[Approved] Plasma 6 proposal: enable tap-to-click by default
I would like to propose enabling the tap-to-click option for all touchpads by default. A few distributions already enable it even though the upstream default is to leave it disabled. The current default was decided on 9 years ago, when low-quality touchpads were more widespread. In the same vein as #94, that upstream default no longer represents the reality of most laptop users.
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Windows enables tap-to-click (and tap-and-drag) by default for millions of users without any widespread issues. Following the same default would make migrating users more comfortable with the transition. This also means that manufacturers already have to take care of touchpad quality and placement, making accidental clicks rare.
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Clicking physically requires repeated physical force, which can create repeated strain injuries or aggravate symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
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If the touchpad has physical buttons at the bottom and the option is disabled, the user has to move the hand to a specific part of the laptop to click every time.
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Users of smartphones, which encompass virtually everyone, are already familiar with the concept of tapping to click on something. Translating that action to the touchpad means they don't have to learn another interaction pattern.
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Clicking physically wears down the touchpad, creating hardware problems over time.
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Depending on the quality of the touchpad, clicking physically can be noisy.
Now to some data on multiple demographics:
Most Plasma users on r/kde enable tap-to-click. Here I'm assuming they are probably experienced with computers since they follow r/kde and use Linux.
Even though tap-to-click is disabled by default on macOS and the trackpads of Apple computers are considered high-quality (so they should feel good to click physically), the preference for tapping to click is almost evenly split. Actually, as of the time of writing, more users prefer tap-to-click even though it's not the default: https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/159knol/macbook_users_do_you_use_taptoclick_with_your/
Between Windows users on Reddit, the vast majority prefer tap-to-click: https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/159ksb2/laptop_users_do_you_use_taptoclick_with_your/
In a subreddit where less tech-savvy people go to get recommendations about laptops, the preference towards tap-to-click is also seen: https://www.reddit.com/r/laptops/comments/159lupo/laptop_users_do_you_use_taptoclick_with_your/
And, if we want to make sure we're getting a varied sample of users, people on r/polls which is not a tech-related subreddit and that also encompasses users of laptops of different brands and operating systems, including Apple and Windows devices, also favor tap-to-click: https://www.reddit.com/r/polls/comments/159lxr3/laptop_users_do_you_use_taptoclick_with_your/