the mouse, but since I got me new laptop, Hubs says I need the touchpad as well, in case the mouse packs up, then we can work the computer from the touch pad.
I don't like it being on, I accidently touch it and things come up, I never asked for.
Is there a way round it so I can have the thing off ...

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

I can't cope with the touchpad, I have problems with arthritis in my hands and they are not very supple which doesn't help.

I turned my touchpad off and use a wireless mouse

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

Same here - would there be a problem though if the 'mouse' failed ...?

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

buy a new mouse or turn the touchpad on again

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

Don't like laptops never mind touchpads. Give me a full size keyboard and mouse every time. If I had a laptop ( I don't ) I would definitely use a mouse as touchpads are just horrible in my opinion; in fact, knowing me, I would get a full size keyboard as well and just use the laptop for it's processing power and screen, or rig it up to the TV and use that for a screen instead .

I rigged my sister's laptop up as above with a wireless keyboard and mouse with the TV as a monitor - brill .

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

Definitely mouse.

By the time I've sorted out which bit of the touch pad I've got fed up.

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

Was thinking, if the mouse failed overnight. So, when you want to start up fresh, how do you do that if the mouse and touch pad are disabled ?
Buy a new mouse ? Would the computer 'automatically' accept the new mouse ?

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

prefer the mouse, can't control the touch pad

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

You can usually turn the touch pad off if you want, some even have a physical switch but if they don't just go into control panel > mouse and have a look around.

There are lots of other interesting things you can do there like increasing the size of the pointer, changing its style or giving it a 'tail'. You can also adjust the double click to suit yourself better if you want to. Left handed people can swap the left and right buttons over too.

You don't need to worry if a mouse fails just plug in a new one they are all USB and plug and play these days. Even if you have no mouse and the touch pad is turned off use the TAB key to move from one button to the next and go back into the control panel to turn the touch pad back on.

Personally can't be bothered with a mouse on my laptop (though I do carry one in its bag) it doesn't take much practise to use the touch pad and tap the pad to click (if that feature is what is causing you problems you can turn it off too so you have to press the physical button to click)

Re: Touchpad or mouse ?

I've never used a mouse so I can't compare the two, but as I get on fine with the touchpad on my laptop I don't need to bother.