Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Pointing Stick Keyboard Roundup

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the don't-point-that-at-me dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Blogger pettijohn went on the search for the best USB external keyboard with a pointing stick. He found exactly three products that fit the bill in the market, so he bought all three and wrote a proper roundup review."

40 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. It's not a pointing stick... by AccUser · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's a clit mouse.

    --

    Any fool can talk, but it takes a wise man to listen.

    1. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by toastar · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's a clit mouse.

      It depends on who your talking to:

      http://xkcd.com/243/

    2. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by FooAtWFU · · Score: 2, Informative
      On an IBM^H^H^H^H Lenovo laptop, it's a TrackPoint. Much more convenient than the lame touchpads most computers have (with the possible exception of Apple) and can give you much finer control. And you don't need to move your hands from the typing position at all, so it's even more convenient than an external mouse for quick tasks.

      The one downside is that it will start to chafe your fingertip if you use it for hours and hours and hours on end.

      --
      The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
    3. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by Nadaka · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It isn't about looks. It is about operation. You use the trackpoint more like a clit.

    4. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      IBMer's referred to it as the Centrally Located Input Thingy

    5. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I've never understood why so many people have difficulty finding the clit... it's not exactly rocket science; it's pretty well front and center!

    6. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by Squeeonline · · Score: 4, Funny

      Personally, I've always called it a g-spot,

      as it is situated next to the g key in case some of the virgins on here didn't get that...

      *ducks*

    7. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by nazsco · · Score: 2, Funny

      btw having it on the g/h keys is the dumbest thing.

      if you had it on the j or f key, then touch typists would already have the clit on their finger. no need to move it to reach and then point. just point.

      but then you would have a right hand and left hand keyboard.

      which is perfectly fine.

    8. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by RobertM1968 · · Score: 3, Informative

      On an IBM^H^H^H^H Lenovo laptop, it's a TrackPoint. Much more convenient than the lame touchpads most computers have (with the possible exception of Apple) and can give you much finer control. And you don't need to move your hands from the typing position at all, so it's even more convenient than an external mouse for quick tasks.

      The one downside is that it will start to chafe your fingertip if you use it for hours and hours and hours on end.

      Nah, not really. IBM/Lenovo usually shipped them with at least two different types of trackpoint caps... the original cats tongue and a domed, wider, more rubbery one with little raised grippy dots on it. And there are about 3 more aftermarket styles to choose from as well (commonly found on eBay).

      I prefer the cats tongue ones myself, but they wear down a lot quicker than the others. But new out of the box, they seem the most responsive. Once old, the "grippy-dot" ones become the best - and the cats tongue ones start to slide under your fingertip, which may be the cause of the "chafing" you are noting. I thoroughly hate the concave aftermarket ones and find them near unusable. Some of the convex aftermarket ones (that are different than the two original options) are ok - but not as good as the two original designs. At least in my opinion.

      I'm a proud owner of one of the IBM ThinkPad TrackPoint keyboards (which btw, also came with a neat carrying case (leather or pleather or something), and multiple IBM M13 Trackpoint keyboards in black and beige (which are IBM Model M keybeasts... err, keyboards... with trackpoints).

      For those looking, the IBM Thinkpad TrackPoint keyboard reviewed in the article comes in two "styles" I remember. Mine is a Model SK-8845 (the BETTER model). The difference between the two are one (mine) is not Thinkpad branded (simply IBM branded), the other is Thinkpad branded. The SK-8845 model comes with a USB hub and two USB ports, uses only one USB connection to your computer, and has dual height adjust legs (2 legs on each side - a short set, and a taller set), and a cut-out compartment to tuck the cable into when travelling with it (no tie-wraps or rubber bands needed). There's also a slight difference in key layout. The insert/home/del/end/pgup/pgdn key row and the escape key on the model I have is actually normal.

      AND the other major difference (which I hate) about the model I have, is that it also comes with a touchpad, and two additional (Right/Left) mouse buttons below the touchpad. With the IBM/Lenovo drivers, one can select "use both" or "use Trackpoint" or "use touchpad" - without, both are enabled. Followed by one other big difference... there is no mic control/microphone in the model I have.

      Regardless, if you are looking for one, I'd recommend the model I have.

      --
      StarTrekPhase2 - The Five Year Mission Continues!
    9. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by flanaganid · · Score: 4, Funny

      You use the trackpoint more like a clit.

      But how am I supposed to see the screen if my tongue is anchored to the keyboard?

