You shouldn't tell people that use computers differently than you what they should use, based on your own opinion.pianowizard wrote:I actually hope this will happen, because it will force you guys to finally learn to use the touchpad and realize it's not that bad. I have been using both trackpoint and touchpad frequently for over a decade and the touchpad is far better in both speed and precision. For the trackpoint, precision is acceptable only if I slow down the pointer a couple notches below Windows' default speed setting, but then it moves way too slow. Even if I take into account the time needed to move my hand from the keyboard to the touchpad or to an external mouse, both of these inputs still beat the trackpoint in terms of speed.
The first thing I do when I install an operating system on a Thinkpad is to crank dat pointer sensitivity up as high as I can get it. I can see why you'd feel it's imprecise when you first do that, but if you give it time you may very well get used to it. I certainly did and it feels far more precise to me than a touchpad ever has. Granted, a slow Trackpoint is physically straining.
I'm on my X200 right now, with a 23" monitor plugged in. I've got a laser mouse and a mechanical keyboard.
I just reached over to my Trackpoint to compare it's precision to my mouse and was actually surprised to find that...
... I've got better per-pixel control over the cursor with my Trackpoint than my laser mouse, on my 23" 1920x1080 display no less; Because of the friction between the mouse and the mouse pad, there's a little jump whenever you make a sharp turn. A problem trackpads have too, because your finger minutely sticks to it when you slow down. By comparison, the Trackpoint is friction free so you've got precision without having to speed up, even with the speed maxed out; Which doesn't make a whole lot of difference, but you're the one saying that the Trackpoint is imprecise at high speeds.
So, with my anecdotal evidence I'd say that your problem is your own inability/unwillingness to get used to it, and not it's inherent lack of precision; Feel free to correct me.
Otherwise, a touchpad just wouldn't work for me. When I use the built in input devices on a laptop, it's because I'm slouching back on the couch or propped up in bed. What drives me crazy with touchpads is that my hand has to hang off the edge of the machine, but if the edge is right up against my stomach, and my arm has to wrap around, gouching my stomach with my wrist, straining my shoulder, hand and fingers, it's physically painful so I use a mouse...
... A mouse works great on a desk, but it's tormenting for me trying to find it in the covers whenever I need it or get it to track on a couch; And it slides around on uneven surfaces -NOT FUN-. Not to mention all those peripherals you have to carry around... I'm glad to be down to just headphones thank you very much!
The Trackpoint, on the other-hand... Well, I've used it exclusively in bed for hours a day for weeks at a time with no complaints.
I'm sure I could get used to a trackpad if I used my laptop on a desk or hanging off the end of my lap while sitting up-right; But if I'm using the energy to sit-up in a chair, I'll take a full on desktop, with triple monitors, a mechanical keyboard and laser mouse, thank you kindly...
Bearing in mind I've used Apple's glass trackpad, albeit the first generation. Not sure if it still pivots from the top but that was really annoying and whenever I was forbidden to click by the cursor Gods, I reached for the laggy bluetooth mouse. You could say it's not a big deal once you get used to not being able to click anywhere, but you're missing the point, it's just bad design to have that arbitrary limit. I am aware of the fact that you can use your thumb at the bottom, it's still annoying for _me_.
For me personally, it's just not worth owning a laptop if I can't have a trackpoint. I acknowledge the existence of and envy anyone who doesn't share that feeling. I truly wish I felt the same. It's hard to describe how much I actually WANT to like trackpads, just imagine all the computer options I'd have! But they can't equal the Trackpoint for me because of their physical location and how I use my computer 90% of the time.