Did you all know you can tap on the trackpoint?

[pianowizard]

I was playing with my new Sony Vaio P Series, whose only pointing device is the trackpoint. As many of you know, I use touchpads most of the time, although I am also good at the trackpoint. I tap the touchpad a lot, because I often don't feel like clicking buttons. Just now, I forgot that I was using a trackpoint, and so I accidentally double-tapped the trackpoint, and was surprised that the folder I was about to open actually opened! Then I tried the same thing on my Dell Latitude D810's trackpoint, and tapping worked too, though it required much more force.

Am I the only one who used trackpoints for well over a decade without realizing it could be tapped?

[dr_st]

I know of it, but I always disable this feature, since I don't like it. I think it is disabled by default on many Thinkpads.

[rkawakami]

Am I the only one who used trackpoints for well over a decade without realizing it could be tapped?

Yes .

I have known it was there (Mouse Properties/TrackPoint tab/Enable Press-to-Select) but I don't enable it since I found that hitting/tapping the nub usually makes it move slightly. For large buttons it's probably useful, but sometimes I need fine control over where I click. And yes I know you could simply press harder (i.e., don't tap it) but it makes even more of an indentation on my fingertip (using the cat's tongue) then normal. Actually, here at work I use a Bluetooth mouse more than the TrackPoint.

[Saucey]

I have tried it but since I have the sensitivity of the TrackPoint up high the cursor will be at the end of the screen.

[pianowizard]

I do have an X31 at work but I haven't tried tapping it yet. Tapping works beautifully on my Sony P Series' trackpoint -- the pointer stays put, perfectly. Navigation is super smooth and accurate as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Sony's trackpoint is even better than the Thinkpads'.

It's a shame that Sony's laptops have been selling so poorly in the past couple years, forcing Sony to get rid of its PC division. Four of the five Vaios I've owned are outstanding.

[Summilux]

I wasn't aware of that function! Thanks for the info
I've just tried that but find it unpractical given the strength I have to apply on the cap for the pressure to work (regardless of the sensitivity settings).

[pianowizard]

I've just tried that but find it unpractical given the strength I have to apply on the cap for the pressure to work (regardless of the sensitivity settings).

My Sony P Series' trackpoint is very responsive and can respond to the same amount of light touch needed to tap a touchpad. Despite this high sensitivity, tapping the trackpoint doesn't move the pointer at all. What's more, there is a middle mouse button that allows scrolling, just like on Thinkpads. I am telling you, this particular trackpoint is probably the best I've ever used, and I owned 45 Thinkpads before.

[Puppy]

Yes

[kony]

I didn't know, so I tried it, with various force put on the trackpoint. No effect, it doesn't work on my T430.

[Temetka]

No, I did not know you could click with the Trackpoint.

I fired up the Dell mouse software on my E6500 and lo and behold, I could enable tap to click with the trackpoint. I tried it, didn't like it and turned it off. But while I was in there, I configured scrolling for the touchpad.

[emeraldgirl08]

My E6510 had it 'enabled' on default after I installed W8 and installed updates. Sort of threw me for a loop! I have it disabled for all my laptops. I was aware of it as an option in Ultranav settings for ThinkPads but never enabled it. Not sure when it would come in handy