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dbsummerville

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 25, 2019
2
1
Since the last MacBook Pro make-over a few years ago, all notebooks have adopted enlarged trackpads that leave no room between the bottom of the space bar and top of the trackpad (ie: the two were 15mm apart previously, now it's 4mm). Now I trained myself early on to type with all fingers, and that, necessarily and inevitably, leads to dragging thumbs. And when thumbs drag over an ultra-sensitive trackpad instead of those 15mm of aluminum frame...well, the carnage this does to my ability to type and work sanely is unspeakable. I am forever finding my curser bounding in all directions as I type. Trying to keep the hands and thumbs raised is as impossible as telling yourself to sit with your back straight (for more than 2 seconds). I have found no way to work around this. Nothing that covers a cm of trackpad at the top desensitizes the trackpad, and setting the trackpad to be as unreactive as possible raises other issues, but doesn't work either. I've gotten to the point where I find myself musing guiltily on the progress being made in the Hackintosh realm. Am I alone with this problem? Does anyone know a fix? If it's just me, does Apple have any reason to care? Thanks for any help, or for your indulgence.
 
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recoil80

macrumors 68040
Jul 16, 2014
3,117
2,756
I think I just got used to it, the larger trackpad has been there since 2016.
My wife is now using my old 15'' and refuses to use the trackpad as she prefers the mouse but of course she still need to type on the keyboard.
So far, so good, she didn't complain about the cursor moving while typing, but she's the kind of person who need to look at the keyboard while typing, and she is slower. I guess some people may experience your problem.
I have to say I like the trackpad, I only use the mouse while at my desk since I connect an external display, but when I use it as a laptop I only move the cursor with the trackpad and having it bigger helps.
 

lobo1978

macrumors 6502
Sep 22, 2011
394
259
I have never ever have problems with trackpad on Apple MacBooks (owned Airs, Pro 13"-15"-16"). The bigger the better for me. Palm detection works flawlessly for me.

If you are unhappy sell it and buy PC laptop - some are still using small trackpads. I do not think you will find solution for your problem on this forum.
 

konqerror

macrumors 68020
Dec 31, 2013
2,298
3,701
It's just you. I hope Apple never listens to complaints like this because the large trackpad leads to huge gains in ease of use and productivity.
 
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chabig

macrumors G4
Sep 6, 2002
11,372
9,083
Apple is not going back to the smaller trackpads. Since you brought this up last year, they’ve introduced new generations of machines, all with the large trackpads. It’s time to train yourself not to drag your thumbs.

 
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Sanpete

macrumors 68040
Nov 17, 2016
3,695
1,665
Utah
I don't entirely follow the problem. Why does moving the cursor interfere with your typing? I assume you've disabled tap to click, so you'd have to be hitting your trackpad quite firmly to cause any trouble, it seems.
 

Appledoesnotlisten

macrumors 6502a
Dec 2, 2017
505
208
Since the last MacBook Pro make-over a few years ago, all notebooks have adopted enlarged trackpads that leave no room between the bottom of the space bar and top of the trackpad (ie: the two were 15mm apart previously, now it's 4mm). Now I trained myself early on to type with all fingers, and that, necessarily and inevitably, leads to dragging thumbs. And when thumbs drag over an ultra-sensitive trackpad instead of those 15mm of aluminum frame...well, the carnage this does to my ability to type and work sanely is unspeakable. I am forever finding my curser bounding in all directions as I type. Trying to keep the hands and thumbs raised is as impossible as telling yourself to sit with your back straight (for more than 2 seconds). I have found no way to work around this. Nothing that covers a cm of trackpad at the top desensitizes the trackpad, and setting the trackpad to be as unreactive as possible raises other issues, but doesn't work either. I've gotten to the point where I find myself musing guiltily on the progress being made in the Hackintosh realm. Am I alone with this problem? Does anyone know a fix? If it's just me, does Apple have any reason to care? Thanks for any help, or for your indulgence.
I am with you.
I have tried a lot of things, but success.
The only thing that works for me is typing in leather fingerless gloves that I work out with. It solves the problem when I am at home, but will not work when you are in an office with your colleagues.
 

Steve686

macrumors 68040
Nov 13, 2007
3,898
1,932
US>FL>Miami/Dade>Sunny Isles Beach>Condo
Are you using your computer laid flat on a desk?

If you have problems striking keys and raising your palms at the same time, try putting an inch riser at the back of your laptop to raise the keyboard. This will make you naturally keep palms above the trackpad.

Also having the computer in a lower position could help you.
 
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