The ThinkPad TrackPoint

For 25 years the TrackPoint has been one of the most recognizable features of ThinkPad. The quintessential “mouse on the keyboard” eliminates unnecessary motion between typing and navigating. Learn about its history and how to use it.

[@davekennedy8381]

Nothin but LOVE for the TrackPoint!

[@mzamroni]

this the song for it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZC3gGukj7eioaM

[@TheEricsheng]

yea. I truly love the trackpoint. Once you get used to it you are truly rely on it. It was like sometimes you are truly lazy to move you hand around just merely wanted to move the pointer . Now I can live with my ThinkPad without an actual mouse.

[@damnfreakingsien]

Track pads can also accomplish the same thing in that you don't need to move your hand away from the keyboard. It's a lot easier to learn & more natural compared to the track point :P Track pads have come a long way from janky plastic surface + buttons to responsive, glass surfaces with good controls & haptic feedback. But i can't deny that the track point is indeed a mark in history on cursor interaction.

[@encycl07pedia-]

@@damnfreakingsien lol. You think there are keys under the space bar? I have big hands and it's impractical to keep my fingers on home row and use my thumb to mouse around. You just don't know what the Trackpoint actually does. Keeping your hands that close to home row is great.

[@damnfreakingsien]

@@encycl07pedia- What do you mean by keys under space bar? i made no mention of it. I know what the track point does, but it has quite a steep learning curve compared to a trackpad. Nevertheless it's still iconic and serves the advantage of being ultra-compact and having both hands on the home row.

[@encycl07pedia-]

@@damnfreakingsien The Trackpoint doesn't have a steep learning curve. It's basically a joystick. If you can't figure that out nearly instantly, there's a problem. Unless that touchpad is embedded in the home row, you're moving your hands to use it (including right and left click). Almost every model of keyboard + trackpad has the trackpad below it or off to one side. You're still moving your hands off the keyboard.

[@damnfreakingsien]

@@encycl07pedia- No shit that’s a joystick. It’s easy to figure out how it works, but it’s difficult to master it, that’s why it is considered to have a steep learning curve. Unlike a trackpad which you can master quickly (provided the trackpad is of good quality)

[@manosprotonotarios5187]

It is nice to present a video about the trackpoint. However, it is more important to fix the numerous drifting issues that appear in so many recent ThinkPad models and make this crucial feature unusable. Dedicated users get frustrated and no new users will ever be attracted to it if it does not work properly and reliably. As you say on the video this is a unique characteristic making ThinkPads differ from competition. But it needs to be taken care of.

[@JaZoN_XD]

People who don't like the trackpoint haven't done work in the field with gloves on :D

[@rzor1911]

I use it with gloves xD

[@slimxshady6111]

Haven't thought about that! That'll be nice in the Canadian winters!

[@Minsang1st]

Except most people use their laptops indoors majority of the time. Is it nice to have for those instances or as an option? Is it really that much better? Nah

[@aarocka11]

Hail to the glorious Panasonic Toughbook master race you filthy IBM TrackPoint point peasant. They have had track pads that work with gloves for years.

[@tylerdurden629]

@@Minsang1st “that much better” that much better than what? For the people that use it, it’s amazing. Even if you don’t use it there’s no harm in it being there as an option.

[@swordofstabbing]

This feels like an aperture science video

[@TheDarkHeross]

Science isn’t about WHY. It’s about WHY NOT. Why is so much of our science dangerous? Why not marry safe science if you love it so much. In fact, why not invent a special safety door that won’t hit you on the butt on the way out, because you are fired.

[@Iugeer]

wait lol youre so right

[@naodtesfalem6758]

now I know the mystery of the middle button on the track pad... thanks

[@jayillingworth579]

its not a button!

[@user-se5xg3vz8p]

@@jayillingworth579 a BUTTON on a TRACK PAD

[@AnnCatsanndra]

My first laptop had one of these and I've been frustrated after my modern laptops lacked it. It was just handy and easy to ignore if I didn't want it

[@arop3nnY]

@Umbrella Corporation google is free

[@bencze465]

Thanks for the quick tips, wasn't sure of the scroll thing. It sure is great to be back to Thinkpad after all those years of other keyboards :(

[@cynthiag3014]

This video inspires me to stop ignoring my TrackPoint and learn how to use it.

[@angeloj3139]

Use it bro!! I don't even have this laptop but I love the convenience of the trackpoint and I would love to use it.

[@syairolazwan316]

The best feature ever. Simple and effective. Its a selling point besides sturdy keyboard in Thinkpad Series

[@tokroni]

Forget copying Apple. Bring back 7 row keyboard, removable battery, small trackpad and classic keyboard. If possible 4: 3 screen but 3:2 also is acceptable. Why chase Apple dollars when you can chart your own path. T43, T400, T420 X200, and X220 owner here

[@ProperlyPsychotic]

I really like the trackpoint on my T420 thinkpad. It's really nice to use.

