DUO 2300c's: Trackpads lost their minds

[CelGen]

I'm pulling out my DUOs and cycling their batteries (it seems a lot of them just totally died in the last two years of storage) but the biggest problem is that BOTH of my 2300C DUObooks have trackpad issues. They just do not want to behave. I let them warm up assuming there might be a moisture issue (though not likely) but they are still being erratic.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Install the PowerBook 2300c Update 1.0, it resolves trackpad issues pretty well. (Available from download.cnet.com.

 

[theos911]

The update does help, however mine has never really calmed down. I found the best way is to continually keep sweat off your finger and touch it as little as possible.

My 2300c just blew its drive*, so it is out of commission. So, while its under the weather, I might put in my spare trackball. I actually like them much better.

*Probably going to get a IDE - CF/SD adapter since I can now justify it as a need. :

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Search for a utility called "ADB Reset." Whenever any ADB pointing device flakes out (mostly KVM issues in my case) I run it, the cursor disappears for a sec or two, and pops back up running just fine.

Rip out that pestiferous TorquemadaPad and put in a spherically correct TrackBall, far more useful for graphics and much more elegant in design and use. No mfr. switched to TouchPads from TrackBalls because they were better, they did it because they used less room, had no moving parts, excepting the buttons and cost less to make and support.

The first touchpads really sucked and while current ones seem more natural to folks, most of them have never seen nor heard of a TrackBall, much less a tailed rodent with a ball inside!

The tactile feedback of the spherically correct pointing device is king! :approve:

 

[CelGen]

Could the 2300 even come with a trackball as a factory substitute?

 

[theos911]

"ADB Reset."

Ah, that's a nice tool. It works wonders on my 540c's for when I plug in an external mouse and the bus speed comes crashing to earth. Though, it never did much for my trackpad.

Could the 2300 even come with a trackball as a factory substitute?

I don't think so. (Read: Never heard of one that did) IIRC, giving a 2300c a trackball involves a bit of case chopping or using an older duo top.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Correct, no factory availability. The PPC Upgrade Kit for the 68k Duos did not include a TrackPad uppercase downgrade top. I've never seen one actually "ripped out' and replaced, that was just a bit of hyperbole.

But I have seen some variant or other of the 190/5300 with a rudimentary Duo TrackBall upgrade! }

Back in the day, the Duo 2300c was still a bit too expensive to do much hacking, so I did a couple of interesting 5300 hacks somewhere between '01 & '03. I never finished the Trackball Hack because I didn't bother to find the Analog Battery Tester I'd wanted to install in the left palmrest behind the clear window along with the TrackBall.

One of them was a CD hacked into a 5300. )