Comments on: Poll: Touch pad or pointing stick?

Readers, please let us know your laptop navigation preference.

[shonkum]

The poll is unjustified. Out of all the participants, how many have used a ThinkPad and how many use something else? A majority probably use notebooks with only touch pads. So of course the poll is going to reflect a majority of users prefer touchpad. I use a Thinkpad, and so I prefer trackpoint.

[83bj60]

If anything, it should be a wake up call to manufacturers... That even though most laptops don't have Trackpoints, most replies here favor them!!!

Hello!? What's wrong with these manufacturers to keep shoving us these worthless touch pads?? It's enough to have to endure M$ pushing its worthless new bloated OSes ;)

[rrosen3]

"I believe my main point was that only the 40-plus crowd, whose first laptop was probably a ThinkPad with a pointing stick, still even knew how to use these stupid things, and the rest of us youthful, forward-thinking types were part of the touchpad generation. "

Please spare me the stupid comments. People usually like what they used first. I've used all three and prefer the track-point. And I won't buy a laptop without it. But if you like a touchpad, that's fine. In my organization we have people in varying age groups who like different devices. Got nothing to do with age, gender, or most anything else.

If you were really forward looking, you'd be using a device that tracks eyeball focus.

[thatcherm]

True, the question could very well be, Why are these our only options?

[jdhurst]

Touch pads don't even work. Every touch pad (every single one of them) has a mind of their own and executes commands I did not want and makes mistakes about the commands it executes well over 95 percent of the time.

The day a laptop no longer comes with a track point is the day I can no longer buy a laptop. Touch pads are the worst invention ever, bar none. They don't work.

[sbudde]

The best pointing device, by far, I have used on a laptop was on a Compaq 486/25 from about 12 years ago. This laptop had a trackball mounted on the right side of the LCD screen. You operated the ball with your thumb, and the buttons were on the back of the screen (in the outside cover) so you could click them with your fingers as you grabbed the side of the display. It was never in the way when typing, and gave precise control. However, the rubber rollers which contacted the ball had to be replaced about once a year.

With today's laser technology (think Logitech trackman marble), I think this would really work well and be very reliable, but I have never seen any hope of this coming around again, as every manufacturer seems stuck on the stick or the touchpad, both of which suffer many downsides to controllability. Now, I only wish I had a picture I could share of this device.

[83bj60]

The problem with trackball is the same problem with touch pads: you actually have to move, move, move the darn thing to get anywhere. With a Trackpoint, you simply apply pressure, *without moving your finger off your home row*. WAY, WAY more efficient.

Of course anyone will feel most comfortable with what they're used to. But I doubt any of the other alternatives except for the mouse would survive if people would have the choice.

Yes, Trackpoints take some getting used to. Just like it gets some getting used to to learn keyboard shortcuts. But once you've gotten the hang of it, you'll never want to go back to anything as frustrating as a device which makes you rub some surface or roll some ball repeatedly to get wherever you want to go. I've done some of my best technical drawings using the Trackpoint on my first IBM laptop...

[nospamddl]

I found I use both. Some things just do not work well with the stick and some things just do not work well with the touch pad. If I could get away with only the stick, I would disable the pad and do away with hand "freezing" everything because my hand is triggering the touch pad. I would just love it if they started putting in a small track ball on the side and do away with both the touch pad and stick.

[aka_tripleB]

Where's the touch screen option? That's not my absolute favorite way; I like bluetooth mouse. You get great control and you don't have to have a dongle either. But you do know that you can turn off the touch pad while you type on all laptops? Windows ones at least. Just go into the mouse settings and check the box next to "Tap off when typing."

[rheppert]

Once again, a worthless survey. What do I prefer AND use? The third option: a MOUSE. But you left out all those whe think it is worth the trouble to take one along.

[FadedStars]

I am firmly against the pointing stick, once i figured out what it actually was. I've tried to use one on one of those ugly IBM laptops with all those weird extra touchpad buttons. My finger kept slipping off and hitting the keyboard keys and it took took much effort.

And to all those who get annoyed when they brush their touchpad while typing: You can configure the tpuchpad to be less sensitive to input from largers things like palms and wrists. Also, you can turn off that tap-to-click feature and use the two button provided.

[garythecynic]

Give me a multitouch pointing stick. Then we can argue. Also, I have found trackpads on Apple notebooks to track a bit more precisely (founded on the unscientific test of drawing freehand circles).

[FredinWhiteRock]

I always use a mouse with a laptop. The touchpad is incredibly irritating and I keep brushing it accidentally. I would prefer if the keyboard were at the bottom of the laptop.

