Reducing size of trackpad MBP 2016

[aevan]

I personally find it to be a huge impediment in visual creative stuff myself. Whenever I'm doing any serious work I tether a mouse to the computer because the trackpad sucks so ****ing bad on this model. It's the only thing I legit hate about the computer.

The perfect computer for me would be this exact 15" pro with 50% size trackpad and a physical escape key on the left side of the touch bar.

Palm rejection doesn't matter when your fingers and everything else also always hit the thing.

Just proves that you can't please everyone. I also use a mouse, two actually, I use Magic Mouse for research and reference stuff (nothing beats scrolling on it) and I use the great Logitech MX Master for modeling and for certain things in Photoshop. I also use the Wacom Intuos for drawing. I mention all this just to say that I carry a lot of devices with me and have a lot of experience with input devices. Even with all that, I started using the trackpad for more and more stuff - I pan and rotate the Photoshop canvas (works great alongside Intuos), I put in a bunch of gestures there (via BetterTouchTool) and I actually prefer it to a mouse to select, transform and manipulate layers. I also want to point out I never used it this way when I had the old trackpad - it's the size that increased precision and ease of use for me. I also type a lot and it never bothers me - in those few cases I touch it with my palms, the palm rejection works it magic.

But hey, if you don't like it, you don't. You're not wrong or anything, it comes down to personal preference. The only thing that bothers me is that some people act like this was some mistake on Apple's part. No, it wasn't - just as everything else - it was a decision with benefits and downsides. You just happen to be on the side that doesn't have much use of the benefits.

 

[jackoatmon]

The only thing that bothers me is that some people act like this was some mistake on Apple's part. No, it wasn't - just as everything else - it was a decision with benefits and downsides. You just happen to be on the side that doesn't have much use of the benefits.

No, this one was literally just a mistake. It's an objective design flaw. Like if your gear shifter on your bicycle was so big it pushed the brakes when you changed gears.

It's anti-ergonomic stupidity from a company that doesn't usually **** things up like this (their mouses aside).

I actually think it's the only mistake they made on this device. But it's a huge glaring one.

 

[aevan]

No, this one was literally just a mistake. It's an objective design flaw. Like if your gear shifter on your bicycle was so big it pushed the brakes when you changed gears.

Sure, buddy, sure. I must be using it wrong, since it's CLEARLY an objective design flaw.

I can send you the list of all the things I like and help me work, so you can tell me which ones are legitimately useful and where I'm mistaken. I'm lucky to have you to tell me what is good for me and what isn't. While you're at it, find all those people and reviewers that praised the new size to explain them they are all wrong, because you know this is an objective design flaw.

We didn't know your thoughts on the matter, you see. Sorry.

 

[jackoatmon]

because you know this is an objective design flaw.

Try this:

Turn on "tap to click", and come back here 24 hours later and try to say it's not a design flaw, with a straight face.

Heck, come back in 3 minutes and try to type the sentence "it's not a design flaw" without getting any misclicks.

 

[aevan]

It's anti-ergonomic stupidity from a company that doesn't usually **** things up like this (their mouses aside).

You should let them know - because they are not known for methodically testing the usage of their devices, experimenting with sizes and prototypes - they just randomly decide sizes of input devices. But if they had you - you could tell them what is anti-ergonomic.

 

[jackoatmon]

You should let them know - because they are not known for methodically testing the usage of their devices, experimenting with sizes and prototypes - they just randomly decide sizes of input devices. But if they had you - you could tell them what is anti-ergonomic.

Turn on tap to click, come back tomorrow, and tell me I'm wrong.

 

[aevan]

Try this:

Turn on "tap to click", and come back here 24 hours later and try to say it's not a design flaw, with a straight face.

Heck, come back in 3 minutes and try to type the sentence "it's not a design flaw" without getting any misclicks.

I have tap to click on. The palm rejection *works*. I'm sorry it doesn't work for you. I believe you. But it works as it should for me, and I NEVER have issues with it.

People use computers in different ways. My palms rarely touch the trackpad and when they do, the palm rejection works. I have been using tap to click from day one.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

The use of the pencil to draw on a trackpad is IMHO dumb. Make the screen touch/pencil aware like the Surfaces' or the iPad Pros. I love using my pencil with my iPad Pro 9.7 to take notes or draw a quick image that shows something that takes 100 words to describe.

Apple should make the screen touch/pencil sensitive AND shrink the trackpad the size of the one on the 2015 rMBP. This would get rid of the palm touch issues and make the MacBook Pro more useful.

No

 

[Grolubao]

Try this:

Turn on "tap to click", and come back here 24 hours later and try to say it's not a design flaw, with a straight face.

Heck, come back in 3 minutes and try to type the sentence "it's not a design flaw" without getting any misclicks.

Exactly, and specially it's virtually impossible to type resting your palms without touching the trackpad. It's a design flaw

 

[aevan]

No

What he said.
[doublepost=1483482273][/doublepost]

Exactly, and specially it's virtually impossible to type resting your palms without touching the trackpad. It's a design flaw

I must be an alien then.

But seriously, even when I do touch it.... sigh, I grow tired of this.... the palm rejection works. It works so much that even if I intentionally try to move the cursor with my palm, I cannot do it.