[@ralvolvi7668]

I was wondering what this thing was on my dads old laptop. It’s pretty useful

[@soulflame799]

I only use the trackpoint, rarely the trackpad. I don't know why but I just find it a LOT easier to use! Especially in confined spaces

[@WR3ND]

I like it a lot; not as a replacement, but as an enhancement and alternative.

[@SkepticalCaveman]

You forgot to add the link to the description.

[@ysabel5603]

thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@quyhdddd]

Still not get used to using the trackpoint, but I think it's cool, love it

[@Stanly450]

Thanks for this.

[@crissyjim]

Oml that track point is so cool:0

[@crissyjim]

@Umbrella Corporation didn't look at my emails but base on what I found the trackpoint had 3 sizes you can just look it up on Google sorry

[@FenomenTOP]

Это одно из крутейших изобретений в компьютерный технологиях!

[@yessey111]

I love this small red point. One week after i bought my first thinkpad the touchpad was only disturbing me so I turned it off in the BIOS.

[@ceeweedsl]

The Trackpoint is what makes a thinkpad my only possible laptop. I heard Dell has something lame that is similar. But not the same.

[@TechPoint56]

I've trackpoint but somehow i am not getting used to it and feel like touchpad is better to work with. any tip?

[@rosy__009]

thank you for the explanation sir

[@elbob17]

I just bought my first ThinkPad today and the trackpoint is going to take a little getting used to. I just assumed I'd use a wireless mouse.

[@marcinstrzelczyk9971]

and? did you get used to it?

[@linhmeongunuong]

I have a Thinkpad x201 and this just popped up in my youtube recommendations

[@brynnevans1025]

Thanks for the tips! But I guess Dell must've thought this was a great idea and snatched it up because I have these features on my Dell

[@harshitsahu7586]

Really. I've never seen one on a Dell. What model is it?

[@SamSeama]

The track point is the most useful feature for me on a laptop. Thank you Lenovo.

[@bigsassyster]

What other laptops from Lenovo have the trackpoint? is it possible to add the trackpoint keyboard to other laptops?

[@vasileiosesmaoui9435]

Ok , can you now please let me know why no pointing devise is working , on my E490 Thinkpad ?

[@Oleg__]

In the end, swap the Fn and Ctrl keys in ThinkPads. Most users swap them anyway in BIOS, but the physical buttons can still be confusing. For me, the keyboards in the 15-inch "T" and "E" series laptops are almost perfect. "Almost" because of this misunderstanding with the Fn and Ctrl keys instead of Ctrl and Fn.

[@encycl07pedia-]

I don't know why they messed that up. I've gotten used to it, but on any other keyboard, I'll end up pressing the wrong key when looking for Ctrl.

[@reoencarcelado5904]

@@encycl07pedia- & @Oleg: As far as I know, the switched-places "Function" (ie. Fn) and "Control" (ie. Ctrl) keyboard-keys were done for Ergonomy reasons. The spacebar acts as the function-button to turn on-&-off the keyboard-backlight, and the Fn key was moved to the lower-left-hand-corner to make it easier to find in the dark. [Here's an interview in which the inventor/designer/originator/creator about it discusses it:] kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKCydHebnrmgd9E

[@encycl07pedia-]

@@reoencarcelado5904 That interview has nothing to do with why the Fn key is swapped with Ctrl on Thinkpad keyboards. And it doesn't say anything about making the Fn key easier to find in the dark, either. It just talks about an old lighting feature that was removed.

[@reoencarcelado5904]

@@encycl07pedia- ️. Didn't you the part when they said about how they put the key-combination on the easiest places to find them? (the two corners of the keyboard), and didn't you when the designer-himself [/the originator-himself / the creator of the idea] said that he put-it in the ? timestamp 3:34 to timestamp 4:10 mentions the key-combination *specifically*. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKCydHebnrmgd9E i suggest you go-back and watch the-whole-video again. P.S. it *used* to be "Function" + "upper-right-hand-corner" key, but-then got-moved to "Function" + "Spacebar" key. i know that because a T400 i tried at a local-store that sells refurbished computers had it like that (ie. "Function" + "upper-right-hand-corner" key), and a X230 that i got from-there has it in the "Function" + "Spacebar" key combination.

[@encycl07pedia-]

@@reoencarcelado5904 That doesn't mean the Fn key needs to be in that spot. Ctrl is the king of keyboard shortcuts for a reason. Can't you use your head for something other than a place to put your hat? Tu ingles es peor.

