Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
IBM Parts directly or from others who sell IBM/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 IBM/Lenovo TrackPoint and some of the others on the
market is the control software. IBM/Lenovo added routines that implement a subtle tech-
niqueSelkercalls
negative inertia
,whichismarketedunderthelabel
QuickStop response
.
This software not only takes into account how far you push the pointer in any direc-
tion, 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
wherethepersonwantedittobe.Selkerfoundthattheimprovedsoftwareandcapsenable
people to make selections up to 8% faster.
Thelatestincarnation(calledTrackPointIV)includesanextrascrollbutton,aswellasthe
ability to press the TrackPoint cap to select as if using the left mouse button. These new
features make the TrackPoint even better.
Thebottom line isthat anyonewhotouchtypesshouldstronglyconsider onlylaptops that
includeaTrackPointdevice.TrackPointsarefarsuperiortootherpointingdevicessuchas
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 features on your desktop keyboard. For desktop systems, I use an IBM/Lenovo
keyboardwiththeTrackPointbuiltin.Thismakesforamoreconsistentinterfacebetween
desktop and laptop systems because I can use the same pointing device in both environ-
ments.
Alternative Pointing Devices
Because ofWindows, many users spendat least asmuch time moving pointers aroundthe
screen as they do in typing, making pointing device choices very important. In addition
to the mouse and the pointing stick choices discussed earlier in this chapter, several other
popular pointing devices are available:
• Touch pads
• Trackballs
• Ergonomic (upright) mice
