Member Avatar for ahp@aol.in

Hi folks,

Why most of all laptop's touch-pad is not at the center?
I've seen so many laptops whose touch-pad is at left side from center.
It is convenient to use when touch-pad @ center.

Can anyone give me the answer?

Waiting for your reply.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

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Short answer: most laptop touchpads are positioned to line up with the typing area (the alphanumeric keys / space bar) and the user’s hands — not the outer center of the case. Designers do that for ergonomics (reducing reach, unwanted wrist deviation) and because the keyboard block, internal parts and aesthetic layout constrain where the pad can go. This is why a pad that looks “left of center” on the lid is often actually centered under the keys you use most. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

If a laptop has a separate numeric keypad on the right (common on 15"+ models), the alphanumeric keys shift left and the touchpad follows that typing center — which makes the pad appear off-center relative to the chassis. Internal packaging (battery shape, fan/heat path, speaker/drive position or the palm‑rest assembly) also restricts where a touchpad module can sit, so manufacturers place the pad where it best fits the internals and the typing posture. (This matches what and guessed and what many teardown pages show.) (en.wikipedia.org)

The ergonomics evidence supports those design choices: a controlled study found touchpad location changes wrist/shoulder posture and comfort, with some locations (top‑center) performing worse and bottom‑center or slight offsets performing better for many users. So the placement is often a trade‑off between comfort, preventing palm contact, and internal layout. (That’s also the gist of and ’s ergonomics points.) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

One incorrect idea in the thread: Apple does hold patents on specific trackpad technologies (glass surfaces, force‑sensor/click mechanisms), but there’s no sweeping “patent on centered trackpads” that forces other makers to offset theirs — Apple’s patents cover hardware/design details, not a rule about chassis centering. (appleinsider.com)

If the offset bothers you: use an external mouse or enable the OS option that disables the built‑in touchpad when a mouse is present; update touchpad drivers and tweak palm‑detection/sensitivity; and when buying, try models in person to check pad placement. (Windows and macOS both provide settings to turn the touchpad off when an external pointing device is connected.) ()

Recommended Answers

All 13 Replies

Member Avatar for ipradip

it depends upon the design of laptop while manufacture so there is not any exact reason that touch pad have should be in center but if your laptop ls larger in size i.e more that 15" and the keyboard have number pad then the touch pad are in left side of center.

Member Avatar for qlipboard

I think it is because of the ergonomic reasons.

Member Avatar for Master Rattley

It's because with the touch pad in the middle of the laptop, it would put strain on your wrists, the same reason they make those new keyboards.

Member Avatar for caperjack

hi, we have 4 laptops here right now and 2 are off center , a Toshiba,and a older Dell, 2 are Compaq's they are centered , I think it has more to do with the designe/layout of the inners of the laptop.making room for certin devices within!!

Edited by caperjack because: n/a
Member Avatar for Master Rattley

hi, we have 4 laptops here right now and 2 are off center , a Toshiba,and a older Dell, 2 are Compaq's they are centered , I think it has more to do with the designe/layout of the inners of the laptop.making room for certin devices within!!

Well you think wrong.

Member Avatar for caperjack

Well you think wrong.

really ,please explain why some are centered and why some are off-center

Member Avatar for shaanpvs

@Master Rattley,
I don't think so, 'coz MacBook has touch pad neither Off-Centered nor put strain on the wrist! So...there should be an adequate reason

Member Avatar for skilly

some are right-handed, left-handed, ambidextrous is my guess...

Member Avatar for krupa007

In the starting days you will face problem but after some time you will be convenient to use your laptop touch-pad whether it is at left side or at center.

Member Avatar for godflea

Mine Vaio is not centered too, but I like it. I think its because otherwise it will hurt your wrist.

Member Avatar for Leochan

I really think touch functions on laptops are the way of the future, once we all (the human brain) gets used of typing without feeling any feedback (like the keys on a regular keyboard) we are gonna move to another era of touchkeyboards, just like the ones found on Apple's iPad

Looking forward to that moment :*

Member Avatar for triviamaster

It's because Apple has a patent on the trackpad centered. Everyone else offsets to avoid the patent.

Member Avatar for caperjack

It's because Apple has a patent on the trackpad centered. Everyone else offsets to avoid the patent.

sound affable to me ,dough if anyone could patten a position of the trackpad

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