Trackpoint on other brands

[billj32]

After buying and using using many Thinkpads since their inception, I have really become used to the trackpoint. I have had a hard time adjusting to the narrow viewing angles of my T61p screen so am considering getting another brand for my traveling laptop that has better viewing angles so I do not have to keep adjusting the top of the laptop. In tight quarters on an airplane with the seat in front of me pushed back, if I have to bring the laptop screen down to any acute angle at all, it darkens so much that I can barely see it. My T40p and T43p have great viewing angles in all directions.

Any suggestions on laptops with better screens that have trackpoints would be appreciated. I did notice when visiting a friends vacation second home that when I walked by a HP laptop with a 17" screen, I was struck by the fact the the screen was easily readable with good colors from the side where my T61p is horrible from the side or top. I was in an Apple store to buy a Ipod touch for my daughter and walked past some Mac laptops and noticed their nice vibrants colors, excellent contrast and superb viewing angles. But neither the HP or Apple laptops have trackpoints. The Sony laptop screens also seem to have better viewing angles and more accurate colors but also do not have the trackpoint models.

Why is it Lenovo cannot put these better screens on their laptops. The keyboard and everything else about the T61p is great. What a shame to ruin their otherwise excellent laptops with terrible screens. It surprises me that Lenovo would incur the cost of high quality components on the rest of their laptop construction and then put what appears to be cheap screens on them with no capability when purchasing to pay more for an upgraded screen which I think many of us would do.

[AvalonXIII]

After buying and using using many Thinkpads since their inception, I have really become used to the trackpoint. I have had a hard time adjusting to the narrow viewing angles of my T61p screen so am considering getting another brand for my traveling laptop that has better viewing angles so I do not have to keep adjusting the top of the laptop. In tight quarters on an airplane with the seat in front of me pushed back, if I have to bring the laptop screen down to any acute angle at all, it darkens so much that I can barely see it. My T40p and T43p have great viewing angles in all directions.

Any suggestions on laptops with better screens that have trackpoints would be appreciated. I did notice when visiting a friends vacation second home that when I walked by a HP laptop with a 17" screen, I was struck by the fact the the screen was easily readable with good colors from the side where my T61p is horrible from the side or top. I was in an Apple store to buy a Ipod touch for my daughter and walked past some Mac laptops and noticed their nice vibrants colors, excellent contrast and superb viewing angles. But neither the HP or Apple laptops have trackpoints. The Sony laptop screens also seem to have better viewing angles and more accurate colors but also do not have the trackpoint models.

Why is it Lenovo cannot put these better screens on their laptops. The keyboard and everything else about the T61p is great. What a shame to ruin their otherwise excellent laptops with terrible screens. It surprises me that Lenovo would incur the cost of high quality components on the rest of their laptop construction and then put what appears to be cheap screens on them with no capability when purchasing to pay more for an upgraded screen which I think many of us would do.

Fujitsu T2010, IPS screen, trackpoint, Core 2 Duo. Do a Google search on that
If you also want the thinnest laptop ever made (yes, thinner than Macbook Air!) check out Sony Vaio X505, has a trackpoint and decent screen as well

[ajkula66]

BTW, some HP laptops have trackpoints. I'm typing on one of them right now...

[billj32]

Thanks for the information, AvalonXIII. I was unaware that there were still laptop manufacturers that were offering laptops with the latest processors and with both IPS screens and trackpoints. This is good news. I like a number of the Fujitsu models that have both of these features. I would hate to give up the trackpoint.

I should have looked closer before I bought the T61p. I have always been so happy with my Thinkpads that I have never looked anywhere else for my every two year purchases. I have always felt that I was getting about the best screen for the time period each time with the Thinkpad...755c, 760ED, 600E, 600X, T22, T40p, and T43p were all great machines with state of the art screens but then my T61p was a real let down. I was excited when I heard about the new type of backlighting on the X300 but then looked at a colleagues X300 and the viewing angles and contrast were about as bad as on my T61p and there appeared to be more light bleed and sort of a mottled appearance to the lighting on the screen. That is the first time since the early 1990's that I decided it was time to change. The Fujitsu's look like a good choice. Thanks again!

[AvalonXIII]

Thanks for the information, AvalonXIII. I was unaware that there were still laptop manufacturers that were offering laptops with the latest processors and with both IPS screens and trackpoints. This is good news. I like a number of the Fujitsu models that have both of these features. I would hate to give up the trackpoint.

I should have looked closer before I bought the T61p. I have always been so happy with my Thinkpads that I have never looked anywhere else for my every two year purchases. I have always felt that I was getting about the best screen for the time period each time with the Thinkpad...755c, 760ED, 600E, 600X, T22, T40p, and T43p were all great machines with state of the art screens but then my T61p was a real let down. I was excited when I heard about the new type of backlighting on the X300 but then looked at a colleagues X300 and the viewing angles and contrast were about as bad as on my T61p and there appeared to be more light bleed and sort of a mottled appearance to the lighting on the screen. That is the first time since the early 1990's that I decided it was time to change. The Fujitsu's look like a good choice. Thanks again!