    10. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by mcmonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      I don't have mod points today, but thank you for making it worth my while to bring my laptop (with clit) to this meeting.

    11. Re:It's not a pointing stick... by mobby_6kl · · Score: 2, Funny

      Your tongue isn't long enough to allow you to see the screen while touching the trackpoint? No wonder you're having all these kinds of issues.

  2. Re:Pointing Stick? by Rhaban · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Depends on who can hear you.

    Friends: Keyboard Clit
    Coworkers: Keyboard Nipple
    Boss: Pointing Stick.

  3. chiropractor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    >After a chiropractor urged me to...
    >chiropractor

    Oh dear....

    1. Re:chiropractor by raddan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The physicist would respond, however, "Necks are not my field." A chiropractor, however, claims be able to cure any ailment using spinal adjustments, which is patently absurd.

    2. Re:chiropractor by natehoy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Depends on the chiropractor.

      I wrenched my back pretty badly last summer, and it kept getting worse. I finally went to see a chiropractor who spent some time examining the bone positions, used some electric thing to warm up the muscles, did some twisty crunchy stuff, and I walked out of the office upright and nearly pain-free, and armed with some photocopied sheets of appropriate exercises to strengthen the muscles and stretch things back into shape. I went back for a couple of followups, and he fine-tuned the adjustment, and my back felt perfectly normal within a couple of weeks, and we were done.

      If the problem is skeletal, a competent chiropractor is an appropriate person to see. There are cases where misalignment of the spine can cause problems elsewhere (nerve issues, breathing issues, etc).

      But, yeah, claiming to cure cancer by doing an adjustment is off in oogy-boogy land, and gives the competent bone manipulation folks a bad name.

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    3. Re:chiropractor by Sir_Lewk · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It never fails. Whenever chiropractors are mentioned on slashdot inevitably a dozen people and their cats sign on and make comments about how they know it is all mumbo jumbo but they or a loved one actually benefited from it. They, and the occasional mod, think these are actually insightful comments, which they are not.

      Of course, someone that goes to a chiropractor is probably more pre-disposed to not understand the concept of scientific evidence so I guess it's not all that puzzling...

      --
      "linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
    4. Re:chiropractor by natehoy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Look, I know the chiropractic field is full of a lot of quacks, asshats, and "energy practitioners" who are either incompetent or make claims about their abilities that just ain't so. Finding a good practitioner is almost as hard as finding an honest politician. That doesn't mean that all of them are bad.

      In my case, the problem was simple - I was shoveling gravel, moved wrong with a heavy shovel extended, and shifted a bone ever so slightly out of place. I thought I had pulled a muscle, but the pain got worse and worse over time, not better.

      Simple problems do not require complex solutions, and my GP isn't prepared to handle this type of injury. I went to someone who did specialize in it, and he figured out the problem and fixed me up (for about $100 total over the course of two weeks - which is less than the referral visit to my GP), gave me a stern lecture about not being stupid, some good advice on exercises to keep my back strong, thanked me for my business, and that was that. No drugs, no crystals, no payment plan, no ongoing maintenance except a recommendation to keep up with the exercise sheets he gave me for free.

      He make pain go away, he tell me how to avoid pain in future, I give him money.

      When something is wrong with my teeth, I go to my dentist. When something is wrong with my eyes, I go to my optometrist. When something is wrong with my back, I go to a chiropractor. When I can't figure out what's wrong, I go to my GP and she fixes it or (more often) refers me to a specialist.

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    5. Re:chiropractor by Rantastic · · Score: 2, Informative

      But, yeah, claiming to cure cancer by doing an adjustment is off in oogy-boogy land, and gives the competent bone manipulation folks a bad name.

      Actually, you've got that backwards. Claiming to cure whatever ails you by adjustment is exactly what Chiropractic is all about.

      That some practitioners also practice physical therapy (with good results) lends undue credence to an otherwise completely bogus profession.

      --
      Ask Slashdot: Where bad ideas meet poor googling skills.
    6. Re:chiropractor by rueger · · Score: 3, Informative

      In my case, the problem was simple - I was shoveling gravel, moved wrong with a heavy shovel extended, and shifted a bone ever so slightly out of place

      I'm sorry, but is that even possible? As far as I know (IANAD or AC)all of our bones are pretty much solidly in place thanks to muscle, ligaments and other stuff. I suspect that if a bone became "out of place" you'd be writhing around in the back of an ambulance, not trekking to mall to find a chiropractor.

