Ultranav intro

[kieran]

Does any one know what model of thinkpad IBM introduced the Ultranav pad , becuase i want to make sure that i don't buy a thinkpad in the future that has that as a component. i just think the "Red Dot" is the untimate in mouse Control. i know that the thinkpads with the ultranav still has the Dot but i like it to have the Dot exclusively.

[tomh009]

T30 was the first one with Ultranav. But even after that, you can still get TrackPoint-only ThinkPads: all X series, and the R series "e" models (R40e, R50e, R51e, R60e).

[JaneL]

Item #1 in the FAQ.

[tomh009]

Indeed you can find the info there. But it does take some reading through the tawbook and trwbook to find that particular answer ...

[JaneL]

And that's an excellent way to learn!

[SafeHarbor]

I didn't vote because I like having them both. I use the Trackpoint when I'm typing and the Ultranav when I'm just surfing around or watching videos, where I'm usually at arm's length away from the ThinkPad.

A year or two ago, Dell had a TV commercial showing a bunch of happy people using their laptops. One was an attractive woman. They zoomed in on her hands as she was typing, and suddenly she made a really contorted move with her right thumb back onto the track pad without removing her other fingers from the home row. I guess that Dell's point was that we should know that it was FAST, but every time I saw it, I could only think that using it must be PAINFUL.

I'd hate to rely on a track pad ALONE.

Lamar

[zone]

T30 was the first one with Ultranav. But even after that, you can still get TrackPoint-only ThinkPads: all X series, and the R series "e" models (R40e, R50e, R51e, R60e).

T40/41 were available without TrackPad on some configurations, also some forum users were replacing bezel with TrackPad for *plain* one on 14" T40/41/42 models. AFAIK this is not possible any longer with 15" T42, T43 and afterwards. Still think that custom plain bezel without Ultanav will be great option on newer models. Beside classic ThinkPad look seems that plain bezel is more rigid than one with Ultranav.

[jdhurst]

Why not simply disable the UltraNav? That is easy to do; the TrackPoint becomes exclusive; and one need not try to avoid such machines - rather just focus on the things you need. ... JD Hurst

[tomh009]

I agree with zone that not having the Ultranav does add some rigidity --just try (carefully!) flexing a top bezel with Ultranav (which has substantially less plastic) and one without. Whether that extra rigidity is significant or not is certainly open to debate, though.

[Paul Pavlik]

I never even considered a ThinkPad until they had a touchpad. I have the TrackPoint disabled. The other reason for buying a T60 was because it was one of the last Laptops that offered 15" XGA. Of course, I don't do a lot of typing.

[schen]

T40/41 were available without TrackPad on some configurations, also some forum users were replacing bezel with TrackPad for *plain* one on 14" T40/41/42 models. AFAIK this is not possible any longer with 15" T42, T43 and afterwards. Still think that custom plain bezel without Ultanav will be great option on newer models. Beside classic ThinkPad look seems that plain bezel is more rigid than one with Ultranav.

My brother is in Japan on a regular basis and he had told me a few years ago that the Japanese Market versions of the T4x machines generally had the Trackpoint only. Maybe the gentlemen at Yamato were offended that somebody put the devils tool onto their brainchild!