Track-point type interface??

[Gene]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I am looking for a new laptop, and I had the touch-pad interface. I
currently have a thinkpad with the little red trackpoint "stick" in the
center of the keyboard and it works great. I thought Compaq and Dell
also made models with this UI, or with a dual pointer/touch-pad
configuration, but (other than Thinkpad - which I'm avoiding for other
reasons) the only manufactuer I've found still offerring the "stick" is
Fujitsu, and only on 1 or two models as an optional add-on. Can anyone
point me in the direction of other machines with this U/I, and why did
it fall out of favor so drastically??

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On 11 Jan 2005 22:53:05 -0800, "Gene" <gde061-web@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Can anyone
>point me in the direction of other machines with this U/I, and why did
>it fall out of favor so drastically??


I heard at one time since IBM patented the "eraser-head," vendors who
wanted to use it had to pay IBM royalties...

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Gene wrote:

>I am looking for a new laptop, and I had the touch-pad interface. I
>currently have a thinkpad with the little red trackpoint "stick" in the
>center of the keyboard and it works great. I thought Compaq and Dell
>also made models with this UI, or with a dual pointer/touch-pad
>configuration, but (other than Thinkpad - which I'm avoiding for other
>reasons) the only manufactuer I've found still offerring the "stick" is
>Fujitsu, and only on 1 or two models as an optional add-on. Can anyone
>point me in the direction of other machines with this U/I, and why did
>it fall out of favor so drastically??
>
>Thanks!
>
>
>
I don't know why they have fallen out of favor. My Inspiron 8200 has
both the stick and the touchpay. I use the stick exclusively, using the
pad only for scrolling.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Gene wrote:

> I am looking for a new laptop, and I had the touch-pad interface. I
> currently have a thinkpad with the little red trackpoint "stick" in the
> center of the keyboard and it works great. I thought Compaq and Dell
> also made models with this UI, or with a dual pointer/touch-pad
> configuration, but (other than Thinkpad - which I'm avoiding for other
> reasons) the only manufactuer I've found still offerring the "stick" is
> Fujitsu, and only on 1 or two models as an optional add-on. Can anyone
> point me in the direction of other machines with this U/I, and why did
> it fall out of favor so drastically??

A lot of people dislike the Trackpoint intensely because until you train
yourself to miss it it interferes with touch-typing and because it has a
tendency to drift a little. So, since there's a royalty to be paid to IBM,
nobody else uses it except in special circumstances. It was never really
popular with any company other than IBM.

Personally I'd just go with the Thinkpad--I can think of no reason at all to
avoid them.


>
> Thanks!

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

In article <1105512785.186172.83980@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
gde061-web@yahoo.com says...
> I am looking for a new laptop, and I had the touch-pad interface. I
> currently have a thinkpad with the little red trackpoint "stick" in the
> center of the keyboard and it works great. I thought Compaq and Dell
> also made models with this UI, or with a dual pointer/touch-pad
> configuration, but (other than Thinkpad - which I'm avoiding for other
> reasons) the only manufactuer I've found still offerring the "stick" is
> Fujitsu, and only on 1 or two models as an optional add-on. Can anyone
> point me in the direction of other machines with this U/I, and why did
> it fall out of favor so drastically??

Dell Latitude D600 still being made?

Typically the better features are available only on
"business" class laptops, not on "consumer" models.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Gene wrote:

> I am looking for a new laptop, and I had the touch-pad interface. I
> currently have a thinkpad with the little red trackpoint "stick" in
> the center of the keyboard and it works great. I thought Compaq and
> Dell also made models with this UI, or with a dual pointer/touch-pad
> configuration, but (other than Thinkpad - which I'm avoiding for other
> reasons) the only manufactuer I've found still offerring the "stick"
> is Fujitsu, and only on 1 or two models as an optional add-on. Can
> anyone point me in the direction of other machines with this U/I, and
> why did it fall out of favor so drastically??

There are several models with Trackpoint:

- All IBM Thinkpads
- JVC Subnotebooks
- HP nc8000, nw8000 (probably also other models)
- Dell Inspiron 8600, Latitude D800, Precision M60 (and other models as
well)

Benjamin, who prefers Trackpoints over Touchpads either

--
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet and in e-mail?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 14:07:35 -0500, "J. Clarke" <jclarke@nospam.invalid>
spewed:
>A lot of people dislike the Trackpoint intensely because until you train
>yourself to miss it it interferes with touch-typing and because it has a
>tendency to drift a little. So, since there's a royalty to be paid to IBM,
>nobody else uses it except in special circumstances. It was never really
>popular with any company other than IBM.
>
>Personally I'd just go with the Thinkpad--I can think of no reason at all to
>avoid them.
>
Guess it'd be too smart for them to put the ting just below the spacebar..
nah, that'd make sense, can't have that

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 16:28:52 -0800,
see.my.sig.4.addr@nowhere.com.invalid wrote:

>anything but the cursed touchpad - something which I have yet to hear ONE
>SINGLE person say they prefer.
>Hence, my conspiracy theory


Well let me be the first one who says I MUCH PREFER THE TOUCHPAD, in
fact when Apple came out with it, I was salivating, and bought the
first touchpad notebook, and never went back. I will spare u the
agony of the reasons for my preference.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 22:41:36 -0800, bobb <None@NoWhere.com> spewed:
>>anything but the cursed touchpad - something which I have yet to hear ONE
>>SINGLE person say they prefer.
>>Hence, my conspiracy theory
>
>
>Well let me be the first one who says I MUCH PREFER THE TOUCHPAD, in
>fact when Apple came out with it, I was salivating, and bought the
>first touchpad notebook, and never went back. I will spare u the
>agony of the reasons for my preference.

Hehh, thanks.
Well, good to know at least one person likes them.. but I dunno if that
makes me feel better or worse!