      Now if you can tell me that a trained medical professional (aka "real" doctor) using diagnostic imaging equipment made that diagnosis I may be convinced. Otherwise I'll assume you had nothing more than a strained muscle.

      --
      Three Squirrels
    7. Re:chiropractor by Locklin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In my case, the problem was simple - I was shoveling gravel, moved wrong with a heavy shovel extended, and shifted a bone ever so slightly out of place

      I'm sorry, but is that even possible? As far as I know (IANAD or AC)all of our bones are pretty much solidly in place thanks to muscle, ligaments and other stuff. I suspect that if a bone became "out of place" you'd be writhing around in the back of an ambulance, not trekking to mall to find a chiropractor.

      You are correct, there is no evidence that the "miss-alignment of bones" that chiropractors "diagnose" exists. They have been shown to, at most, have similar efficacy to physiotherapists when doing the same procedures, and that's about it.

      I love how readers just provided *more* testimonials in response to my comment. Seriously people, this isn't how medicine works. There are people who use the *exact same* arguments to support prayer based healing, leeching chemicals for autistic kids, WD-40 for arthritis and all sorts of Woo. Testimonials are *not* valid support for medical treatments. Put up clinical trials or go home.

      --
      "Knowledge is the only instrument of production that is not subject to diminishing returns" -Journal of Political Econom
  4. Re:Love Thinkpads.. by damn_registrars · · Score: 2, Informative

    Anyone use one in Linux?

    I have the full-sized lenovo UltraNav (with the numeric pad and touchpad) hooked up to my Linux workstation at work. Works great; although I haven't bothered to setup the scroll function for the third button - it is worth more to me as a "paste" function in X.

    Overall it's great. I bought it to replace the M2 I had with a pointing stick in it - which I replaced only because the person I share my office with was annoyed by the sound of the buckling spring keyboard (and offered to buy me a new, quieter keyboard).

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  5. Pretty Good Article by DarkKnightRadick · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is actually a pretty good article. Good run down on features and problems with each. I like the Unicomp-style keyboards too much though.

    --
    "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
  6. Re:Ouch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    You can get one that is concave instead. It's much more comfortable than the "eraser tip" style. Below is a link to a set of different styles you can buy from Lenovo.

    http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:show-category-with-items?category-id=44A77E4BFC554CEBA4D064394A24A0B8

  7. The lenovo is good, but not perfect by damn_registrars · · Score: 2, Informative
    I've been using the full-sized variant of the Lenovo UltraNav keyboard at work for a few years now (not sure if they still sell it). Mine has the numeric pad as well as a two-button touchpad underneath the regular keyboard (with the nipple).

    I do have a couple complaints for it though:
    • The finish wears off - just like my laptop keyboard. You can definitely tell that I tend to hit the space with my right thumb much more often than with my left. For that matter you can tell which non-letter keys I use the most (such as space and enter) based on what remains of the finish on the keys. Fortunately the letters themselves are still adequately visible.
    • Recently the left trackpoint button seems to have lost its spring. It doesn't have the resistance that it used to have, although if you can accept that it works pretty well. I now often use the touchpad left button instead.
    • The touchpad itself is too close to the trackpoint buttons; I often click a button and then end up moving my mouse cursor due to a clumsy thumb.
    • There is no obvious way to disable the touchpad as far as I have seen - in Windows or Linux.

    Otherwise, its a great keyboard. A bit expensive but worth the money IMHO.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:The lenovo is good, but not perfect by Ipeunipig · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The touchpad more than likely has its own connection wiring in the internals of the keyboard.

  8. Re:Ouch by Jeffrey+Baker · · Score: 2, Informative

    When you buy a thinkpad new in the box, it comes with a little bag of replacement pointer tips in various styles. I prefer the original dot texture, but I do hate that it collects filth easily.

  9. Re:what? by tecnico.hitos · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Insightful, seriously? Some modders here seriously disappoint me.

    It's a matter of preference. Disliking them doesn't make you more rational than the article writer.

    --
    The good, the evil and the vacuum tubes.
  10. Re:Ouch by Francis · · Score: 4, Informative

    I found a "replacement nib" pack for Lenovo Thinkpads for a dollar. There's actually 3 different shapes that you can get, maybe one's more comfortable for you?