I know how you feel. I also used to be an avid IBM/Lenovo fan, but I now open myself up to other brands as well. I'm just trying to find the best laptop that fits me the most, and the T2010 seems like the best alternative for me. If you still haven't given up hope on Lenovo, however, there is the X61 tablet that also use IPS screens (but no LED backlit). Again, there are advantages and disadvantages to both models, so make sure you consider them before making a decision. Hope you find the best laptop that fits your needs

[AIX]

Some Dell laptops have trackpoints also (Latitude series for sure, Precision probably - these are business series - but I cannot speak about the quality of their LCDs because I never really tested one).

[KristianJ]

BTW, some HP laptops have trackpoints. I'm typing on one of them right now...

Yes indeed...I had a HP nw8240 arrive at my doorstep today (PM 770, 1GB RAM, 60GB HDD, 15.4" WUXGA) and in my first few hours of playing around with it and setting it up, the quality of the keyboard (with trackpoint) has surprised me the most (almost on par with the one on my T42p). The LCD has a great viewing angle and the whole unit seems very comparable with the Z60m I had for a while earlier in the year. The only quibble is that the fan noise is rather loud at times, but since the specs are on the whole very similar to a T43p, I don't know if I shouldn't be surprised that this is the case.

[billj32]

I agree with you that the HP screens are quite good. I was shocked when I saw how much better the screen was on a friends HP laptop last month when being given a house tour. The side and vertical viewing angles were incredibly better then my T61p...it was not even close. The colors and contrast were also much better. Interestingly, my friend said that he got the HP because his T60 screen was "hard to look at" using his words. He had similarly always purchased ThinkPads and has just stuck the T60 in a drawer.

I guess that is when I made a quantum change in my thinking for future purchases. Before, I never considered any laptop but a ThinkPad purchase about every two years since their early days. It occurred to me looking at the HP screen that ThinkPads no longer represent the customer satisfaction oriented IBM but a totally different more profit oriented not as customer centric Lenovo willing to put inferior screens on their product at the risk of alienating customers.

It is with a bit of sadness that I leave my old friend ThinkPad behind. The LCD screen quality is just too important to me since I spend many hours each day looking at it. My T61p has been relegated to a Advanced Dock connected to a large Dell monitor where it will stay since looking at the LCD gives me eyestrain.

[Trekk69]

I've tried out the trackpoint on a Dell Latitude (it also had the mouse pad), and I was not a fan of it at all, way too sporatic in its control movements.

[agarza]

The HP nw8240 looks nice. Wonder where can I get one of those.

[dr_st]

So let me take it one step further, and ask - do you happen to know which of the trackpoints are IBM-compatible, that is, allow you to replace the cap with one of the red Thinkpad caps?

I have an old Compaq Evo with a trackpoint, which originally came with a horrendous small and uncomfortable black cap, but the trackpoint itself is manufactured by Synaptics, and so it is compatible with the Thinkpad one. After I slipped one of the soft rim caps on it, the usability improved significantly.

[dsigma6]

The only reason I'm using a Dell D630 (besides a good deal), is because it has a "trackpoint." I'd rate the trackpoint a "C" compared to an IBM.

[KristianJ]

The HP nw8240 looks nice. Wonder where can I get one of those.

I got mine via an eBay-type site here in Australia for about $450US. They are about 3 years old so definitely not available new.

And dr_st, I am yet to try an IBM trackpoint cap on my HP but will do so tonight and report back with my result.

[Harryc]

Fujitsu T2010, IPS screen, trackpoint, Core 2 Duo.

The Fujitsu T2010 is a tablet with a 12.1" WXGA enhanced indoor/outdoor active digitizer display with wide viewing angles, per the specs. I think the T2010 LCD is AFFS, an advanced technology based on IPS, but not IPS.

[dr_st]

I think the T2010 LCD is AFFS, an advanced technology based on IPS, but not IPS.

(A)FFS is the name BOE-Hydis used for their patented technology, but it doesn't make it any less IPS, than S-IPS, or TW-IPS, or whatever other enhancements of IPS have sprung over the years.

When you go down to the core, there are only 3 LCD panel technologies in wide manufacturing today - TN, IPS and VA. Each has a plethora of variants and improvements, but the common characteristics of the technology remain the same.

[KristianJ]

FWIW, none of my IBM nubs fitted on the nw8240 keyboard...

[dr_st]

Thank you for the information, KristianJ. Looks like HP moved away from the original Synaptics design employed on the old business Compaqs.

[mattfromomaha]

From what I've found on Dell and HP laptops, there's a difference between a Pointing Stick and a TrackPoint. IBM designed theirs to work!

[pianowizard]

FWIW, none of my IBM nubs fitted on the nw8240 keyboard...

My HP nc2400 can use a Thinkpad Soft Rim, although I had to cut it about 1mm shorter so that it won't stick out too much. The Soft Rim does work better than the original cap (which doesn't give enough grip), but red doesn't look as nice as blue on an HP, so I switched back to the original.

BTW, this nc2400 can also use a Thinkpad travel bezel, as shown in these photos.

[KristianJ]

My HP nc2400 can use a Thinkpad Soft Rim, although I had to cut it about 1mm shorter so that it won't stick out too much. The Soft Rim does work better than the original cap (which doesn't give enough grip), but red doesn't look as nice as blue on an HP, so I switched back to the original.

BTW, this nc2400 can also use a Thinkpad travel bezel, as shown in these photos.

Come to think of it, may have been a height issue indeed. I don't have any spare caps to shave a mm off though. But I agree - the blue looks better.