Difference between revisions of "TrackPoint"

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Revision as of 18:10, 25 November 2019

IBM TrackPoint

IBM/Lenovo TrackPoint

The TrackPoint was IBM's name, now Lenovo's, for the stick that sits between the g, h and b keys of the keyboard. It is used as a PS/2 pointing device and hence as an alternative to an external mouse or a touchpad. What sets it apart from devices found in notebooks of other manufacturers is that it has no moving parts. It works by using a solid state strain gauge. Its tap-to-click feature, which means that you can tap the stick to do a left click instead of using the left mouse button, is also handy.

Configuration

Have a look at How to configure the TrackPoint.

Models featuring this technology

TrackPoint

This rendition of the TrackPoint used a red-coloured trackball, not a pointing stick as it should be in name.

TrackPoint II

Replaced the trackball for an actual pointing stick, generally uses Classic Dome caps.

TrackPoint III

Added a feature called 'negative inertia', which was likely used to improve the accuracy of the TrackPoint. Classic Dome caps were still used as of this rendition.

Trivia: IBM did, at least once, license the TrackPoint technology to another company. PC Magazine, 1997-02-21 page 152, says about HP OmniBook 5500CS: 'The pointing stick uses the latest TrackPoint III technology from IBM.'.

TrackPoint IV

Added 'press-to-select' by using a virtual Z axis to allow the TrackPoint to perform a click, also allows customization of the TrackPoint's sensitivity. Introduced two new TrackPoint caps: Soft Dome and Soft Rim. Height reduced caps were also introduced for this rendition of the TrackPoint: Low-profile and Super low-profile.

External Sources