Ability to Disable TouchPad

[dhinds]

For me to use Petite Linux on my Lenovo ThinkPad X100e I need it to
include a configuration to completely disable it's Touchpad (which
only Peppermint Ice has let me do so far).

I'm running Open suse 11.4 on the desktop computer and hope this
suggestion is taken into account. (The x100e has a TrackPoint also,
and I mainly use an external mouse, since I invariably wind up hitting
the Touchpad while typing, which changes the location of the cursor.
Some Linux Distros (i.e. Ubuntu Netbook Edition) present an
option to "Disable TouchPad While Typing" but this hasn't functioned
in practice.

TIA,

Douglas Hinds

[Marianna Apostolaki]

Douglas,

I personally am an avid touchpad user, and I only use a physical mouse
for some games.

However, on all laptops there should be a key combination that
disables the touchpad.
Look at the numbers and/or f1-12 keys for the symbols marked in blue.
It should be evident which key is the touchpad control.
Hit the Fn button and the touchpad button and that should disable the
touchpad from the hardware level (which will apply to any distro /
OS / anything).
There should also be brighness buttons which are very handy.

For your convenience I will add the gsynaptics package to the upcoming
petite 11.4 release which assuming your touchpad brand is synaptics
(most laptops) provides a configuration utility for your touchpad,
including a "disable touchpad" checkbox.
To run it, simply hit "alt+esc" and type touchpad or synaptics and it
should be the first item on the list.
You can add the gsynaptics package to any openSUSE installation using
the regular software management methods.

Thanks for your interest

[dhinds]

On Mar 22, at 7:40 am, Marianna Apostolaki

<marianna.apostol...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I personally am an avid touchpad user, and I only use a physical mouse
> for some games.

This is my third ThinkPad and the first (an R-31) had only a
TrackPoint (Red EraserTip Botton). Once I learned to control it, I
preferred it - but then, I was thumb operated Trackball fan early on.
(Why move your whole arm) when a finger will do the job?

> However, on all laptops there should be a key combination that
> disables the touchpad.

That's logical.

> Look at the numbers and/or f1-12 keys for the symbols marked in blue.
> It should be evident which key is the touchpad control.

I don't see an icon that looks like a touchpad to me, but I'll give
Lenovo a call (or peruse the X100e Manual) just to be sure.

> Hit the Fn button and the touchpad button and that should disable the
> touchpad from the hardware level (which will apply to any distro /
> OS / anything).

> There should also be brightness buttons which are very handy.

Right, and that was one of other things I looked for in a Linux
Distro.for the X100e - with some distros I couldn't recover without
rebooting if the screen went dim (so evidently the keystroke
combination doesn't bypass the OS in some cases).

> For your convenience I will add the gsynaptics package to the upcoming
> petite 11.4 release which assuming your touchpad brand is synaptics
> (most laptops) provides a configuration utility for your touchpad,
> including a "disable touchpad" checkbox.

Good Point! Yes, it is from Synaptics, and thanks for the offer. (I
noticed recently that you had asked for comments and am glad my
request encountered a positive response).

> To run it, simply hit "alt+esc" and type touchpad or synaptics and it
> should be the first item on the list.

alt+esc activates the Petite Linux Package Manager?

> You can add the gsynaptics package to any openSUSE installation using
> the regular software management methods.

Right again (I just looked for it via the "Install/Remove Software"
link of OpenSuse gnome 11.4 64 bit's Control Center and there it is).

You're a good Marianna to to have on our side.

> Thanks for your interest

I think we have a common interest in getting this to happen and will
be looking forward to downloading the Petite Linux v. 11.4 Live CD to
try on the X100e whenever it's ready.

And thanks for your rapid, knowledgeable and constructive response.

[Marianna Apostolaki]

Hi Douglas,

From what can see on some pictures available on the internet, it looks
like it may be the space bar, i.e. fn + space
Alt + esc is the excellent "run command" tool for enlightenment. It's
like hitting alt+f2 in kde / gnome, just much much better.
It renders menu's obsolete.

11.4 is pretty much ready, just the last few finishing touches before
we make it available to the public.

Thanks for your comments :)