5 ms·

I don't see this mentioned often but it's worth calling it out: that touchpad is a Sensel one and they are the only manufacturer I've found that makes touchpads

I don't see this mentioned often but it's worth calling it out: that touchpad is a Sensel one and they are the only manufacturer I've found that makes touchpads that feel on par with what's in the Mac lineup. They can be found in a few other models now and if I was going to switch off macOS full time it'd be a hard requirement for hardware for me. https://sensel.com https://sensel.com

binkHN 3y ago
Which other ThinkPads models use this?
- Klonoar 3y ago
  Don't know all of 'em, but the Sensel homepage I linked has a few other models spotlit.
tomjen3 3y ago
My first laptop was a thinkpad and I grew to love the nub (this was accidental, I had purchased a mouse, but found that I didn't move my fingers to use it unless I was gaming or something like that, much nicer to keep the fingers on the home row). My point is, on any other laptop you might be right, but the trackpad doesn't matter much on a Thinkpad.
- bigpeopleareold 3y ago
  My recent set of Thinkpads (my work one is recent, the others from 2018) have good enough trackpads, but it's barely a concern since I don't use them much except for very casual use where I am not typing anything Even then, 80% of the time, I am on the trackpoint. FWIW, The MacBooks I have, from 2015, are just ... ok. They probably got better, but I wouldn't care to find out.
  - tomjen3 3y ago
    The trackpad on my 2014 Retina isn't very good compared to my M1. The old one took a lot of force and was physical wereas the new one is using their haptic engine.
    - goosedragons 3y ago
      2015 MacBooks use haptics too except maybe the Airs.
- Klonoar 3y ago
  The trackpad matters because I’m not using the nub and I have zero interest in ever doing so again. I want a trackpad, it’s pretty simple.
- animitronix 3y ago
  Yup, clitmouse FTW
justaj 3y ago
It's funny you mention Sensel. They had a product called Morph, which would have been my penultimate MIDI / OSC controller for music had they not discontinued it. I had no idea they were (primarily) into laptop touchpads, but post factum this does make a lot of sense (no pun intended) Luckily now there's also Embodme Erae Touch (dropped a couple of months ago), which has an additional benefit of having LED matrix under the surface to provide visual feedback. I haven't tested one though, so it might not turn out to be equivalent to the Morph. https://www.embodme.com/erae-touch https://www.embodme.com/erae-touch

binkHN 3y ago

Which other ThinkPads models use this?

Klonoar 3y ago
Don't know all of 'em, but the Sensel homepage I linked has a few other models spotlit.

tomjen3 3y ago

My first laptop was a thinkpad and I grew to love the nub (this was accidental, I had purchased a mouse, but found that I didn't move my fingers to use it unless I was gaming or something like that, much nicer to keep the fingers on the home row). My point is, on any other laptop you might be right, but the trackpad doesn't matter much on a Thinkpad.

bigpeopleareold 3y ago
My recent set of Thinkpads (my work one is recent, the others from 2018) have good enough trackpads, but it's barely a concern since I don't use them much except for very casual use where I am not typing anything Even then, 80% of the time, I am on the trackpoint. FWIW, The MacBooks I have, from 2015, are just ... ok. They probably got better, but I wouldn't care to find out.
- tomjen3 3y ago
  The trackpad on my 2014 Retina isn't very good compared to my M1. The old one took a lot of force and was physical wereas the new one is using their haptic engine.
  - goosedragons 3y ago
    2015 MacBooks use haptics too except maybe the Airs.
Klonoar 3y ago
The trackpad matters because I’m not using the nub and I have zero interest in ever doing so again. I want a trackpad, it’s pretty simple.
animitronix 3y ago
Yup, clitmouse FTW

justaj 3y ago

It's funny you mention Sensel. They had a product called Morph, which would have been my penultimate MIDI / OSC controller for music had they not discontinued it. I had no idea they were (primarily) into laptop touchpads, but post factum this does make a lot of sense (no pun intended) Luckily now there's also Embodme Erae Touch (dropped a couple of months ago), which has an additional benefit of having LED matrix under the surface to provide visual feedback. I haven't tested one though, so it might not turn out to be equivalent to the Morph. https://www.embodme.com/erae-touch https://www.embodme.com/erae-touch