X220 & Poor Trackpad

Just got my X220 the other day, and I must say, the trackpad is horrible! My T61 has a much better trackpad than it, and it is beaten significantly by the MacBook Pro trackpad (the best, IMO).

I've been reading about various ways to improve the trackpad on the X220 and have implemented a few fixes:

1) Remove the Lenovo drivers and use the latest Synaptics drivers.
2) Use TwoFingerScroll instead of the Synaptics scrolling
3) Update the BIOS (the machine came with 1.20, I believe).

Is there anything else I can do to make the X220 trackpad better? And don't say use the Trackpoint! I prefer the touchpad.

Also, the trackpad on the T510 is much better as well, especially with the Synaptics drivers and TwoFingerScroll.

 

I'm curious, have you tried it? I don't mean for a few minutes or hours, but truly committed yourself for an extended period. I used to be just like you. I preferred the trackpad and did not care for the stick. Once I got my X200, I really had not other choice other than to commit myself, but after doing so, I now prefer the stick and would not go back.

 

I find turning off all the "advanced" bits you don't need really helps, e.g. pinch zoom, edge detection, 2 finger rotate etc. helps a little. Things are smoother and anything you do is less likely to be mistaken for a gesture

 

Yes, I have tried it. Too much pressure for my preference. Also, I'm used to a multitouch trackpad and the associated gestures (from the Mac world). I've tried both, but the Trackpoint on the X220 is jumpy and not smooth at all. The TP on my T61 is decent, and I find myself using it from time to time.

 

I had a tendency to overshoot my target when I started using the stick, but with time have gotten much better with. Playing with the settings will help some. The soft rim, which I use, requires less pressure.

 

I agree, the trackpoint on the x220 isn't as smooth as the trackpad. I use a dell latitude at work, and they actually implement the trackpoint better and smoother than the thinkpad.

 

Congratulations to the OP for discovering the fact that the touchpad on X220 is indeed one of the worst in laptop history

I'm now trying to live with it. Hopefully the next version of driver would be able to fix the accidental click / misclick problems.

The trackpoint is just much less agile than the touchpad. Also, the trackpoint still has the feedback problem - if I continuously move my mouse pointer towards a certain direction, the trackpoint would calibrate without my authorization, which leads to the mouse pointer moving backwards when I stop applying any force onto the trackpoint. It's an annoying problem ever since I used the trackpoint on my old Toshiba laptop made in 1999. Furthermore, the layout of the left-key and the right-key is still horizontal, which is not comfortable for my right-hand, considering that the left-key is clicked most frequently. The design of the old Toshiba I used was placing the left-key just below the right-key, and my thumb can easily reach both of them.

 

We shouldn't have to "live with it." This is a great machine, but if Lenovo isn't going to recognize the problems and issues with the trackpad, I may have to sell this machine for an i7 MBP.

I want to believe. I want to like this machine a lot.

 

Hmm, I have to say I've never had that happen either. I do sometimes get the "floating cursor" problem in which the cursor starts floating across the screen even when the trackpoint isn't being touched, once it hits the side of the screen that stops and the trackpoint can be used as normal. I have an X220 and actually haven't had that happen yet (only been 2-weeks though).

For me the benefit of the trackpoint is I can type faster as I don't have to lift my hands to move the cursor, just reach over my pointer finger and budge the trackpoint to move the cursor when I need to. Sure, it only saves a second or so, but it adds up.

Still, when it comes down to it when you train for years using a certain approach no matter if we're talking computer input or flying a plane, you're likely more efficient and comfortable using your regular methods. I mean, theoretically we should all switch to Dvorak keyboards as the layout is proven to be more efficient and ergonomically friendly than a QWERTY layout, but no way you'll get me to do that, I don't care if it's better, it's not what I'm used to, plus I'm getting old and my brain isn't supple and easy to reprogram to use a different keyboard layout

Now I will use my pointer finger on the trackpoint to move the cursor to "Submit Reply", sorry I didn't answer your question, but I guess the best I can say is that the MBP has the best touchpad in the industry and you may not be able to replicate that with the X220 no matter how hard you try.

 

Perhaps. It happens to me about 2-3 times a day. I'll be using the TrackPoint when the cursor will suddenly stop and require more force on the pointing stick to move. That's when I know to let go of it and let it re-calibrate. There was a post on Lenovo Blogs (I believe from Matt Kohut) that briefly touched on TrackPoint re-calibration, but I can't seem to find it. Regardless, if it happens, best thing to do is let go of it so it can do its thing.

Regarding formerglory's post, I echo ZaZ's suggestion: try the soft rim cap. It requires much less force and combined with the right cursor settings (Fn+F8), it will hopefully allow you to comfortably use the TrackPoint. The only thing keeping me from using it myself is how much it sticks out from the keyboard; I will occasionally bump into it when typing around the "GHB" region, and it leaves a mark on the screen when the laptop is closed.