[darkmatter888]

Yay - go pointy stick. I have been in the industry since before the PC existed and I was addicted to the mouse forever when the desktop came along. Then I got my first IBM Thinkpad three years ago. All I can say is ... away with the mouse (I travel with my laptop and that's one thing less to carry). Additionally, I think manufacturers can use the space saved when incorporating the pointy stick and do away with the touch pad altogether. Whenever I use other people's computers, if it hasn't got a pointy stick, my productivity goes way down, and I tell you, I can surf the net like you wouldn't believe with very few key strokes and mainly using the pointy stick. So with the arrival of Netbooks, my recommendation would be for manufacturers to go pointy stick and use that saved space for something else (save the function keys, please). Another wonderful device I have found on Thinkpads are 2 keys that can be used to go forward or back while surfing. I can't live without them! Oh ... getting off topic. Go pointy stick!!!

[intelliot]

The TrackPoint pointing stick is truly superior.

[JohnAown]

I am using my first laptop now for a few years, it is an IBM ThinkPad T42 that has both a pointing stick, and the touch pad. Before I bought it , I considered other models too like the IBM X series model , which has only a pointing stick. I was not sure if I would like the pointing stick, so that was one point against the X, there were other points against too like screen size and resolution, graphics card, integrated CDRW etc. In the end I chose the T42 and so I had a chance to learn to use both pointing options.

When I got the laptop and started using it, I tried to use the pointing stick, and learn how to use it. I did have difficulties at the beginning: I was pushing it hard with my finger, and so my finger had hurt. When I had released it after moving it, it would start to drift a bit back which seemed odd. Sometimes it needed plenty of force to move a bit, and sometimes not. I was frustrated, since every T series user that I have spoke with has told me that he used the pointing stick exclusively even though he had the touch pad at his disposal. So I decided to give it more time, and after about a week I got the hang of it. Once I cranked up the mouse 'pointer speed' and the pointing stick sensitivity (LightTouch) all the way up, and turned off 'Enhanced pointer precision' it got a whole lot easier, no force was needed any more, my finger was comfortable and so it was much better. Soon after the pointing stick has become an extension of my body just like touch typing is, and using a mouse is. One doesn't think about it but just do it.

I think that in terms of efficiency the pointing stick is better then a mouse, or a touch pad, but you don't have to take my subjective thought about it, since it could easily be tested objectively using the following test:

A button with or without a random text on it would appear at a random place on the screen, and the user would have to click on the button and write the text if it is with text, before the next button would appear. The time it takes for say 100 buttons will be measured.

I think that a pointing stick user would score the highest in this test, over a mouse, or a touch pad user. In case there would be no typing involved, then I think that the pointing stick user would score at least the same as a mouse user, and that a touch pad user would score less then both.

In terms of comfort I think that it would be obvious that the pointing stick user is the most comfortable, while he "telepathically" moves the cursor, while the mouse user is developing his case of carpal tunnel syndrome and moves frantically all over the place, and the touch pad user is lagging behind developing the rough skin on his finger.

I think that most people that have an IBM thinkpad laptop of the T series, and thus have the option to use both devices are using exclusively the pointing stick. But again you don't have to take my subjective thought about it, you can go to forum.thinkpads.com and open a poll on any of the T series threads and see. I would suggest the poll would be between Prefer TrackPoint, Prefer TrackPad, Prefer a mouse, Prefer a trackball, Prefer a normal mouse and keyboard

I myself prefer the keyboard integrated pointing stick over anything, and I find myself searching for such keyboards even for stationary PCs. Now, when the netbooks are here, I find myself holding myself back from buying one, because they don't have a pointing stick, and so I would rather buy an old used X series ThinkPad if I can find one in a good condition at a netbookish price, or wait until a netbook with a pointing stick would come out.

To sum it up, pointing sticks are the best, they do come with a wrong sensitivity settings which make them a pain to use, and one also needs to learn not to lean on them heavily because they recalibrate themselves constantly, but once this is learned one can "telepathically" move the cursor with grate efficiency and without thought or effort or lifting his hands from the keyboard, and it is worth it.

[jorymil]

I want both the pointing stick and the touchpad. I find that the pointing stick is best for when I'm typing and need to keep my fingers on the keyboard. I can keep both hands on the keyboard while using the pointing stick. I also want the touchpad, though, because it's so versatile: I can scroll, move the mouse, and click (both left- and right-) just by touching the pad in different ways. Right now, I'm using a ThinkPad R40 and a Latitude X1; I really like the ThinkPad's versatility, but find I'm using the X1 a lot more because it's so lightweight and easy to carry. Trying to find the best of both worlds now.

