Linux: The Least Bad Synaptics Configuration for a MacBook Running Ubuntu

In my last post, Linux: My Mouse Ate My Homework!, I explained how dangerous it is to have a touchpad configuration that isn't finely tuned when you're running Ubuntu on a MacBook. For some reason, I've always been happy with the touchpad configuration under OS X, but I've never managed to set it up just right under Ubuntu. I spent three hours yesterday reading the synaptics man page (which is very well written, but not always helpful) and tweaking the settings.

In this post, I'm going to document the settings I came up with. I invite you to submit comments if you've found settings that feel more natural and are less likely to cause inadvertent mayhem. I'd be especially interested if you managed to get palm detection working.

First, start by creating /etc/hal/fdi/policy/appletouch.fdi as root:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<!--
  To learn more about this file: man 4 synaptics

  Check for updates to this configuration here:
  http://jjinux.blogspot.com/2009/09/linux-least-bad-synaptics-configuration.html

  References:
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook4-1/Jaunty#Touchpad%20(appletouch)
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook_Santa_Rosa#Disable%20Touchpad%20While%20Typing
    http://linuxwisdom.blogspot.com/2007/07/macbooksynaptics-trackpad-configuration.html
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook%20Aluminum#Trackpad
-->

<deviceinfo version="0.2">
 <device>
  <match key="input.x11_driver" string="synaptics">

   <!--
     You need this turned on in order to run syndaemon.  Once you have it turned on, you can run
     "synclient -l" to look at your existing settings, and "synclient VAR=VAL" to change settings at runtime.
   -->
   <merge key="input.x11_options.SHMConfig"            type="string">true</merge>

   <!-- Disable tapping.  My palm always causes the context menu to pop up, and I hate that. -->
   <merge key="input.x11_options.TapButton1"           type="string">0</merge>
   <merge key="input.x11_options.TapButton2"           type="string">0</merge>
   <merge key="input.x11_options.TapButton3"           type="string">0</merge>

   <!-- Set this to 30 and 40 if you want to have to press harder. -->
   <merge key="input.x11_options.FingerLow"            type="string">10</merge>
   <merge key="input.x11_options.FingerHigh"           type="string">30</merge>

   <!-- This has to do with acceleration.  It's a matter of taste. -->
   <merge key="input.x11_options.AccelFactor"          type="string">0.10</merge>
   <merge key="input.x11_options.MaxSpeed"             type="string">1.2</merge>
   <merge key="input.x11_options.MinSpeed"             type="string">0.5</merge>

   <!--
     2 fingers + click = right mouse button
     3 fingers + click = middle mouse button
   -->
   <merge key="input.x11_options.ClickFinger2"         type="string">3</merge>
   <merge key="input.x11_options.ClickFinger3"         type="string">2</merge>

   <!-- Set the speed of scrolling. -->
   <merge key="input.x11_options.VertScrollDelta"      type="string">20</merge>
   <merge key="input.x11_options.HorizScrollDelta"     type="string">20</merge>

   <!--
     You might want to disable one or the other of these.  Of course, you'll need a multi-touch compatible
     touchpad to use TwoFingerScroll.

     <merge key="input.x11_options.VertTwoFingerScroll"  type="string">false</merge>
     <merge key="input.x11_options.HorizTwoFingerScroll" type="string">false</merge>
     <merge key="input.x11_options.HorizEdgeScroll"      type="string">false</merge>
     <merge key="input.x11_options.VertEdgeScroll"       type="string">false</merge>
   -->
   <merge key="input.x11_options.HorizEdgeScroll"      type="string">false</merge>
   <merge key="input.x11_options.VertEdgeScroll"       type="string">false</merge>

   <!-- This never seems to work for me, but hopefully one day it might. -->
   <merge key="input.x11_options.PalmDetect"           type="string">1</merge>
  </match>
 </device>
</deviceinfo>

Now, use System :: Preferences :: Startup Applications, and create a new startup item "syndaemon -d -t" and then reboot. Read the file above to learn how to tweak these settings at runtime once you've rebooted.