3 ms·
I'd normally say a resounding "no" for the reasons everyone else is stating: fat finger problem, pixel-perfect precision, arm strain of pointing at a screen, et
by pkamb 16y ago
I'd normally say a resounding "no" for the reasons everyone else is stating: fat finger problem, pixel-perfect precision, arm strain of pointing at a screen, etc.
However, for the last year or so I've exclusively used the Trackpoint on my Thinkpad. Amazing little gizmo. Almost the same precision as a mouse, three buttons to click with, and it keeps your hands in the touch-typing position at all times. I was experiencing pretty bad mouse-button-clicking RSI, and hitting the Trackpoint buttons with my thumbs instead saves me.
Any other fans here?
- bergie 16y agoI've been using trackpads instead of mice for the last 6-8 years. This way your working environment is always the same regardless of whether you're at your desk or sitting on the sofa
- InclinedPlane 16y agoI prefer to use the "trackpoint" or a trackball as much as possible. For certain activities like gaming or detailed photoshop work a mouse is preferable due to increased precision, but for ordinary GUI interaction the better ergonomics of the trackball pay off immensely. I think multi-touch is interesting, and I think it's dominant right now in electronics shows precisely because it is new, interesting, and innovative. But I don't think it will be the one and only pointing device to ever exist in the future.
- vacri 16y agoBig fan of the trackpoint. I hate trackpads, they're always clumsy (though multitouch was a great advancement) but the trackpoint is precise and doesn't easily 'drop' things when you're dragging. Nothing like that trackpad moment when the item you're dragging doesn't quite reach the destination before you hit the side of the pad :) Found the trackpoint hard to learn though - there's a lot of subtle muscle control. Steep curve, but rewarding once you have it.