Magic Trackpad and an unrelated question

[eric j]

Hi,

Back in 1986, because of limited space beside my Mac , I acquired my first trackball and since then I have found a mouse to be far less comfortable. So I was in a store seeking an extra Microsoft Trackball Explorer for my Mac Mini  but it's no longer for sale here. Other trackball models available require too much finger movement to navigate across the screen. After playing with a Magic Trackpad I bought one.
Now, after some 3 months' experience, I can report that I'm delighted with it. It's remarkably sensitive to the touch and that took a little practice but its speed of response is remarkable.
Oddly, I could never accustom myself to the touchpad on my Mac laptop.
My usage is mostly internet surfing, procrastinating on Solitaire and word processing, therefore the Magic Trackpad may not suit others.

Now, a question. When I install a Mac software update nowadays it proceeds to completion without asking me for my password. is this normal?

eric j

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Oddly, I could never accustom myself to the touchpad on my Mac laptop.

Nor cold I when I was forced to use my wife's MBP. And she also uses a mouse instead of its pad. But i think the reason(s) may be both the laptops pad being much smaller (and sometimes with a separate 'button') and the locations being different. The laptop pad is usually under my thumb, not my fingers. Plus the Magic Pad is off to the side where the mouse usually is/was. I must admit, however, I still find it difficult to make fine, detailed, pixel-specific selections or movements. I still use the attached Magic Mouse for those tasks; the tiny scroll button no longer works, but it is much easier to position the cursor/pointer precisely.

Not sure what OS you're using, but I doubt it is above 10.6. As far as I know, if you are logged in as the Admin, you won't get any requests for installing anything, anywhere except for OS installed areas/files (Pref Panels, OS Plug-ins, etc.). An "Admin" should be able to install any app in any users account. More recent restrictions apply to the 'signatures' Apple provides to developers and also can be limited to stuff from the App Store.

[jchuzi]

I wasn't aware that it was ever necessary to enter your password from an administrator account when installing Mac software updates. But then, I'm using 10.6.8. I guess it's different in 10.7 and above.

[eric j]

I'm on 10.6.8. I am in as administrator (actually I never log out - just put to sleep).
Possibly it never was necessary to insert password for Mac updates. I'm now 84. Maybe the old brain is becoming a little fuddled. Hope not.

eric j

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Maybe the old brain is becoming a little fuddled.

Nope! I have documented facts that prove there are many youngsters who change behaviors in our software!!! Most of them think it is amusing! I only hope they feel the same in a few dozen year!     Sometimes, they even find a way into our house and move things around! I usually find what I'm looking for, but it's seldom in the place I know I left it!

10.8 is even worse! In the Security & Privacy Pref Panel, there is a setting that allows downloading from:

1. Mac App Store
2. Mac App Store and identified developers
3. Anywhere

The default setting is #1 (I think). If the user attempts to download an app from "anywhere," the OS throws up a dialog that simply says, "The file you are trying to open is corrupted. You should delete it from your Mac." I downloaded a Citrix Web-based conferencing plugin for my wife four times before I realized there was nothing wrong with the file! I simply needed to change the setting in that Pref!!!

I can accept "Big Brother" trying to protect me from myself... a little. But don't give me a bogus dialog that actually lies to me about what the problem is! I haven't lived this long without being able to face facts! (Despite the fact that I repeated the same act four times in a row, expecting different results... )