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Two-Finger Scrolling For Older Mac Laptops
Michael Stroeck writes "Want that nifty scrolling on your portable but have an older one? No problem, Daniel Becker has written a free alternative driver for older PowerBooks and iBooks that works like a charm. It is based on Apple's AppleADBMouse-209.0.10 driver from Mac OS 10.3.7 that is available as part of the publicly released Darwin source code. As such, the driver is covered by the APSL (Apple Public Source License)."
Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.
Seriously, this was not advertised functionality when you bought your iBook. Why do you think you're entitled to free functionality upgrades from Apple for the life of your product?
Do you think Apple should provide you with a free upgrade to OS X 10.4, too? Because, you know, it's within your iBook's capability to run it.
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You're right.
It's just too bad most of the mods around here think that Apple's need for profit=(hand_over_fist) is somehow rightfully tied into purposely crippling capable hardware. But this isn't the first time this debate has come up.
Many Apple iBooks have the ability to run an additional display in spanning-mode just like the more expensive PowerBooks. However, iBooks are purposely "locked" to mirror-only by Apple. It's pretty easy to enable the functionality through a software patch... just like this trackpad functionality can be added via some loving software hackery.
Apple is clearly using this trackpad feature as a nudge for people to upgrade to the new PowerBooks and I can't fault them for that. Still, that doesn't mean Apple should simply ignore users with the hardware ("W Trackpad") that indeed supports this neat software hack just in the name of product differentiation. Hell, they can add it to Tiger and justify it as a feature upgrade included with the price of the update. Imagine that! Apple still makes money and users with old hardware get increased functionality! Cats and dogs, living together!
I remember back when users were adding extras to their original iPods and Apple quickly followed... officially updating them to do new things. Then, when newer iPods came out, users (this one included) asked Apple to support the older iPods and create an update so they could to do the things the newer ones could do... namely playlists-to-go. But the overwhelming majority of people I heard from on
We wouldn't want everyone's favorite little computer company, just barely making ends meet every quarter, throwing a bone out for the users of older hardware.
Give me a break.
Here's something so easy it's been whipped up at home.
Of course Apple should offer it. Of course Apple doesn't have to offer it.
But along you come, a one-man corporate rights brigade, wagging your finger and telling people the corporation owes them nothing beyond the dotted line. And what's more, peeps better not go droolin' after Tiger! Advertised features! Life of the product! Ain't no free lunch! Everybody clear on that?
Such tiresome scolding, such quick subservience to a business. Where's the joy in that, pray tell?