Making your PowerBook/iBook ignore the trackpad
Making your PowerBook/iBook ignore the trackpad
Several MacFixIt readers have noted that they are unable to make their PowerBook or iBook ignore the trackpad when a USB mouse is connected. This option is normally accessible by turning on the function "Ignore trackpad if mouse is present" in the "Mouse" pane of System Preferences.
"I'm affected by this bug--I can't get the computer to ignore the trackpad on an 867mhz PB G4 with a (relatively new) Apple Pro mouse while an iBook 700 with an original (short USB cord) Apple Pro mouse does ignore the trackpad if the mouse is present."
"I've deleted every relevant preference file I can find, even the '.globalpreferences.plist' invisible file. Nothing works."
After sifting through other reader reports, it appears that the different mouse models may indeed be the deciding factor in some cases - citations of the issue are spread across a variety of Apple portable models. The newer Apple Pro mice, with longer USB cords, seem to have the problem more frequently than the original, shorter cable Pro mice.
The problem also appears to be exclusive to Mac OS X 10.2.x, as users of Mac OS X 10.1.x do not seem to be affected.
Feedback on this issue? Drop us a line at late-breakers@macfixit.com.Resources