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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: EverythingIBM on Sun, 07 March 2010, 23:04:35

Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: EverythingIBM on Sun, 07 March 2010, 23:04:35
Here's a listing for GREEN thinkpad trackpoints:
green trackpoints (http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-Trackpoint-Mouse-CATS-tongue-2-green-caps_W0QQitemZ150421173904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item2305ccf690)
Then there's some for RASPBERRY trackpoints:
raspberry trackpoints (http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-TrackPoint-CATS-tongue-2-Raspberry-Cap_W0QQitemZ150419565041QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item2305b469f1)
Although they look kind of more of a purple than raspberry. Supposedly IBM first made the trackpoint a darker red.

I seen some blue trackpoints for some obscure thinkpad before, but these are kind of weird.
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 09 March 2010, 19:42:47
I've always liked those "cat's tongue" trackpoints. My finger gets a very good grip on them. However, mine is wearing out with all the use I've given it. I oughta buy a new one.
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: EverythingIBM on Tue, 09 March 2010, 19:56:50
Quote from: microsoft windows;162838
I've always liked those "cat's tongue" trackpoints. My finger gets a very good grip on them. However, mine is wearing out with all the use I've given it. I oughta buy a new one.


Yeah, you can buy a green one for halloween.

I like the "soft rim" ones. Even though they leave a nasty rim on my thinkpad's LCD, I just find them the easiest (probably because it's the tallest one). I DON'T like how the rimmed ones have a bumply surface, it allows finger oils and dirt to cake on the uneven surface; which then promptly transfer to my screen when closed.

You might like a cat's tongue mouse:
(http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/tp/tpmouse1.GIF)

Or try two while you're at it:
(http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/tp/2handed.gif)
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: Hak Foo on Tue, 09 March 2010, 22:44:21
Quote from: EverythingIBM;162839
Yeah, you can buy a green one for halloween.

I like the "soft rim" ones. Even though they leave a nasty rim on my thinkpad's LCD, I just find them the easiest (probably because it's the tallest one). I DON'T like how the rimmed ones have a bumply surface, it allows finger oils and dirt to cake on the uneven surface; which then promptly transfer to my screen when closed.

You might like a cat's tongue mouse:
Show Image
(http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/tp/tpmouse1.GIF)


Or try two while you're at it:
Show Image
(http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/user/tp/2handed.gif)


When I bought my used 385XD, it had a blue trackpoint cover. It seemed "soft" and "deformable", so I was unsure: either cleaning it in alcohol chemically wrecked it, or it was a swap from a Toshiba or another laptop.  I got a cap from one of those mice, and swapped
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: EverythingIBM on Tue, 09 March 2010, 23:26:39
Quote from: Hak Foo;162857
When I bought my used 385XD, it had a blue trackpoint cover. It seemed "soft" and "deformable", so I was unsure: either cleaning it in alcohol chemically wrecked it, or it was a swap from a Toshiba or another laptop.  I got a cap from one of those mice, and swapped


There was a blue cat's tongue trackpoint, but it only worked on some certain model of thinkpad, so the seller said (that alone is weird; usually all trackpoints are backwards compatible). If the trackpoint from the mouse worked on your thinkpad, then, I don't think you would have had one of those weird unique blue ones... that is, if what the seller was saying was true.

If your [strike]brick[/strike] 385XD, supports trackpoints made today, then it wouldn't have been the blue ones, by theory.
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: Half-Saint on Wed, 10 March 2010, 01:37:04
Does anyone know if IBM and Toshiba trackpoint caps are interchangeable?

Cheers
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 10 March 2010, 05:37:17
I think they are. I remember using a Toshiba cap on my Endurapro at one point. Newer Lenovo caps aren't however - their slot  is wider than that of the older trackpoint.

I don't really like the old style of trackpoint - they get dirty very quickly and are a ***** to clean. I like the one on my Thinkpad -

(http://www.notebookcheck.net/typo3temp/pics/71dd37e0bd.jpg)
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: TexasFlood on Wed, 10 March 2010, 08:22:23
Quote from: Half-Saint;162866
Does anyone know if IBM and Toshiba trackpoint caps are interchangeable?

Cheers

Possible it might fit but certainly not identical and I don't have one to try.  The Toshiba square post design looks similar but more shallow to me.  Of course goes without saying that the Toshiba round post design isn't going to work.

IBM/Lenovo trackpoint cap
(http://www.area403.net/trackcap/6.jpg)
(http://www.geeks.com/imageshare/7/300x300/73P2698-DT-box.jpg)
Toshiba square post trackpoint cap
(http://www.area403.net/trackcap/Toshiba%20Accupoint.jpg)
Toshiba round post trackpoint cap
(http://www.area403.net/trackcap/roundtrackcap.jpg)
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 10 March 2010, 08:54:50
There are the Dell ones, too, and they are the same as the Toshiba caps, so I would imagine that they use the same device. Check it (Dell cap on a non-Dell PC):
 
(http://images.gittigidiyor.com/2288/DELL-HP-THINKPAD-LAPTOP-039-LAR-ICIN-TRACKPOINT__22881760_1.jpg)
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: TexasFlood on Wed, 10 March 2010, 09:10:33
Quote from: itlnstln;162901
There are the Dell ones, too, and they are the same as the Toshiba caps, so I would imagine that they use the same device.

Could be.  I don't have any to test.  Dell appears to also have two styles so if one wanted to try, have to be careful to try:

These
(http://www.area403.net/trackcap/dellx4.jpg)
and not these
(http://www.area403.net/trackcap/dellbluex4.jpg)
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 10 March 2010, 09:13:45
The bottom ones look like an older model.  My current Dell laptop has the top version.  I kinda like the cat tongue version a bit better.  The new style is OK, but it feels recessed into the keyboard.
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: TexasFlood on Wed, 10 March 2010, 09:35:11
Quote from: itlnstln;162907
The bottom ones look like an older model.  My current Dell laptop has the top version.  I kinda like the cat tongue version a bit better.  The new style is OK, but it feels recessed into the keyboard.

The Dell caps look quite shallow from the picture so I'm -guessing- that even if it fit that it might not stick up high enough to use on a thinkpad.  But again, it's all conjecture.  Maybe someone here has multiple laptops and can test.
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: Oqsy on Fri, 12 March 2010, 22:46:23
Quote from: Hak Foo
When I bought my used 385XD, it had a blue trackpoint cover. It seemed "soft" and "deformable", so I was unsure: either cleaning it in alcohol chemically wrecked it, or it was a swap from a Toshiba or another laptop. I got a cap from one of those mice, and swapped

FYI rubbing alcohol is one of the worst substances to use for cleaning rubber.  Warm soapy water is just as effective for cleaning, and much easier on the rubber.  Rubber is denatured by alcohol, and becomes discolored, brittle, and starts to fall apart, especially after repeated exposure.  A decent dish soap like Dawn or Joy and some warm water and a gently patting dry will usually do the trick.  If it needs "conditioning" then try 303 Aerospace Protectant, which also adds some UV protection, and is also safe and effective for plastics.
Title: green/raspberry trackpoints?
Post by: D-EJ915 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 23:20:42
Quote from: TexasFlood;162906
Could be.  I don't have any to test.  Dell appears to also have two styles so if one wanted to try, have to be careful to try:

These
Show Image
(http://www.area403.net/trackcap/dellx4.jpg)

and not these
Show Image
(http://www.area403.net/trackcap/dellbluex4.jpg)


I had one of those on my Sony C1XF, I think it was the older one but I don't remember

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/enthauptet/bin/C1XF/th_c1_kb.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/enthauptet/bin/C1XF/c1_kb.jpg)