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DeviceNode
15
May 27, 2018
Does anyone know about the origin and makeup of the actual TrackPoint in this? Is it the same as the TrackPoint on a ThinkPad? Notably:
1. Is it based on a rigid Strain Gauge or movable Force Sensitive Resistor? 2. Does it have the ThinkPad programming and motion algorithms?
I worked with the inventor of the TrackPoint at the IBM Almaden Research Center, and I worked on some of the advanced motion algorithms that Lenovo inherited when they split off the ThinkPad business from IBM in the 90's. If it has these algorithms and ergonomics, it's very interesting. If not, it's not worth it for the "TrackPoint."
calvin25
2
Jun 17, 2018
DeviceNodeGood point about the algorithms. Does anyone here know how this TrackPoint "feels" when compared to a ThinkPad's?
XTaran
361
Aug 31, 2018
DeviceNodeIf it's still the same component as back when the Tex Yoda II was released about a year ago, it's something movable and more sensitive than what I'm used from Thinkpads.
The Tex Kodachi (mentioned elsewhere in this thread) though will get a Trackpoint said to be identical to the one in the Thinkpad X1 Carbon (IIRC). So there might be a chance that more recent Yoda II will get that one, too.
DeviceNode
15
Aug 31, 2018
XTaranThanks for the info. Actually Tex Kodachi looks really good -- has the cursor and function keys that I need. Only drawback is that in emulating the ThinkPad keyboard they swapped the Ctrl and Fn keys. Of course it's programmable, and hopefully that extends to Fn key/Fn lock functionality (since they don't throw keycodes but modify other keys directly). Also, I'd hope they supply replacement keycaps for Ctrl and Fn because you can't swap them, being of different sizes. I've got to see if there's a discussion for the Kodachi.
MrTonyD
10
Sep 2, 2018
DeviceNodeI've always been curious about the difference between thinkpad trackpoints and others. I once had a Dell with Trackpoint and it was completely unusable - and I've used thinkpad trackpoints for well over a decade. I noticed that the acceleration on my thinkpad would start slow, then speed up. It seemed to have a deceleration curve too. But there must be much more than that, I would think. Is the difference mostly mechanical? How complex are the algorithms? Are they more empirical - with lots of heuristic variables for tuning? Why is it so hard for everybody else to get it right?
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