>It's very useful, especially to scroll while reading an article
I don't understand why someone using a laptop would want to scroll by lifting their arm up to the screen, rather than just moving two fingers on the touchpad where their hand is already resting.
When reading more than few lines of text on the screen, my hands do not tend to remain on the keyboard. They instead drift up the sides of the computer, making the screen closer than the touchpad.
Not to mention, having the option to use both certainly doesn't harm anyone.
Nope. Well, no more uncomfortable than working on a laptop without an external monitor ever is.
Merely taking my hands off the keyboard is enough for them to move out and away, since I have to "swing" them in to use the keyboard to begin with. This leaves them inches from the screen in the best case, and nowhere near the computer in the worse case.
Apparently not. My father got a HP netbook/tablet and feels super comfortable with it, scrolling and zooming in with gestures on the screen. I never thought it'd be comfortable (for scrolling I'm super used to the mouse wheel, a habit he never caught), but to him it came naturally and he certainly wants it on any other device.
> They instead drift up the sides of the computer, making the screen closer than the touchpad.
Hmm… if you did that on a new MacBook Pro, wouldn't drifting up the side leave your thumbs somewhere near the Touch Bar? Maybe Apple should add support for scrolling on its edges. Of course, that'd still be a much smaller target than the screen... on the other hand, it would work regardless of window positioning and even with an external monitor.
I'm only speculating, since I don't think I've gotten into that habit myself (not having a touchscreen).
I used to have a SP3. When you're just reading something, your hand tends to end up resting along the right side of the computer, and you scroll in the corner of the screen using your thumb. It's more comfortable than scrolling with a trackpad.
I suspect they might be holding it like a tablet. There are plenty of situations (riding on transit, for example) where the tablet form factor is more appropriate.
I think a lot of this depends on the individual. My natural preference is to use the touch screen. It's not about what's "better" in absolute terms, but what requires the least amount of thought/brain power for the person (my guess is that time is a major factor of the cost calculation - it's quicker to do what is natural). The cost of hand motions isn't significant by comparison.
> rather than just moving two fingers on the touchpad where their hand is already resting.
My hands tend to rest on the mouse or table when reading. It's actually quicker and less conscious to 'flick' the screen when reading than to break focus to find a trackpad and scroll that way.
I don't understand why someone using a laptop would want to scroll by lifting their arm up to the screen, rather than just moving two fingers on the touchpad where their hand is already resting.