I own a ZBook 15 first generation, Ubuntu 16.04. The trackpad is large and works well. It has 3 physical buttons (actually two pairs of them, on the top for the mouse stick and on the bottom for the trackpad). I'm using it as a mouse (single finger) or to scroll (two fingers). It's probably multi touch up to 10 fingers but I can't remember.

I understand that OSX has gestures and maybe Windows too. Maybe there is some package that brings gestures to Ubuntu as well (apt-cache search gesture|grep gesture returns some) but the keyboard is good enough. Alt left to go back (it works in Nautilus too), etc. Sometimes I'd like pinch to zoom in Gimp like on the phone and tablet and some day I'll try those gesture packages, but I'm in no hurry.

On the other side, I find the push to click trackpads I see on Macs and some PCs very difficult to operate, especially when I don't want to move the mouse pointer when clicking (graphic programs) and especially the trackpads that actually move. That's why I bought a laptop with physical buttons and disabled push to click (it had that too).

TL;DR the Mac trackpad is almost a reason not to buy a Mac for me.

>On the other side, I find the push to click trackpads I see on Macs and some PCs very difficult to operate, especially when I don't want to move the mouse pointer when clicking (graphic programs) and especially the trackpads that actually move.

That was a concern I had when upgrading to a MacBook with no physical button, but it hasn't actually been an issue. You can treat the trackpad as though it has a separate physical button (leave your thumb at the bottom the whole time, and use it to click instead of the tracking finger), and it's smart to detect that and ignore the thumb except for clicking.

The trackpad is excellent, highly tunable (I just use the standard settings) with very good precision.

I don't understand why any dev would want to use a touchpad of any kind?

They're not nearly as precise as a mouse. They cause you to rotate your cuff even further than a mouse. Dragging and dropping things is more difficult with a touchpad.

Touchpads all stink, including Apple's.

Evoluent's vertical five button wireless mouse is where it's at. Everything else is second rate.

Because sometimes you need to work on the move? I like to get things done on flights, and there's no space for a mouse there.

> Touchpads all stink, including Apple's.

Couldn't disagree more. I've actually ended up getting a Magic Trackpad for my desk - the gestures etc are genuinely useful.

> Because sometimes you need to work on the move? I like to get things done on flights...

Uggh. That sounds like a terrible way to work. If open floor plans are bad, working on a flight has got to be even worse. I guess I'm lucky that I don't have to do any of that.

> I've actually ended up getting a Magic Trackpad for my desk...

Well, you're a rare bird then.

I also use a Magic Trackpad instead of a mouse at work as a dev. I also do music production exclusively with my Macbook's trackpad. I'm definitely more comfortable with it than a mouse for my normal work habits.. and I was able to beat people online in Starcraft pretty handily with a trackpad. I don't doubt that I couldn't become more precise with a mouse over time, but I really prefer scrolling and gestures to what's available on a mouse.

> Uggh. That sounds like a terrible way to work.

Welcome to the real world- sometimes we have to do things in environments that are less than ideal!

Given that Apple have iterated and released multiple versions of the Magic Trackpad, I doubt I'm that rare of a bird.

See if you can find sales numbers for your elitist 5 button vertical mouse vs. the trackpad.... Then we'll talk about who the 'rare bird' is. Grow up.

No, no, no. Travel distance is supremely important, and if you're working on a MacBook the trackpad is right there! I loathe all trackpads except MacBook's. In fact, I have a Magic Mouse and Keyboard that I use when I place my MacBook on a stand, and it feels tiring to move my hand so far to move the mouse.

I use a Mac Pro primarily, but I actually have a mouse, trackpad, and Wacom tablet attached. Each get used for the things they work best at with the trackpad getting the most use.