Thinkpads Forum

RealBlackStuff wrote:http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/lenovo- ... ag=nl.e501

A pretty nice review of a machine that appears to be a success right out of the starting gate for Lenovo. This one seems to be their "baby" and a test of how well they took the baton from IBM. Looks good.

CNET's niggles about the touchpad is a little silly. Of course...if you swipe it, you get unpleasant results. I disable that device because of my "random thumb skitters" when I type.

And the price? Gee, I remember when a middling ThinkPad was at least $2000.00 back in '05.

This is fundamentally why I like the Trackpoint (easy, direct, no errrors) and why I dislike the Touchpad (must be learned, indirect, lots of errors and miscues - any touchpad on any make I have tried). ... JDH

I concur with the trackpoint. At first I didn't know if I would like it on my laptop, but after a couple of days of using it, I realize, that its fast, easy, direct, and now I much prefer it over anything else.

I am a huge fan of the trackpoint - some people think its stupid and outdated, but its defintely NOT. It is way more easier and faster to use compared to the touchpad. I go so used to it that I even bought myself a IBM spacesaver keyboard with the trackpoint on it (and no numpad).

gator wrote:I go so used to it that I even bought myself a IBM spacesaver keyboard with the trackpoint on it (and no numpad).

same here, except mine has the number pad.

erik wrote:same here, except mine has the number pad.

AFAIK, the ones with the numpad do not have the 3rd mouse button (mine does). One of the best advantages of the trackpoint is the middle-button scroll, and I woudn't give it up for a numpad that I don't use

It's amazing to me how so many trackpoint fans like to bash touchpads whenever they can. It's almost like they are criticizing others for not forcing themselves to use the pointing stick. I use my T42 a lot, for a lot of different things, and I can't imagine not having BOTH options available. For one thing, being able to switch back and forth allows me to work a lot longer without any sort of physical discomfort. For another, some task are dramatically easier to do with the touchpad than the trackpoint. I suspect I'm not alone in either of these opinions.

The beauty of this machine (and all Thinkpads except the other X-series) is that you have a CHOICE. And if you find the touchpad is somehow interfering with your typing or whatever, you can always DISABLE it.

- Jay

jayk wrote:I suspect I'm not alone in either of these opinions.

jayk, thanks for the excellent post. Nope, you are not alone. I agree with everything that you wrote. In fact, when I am working at my desk, I switch between the trackpoint, touchpad, AND external mouse all the time. Each pointing device is good for different situations, and I am surprised that so few people realize this.

jayk wrote:It's amazing to me how so many trackpoint fans like to bash touchpads whenever they can.

And vice versa.

Opinions for and against both trackpoints and touchpads are equally valid/invalid, so just say your piece rather than complain about others opinions

Cheers,

Bill B. (in Admin mode)

bill bolton wrote:

jayk wrote:It's amazing to me how so many trackpoint fans like to bash touchpads whenever they can.

And vice versa.

I haven't seen any on this forum.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/36179/128/
"Analyst Opinion - Apple’s MacBook Air may be the coolest notebook to have these days, but early reviews revealed some downsides many of us may not want to live with. That may be different with Lenovo’s X300, another ultra-thin laptop, that is the first Thinkpad in a long time you could lust for. Is it the perfect laptop?"

jayk wrote:It's amazing to me how so many trackpoint fans like to bash touchpads whenever they can. It's almost like they are criticizing others for not forcing themselves to use the pointing stick. <snip>
- Jay

Do be careful please. I could care less what anyone else uses. Use what you wish, by all means. I am not forcing my view on anyone. I merely said that the touchpad does not (and has never) worked for me. Yes, I have tried (because some clients only have touchpads), but the number of miscues (actions for which there was no touch or movement) is mind-boggling. If it were error-free, I could probably adapt to it in cases where that's all I have. Now, I just carry around an external mouse to get by with.
... JDH

is this what is called thread drift..?

from X300 to touchpad/trackpoint wars..

i personally don't use the touchpad..

the X300 i have had the touchpad implemented in the bios and has been on with the trackpoint for the last few days..

and i never had a slip where the touchpad took a palm brushing over it as a mouse movement..
mostly, i suspect, because i was also moving the cursor with the trackpoint..

i just now went into the bios to disable the touchpad but as touchpads go this one is great..
its surface is near flush with the palmrest and it does not distract when a palm slides over it..