fake softrim trackpoint caps?

[gauthier]

I'm looking for softrim trackpoint caps, I bought a set on amazon and another one on ebay, they both look significantly smaller than the old ones I have.

Is it because they tend to flatten / expand with usage or that they are actually not genuine parts on the marketplace?

Anyone has found a reliable source to buy those?

[brchan]

It's very common to see non-genuine trackpoint caps that have poor quality. The only way you can be 100% sure is to buy the caps direct from Lenovo.

Although I haven't used a soft rim cap before, all my soft dome and classic dome trackpoint caps maintained their shape after heavy use. However, the texture may wear and the rubber may harden over the years.

[dr_st]

I'm looking for softrim trackpoint caps, I bought a set on amazon and another one on ebay, they both look significantly smaller than the old ones I have.

Is it because they tend to flatten / expand with usage or that they are actually not genuine parts on the marketplace?

Anyone has found a reliable source to buy those?

Yes, they do. Greatly.

[gauthier]

So I ordered a set on Lenovo website, they are as small as the others I got on ebay and amazon, although they feel softer. The old one I have is from t40 era so it might have been expanded due to long use, I hope the new ones I got will also adjust similarly.

[micrex22]

Since I go through hordes of 'soft rim' caps / I can confirm they expand naturally over time with use. They also slowly become harder as the rubber ingests finger oils though.

The best seller for cheap genuine soft rims is this guy:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5x-IBM-Lenovo-T ... oLwO3HtkJA

I can vouch that they're the real deal / and I have quite a generous stash
(but with the advent of the new Crapovo 'low-profile' trackpoint mechanism on virtually all new ThinkPads, it renders these caps useless for new systems--good thing I don't use any of those ThinkPads and never will!)