Laptops with pointing sticks

August 30, 2006 2:52 PM

What current laptops have a pointing stick?

I'm buying a new laptop for my wife, who really wants it to have a pointing stick (TrackPoint, in IBMspeak). I'm having trouble finding anyone publishing information on the presence of this small but significant laptop feature. I'll phrase my question in two ways:

Teach me to fish: are there any laptop shopping/review sites that allow for filtering on this little widget?
Gimme a fish: What currently available laptops have a pointing stick? My current list is
any IBM ThinkPad
some, but not all Dell Latitudes

I had a Latitude D520 all configured up and ready to buy when I noticed the picture was without a pointing stick (nothing in Dell specs mentions the presence/absence of a pointing stick).

Are there other brands with this widget?

(I'm in the U.S.)

posted by mcstayinskool to Computers & Internet (19 answers total)

You can't go wrong with a Thinkpad. These are great machines.
posted by caddis at 3:01 PM on August 30, 2006

Best answer: Some Toshibas, like the Tecra M5, have them. But you really can't go wrong with a Thinkpad.
posted by cmonkey at 3:06 PM on August 30, 2006

Response by poster: agreed, they are superb. I have one for work. I'm just looking to do my due diligence and see what's out there (esp. if there are less expensive alternatives to the thinkpad line), and I can't find out a decent way to filter my list down to those with pointing sticks.
posted by mcstayinskool at 3:07 PM on August 30, 2006

Some HPs have them. I wouldn't be surprised to learn the business-class ones do and home-oriented ones do not.
posted by kcm at 3:28 PM on August 30, 2006

You mean... a nipple?

My Dell Precision has one.
posted by wryly at 3:37 PM on August 30, 2006

Response by poster: HP is a clear example of the problem I'm running into. I just want to be able to identify which HP notebooks have pointing sticks. Can't do it with out endlessly drilling down into each individual model with hopes that it includes some info in the detailed specs about it. Sigh.
posted by mcstayinskool at 3:40 PM on August 30, 2006

Response by poster: What model of Dell Precision?
posted by mcstayinskool at 3:40 PM on August 30, 2006

Response by poster: Wait a minute, there's no such thing as a Dell Precision any more. XPS, Inspiron, Latitude. That's it.
posted by mcstayinskool at 3:41 PM on August 30, 2006

I have a Dell M61 that has a nipple.

Also, if you get a Dell 8500/8600, I have a replacement keyboard (and the plastic part of the chassis that has the buttons that correspond with the joystick/nipple) that has a nipple that I'll sell you for $30
posted by hatsix at 3:42 PM on August 30, 2006

Reverb M60's
posted by hatsix at 3:44 PM on August 30, 2006

You mean... a nipple?

I've also heard it called "the pencil eraser."

Great thread, for those of use who dislike the touch-pad.
posted by Rash at 4:02 PM on August 30, 2006

Are you saying my computer doesn't exist? Are you callin' me a liar? You shoulda stood in school!

Not only is it real, but it's RoadReady .
posted by wryly at 4:11 PM on August 30, 2006

D'oh.
posted by wryly at 4:27 PM on August 30, 2006

My husband's work computer (IBM ThinkPad) has the nubbin; he hates using my Dell Inspiron (sleek trackpad). I can use either, but prefer the trackpad.
posted by candyland at 4:35 PM on August 30, 2006

My Fujitsu P1510D has one. Perhaps the other Fujitsu models do as well. Of course, I never use it because my machine also has a touchscreen. %)
posted by kindall at 4:46 PM on August 30, 2006

You mean... a nipple?

I've also heard it called "the pencil eraser."

i've heard 'clit-mouse', but i worked with a bunch of dudes who were born in a barn.
posted by fishfucker at 5:22 PM on August 30, 2006

When I had an early Thinkpad, it was called an eraserhead mouse. As far as I was concerned it was the greatest invention ever. Now I prefer touchpads, though. (And you're right, you probably can't go wrong buying a Thinkpad).

My Dell Latitude D600 has one, as well as a touchpad. Dell calls such machines "dual pointing." You can turn off either device or leave them both active. Each has its own set of buttons.
posted by lhauser at 7:42 PM on August 30, 2006

b1tr0t: No, the trackpoint was a clitmouse long before Apple had a mouse with anything more than a button.
posted by mendel at 8:08 PM on August 30, 2006

Response by poster: my mistake on Dell Precisions. They do, in fact, exist. I can tell you I'm getting really sick of going to websites that make you tell them whether you are a home or business user before you can even see the lineup of what they sell. Pfooey.

Anyway, I marked the answer about the Toshiba Tecras as "best" because the Tecra A8-EZ8312 is emerging as the front-runner for best value in the "has a pointing stick/eraserhead mouse/trackpoint/clitmouse/nipple" search.

given the fact that no one taught me how to fish, but rather threw me some fish, I think I have a good business case for a new website, www.gimmeapointingstick.com, which will be an online database of notebooks that have pointing sticks. I should make millions.
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:03 AM on August 31, 2006