as you can see, hal is not active on my system: [ebuild R ] x11-base/xorg-server-1.5.3 USE="nptl xorg -3dfx -debug -dmx -hal -ipv6 -kdrive -minimal -sdl -tslib" INPUT_DEVICES="evdev synaptics -acecad -aiptek -calcomp -citron -digitaledge -dmc -dynapro -elo2300 -elographics -fpit -hyperpen -jamstudio -joystick -keyboard -magellan -microtouch -mouse -mutouch -palmax -penmount -spaceorb -summa -tek4957 -tslib -ur98 -vmmouse -void -wacom" VIDEO_CARDS="nvidia -apm -ark -ast -chips -cirrus -cyrix -dummy -epson -fbdev -fglrx -geode -glint -i128 -i740 (-impact) -imstt -intel -mach64 -mga -neomagic (-newport) -nsc -nv -r128 -radeon -radeonhd -rendition -s3 -s3virge -savage -siliconmotion -sis -sisusb (-sunbw2) (-suncg14) (-suncg3) (-suncg6) (-sunffb) (-sunleo) (-suntcx) -tdfx -tga -trident -tseng -v4l -vermilion -vesa -vga -via -vmware -voodoo -xgi" 0 kB [ebuild R ] x11-drivers/xf86-input-synaptics-0.99.3 USE="-debug" 0 kB [ebuild N ] sys-apps/hal-0.5.11-r4 USE="X acpi -apm -crypt -debug -dell -disk-partition -doc -laptop (-selinux)" 1,257 kB nonetheless the synaptics driver works correctly, without error messages as far as I can find, and all functionality (including device auto-sensing) is present.
Created attachment 177481 [details] emerge --info
+*xf86-input-synaptics-0.99.3-r1 (05 Jan 2009) + + 05 Jan 2009; <chainsaw@gentoo.org> +xf86-input-synaptics-0.99.3-r1.ebuild: + Reintroduce hal USE-flag by request of Ryan Tandy <tarpman@gmail.com>. + This makes sense now that ABI=0 X servers are supported. Closes bug + #253872.