    I have no opinion on these sellers, but they have a picture of the 3 different types:
    http://www.6store.net/other-accessories/328/
    http://www.machinaelectronics.com/store/buypart/Lenovo_Thinkpad_R61_E/91P8421

    (PS. What the heck are you doing that you give yourself a blister on your trackpoint? I personally have never had a problem, nor has anyone I know who uses a Thinkpad. They're standard issue at work, so I actually do know quite a few people who use them.)

    --

    --
    #include <malloc.h>
    free(your.mind);
  11. Re:Pointing Stick? by natehoy · · Score: 2, Informative

    A company called Unicomp is still making the Model M with the same gear IBM used to use in Lexington Kentucky back when they made the Model M. A few IBM retirees bought up the gear when IBM stopped making them, and have been making keyboards with it ever since. They are located at http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/index.html

    The "classic" model M is now called the "Customizer", http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html

    But they're not just making the old ones, they've been busy reworking the design. You can get one with a titmouse if you want. http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104wh.html

    They don't only sell buckling spring, so look at the product descriptions carefully before you buy...

    --
    "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  12. Anyone else have this problem? by raddan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've been a ThinkPad user for over 10 years (I tried a Sony and a Panasonic-- both were lousy machines), and the best feature in my mind is the pointing stick. Touchpads give me terrible wrist/forearm pain, especially when I'm on an airplane or train, because the seating tends to force me into an uncomfortable position. But in these spaces, I can use the pointing stick without a problem.

    Sadly, over time, my pointers start to drift to one side. At first, if I take my finger off of it, it will recenter itself. Over time, though, it eventually loses this ability. Is there some kind of calibration tool I need to run, or is this usual wear and tear? It's happened on every ThinkPad I've ever owned, including my first 365CD and my current X61.

    1. Re:Anyone else have this problem? by bemymonkey · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Sounds like you're pressing too hard. Crank up the sensitivity all the way and you shouldn't have that problem, because you won't be applying enough physical force to cause that much wear and tear.

      Obviously it'll die sooner or later, but luckily with Thinkpads, you have the option of just popping in a replacement keyboard with a new trackpoint built right in ;)

  13. Re:Where are the trackballs? by j_sp_r · · Score: 2, Informative

    You know you can configure them to move the whole screen in one swipe? Does take a bit of practise but it is almost as good as a screensaver lock ;-)

  14. Re:Pointing Stick? by Nimey · · Score: 2, Funny

    I learnt it as "clitmouse".

    However, you shouldn't try to move it with your tongue.

    --
    Hail Eris, full of mischief...

    E pluribus sanguinem
  15. Re:Pointing Stick? by Hurricane78 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If I rub the pointing stick on the keyboard nipple, will I get a hard drive?

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  16. Ergonomic keyboard with pointing stick? by gauauu · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So, it seems this place is the thread to ask -- I absolutely love the nub mouse/trackpoing/whatever, but I also absolutely love a big huge rounded ergonomic keyboard. Has anyone found an ergonomic shaped keyboard that has a trackpoint-style mouse nub?

  17. First Summary Line? by DeadboltX · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Blogger pettijohn went on the search for the best USB external keyboard with a pointing stick."

    Is there such a thing as a USB internal keyboard?

    and did anyone else envision him poking at various keyboards with a stick?

  18. The EndoraPro is a Model M by ThousandStars · · Score: 2, Informative
    I believe the Unicomp EnduraPro is the same basic design as the Customizer/Space Saver keyboards, which are reviewed at the link, and those in turn are modern Model Ms.

    For those of you seeking the One True Keyboard, take note.

  19. Re:Why, why, why? by pavon · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't like trackpads. They always register touches when I am typing and screw things up. Turning off tap-to-click helps somewhat, but they are still a pain. Oh and scrolling using the side of the pad never works for me. As much as I'd like the idea, the OS X multitouch trackpads are worse. They are constantly zooming when I meant to scroll, or scrolling when I meant to move the cursor or vice versa. I absolutely hate those things and they are another reason I will never buy an Apple laptop.

    The eraser-caps are much nicer. They never move when you don't want them to. They can be very fast and precise once you get used to using them at high sensitivity. The middle button for scrolling is much nicer than any other implementation I have seen on a laptop.

    Mice are much better than both for most things to be sure. But I don't like carrying around a mouse with me and the nubs are the best I have used on a laptop. Even on the desktop, if 99% of what you are doing is text, it is nice to be able to scroll and do quick cursor placements without taking your hands off the keyboard.

  20. Re:what? by tresho · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I just did a quick and completely non-scientific study of asking several people about these, all of them hate them. Birds of feather...