What Lenovo should do with the X201.

The other thread about the X201's touchpad made me think.

As many of you know, the X201 now has an optional trackpad, but it's extremely small. While part of that is because it's on a small laptop, a big part of it is because the trackpoint buttons on the top too.

It doesn't seem like people use both the trackpad or trackpoint, they use either or.

Wouldn't it make sense to offer either the trackpoint or trackpad, not both at the same time? This way the trackpad could be bigger for those who prefer the trackpad and the trackpoint enthusiasts can still remain happy.

Just a thought.

 

Be careful what you wish for--the resale value on a thinkpad without a trackpoint may go way down. I wouldn't touch a thinkpad without a trackpoint.

 

I actually like having both options. Although I mostly use the Trackpoint, occasionally I do use the touchpad as well. The fact that the X-series now has both makes it more appealing to me, personally.

 

I use both also.

Whenever I am leaning back the touchpad will be within reach and easy to use. I've gone through the Ultranav settings and have tweaked the scrolling, touchzones, and sensitivity so it's manageable for me.

 

My vote would be to can the trackpoint and the upper buttons. It never gets used.

The Dell M64/500 has a nice idea - that you could change modes and use the touchpad as an application-specific secondary controller, but I'd never use it with the trackpoint - only with an external mouse.

 

I prefer using the trackpoint (I disable my trackpad), but given the option I don't mind having both trackpoint and trackpad simultaneously on one system. Not all people can use the trackpoint, some of my friends and family found it difficult when they try to use my system so I have to re-enable it back on for them.

The trackpoint however is great for doing long word documents, i'm not the greatest typer and I tend to move my hands across the trackpad at times which can jump the cursor. That can be very annoying (especially when I had to do a 10,000 word dissertation it drove me nuts) but I never had this problem using the trackpoint only.

 

I use both all the time. The touchpad may be small, but if you just turn up the sensitivity it's fine. I prefer a touchpad generally, but you can't use a touchpad with water/motor oil/transmission fluid on your hands. Also, when web browsing I like the trackpoint even with dry hands.

 

If some people are so infatuated with trackpad only option, Thinkpad is obviously a wrong laptop. Next time people would argue that Apple logo looks better on a thinkpad, and it should be silver rather than matte black rubberized finish.

So basically, for anyone whom find the black colour of Thinkpad boring and trackpoint too obtrusive, well i guess you are not a true Thinkpad Connoisseur. But there are lot of people whom likes the Thinkpad setup the way it is.

 

For you, it might never get used. But that statement is not true when discussing the thinkpad market as a whole.

 

Isn't more choice a good thing?

 

I was going to ask you a question via PM so as to not hijack this thread, but going to your profile ZaZ takes me to "brutalturtle"s profile. Just a heads up.
But I was going to ask, did you get rid of your frankenpad and decide to keep your woodpad? I've been mostly gone lately.
To answer the OP, I think it's nice to have options. Though I never use the trackpoint myself, there are others who do, and it would probably make a lot of people angry if Lenovo ditched the trackpoint.

 

not if everyone else has to pay for it, or make a compromise to please a small minority.

Many people may want this and that, but how many people are committed to paying it? or do Lenovo have to jack up the cost of the X20x for everyone, so that they can please a small minority?

Choice is good, only if it is paid for by the people whom want the extra choice, and it doesn't comprise the quality of the current laptop interface (i.e. trackpoint input remains what it is and not anything smaller).

 

You assume it is small, when I personally don't think that is the case. When you buy a car, appliance or pay your taxes, you pay for things you probably won't use, but a significant subset of people do.

 

I am not sure if i am going to use a Trackpad only X series Thinkpad, nor a Trackpoint button that is smaller than the X6x series.

I think it is time for Lenovo to put the eSATA and Displayport on the X2xx series, it is long overdue.

 

That may work for you, but is not necessarily the answer for others.

I would never use those, but would have to pay for them if I bought one and they came with it. Same thing with a modem. I wonder how many still use them, but we still got to pay for it.

 

But the thing is you get the modem, whether you use it or not is a different thing. If Lenovo is going to charge a levy to all X20x for implementing trackpad only solution, even when you don't have it, is something bit different.

 

How is that different? It costs money for Lenovo to implement a modem, but few use it. If they put eSATA or a DisplayPort on there, It'd cost money too, but I'd never user it.

 

I'm not saying get rid of the trackpoint. What I'm saying is offer an option of either a trackpad or a trackpoint. Not both. Trackpad + Trackpoint = small trackpad even for an ultraportable. Trackpad + Nothing = Decently sized trackpad for an ultraportable. I doubt a lot of the trackpoint enthusiasts really need or are getting both the trackpad and the trackpoint.

I'm not saying compromise on quality, I'm not saying anything but "Lenovo should offer either the trackpoint or trackpad, not both."

 

I think having both is the best option, except on the X series where space is a priority. First off, it's cheaper because having more part numbers and assembly lines would cost more money, and second, you can just disable what you want anyways so it isn't a big deal if you're not a fan of the trackpoint or touchpad.

Personally, I really like having both because I have different usage scenarios for each. With the trackpoint, I've found it great for Word, Excel, or any other time when I have to edit or select text and want to be able to quickly type in between selecting or editing text. The rest of the time, when I am not typing stuff (just web browsing) I use the touchpad because all my laptops have had touchpads so I'm naturally used to it already. Also it's really nice to know that if either input gets broken then I'll be able to use the other until I get it fixed.

If this topic is only about the X series, then I guess Lenovo figures few people are going to buy a Thinkpad X and say I want only a touchpad. I would probably guess most are already seasoned Thinkpad users and are already used to (and prefer) the trackpoint and the touchpad is only secondary to the trackpoint. I tend to think that the way Lenovo is doing the X201 input options is already perfectly acceptable; some people hate touchpads and won't buy if it has one, and some people (a minority, my guess) want a touchpad and won't have a problem with having both.

 

Never gets used? I use those buttons more than the bottom buttons, and I love the fact that there is a middle click button - it's extremely useful for both scrolling and opening links in new tabs.

Actually, I think TrackPoint users are really the minority, not the other way around - none of the other ThinkPad users I know (my dad, uncle, several friends and co-workers, etc) use the TrackPoint at all. Only one of my friends tries using both, after I extolled its virtues.

 

How did you set up the middle button to open links in new tabs?

 

I've always hated the trackpoint, ever since they came out with it.

 

if the TrackPoint were that unpopular then Dell and HP wouldn't have gone out of their way to include their own versions on their business laptops in an attempt to capture the business market where, believe it or not, the TrackPoint is still quite popular.

 

Those who love it, love it. The fact that you keep your hands near the keyboard is obviously a big draw, although I think the X201 trackpad actually does a good job of that by the entire pad being within thumb articulation range for most users. It's just that if it was slightly higher up, then it would be more comfortable in that mode.

 

maybe Lenovo should produce a X30x tablet range...