New MacBook 2.4 - Erratic Trackpad

Seriously, if you follow the advice of drkqn9 above, and use the very tip of your finger to re-activate the trackpad, it makes sense that there are issues. Apple is trying to configure a highly sophisticated trackpad for every user's style and hand type. Having the trackpad automatically go dormant when one is typing is vital otherwise you'd be having a click-fest as your palms hit the trackpad while typing. Now, it also makes sense that it is a very fine line the pad software needs to adhere to to differentiate a 'finger' from a 'palm'. By using the very tip of one's finger, this creates a very obvious finger presence over a mistaken palm contact.

IF this is indeed the case, then for Apple to improve this feature, they will need to add a custom preference setting to adjust how desensitized the user wants to have 'mistaken' input taken into account while using the trackpad. Otherwise, if they just tweak the settings in place now, it will just alienate a whole different set up user types.

So, I am happy as a clam with my new MB purchase and the beauty and function of this machine are just amazing. This comes from someone who is very conservative when making new purchases and would never have dreamed of buying a Mac on launch day.

::EDIT:: Yep, as a certified non-clicker, I'm just talking about the tapping feature vs. the clicking feature.

That's probably why the System Pref. to turn that option off/on is gone; basically, since the trackpad is this big, it HAS to be that the trackpad will ignore touches when we're typing. Figuring out the perfect calibration for it (or perhaps making that user configurable) will be essential in the coming months.


With that said, none of that should matter to the "click not being recognized" problem, because that is, or should be, a mechanical thing. A click is a click is a click. Even if a ferry was doing a tap-dance on my trackpad, a click via depression of the pad should always be registered as a click.

just figured I would add that I too have the trackpad issue, it is driving me nuts too. Sometimes when I go to use it, the mouse is totally frozen and takes like 5 seconds to respond. Also some clicks do not register

Good Morning,
OK, this is funny. I went to my local "Apple authorized dealer" (not an Apple store) and took a look at the new Macbook they had on display. It had the very same trackpad issues we've been discussing here.

I opened Microsoft Office and created a little document to test out the trackpad. Then, when one of the sales agents came over, I asked him about the issue, and he seemed truly puzzled. I used the track pad right in front of him to show him what I meant. He took control of the laptop and tried using the trackpad himself and he had the same problems. He was unable to move the pointer quickly to a spot on the screen, it jumped around erratically, sometimes did not move at all, and clicks were sometimes not registered.

This is obviously an issue with a majority of the new laptops.

I see two possible scenarios...

1. This is a software issue. Apple fixes the problem with some sort of update which is made available to all Macbook owners.
2. It is a hardware issue. Apple will fix the problem with an update to the laptop itself.

If we have scenario 1, then we are fine buying the new laptop now (I suppose).

If we have scenario 2, then those of us who buy early will lose out. We'll be the ones complaining in a few months that we want Apple to fix our problem for us, which may or may not occur. I do not want to be in that position.

Thanks,
Matt

Same exact problem here. Every once and a while it will just not respond at all to my touches. Then after a few seconds it will get a clue and start working again. ***?

ive tried to set the preferences settings for track pad and it works for me...

What settings did you make?

ill inform you once i go back home...
im new with mac...

its something with "click" setting

Same problem here...
I had a fantastic Powerbook 1.6Ghz before, and although the trackpad was much much smaller, it was so much better.
My gigantic trackpad of the MB has some serious issues here.
My workaround is to use an external mouse (I know it's not a workaround, but that's the only thing I can do).
Fab

i just today started having a trackpad issue, after having the laptop since the day after the announcement.

the trackpad clicks (physically), but registers no mouse click -- this happens generally only when i thumb click in the bottom-middle area, which is of course the area one is probably most likely to click.

it is intermittent. if i click and get no result, i can click 20 times in the same place without moving the pointer, and i will get no click. if i move the mouse, then usually the clicking starts to work again.

very odd.

Hi! could you share with us your problem? Thanks!

One thing is for sure, this is not an isolated incident. I have a suggestion, which may speed up the process of getting an official solution.

For all of the Mac users with this issue, open this very discussion in Apple's Safari. When it's open, click on Safari in the menu bar, and click "Report Bugs to Apple ..."

In the simple form that pops up, type that you too are experiencing this issue and want it resolved.

Whether you are a member of this site or not, and if you have this same issue, submit the bug report to Apple. Apple may monitor these "discussions" from time to time, but that takes action on THEIR part .... sending the bug reports puts your complaint right into their laps!

I'm pretty sure those bug reports will be sent directly to the Safari team and never reach the hardware engineers that need to read them.

In the drop-down menu, select "Behavior Wrong."

With many complaints, they are going to be talking to somebody.

Has anyone who previously experienced this problem been able to exchange their computer for one that does not exhibit this behavior?

I guess my question is: is this something to do with us or the machines?