Model M keyboard with trackpoint on non-IBM desktop

[trharlan]

Hi. I am having a hard time configuring the trackpoint on my Model M keyboard (13H6705) here on my work (Dell, Windows 7) desktop machine.

The mouse/trackpoint connection is PS/2, which I can run either through a USB signal converter or a dumb USB adapter. And I can get decent functionality either way. Unfortunately, though, I have to really press the trackpoint hard. The speed is okay, I guess, but the sensitivity is way too low. The Control Panel, which thinks that I have an "HID compliant mouse", will let me adjust the speed but not the sensitivity. I suspect that there's a program or driver out there that might help but I can't seem to find it.

Any ideas?

[bill bolton]

I suspect that there's a program or driver out there that might help but I can't seem to find it.

You will need a Synaptics Trackpoint driver of some sort. You'll have to work out which one best suits your needs.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[automobus]

Are you using a model M13? I had one for a while. I was disappointed to discover that it does not have the enhanced settings that ThinkPad TrackPoints have. I do not think any driver can increase its pressure sensitivity; you can just settle with the pointer speed setting in the Windows Mouse Control Panel.

I found two resources that can confirm this.

eBay item 260706936745

The TrackPoint stick works great, but it does take some force to move the mouse pointer (though it results in very good pointer precision). This is common with M13s. Still, the TrackPoint stick force gradient is constant, and the pointer will move very quickly if a lot of force is applied. Don't be surprised if you feel like you're going to break it the first time you use it.

IBM Wiki at geekhack

One thing that potential buyers should note is that these trackballs/trackpoints were designed in the days when 640x480 or 800x600 was the standard resolution. Users of these devices with modern hi-res monitors often find them quite sluggish. This can often be resolved by turning up sensitivity and, in the case of Windows, disabling the "Enhance Pointer Stability" option below the sensitivity slider.

[ThinkRob]

It's worth noting that if you're a Linux user, you can use xinput to adjust the speed and acceleration curves for the M13 TrackPoint such that it is every bit as quick and nimble as a ThinkPad TrackPoint can be. It doesn't fix the physical feel, obviously, but it can make it vastly easier to switch back and forth without major adjustments.