 

Does the X220 use the same clickpad like the X220T? The X220's trackpad is a little bit extended to the front of the laptop. Does the X220t suffer from the same issues? The trackpad is one of the most important aspects to me!! I was thinking of moving to OSx just because of the macbook pro touchpad!!

Thanks.

 

Not to sound snarky or anything, but have you used the trackpad on the X220? I'm serious, not sarcastic. It really is one of a kind (in a bad way).

Yes, it isn't as smooth as the MBP trackpad. The cursor is jumpy, with either the Synaptics or Lenovo drivers. Maybe its due to the texturing of the trackpad, but I have no issues with a similar textured trackpad on my T510.

The integrated buttons are sticky and do not click well.

Two-finger scrolling or even edge scrolling is jumpy, again, with both sets of drivers. TwoFingerScroll seems to alleviate this.

The "multi-touch" ability does not work well.

I know that there have been many other people deriding the trackpad (and the posts to go along with it). I came here asking for solutions. I think the X220 is an excellent machine: portable, light, powerful, great screen. The trackpad kills it though.

 

personally i wished the X220 trackpad used some actual click buttons rather than been integrated into the unit...... Trackpad on the X220 is probably worse designed touch pad implement in a Thinkpad that i have used so far. Not sure why Lenovo design decided this was a good design to use for the thinkpad X220.

 

I'm guessing it's because people complained that the touch pad on the X201 was too small, something the integrated click pad seems to solve.

 

Does it differ from the X220 tablet?

 

Did anybody try to deactivate the integrated clickpad buttons? If that is possible, you could use the trackpoint buttons yet still use the trackpad... That would at least solve the issue with accidental clicks.

Would the trackpad still be jumpy then (with Synaptics drivers)??

 

Yes, I have used it. We have a couple of them at my office, and I've also played with a few demo units from our supplier.

I don't use the trackpad on most laptops, so maybe I'm just lacking a basis for comparison, but I really didn't think it was that bad. It's not great -- it's a lot worse than the one on my T420 -- but for a subnotebook it really didn't stand out as being notably inferior. Maybe that means that I don't use enough subnotebook trackpads, or maybe that means that I'm just a rubbish judge of subnotebook trackpads. Who knows?

I'm not a fan of the "clickpad" design, but honestly that's not a complaint limited to the X220. I've hated that style of design on every single trackpad featuring it that I've used.

I have no experience with the "multi-touch" stuff (apart from two-finger scrolling), so I can't comment on that. It could very well be a useless mess.

 

Ah, that. Yeah, that's what I was referring to. That's just how strain gauge pointing sticks work. It's been that way since as long as I can remember. I thought you meant that it was re-calibrating when you were still moving it, which is something that I've never experienced.

I used to have that problem a lot, but over the years my muscle memory was re-trained so that I don't tend to leave my finger on the TrackPoint when I'm not using it. Manipulating it for shorter periods seems to cut down on the need for recalibration; I used to idly move it to the edges of the screen while I read stuff, which I think may have contributed.

Pointing sticks that use a force sensing resistor design aren't (in my experience) susceptible to this -- but they also are a lot less enjoyable to use (again, IMHO.) I suppose all of computing is trade-offs...

Here's a trick I've used: take off the TrackPoint and use it to plug the power jack. It's just about the right size to stretch and fit in there, and it'll help prevent junk from getting stuck in there when you pack the laptop. (This only really works on the modern 20V connectors.)

 

I just purchased an x220, and I acclimated to the trackpoint in a day or so. Just modify the ultranav settings and pointer speed, I don't even notice I'm using it anymore. May not be as good as a proper multi-touch trackpad, but it's far from horrid.

 

I prefer the touchpad, rather than trackpoint. I've been trying to acclimate to it, but the trackpad is my fallback.

The generic Synaptics driver from their website works much better than the Lenovo UltraNav driver, but you do lose advanced settings on the TrackPoint. The trackpad, on the other hand, gets much better.

 

Ok, I've bitten the bullet and ordered a set of TrackPoint caps. I'm going to give it another go. I just hope that Lenovo will sack up and get some better drivers out there.

 

If it doesn't work out at least you can say you tried.

 

I've been trying to track down the original thread that has a link to this two finger scroll but can't - can anyone help me out? Do all X220s come with that synaptics hardware?

 

Sorry to bring this back from the dead but could anyone give any suggestions on how to get rid of the texture on the clickpad?

 

After replacing my touchpad with a new one, I still get unwanted double-click upon left-click. The touchpad of X220 is hopeless.

 

Know how I solved it? I sold my X220 and bought a T420 !

 

I'm thinking about buying another T420s. I worry that when Ivy Bridge product line is ready, all new models discard the physical buttons, and the T420s might become unavailable by then.

 

physical buttons maybe not... but kb format change highly likely.

 

Why would a keyboard format change be highly likely? Lenovo's only used the current keyboard in the X-series for one generation and the T-series for two generations.