[trmsw]

Trackpoints aren't as intuitive as trackpads and most people will find that their response time is better with a trackpad than with a trackpoint (Google "Fitt's law" and try some of the experiments). In my case the thing is complicated because I use the trackpoint left-handed and the trackpad right-handed, and I'm mostly right-handed. Oh well.

However, trackpoints have their advantages too: middle-button vertical and horizontal scrolling beats scrolling via trackpad edges (but two finger scrolling a la Mac is nice too), they're nicer for detailed work like drawing (but why not use a tablet or a real mouse?), and they avoid the annoying multiple flicks you need on a trackpad to get from one corner or the screen(s) to another -- but above all, they virtually eliminate the hand movement between the keyboard and the pointer: you save time & RSI that way.

Thnkpads have very configurable trackpoints and a bit of tweaking can really improve their speed and accurancy for you.

[swee2th]

Is there any laptop you can buy that has ONLY a trackpoint and no touch pad? I cannot get the hang of the touch pad to save my life, and it takes up so much room. I can't ever imagine using it for anything. How do people use that thing??

[phastphill]

I use a Lenovo x60: no touchpad.

[83bj60]

Simple answer... They DON'T!!! ;) I've survived using a wireless laptop mouse... More stuff to carry but I would say, essential if you don't have a trackpoint.

[phastphill]

Interesting that with >5000 respondents, pointing stick is slightly ahead, and I bet only 5% of laptops on the market actually have one. I'm a pointing stick devotee for many of the already-stated reasons, and it will probably keep me on business laptops (and away from Apple) for the foreseeable future.

[83bj60]

I've been in computers for decades and have had a PC since the TRS-80 days back in the early 80s.

I spend at least 4 hours every day behind a keyboard as part of my work and type at least 10,000 words every week. I also process at least 300 pictures a week as part of my work. And that's not counting all the stuff I do for fun, such as writing on blogs and forums.

So you could say That's I've seen a LOT of computers and hardware combinations.

Out of all pointing devices I have had, only two have passed the test of efficiency and durability: The IBM Trackpoint and my trusted Logitech Mouseman 2. No other devices have come close since, and I?ve tried a few since. These two devices are the best by far for any Windows work

As for keyboards, I still have a 15 year old ThinkPad with its tiny 70 meg hard drive and 6 inch screen. Yes, that was tiny, but oh, what a pleasure to type on and the best of the best Trackpoints I have ever had the chance of using, even better than the one on its replacement, my 10 year old Toshiba (retired as well). Talk about direct, precise pointing with almost no movement of the hands above the keyboard. Even better than most full sized keyboards (except for my old Keytronic)

When you work hours on end on your computer, along with posture, the quality of keyboards, screens and pointing devices is paramount to making your work efficient, effective and pain free.

Unfortunately for me, I have had to suffer this horrible flat keyboard and awful touch pad for almost two years and the sooner I find another laptop with a real keyboard and Trackpoint, the sooner I?ll become productive again.

Having a poor keyboard and pointing device is truly an efficiency killer if you WORK using your laptop. It's not for no reason that ALL BUSINESS laptops have TRACKPOINTS and BLACK, HIGH CONTRAST KEYBOARDS THAT HAVE ACTUAL FEEL!!! And don't get me started about wide screens that have close no useable resolution! We have 6 megapixel cameras, but even high end laptops can't go beyond 1920x1200 (3MP)!!!

After two years using this (to me) low end laptop (it was a pragmatic buy - certainly not a bad deal for the money, but I now know better than to buy a great deal without trying the thing beforehand!!!), it's time for me to get a new laptop and my next laptop will *have to have* a Trackpoint, otherwise I SIMPLY WON'T BUY!

It's about time computer makers realized there is a demand for good, solid and efficient HARDWARE - I couldn?t care less for any software that the companies force feed you these days, I'd rather have a Trackpoint and NO OS than a frustrating, aggravating touch pad with(Horror!) Vista or Windows 7!!!

[kapu222]

I own a Lenovo x60s. Rather than having to lift my wrist from home row and tap on an touchpad, I just shift my right hand about 5 degrees to the left and am in perfect control of the pointer on screen. Very efficient and clean. Close to the perfect interface imho. I just wish the pointer drift was a little better. But, the minor pointer drift at times is nothing at all when faced with the concept of having to revert to the horrific touchpad from back in my dell days. I was at an Apple store once looking at possibly buying one. But the deal killer for me is the lack of a trackpoint. I wish apple had a trackpoint, I might buy one. Until then it is Lenovo for me. First thing I do is uninstall Microsoft windows, and install OpenBSD. My 2 cents.