Alternatives to trackpads?

December 10, 2006 6:19 PM

What are the alternatives to laptop touchpads that work without a flat surface?

This is the only thing keeping me from buying a laptop: I've never been able to get touchpads to properly track my fingers (which are covered in layers of scar tissue). We're looking at hand-held trackballs but of course, there aren't any at the shops for us to actually examine.

I'm looking for something small with a thumb-driven ball that will work without a conveniently placed desk. We've found three types so far:
The Handheld Trackball TK-1200P is my favorite from the pictures, but it isn't sold in the US and it's a bit of a gamble without actually seeing it.
The Fellowes micro trac mouse gets mixed reviews.
There are a few which look like guns, but they seem as if they'd be hard to pick up and put down when swapping with keyboard. They also look like a portability pain.

Is there anything we're missing, or are there any that could be highly recommended? I'd love to "work" on the couch. Thanks!

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

There are also the laptops with the built in nubbin (we like to call the clitoris) that looks like a pencil eraser. These generally suck however, but it may be a viable alternative to the touch pad.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:29 PM on December 10, 2006

If it's possible, I would highly recommend a Thinkpad with a trackpoint, a tiny push-sensitive eraser/nipple in the middle of the keyboard.

I have a Thinkpad X40 which comes with only a trackpoint (too small for a touchpad) and I love it. From my experience Thinkpads are quality machines (and service is great too).
posted by pants tent at 6:30 PM on December 10, 2006

I should have pointed out (no pun intended) that some people absolutely abhor the trackpoint/nipple/nubbin/clit/pointing stick/whatever you want to call it, but you should at least try it out if you can find one at the store or a friend who uses one.
posted by pants tent at 6:35 PM on December 10, 2006

trackpoint user here. i've had an ibm t42 for about 3 years and haven't used the touchpad since i got the thing. definitely worth a test-drive.
posted by facetious at 6:51 PM on December 10, 2006

I always find cordless laser mice work great on pretty much any surface, not just flat.. pant legs, couch cushions, etc.
posted by Pink Fuzzy Bunny at 6:53 PM on December 10, 2006

I should also add that my wife loves her laptop's "clitoris" and finds it very useful. I can't stand it however and demand a mouse if I'm forced to use her machine.

Please no comments about our sex life, thanks. The trackpoint may be worth exploring for you.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:57 PM on December 10, 2006

I'm a trackpoint user myself, and I like it, but I agree with Pink Fuzzy Bunny: a good wireless optical mouse can work just fine on jeans. I'm one of those people who hates trackpads, too.
posted by IvyMike at 7:00 PM on December 10, 2006

You could get a tablet, then you just use the bundled "pen" directly on the screen.
posted by krisjohn at 7:25 PM on December 10, 2006

I prefer cordless mice - especially bluetooth as there is no dongle hanging of the back of the laptop.

Actually, I am salivating over this new one from Microsoft...
posted by jkaczor at 7:56 PM on December 10, 2006

I tried a handheld trackball. It gave me hand cramps and was very clumsy to switch off with the keyboard. So that's one vote against.
posted by acorncup at 7:59 PM on December 10, 2006

There are a range of gyroscopic mice which don't require a surface to use - you simply wave them about in the air to control the pointer. See, for example, the Gyration Ultra GT. They also work on desks.
posted by blag at 8:48 PM on December 10, 2006

I second PF Bunny. I use a corded laser mouse on a mousepad that I place next to me ... usually on the sofa cushion. Works as well as on a table.
posted by yqxnflld at 9:27 PM on December 10, 2006

Yeah, third-ing mouse on the couch. I use a (corded) optical (not even laser!) mouse on the couch cushion next to me all the time with no problems.
posted by misterbrandt at 9:42 PM on December 10, 2006

Another vote for a laptop with tablet-PC functionality. Forget the touchpads and all the other terrible devices that laptops inflict. Get an interface that is genuinely decent. I use mine on the couch all the time. (With the pen, and the laptop-to-slate convertable form-factors, you can also switch to slate and "work" while walking down the street, but, um, you'd probably look like a dork :-)
posted by -harlequin- at 10:41 PM on December 10, 2006

Also, I can't remember the last time I used it, since the pen is more convenient, but I have a wireless optical mouse that works fine on the keyboard - the laptop keyboard keys are flush with the case shell and wrist-rest, and only shallowly concave, and so the lower half of the laptop works fine as a mousepad.
posted by -harlequin- at 10:52 PM on December 10, 2006

Well designed trackpoints are wonderful to use. (IBM/Lenovo and HP both know how to do them right) Other brands, (here's looking at you, Dell), not so much. Awful, in fact.

Older machines only have the pencil eraser style, newer ones have a wider flattish surface on which to push. I like them both, but the new ones don't get crappy like the old ones will after a long while. There are pictures at IBM's site. My g/f's HP has a blue "soft dome" style that is wonderful to use. I've used the soft rim on an IBM and found it to be nice as well. Classic domes are good until they get worn out from too much hand grease.

For desktop use, there is at least one company making a keyboard with trackpoint. I haven't bought one, but I should, because I have no decent mousing surface. I'd use my jeans, but there's usually a cat on my lap in addition to the keyboard.

As far as trackballs go, Kensington used to make one that I found decent (Orbit, I think), but I never had to use it for long stretches (all the ones I've used have been on clients' machines)

IMO, the best solution is a trackpoint.
posted by wierdo at 11:40 PM on December 10, 2006

Different types of touchpads work differently. The common type uses capacitive coupling to the fingertip, and won't work with gloves or scar tissue, as you know.

Laptops designed to be used outdoors by gloved workers use a different type of touchpad (I believe it's resistive), which works fine with any sort of touch: Gloves, scar tissue, fingernails, even a stylus. (If the laptop's feature set mentions "signature capture" on the touchpad, you know it's the right type.)

I'm an afficionado of the Panasonic Toughbook line, and I'm typing this on a CF-72 which, I just verified, responds to the corner of my kleenex box on its touchpad. My previous machine, a CF-M34, was similarly equipped. Rugged laptops are expensive when new but drop into mere-mortal territory on the used market: I got this P3-1GHz, 768MB/30GB/10"/CDROM for under $600 with a good battery.

If you can stand to be a step behind the laptop technology curve, the unmistakable style and feel of a ruggedized machine are certainly attractive for their own reasons. Pick up an issue of Pen Computing magazine, as they cover lots of field-work hardware, and they usually mention a machine's touchpad type in the review.
posted by Myself at 2:49 AM on December 11, 2006

i just bought this cordless (bluetooth?) targus mouse for $30 at bestbuy. it does have its own USB dongle, but i've got plenty of ports. it uses 2 AAA batteries and recharges via a small USB port; so far with occasional charging i've never had a problem.

the thing has worked flawlessly right out of the box, no drivers, works great on the arm of the couch, my leg, or a cushion.

i have tried trackballs in the past and they caused way more repetitive-motion pain than mice. i like touchpads better than trackpoints, but if you can't find a touchpad that works you'll probably adapt to trackpoint fairly quickly...expect a few weeks of frustration if you've never used one though!

you might try out some touchpads on display-model laptops at a retailer...some of them may work with non-conductive objects as the commenter above described. also try out tablets that work with a stylus as mentioned.
posted by jjsonp at 4:02 AM on December 11, 2006

My Dell Inspiron 8200 has both a touchpad and a nipple. I far prefer the nipple, though the touchpad is handier for scrolling. Both suck compared to a real mouse. The Dell-branded Logitech mouse works fine on a thigh or a couch cushion.
posted by flabdablet at 5:21 AM on December 11, 2006