How do I make the pointing devices more usable? Dr

So after my frustrating experience with getting no pointing stick on my new 8600c, I bought a used keyboard and palmrest and swapped them out to get both the trackstick and touchpad. I can't get a very useful configuration, though. Very inferior to my old ibm thinkpad trackpoint. I got that one configured so it was just as fast and easy to aim as a real mouse, but this dell version is very poor so far. I'm really trying not to have to buy a real mouse and move my hand from mouse to keyboard every 5 seconds...

I can configure it so either the stick moves too slowly to be of any use, or it moves quickly enough but is impossible to aim at something small, since it only starts responding when you have pushed it somewhat, overshooting whatever you were aiming at. I figured out I could change the stick sensitivity a little through the orientation tab in mouse config, but it is either very fast or very slow that way, no in between. If I get it in very fast mode there, and lower the pointer speed in the pointer options tab, it is just barely usable, but still has the aiming at small things problem, and now the touchpad is ridiculously slow as well because of the pointer speed setting.

Is there a way to change any of these parameters without going through the driver options dialog? I would really like to turn off the "threshold sensitivity" type stuff where it only moves if you push hard. Probably from too many people complaining that they bump it accidently... But it's kind of like having a steering wheel that refuses to go straight. You have to keep alternating between going slightly left and slightly right to stay on the road...

Also, do they make the concave stick caps for Dells? (Like this: http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/14288_softrim.jpg) They use a smaller square stick than the thinkpads. Maybe I can rig something up with the one I have and some spacers...

I already added some washers under the buttons so I could actually click them. You shouldn't have to modify your laptop just to use it...

 

I have my mouse as a extra large with black on the white tips, go to control panel click on mouse icon and take a look, you can get black, white,or bronze in arrows, the hand, a few others and a mouse trail if you want one, you can also configure your speed and speed of blinking cursor.

I use black on white body background stickers from Carol Wright catalog based in Pennsaulken, NJ I looked around and most were too much but when I seen them in her catalog for 4 bucks each, I ordered 3 sets. The stickers from the catalog fit the notebook well, IMHO Houdini couldn't pry them off if he didn't have a single edge razor blade, the glue is almost a permanent thing to do!

I hope all of this helps you in your 2 questions.[ ]

Inspiron 8600 2.0GHz
Intel Proceessor M
755 Dothan Chipset
1 GB RAM Memory
80 GB HD
8 DVD+R/RW-CD-R/RW
2nd CD-R burner
WXUGA 1920 X 1200 Screen
15.4 Diag. Wide Screen
Logitech Opt. Wheelman
64MB Nvidia Graphics
Canon 370 M/P Printer
Office Professional 2003
T1 PQ DSL connection
/Chaz