Just turn the bloody tap to click off and enjoy the bigger, more precise trackpad. Whatever, I'm done here.

 

[jackoatmon]

Sure, buddy, sure. I must be using it wrong, since it's CLEARLY an objective design flaw.

It's weird – you're usually not so solipsistic on these forums, aevan.

Imagine for a moment you're not the only user of this computer.

 

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

Exactly, and specially it's virtually impossible to type resting your palms without touching the trackpad. It's a design flaw

Are you, or anyone else for that matter, able to recreate the issues you're having in a video clip? I wonder whether it's typing technique that divides opinion here as I certainly do not get any false hits with the TP.

 

[aevan]

It's weird – you're usually not so solipsistic on these forums, aevan.

Imagine for a moment you're not the only user of this computer.

Not saying that I am. Clearly you're having issues, I'm not disputing that. For you, it's probably a bad design. I'm just saying, the fact that some people don't like something/have issues with something doesn't make that something an objectively bad design for everyone. If that was the case, every right handed tool would be a design flaw, because I'm left handed.

 

[Carilyn]

works great for me also. tap to click on and no issues with palm rejection. I also much prefer the larger trackpad for gestures and its helpful in photoshop for sure. I certainly see zero design flaw in it. I can appreciate that not all will think everything works just right for their needs though but design flaw? I don't get that.

 

[t.portis]

works great for me also. tap to click on and no issues with palm rejection. I also much prefer the larger trackpad for gestures and its helpful in photoshop for sure. I certainly see zero design flaw in it. I can appreciate that not all will think everything works just right for their needs though but design flaw? I don't get that.

I agree and don't have any issues. I turn on tap to click as soon as I buy a new Mac. I will say that for my typing/usage style I prefer the smaller trackpad on the 2015 MacBook Pro and the rMB. I tend to drop my thumbs down quickly for various gestures. Seems to work a little better on the smaller trackpad. This is just my style though and nothing with the design of the machine.

 

[philosopherdog]

This is the only thing about this new machine that isn't working for me either. I do love the trackpad. It's amazing. But I am hitting it with my thumb. I turned off tap to click, which is something I loved using. That still doesn't work all the time. So, I think I have to set the tap to firmer or try the bettertouchtool's settings. I agree that it would be cool if they added a feature to define a no touch area near the top. But on the other hand I will probably just learn how to type better.
[doublepost=1483500588][/doublepost]Actually, I ended up trying BetterTouchTool as they mention in the article and it seems to have solved my issue. Thanx for the link. That was driving me nuts.

 

[thesimplelogic]

I haven't had any issues with palm rejection, and personally think the new trackpad is great. I don't have tap to click on, but I did test the trackpad with that and the palm rejection was working fine for me.

 

[Grolubao]

Hopefully Better Touch Tool updates to allow defining areas where it doesn't register at all

 

[Grolubao]

So this is me scrolling in the trackpad of my old 2014 Macbook Pro. As you can see, my pinky is resting outside the trackpad, this is comfortable to me. In the 2016 this is impossible since the pinky inadvertently hits the touchpad and triggers a click.
Also, can you see how my palm rests outside the trackpad? In the new Macbook Pro it rests inside the trackpad which triggers it not to scroll properly several times.

 

[aevan]

So this is me scrolling in the trackpad of my old 2014 Macbook Pro. As you can see, my pinky is resting outside the trackpad, this is comfortable to me.

Try scrolling with two fingers instead if resting all five.

I'm sorry, but this is just crazy to me. Do you really have to rest your fingers on the trackpad while scrolling?

Do you rest all your fingers on the iPad too? Honest question.

 

[sneak3]

So this is me scrolling in the trackpad of my old 2014 Macbook Pro. As you can see, my pinky is resting outside the trackpad, this is comfortable to me. In the 2016 this is impossible since the pinky inadvertently hits the touchpad and triggers a click.
Also, can you see how my palm rests outside the trackpad? In the new Macbook Pro it rests inside the trackpad which triggers it not to scroll properly several times.


View attachment 681670

you look like you're 10 or something. there's still time to change the way you scroll without further damage.

 

[Grolubao]

you look like you're 10 or something. there's still time to change the way you scroll without further damage.

Sure sure... you're scrolling it wrong is that it? Maybe this was from all the years as a Software Developer

 

[sneak3]

Sure sure... you're scrolling it wrong is that it? Maybe this was from all the years as a Software Developer

Sorry it was a joke. Just try and scroll towards the edge then, no in the middle.

 

[philosopherdog]

The trackpad doesn't register taps or clicks accidentally I find if I rest my palms on it. But that's not how I type. Anyhow, I solved the problem using BetterTouchTool. Just look at the link at the top of the post which takes you to a page showing which settings to enable. I do like the new trackpad. Hopefully they'll refine the thumb tap rejection especially near the top of the trackpad. I think I'll do a radar on this.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Was thinking of putting tape to reduce the size back to the original one"

If you're having that much trouble with it, perhaps your best option would be to return the 2016 model for a 2015, which has a "normal-sized" trackpad…

Aside:
I'm hopelessly "old-school" on trackpads. I disable ALL "gestures", every last one of them. I use ONLY "left-click" and "right click". I found the larger-sized trackpads of the 2016 models strange in appearance, almost "useless space".
But that's just me.