Keyboards & input · pointing stick
Lenovo TrackPoint
Hacker Approved
Fans prefer its compact, precise cursor control that keeps hands on the keyboard; the main caveat is that some find it stiff, drifting, or straining.
Summarized from 29 comments.
Fans prefer its compact, precise cursor control that keeps hands on the keyboard; the main caveat is that some find it stiff, drifting, or straining.
- recommend
- 20
- criticize
- 4
- months recommended
- 7 of 13
Why people love it
Preferred over touchpads · 4
I usually disabled the touchpad in the BIOS and just used the red nipple-mouse on Lenovos instead.
Apr 2026 · commentI find the trackpoint unbeatable. Much better than either touchpad or touchscreen.
Apr 2026 · commentI'm also a huge friend of trackpoints instead of touchpads.
Jul 2026 · commentAccurate, fast cursor control · 3
I've never found one that matches the accuracy, speed, and overall joy of using TrackPoint to move the mouse cursor.
Mar 2026 · commentit can be an extremely productive way to move the mouse
Apr 2026 · commentI'd argue it's a superior mouse even with the drift
Aug 2026 · commentCompact device that keeps hands parked · 2
This parked posture is probably why I strongly prefer the Thinkpad "trackpoint" input device for general computer use.
Oct 2026 · commentI was always a fan of TrackPoints for how compact the pointing device was
May 2026 · commentSmooth scrolling · 2
trackpoint scrolling is amazingly good
Jan 2026 · commentvery smooth and precise xy scrolling
Jan 2026 · comment
What people warn about
Less ergonomic and less precise · 2
Trackpoint seems much less ergonomic and less useful than a trackpad to me.
Jan 2026 · commentIt's less precise, less ergonomic.
Apr 2026 · commentStiff, uncomfortable, causes strain · 2
trackpoints themselves are stiffer and less comfortable to use than they used to be
Mar 2026 · commentI had to stop using my trackpoint because it was giving me rsi in my index finger.
Mar 2026 · comment
What hackers pick instead
Every quote
The 26 most detailed of 29 comments. Each links to the original.
This parked posture is probably why I strongly prefer the Thinkpad "trackpoint" input device for general computer use.
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “If-then-else had to be invented (2020)”
I've never found one that matches the accuracy, speed, and overall joy of using TrackPoint to move the mouse cursor.
Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “I haven't used a mouse for 14 years”
I usually disabled the touchpad in the BIOS and just used the red nipple-mouse on Lenovos instead.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Turning a MacBook into a touchscreen with $1 of hardware (2018)”
I find the trackpoint unbeatable. Much better than either touchpad or touchscreen.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “MacBook Neo and How the iPad Should Be”
I was always a fan of TrackPoints for how compact the pointing device was
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer”
I'm also a huge friend of trackpoints instead of touchpads.
Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “Good Tools Are Invisible”
preferable in most ways to what I use touchpads for at all
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Turning a MacBook into a touchscreen with $1 of hardware (2018)”
it can be an extremely productive way to move the mouse
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Filing the Corners Off MacBooks”
I'd argue it's a superior mouse even with the drift
Mixed · Aug 2026 · in “A 25-year-old video patent just expired, ending a legal headache for Linux”
trackpoint scrolling is amazingly good
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “The Myth of the ThinkPad”
very smooth and precise xy scrolling
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “The Myth of the ThinkPad”
trackpoints themselves are stiffer and less comfortable to use than they used to be
Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5”
I had to stop using my trackpoint because it was giving me rsi in my index finger.
Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with M5”
Trackpoint seems much less ergonomic and less useful than a trackpad to me.
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “The Myth of the ThinkPad”
It's less precise, less ergonomic.
Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Framework Laptop 13 Pro”
all that hand waving is so tiring when you can achieve the same action even faster by just moving two fingers couple of milimeters.
Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman”
HolyKeebs also has TrackPoint modules available for some exotic ergo split keyboards.
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Keychron's Nape Pro turns your keyboard into a laptop‑style trackball rig”
the red hot irresistibly sexy and well designed IBM Thinkpad TrackPoint
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “The struggle of resizing windows on macOS Tahoe”
The trackpoint performs very well for mixed typing and pointing tasks
Recommends · May 2026 · in “ThinkPad: From IBM's Bento Box to Lenovo's AI Workstations”
red hot irresistibly sexy and well designed IBM Thinkpad TrackPoint
Recommends · May 2026 · in “ThinkPad: From IBM's Bento Box to Lenovo's AI Workstations”
making Lenovo's Trackpoints better than imitators
Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “A 25-year-old video patent just expired, ending a legal headache for Linux”
I love trackpoint for navigation and UI control.
Mixed · Mar 2026 · in “I haven't used a mouse for 14 years”
that's a more sensible choice in my opinion
Recommends · May 2026 · in “The Bean is here (New "pointing stick" mouse by Ploopy)”
that silly nipple, rock solid, works fine
Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “As a Windows user, it's a surreal way to install a program”
it is definitely a love/hate relationship
Mixed · Aug 2026 · in “A 25-year-old video patent just expired, ending a legal headache for Linux”
Haha, so a trackpoint is the best thing ever, better than any trackpad, if you are stuck in the year 1992.
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “The Myth of the ThinkPad”
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