Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
at times. The TrackPoint III and later standard caps are made from a different type of rubber, which
Selker calls “plastic sandpaper.” This type of cap is much more grippy and does not require cleaning
except for cosmetic purposes. More recently Lenovo introduced other caps that do not feature the
sandpaper surface, but have either a wider soft dome or a wider concave surface for additional grip.
Lenovo now has three types of caps for the TrackPoint to suit different needs and tastes. These
different caps are interchangeable with the older styles as well (see
Figure 15.16
):
•
Classic dome (P/N 84G6537)
—The traditional “pencil eraser” cap with a sandpaper surface.
•
Soft rim (P/N 91P8423)
—A larger concave nonsandpaper design creates a mechanical
advantage, requiring less force for pointer motion.
•
Soft dome (P/N 91P8422)
—A larger convex design with a soft texture nonsandpaper surface.
Figure 15.16. Classic, soft rim, and soft dome TrackPoint caps.
Note
If your keyboard uses the same physical caps as the IBM/Lenovo designs, you can change to the
newer Lenovo caps as well. You can get these caps by ordering them from IBM Parts directly
or from others who sell Lenovo parts, such as Compu-Lock (
www.compu-lock.com
). The cost
is less than $15 for a set of four caps. Replacing the cap is easy—grab the existing cap with
your fingers and pull straight up; it pops right off. Then, simply push on the new cap.
The other difference between the Lenovo TrackPoint and some of the others on the market is the
control software. IBM added routines that implement a subtle technique Selker calls
negative inertia
,
which is marketed under the label
QuickStop response
. This software not only takes into account how
far you push the pointer in any direction, but also how quickly you push or release it. When the
pointer is released or stopped quickly, it actually backtracks or bounces back a bit, causing it to more
accurately end up where the person wanted it to be. Selker found that the improved software and caps
enable people to make selections up to 8% faster.
The latest incarnation (called TrackPoint IV) includes an extra scroll button, as well as the ability to
press the TrackPoint cap to select as if using the left mouse button. These new features make the
TrackPoint even better.
The bottom line is that anyone who touch types should strongly consider only laptops that include a
TrackPoint device. TrackPoints are far superior to other pointing devices such as touch pads because
the TrackPoint is faster to use (you don't have to take your hands off the keyboard's home row),
easier to adapt to (especially for speedy touch typists), and far more precise to control. It takes some
getting accustomed to, but the benefits are worth it. I know many people who have converted from
using touch pads to TrackPoints, but few who have willingly gone the other way.
Note that the benefits of the TrackPoint are not limited to portable systems; you can have the same
