What's all the fuss about Trackpoint?

I didn't think I would care too much about the trackpoint when I bought my Lenovo, but when I got it, I found it very useful and better to use than the mousepad, so, of course, I came to use it more.

Now, even though I didn't care before initially buying, I still saw many people saying that they thought the Lenovo TrackPoints were the best, but I don't see why?

I don't really remember if my Dell E6400 I had for a week or so had this problem, I don't think so, but it's really prevalent on my Lenovo T500 ever since I bought it. People just told me this is normal and it's just recalibrating itself, but it doesn't make sense since it always "recalibrates" itself toward the left.

What do I mean? Well, occasionally, when I move the trackpoint to the right and try to move it somewhere to click or something that needs the mouse pointer there, it moves a noticeable amount to the left. I assume it's retracting to it's original position and therefore changing from it's current calibration. It's a nuisance. This never happens when I move to the left (it doesn't "recalibrate" itself to the right.

So, is it just me, or does anyone else face this problem?

 

Return? Seems defected. If you don't use the trackpoint at all does it move to the left?

 

Mine does that sometimes, but only due to the fact that one the rubber tip is not fully on the plastic thingie(I.E at an angle), and is being pressed against a key.

 

No it doesn't, only after using it. I can't return.

 

Do you always use the same hand to operate the TrackPoint? If so, that's why it would tend to drift in one direction or the other. Don't rest your finger on the TrackPoint unless you're actually using it. It will lessen the tendency to re-calibrate.

 

I don't see what all the fuss is either. Though I have been a long time ThinkPad user, I still prefer the trackpad. Back when they didn't have a trackpad, I used a mouse. I would probably own a X60 or X200 if they had a trackpad option.

 

i've also used the trackpoint once in an sl series. it was quite stiff and i didnt like it.

 

You could try replacing the keyboard/TrackPoint and see if that fixes the problem. It's a relatively easy swap and if you explain your problem to support they'll probably send you out a replacement.

It should only recalibrate ocassionally, but since I haven't used your particular machine it's impossible for me to know if your issue is typical recalibration or an actual defect.

 

On both my t61, and x301 does this. Whenever I use the trackpoint, after a good 3-5 minutes of use, it drifts off to the right (after I take my finger off the nub). This does get very annoying, but from what others have told me, it's just recalibrating itself. My X301 has only done this once so far, it's much more persistent with my T61. And yes, as a side note, I always just use the trackpoint, and not the trackpad. Switching over from aways using a trackpad was very weird at first. However, I did get used to it very quickly, and now I definitely prefer a trackpoint any day over the trackpad.

 

Hmm, will have to look out for that as I haven't noticed it, I don't actually use the trackpad unless using something that doesn't support the scrolling with the trackpoint.

 

Why I like it so much?

Frankly speaking it is the better option in cramped places, can control it better in jerky environments and it is positioned right in the centre whereas the touchpad is right at your side.