Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II

What hackers pick instead

• Apple Magic KeyboardRecommended for very short travel, light actuation and comfortable typing, and for Touch ID on some models. Critics mainly point to its high price.35recommend
• Logitech K400People recommend it as a cheap, portable wireless keyboard with a touchpad for controlling TVs and media setups. Critics say it triggers accidentally and opens settings unexpectedly.8recommend
• Logitech K380Compact Bluetooth keyboard that switches smoothly between several devices, is small enough to travel with, and runs on AAA batteries.6recommend
• Happy Hacking KeyboardPeople recommend it as a long-lasting keyboard, with owners often reporting around 10 years of use; critics mention a low polling rate and some noise.5recommend
• Logitech MX Keys MiniPeople recommend it for comfortable typing over long sessions and a sturdy build that holds up to daily use over time.5recommend

Every quote

The 26 most detailed of 27 comments. Each links to the original.

1. That keyboard was incredible. Very compact, built in TrackPoint (tm) pointing stick, and option to use USB dongle or Bluetooth.

   Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “I Like Small Keyboards”

2. It's really perfect because it's small, complete (keyboard and mouse in one device/port), flexible (USB, Bluetooth, RF Dongle)

   Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Keychron's Nape Pro turns your keyboard into a laptop‑style trackball rig”

3. I have an external Thinkpad USB keyboard with full-travel keys, a built-in trackpoint, 3 physical buttons, and no trackpad.

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “FrameBook”

4. This keyboard is one of the staples of my desk. Saying this as someone who also dabbles in all of the exotic stuff.

   Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Keychron's Nape Pro turns your keyboard into a laptop‑style trackball rig”

5. An added benefit is that I can keep the MacBook on a stand, avoiding the wobble you get when typing directly on it.

   Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Spirit of ThinkPad”

6. I'll take a good trackpoint + three buttons below space bar over any and all trackpads.

   Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “The Myth of the ThinkPad”

7. The little rubber nub between G and H is just the ideal control for the pointer.

   Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop”

8. bringing a bluetooth (trackpoint II) keyboard is just better overall IMHO

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Apple introduces the new iPad Air, powered by M4”

9. The track point is great for small movements when you're primarily typing

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “I haven't used a mouse for 14 years”

10. I used to prefer the old chonky Thinkpad keyboards to anything else

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Key, in sight [Creative uses of keyboard shortcuts and macros]”

11. Fastest typing speed and comfort for me is my thinkpad keyboard

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “The Git Commands I Run Before Reading Any Code”

12. The layout of the ThinkPad keyboards is especially nice here

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Framework Laptop 13 Pro”

13. You can use the mouse without leaving home row.

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “The vi family”

14. The build quality is pretty bad.

    Criticizes · May 2026 · in “I love my Bluetooth keyboard”

15. they are not very durable

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Mouseless – keyboard-driven control of macOS/Linux/Windows”

16. I once taped a kludgy bare usb pad to one, which was ok, but the extra couple of cm separation was annoying.

    Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “Mouseless – keyboard-driven control of macOS/Linux/Windows”

17. Lenovo also sells a keyboard that's basically a Thinkpad keyboard with trackpoint in a separate chassis.

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Keychron's Nape Pro turns your keyboard into a laptop‑style trackball rig”

18. it's such a great keyboard and the two I use are getting old

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “I Like Small Keyboards”

19. for the other devices with inferior keyboards

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Spirit of ThinkPad”

20. There are newer versions which have that key

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Steve Jobs Next Computer: His Forgotten Exile Years”

21. Oh, they're pricey - so that, I guess?

    Mixed · May 2026 · in “Key, in sight [Creative uses of keyboard shortcuts and macros]”

22. I like mechanical keyboards and the likes with a lot of key travel. So not a fan of these laptop keyboards.

    Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Key, in sight [Creative uses of keyboard shortcuts and macros]”

23. 15-20 year old laptops are definitely starting to show their age

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “Asahi Linux Progress Report: Linux 6.19”

24. Eventually I started to feel the RSI in the top of my hand.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5”

25. beware the USB connector gets damaged ridiculously easily

    Criticizes · Nov 2025 · in “Toucan Wireless Split Keyboard with Touchpad”

26. Lenovo is the only weird excemption I experienced.

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “I Hate (Most) Keyboard 'Fn' Keys”