>On May 31, 2010, at 12:42 PM, Geoffrey Heard wrote:
>
>>  I'm looking at a used 15" laptop, the 2.53 Ghz model with the 
>>tilting track pad. The owner reports he scrolls and clicks and 
>>stuff, but can't get it to drag and drop, resize windows, or drag 
>>select.
>>
>>  Has anyone experienced this kind of problem -- and has a 
>>suggestion about how it might be occurring?
>
>Probably the track pad is mechanically broken but perhaps 
>'/users/you/Library/Preferences/ByHost/.GlobalPreferences...plist' 
>(invisible file) is corrupted. Personally I have never experienced 
>such a problem, though.
>
>>  Isx the tilting thing a problem? (I find the ordinary track pad 
>>plus button bar on my current laptop unhandy enough -- but I most 
>>use a mouse, anyway).
>
>Isn't it better to get a Mac allowing you to resize windows?

Yes it is -- and thanks for your helping in focusing my thoughts. 
There are plenty around that haven't got anything wrong with them; 
this one was going very cheap but in the end, I ignored it.

cheers
geoff