My keyboards with trackpoints

[menuhin]

Whenever I reach out to use my mouse from the keyboard home row, I feel a bit annoyed, and eventually I become more and more fond of keyboards with trackpoint / pointing-stick / nipple pointer. I once had all of them, but I definitely did not enjoy using each of them to the same degree. They are:

IBM Model M13 black version with buckling springs



IBM SpaceSaver II with gripping rubber domes


IBM KPD8923 Keyboard, 104-Key Trackpoint with some super smooth IMHO high quality rubber domes


ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint with decent quality rubber domes


Nothing fancy as these are just stock keyboards.
Now I only have the ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint, I enjoy using it, but as I use more shortcuts nowadays during my work flow, I don't have to touch my mouse so often now.
Ah, one thing: it would be nice if I can try the "inverted rubber domes" of the IBM M4-1 keyboard.

I am more recently starting to get into mechanical switches, and found out that I should be more of a Topre switch person because I like the tactile bump and I am also definitely spoiled by the super comfortable cushioning of the rubber dome switches.

Cheers,
MJ

[FoxWolf1]

Awesome! I agree that a TrackPoint is an excellent keyboard feature, and think it ought to be used a lot more often.

I never knew they made a TrackPoint version of the 8923. I have a non-TrackPoint one of those, and though it's now quite a bit worse for wear due to age, to the point where I don't use it anymore, I have to agree that it's a high quality keyboard overall and definitely one of the "good domes."

[supamesican]

Losing the trackpoint on my unicomp enduarpro is probably what I'll miss most once my model f xt gets in.

[losing_ctrl]

Wow, those are some really nice boards! Thanks for sharing those pictures. Very classy.

[FoxWolf1]

Losing the trackpoint on my unicomp enduarpro is probably what I'll miss most once my model f xt gets in.

Out of curiosity, how do you find the TrackPoint on the EnduraPro? I've heard a lot of negative things about it (wobbly, too slow when used with optimal 6/11 Windows sensitivity settings, etc.). Is it really as dire as people make it out to be in comparison with "the real thing," or do you think the complaints are exaggerated?

[supamesican]

Losing the trackpoint on my unicomp enduarpro is probably what I'll miss most once my model f xt gets in.

Out of curiosity, how do you find the TrackPoint on the EnduraPro? I've heard a lot of negative things about it (wobbly, too slow when used with optimal 6/11 Windows sensitivity settings, etc.). Is it really as dire as people make it out to be in comparison with "the real thing," or do you think the complaints are exaggerated?

It is plain not as good as the one on the m13 let alone thinkpads, but it uses different tech to do its job so I'm not surprised. Its a bit slower than I'd like, and it moves faster the more you push the stick, but man on weekends when my shoulders hurt and I just want netflix/youtube instead of gaming its wonderful. Not as good as a mouse, which nothing will be to me personally, but very usable and good enough for normal use.