[Q] Select on Nexus 10 touchscreen

First, if this has been posted before & I just couldn't find it/used wrong keywords in Search, I apologize.

I have a Nexus 10 running Android 4.2.1 with kernel version 3.4.5-g4e6298b; I am told that it has "gorilla glass".

To select stuff with the touchscreen, you are s'pposed to "touch & hold" the icon or whatever. It seems tho take a long time for selection to happen.
The "thingie" flashes briefly or stays highlighted for a while, but not long enough to trigger the selection process.

Also, it often takes 2-3+ taps just to start an app or "click" a button.

And, when I type, it's not unusual to have the screen show multiple letters that I did not touch or, as far ask can tell, slid my finger over.
I have small hands & fingers, so this isn't a physical-wetware problem. I've been editing this post to keep it readable, but here's an example:
when I tupe on this Devi ist alwcways misspells my name as Becllpky or Be vky or even Becky.

Am I doing something wrong? Or, is there a setting to control how long this takes?

I make sure to clean the screen often, with wipes made to clean computer screens.