Trackpad too big. Lots of accidental inputs. 13'' MBP TB

[WillNN]

I think I've solved the randomly jumping cursor. To update: Apple replaced the computer. My 2017 MBP 15" was so new they weren't ready for it in the depot or something. The replacement acted in exactly the same way. No change. Cursor jumping around.
I folded two sheets of 24# laser printer paper and taped them over the trackpad (so that would be four thicknesses) definite improvement. Instead of jumps every 1-3 minutes, it was every hour or so. I upgraded this with two layers of thin plastic sleeve material (think next to thinest report cover). This wasn't as good, but it still helped.
Last week I ran a couple of sheets of laminating film through the laminator. (I put one inside the other so they'd melt together) So that's four layers melted together. I cut out a rectangle and taped it over the two earlier sheets. So far this has solved the problem. There are thicker and higher quality plastic sheet goods. I'll look into that next.
Also, the track pad works normally through the plastic, as it also did earlier with the laser paper. The plastic is a bit 'sticky'. There's probably a better material.
I still don't know much more about the issue or why it's been common on PCs and MacBooks for years. Or why Apple seems to be so unaware. It didn't happen on my 2011, or the 2006 before that.....
So in a jam, using someone else's machine... paper. More permanent solution... plastic sheets.
Hope this helps.

 

[WillNN]

Most people cannot type for long periods of time with their hands suspended. I'm one of the odd people who can (from years of kayaking) but this doesn't seem to alter in any meaningful way the random inputs from the TrackPad.

I remember this posture tip from typing class, but the design of the keyboard, and Palm Rejection software argue that this is not required or even an expectation. (If it was the keyboard would be larger, keys more separated, hitting the wrong keys would diminish to near zero.)

Don't blame yourself, you're not lazy: This trackpad is bad design. I went back to my 2011; typed for three hours straight. Not one single random jump. 2017? uncovered trackpad: a jump every minute. thicker and thicker layers over the TrackPad? With enough layers I eliminated the jumps, but haven't found a plastic slick enough and thick enough to be user friendly. (I'm going to try some of that thin cutting board plastic, and see how thin a sheet of delrin I can get online. Delrin is almost as slick as Teflon, but it's cheaper. For all practical uses I've found Delrin is effectively as good as Teflon. It is opaque and usually white.)

Yea. . hate to say this but. . proper body posture is to have your fingers curved, typing with the tips of your fingers and your palms NOT RESTING ON THE LAPTOP.

I have the 15". The trackpad, while absolutely Ginormous, only gives me issues when I'm being lazy with my typing... (and mostly not even then. . though I do occasionally get cursor jump)