Well, on most Mac laptops, you can use SideTrack and tweak the "tap filtering" options. In particular, I've found that the combination of the "Ignore trackpad while typing" with a 500ms or so timeout and "Allow sufficient finger motion to bypass filter" options has gotten rid of all accidental taps while still allowing me to use the touchpad with my thumb while I'm typing.

I know the Synaptics drivers for Windows had similar features back when I used them, though not quite as flexible. Maybe they do now, if they still exist / are used on modern PC touchpads.

I hadn't thought to look for such a setting. It's there in the Synaptics driver under the name "PalmCheck". I'll mess with it and see if it helps. Thanks.

The real freaks are the people who swear by the IBM nipple Trackpoint™-style pointer.

Strange that Randall Munroe prefers the clit mouse to touchpads. He seemed so sensible...

I'm sure he actually prefers a real mouse over both.

There is also an option which sort of inhibits the tap to click when the keyboard is in use.

Edit: I also seem to want to ask if the person is listing a bit to one side.

Hm, all this software and gadgetry. Maybe I'll just "upgrade"* to the Microsoft Mouse 2.0A that I found in the bin at work.

*Now with non-slip textured surface... which gets discolored and nasty over time. My MS Mouse 2.0 with smooth surface still looks like the day I took it out of the package ~12 years ago.