Has anyone else played live chess using the touch pad on their laptop and accidently dropped a piece early resulting in losing position? It is infuriating.

Before you tell me to get a USB mouse know that I do not own one and it is not on my list of priorities to get. Don't bother commenting about it.

what wrong with the mouse ? surely you can get them cheap one ?

+1.

I asked that no comments be about the purchase of a mouse. Please address the question.

correct me if I am wrong: try 'click-on' then 'click on' the sq you want rather than 'click and drag and drop' that way is easier to make mistake.

That sounds like a good solution, I will have to give it a shot. Thanks.

OK. Forget about buying a mouse. Continue to hang pieces and lose games.

Some people don't have money for things like that. Please do not post about the purchase of mouse.

I've shared your pain PatriotScout. I second kco's suggestion of click select instead of drag select. Just be careful where you click! It's still surprisingly easy to land a rook one rank further than you intended.
The only sure-fire solution: Get a physical board. Nothin' beats it. 

The click select method seems to work fairly well. I will try to center my clicks as best as possible!

When I get a bit of extra cash I will see about the other options.

I never even tried the touch pad much, too awkward and slow.

OP Cliff Notes:

"I am using the wrong device for the application.  I think I will ask if anyone else has been penalized for this.  BTW, don't suggest that I use the correct device.  I just want to know if anyone else was also dumb enough to try this."

I was just looking to vent and see if anyone else has had similar frustrations. Please don't be a bigger ass hole than you already are.

The touch-pad on my Samsung laptop drives me up the wall on Tactics Trainer. I only play online chess here so it's not such a problem because I have the Submit button to confirm my moves enabled in my settings.

Is it possible to use the Submit button in live chess ?

The touch-pad will be a great invention when they get the thing to work properly !

I've got no problem with my touchpad when using TT (HP Compaq 620)

"Since you have correctly summarized my pointless OP I think I will just acknowledge that and then call you a name because attacking you personally is all I have."

Auto drop and that's the move...that's risky...can't you set it so you must hit enter to confirm the position?

For live chess I am not sure, I will have to check. That is a good idea though.

Having to confirm your move each time would be worse than hanging pieces when low on time.

That's true, but I usually only play 15+ minute games so I guess I would have to compromise. Either way, they do not offer that feature in live chess so I will have to master the art of the touch pad.