Trackpoint durability

Hi, especially since-long thinkpad users...

What do you reckon is the average durability of the red dot?

 

2 years or so. Depends on how much you care about it getting worn down with use.

Here's where I bought more of the trackpoint caps from, $2.26 for a package that contains the three different caps. I bought a dozen of them so it'll be a while till I run out.
$2.26 Free Ship 3 x Pointer TrackPoint Red Cap for IBM Thinkpad Laptop - Wholesale US$2.22

 

I'm going on well over 3 years using the same red dot on my T61. No signs of it breaking / showing any wear yet.

 

Almost 8 years on a IBM X40 without any problems (looks 8 years old though)

@gmoneyphatstyle: Did you try all 3 different caps? If so, whats the best one?

 

Just my two cents, but I think that's more of a subjective question. However, I think that the best one is the one currently shipping on Thinkpads (the one with those dimples on it). My dad owned a Thinkpad awhile back with the smaller Trackpoint and they tended to hurt my fingers a lot, while the recessed one doesn't work too well (like the ones in the current Latitude E-series).

 

You may want to clean the TrackPoint every once in a while with a bit of soap and water, and let it dry before reattaching it. Other than that, it should work with little to no maintenance for many years to come.

The "best" one is definitely subjective. I've used all three for at least a month each, and they all work well for me:
The soft rim takes the least effort to accurately control and works well for prolonged use.
The rough "cat's tongue" tip works well for small, accurate movements, but can irritate your finger. It has the advantage of being the most recessed, so no marking is ever left on the screen.
The soft dome is the least sensitive (I use it at max sensitivity), but works well for all-around use. It does, however, leave the most annoying mark on the screen if you put pressure on the lid and cause it to touch the TrackPoint. It's the only one to be included on Thinkpads now, though, so usually you're stuck with this. Lenovo stopped including the other two halfway through the Tx00 generation.

 

I've had my T410 for 1.5 years and my trackpoint is still pretty much brand new. But I don't really use my trackpoint unless I'm typing and don't feel like lifting my fingers to use my external mouse or the trackpad. I've never thought about fixing it seeing that I doubt it'll be that worn down and if it is, it'll probably be a few years down the line in which it'll probably be time for an upgrade anyways. I do like the convenience of the trackpoint and plan on using it more as well as testing the other caps.

 

The classic dome type ones seem to be the most responsive for me but they wear out faster, I have the soft dome one at the moment and it seems to be more durable.

 

Ya I concur with soft dome, they last the longest. But also depends on your usage. I highly suspect my X200 tablet's Trackpoint will not last as there is no touchpad.

 

Assorted track points are like a few bucks a pack on ebay, so I don't think it matters.

 

I wear down a soft dome within a year, but it costs something like $2 to get 3 of them on eBay. Unless you prefer a different color than red and pay $6 like I just did.