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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: FoxWolf1 on Sun, 17 June 2012, 15:07:18
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...that there were more mechanical keyboards with TrackPoint-style pointing devices?
Since the untimely demise of my main computer, I'm using an old IBM laptop (my trusty backup computer for a decade now). I'm really enjoying having the TrackPoint again...even with a mouse plugged in as well, it's very convenient to have a pointing device that doesn't require taking your hand out of keyboarding position. In this regard, it's much nicer than a touchpad, and as far as I can tell, not at all slower or less accurate than one, either-- if anything, it seems to be a bit better than a touchpad in those areas.
Now, I know that Unicomp has their EnduraPro model with TrackPoint, but, having a buckling spring keyboard, I know that it's not what I prefer for gaming or general use (though it's neat to type on once in a while, to enjoy the tactility and clickiness)-- and with the EnduraPro, you're limited to the UltraClassic form factor, while I know that many here prefer TKL or even smaller. Not to mention, Unicomp boards aren't exactly feature-heavy, which doesn't matter to some, but does to others.
So, am I alone in wishing that more mechanical keyboards had a TrackPoint? One of my "keyboard dreams" is of a keyboard with a TrackPoint and onboard programmability/scriptability: imagine being able to define any gesture commands you might want, and then have them all available without having to take your hand off of the keyboard.
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I've had a couple of laptops in the past with Trackpoints. One of them, it was the ONLY pointing device. I absolutely hated them... I found them really slow and incredibly irritating to use. I much prefer a touchpad for a laptop. Currently have a Macbook Pro, and I find the multi-gesture thing quite handy.
Each to their own though :P
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I have had a Lenovo T61p for a few years now and I very quickly fell in love with the TrackPoint mouse. It is without a doubt superior to a touchpad on a laptop, though I'm not sure whether I would find any use for it on a desktop keyboard.
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I also would like to see a board like this. A tenkeyless Comstar board witha nice good quality TrackPoint would be very tempting.
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I think that the key profiles would change the feel of the track point too much. It would have to be extremely tall compared to a track point attached to scissor switch laptop.
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No. I never, ever, wonder why we're here.
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If the mini guru would ever become real...
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If the mini guru would ever become real...
^^ THIS. All day long.
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Ha. I just had the same thought not 5mins ago.. whilst logging in at work (late).. and didnt have my mouse.. was locked up in a drawer whilst i logged in with my lappy and poker.. and i sat here going.. wish this bad boy had that mod (i saw some dude do it? Maarten mebbe?) and there was a similar thing on that XIM site. Using a d pad mounted on the front..
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Somebody did put a trackpoint in the middle of a Poker and made left and right mouse buttons just under the spacer bar. I have no idea where that post is, but it was a pretty cool project.
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i love trackpoints! Trackpoints for every keyboard.
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I love trackpoints too !
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I never got the hang of the trackpoint, but trackballs are nice – I did see a PC laptop once with a little trackball, smaller than those in early PowerBooks.
However, the trackpoint makes the most sense for a compact layout with the ball in easy reach. I tried posting earlier while my mouse was unplugged, and I couldn't do it for the life of me – you can't tab out of the text box (WTF?!?), and while Firefox will focus controls via search, it just was't working. Ctrl-F will find the caption of one of the controls below the text box, but not actually select the control with the focus ring, and somehow you can't tab onto any other controls from there, such as Post Quick Reply.
I don't think it's even remotely feasible to use the web without a mouse, especially with all the pathetic fake Web 2.0 "controls" everyone's obsessed with now, so learning how to use an integrated trackpoint should be a time saver, and it makes sense with compact always-on-the-home-row layouts that you'd want the mouse in there too, like the miniguru.
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Man up, admit the numpad is awesome (You can pry mine out of my Cold, dead hands), and get yourself an M13. Failing that, an Endurapro.
Battleship sized keyboards are the shiznit...
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I love the number pad, but it does consume space on my desk such that my mouse can collide with my keyboard and laptop.
I got a make-believe-brand simplified ALPS type IV the other day – huge and weighs a ton, much heavier than my FILCO. The base is metal in addition to the switches being plate mounted, but that doesn't mean that it isn't still lead-lined …
Too big for my desk though :) (Even if type IV simplified was usable, and it's not. Curses, I thought it was white complicated, being AT/XT switchable 'n all.)
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The TrackPoint on the EnduraPro is borderline useless anyway. It will move the pointer around, if you set the gain to max and disable acceleration. Even then, it is barely serviceable. I wish there was an easy mod to put a read trackpoint in there.
Isn't there a Cherry board with a TP?
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Wait, you managed to get a picture into a table within a signature?
I don't recall ever seeing any such keyboard – Cherry use trackpads and, in a few cases, trackballs.
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I like using little clits, but I still prefer a mouse. I would probably prefer the clit to a touchpad though, but I prefer a trackball to everything.
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Somebody did put a trackpoint in the middle of a Poker and made left and right mouse buttons just under the spacer bar. I have no idea where that post is, but it was a pretty cool project.
arieswu's mod? I like his compact keyboards with trackpoint.
(http://armake.com/photo/albums/album119/IMG_1332.jpg)
http://geekhack.org/member.php?4629-arieswu
http://aries.armake.com/1229.html
And I found this recently.
http://fukayatsu.hateblo.jp/entry/2012/05/11/004332
(http://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/f/fukayatsu/20120510/20120510134201.jpg)