[@zebbleganubi723]

trackpoint for life

[@twocanchew69]

Is there a way of turning this track point and the left and right click buttons on or off? Idk what I did and mine don’t work anymore 😢

[@chartreusecircle1546]

Keynipple ftw

[@Geogak]

My job requires me to use the laptop in an odd position (keyboard on my chest looking down at the monitor). This leaves me holding the laptop like i have little T-rex arms. Anyway the track point is so convenient. I didn't know i needed one until I got my first lenovo Thinkpad. Now I only buy lenovo thinkpads.

[@wingwing2683]

Thanks for sharing!

[@tmarty4269]

In the past were there two separate drivers for the mouse touch pad, and the trackpoint ?. Or does the Elan UltraNav Driver (windows) cover both items?

[@jasdanvm3845]

I honestly thought for years it was just for blind people to find the center of the keyboard!

[@vedantganesh6923]

That's what the little lumps on the F and J keys are for

[@dumpmuch]

My fingertip start hurting again when I see this

[@spacedaway]

It took me like literally 10 minutes to learn the trackpoint. Finally, lazy me doesn't need to move my hands around.

[@spacedaway]

@@ultimatepu5h It's your preference. The trackpad on the P1 is nice, you can always use the trackpad. You can also turn off the trackpoint in BIOS.

[@spacedaway]

@@ultimatepu5h Anytime.

[@danielenyel3542]

i loveeee you , for this knowledge , may God save you and your family

[@katchoro6666]

please is there touchscreen option on lenovo thinkpad T590 ??

[@DigitalSamTV]

I wanna use it and love it ... But just can't get used to it... Yet. The actual mouse pad sucks really bad on my ThinkPad so I'd like to use the trackpoint more if I can get it feeling comfortable

[@ievgengavrysh5831]

Lenovo, please add driver support and TrackPoint fine-tuning settings for Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, etc). It has been a real struggle to set up TrackPoint and get the same seamless experience I had on Windows.

[@antagonizingusername]

Dicking around with the libinput settings will get you want you want. Its a fucking pain but you'll find what you're looking for eventually.

[@BrianAndersonTT]

Why'd you stop uploading? Thanks for all the content.

[@ariathyf144]

The trakpoint might be still there but the keyboard lost its mojo. Bring the old keyboard back.

[@user-qk6wq3pg8l]

Personally, I am not a windows user, but since ThinkPad's support Linux, I find that the trackpoint gets too much hate and actually makes CAD doable without a mouse. You should really sell ThinkPad Developer Editions which run Linux by default. This will also save us Linux users a lot of money from the Windows license

[@hailster69]

track point moves my mouse cursor to up right corner even if I don't do anything to it sort of automatically and that disturbs me a lot........

[@LloydLynx]

My trackpoint has a stuttering issue and I can't figure out how to fix it.

[@johnb.wessels2115]

Just bought my first real Thinkpad (T450) yeay. Searching for a way to familiarize with the trackpoint. I normally use the trackpad or a mouse...Maybe as suggested just disable the pad...

[@starless9]

is the canonical way to use trackpoint with the index finger and click the buttons with the thumb?

[@andyho999]

i was wiping my keyboard, and it came off, i put it back on and now it doesnt work, do u know how to fix?

[@kevalpatel5097]

sir can you provide Synaptics-Touchstyk driver download link ,i have hp elitebook 8460p

[@EliDjahn]

Ive never seen one that worked ☹ i wanna try it lol

[@martin1649]

i've never seen one that doesn't work.

[@lachaussetteorpheline]

Hi, why are so many people saying Lenovo's trackpad (on a X1 for example) is not as good as a Macbook pro 13 trackpad? I just do not get it. People say it is because Lenovo's trackpad is too small but I just do not understand why it is a problem. (including when you rest your hands on the keyboard)

[@JasonGafar]

I've been using Thinkpads for almost ten years now. I have never used the trackpoint. I have to do some research into it.

[@ankitanishad6405]

😂😂😂

[@HiddenAgendas]

Add double tap feature on track point so place curser in text field

[@yourbadanimator7048]

i deinstalled the program for the scroll button on my laptop how can i get it back pls help

[@anbernicguy]

This will be good for a console.

[@eggman0291]

Looks like many people dont get it but I prefer to scroll with a trackpoint instead of fingering a trackpad to navigate through web pages

[@samjackson7701]

I wouldn't mind if Lenovo made an older style ThinkPad with only a TrackPoint and no touchpad to be honest. It's also funny to see the younger generation not knowing what a TrackPoint does :)

[@SkepticalCaveman]

Well they did have the Bluetooth keyboard without trackpad.

[@smorrow]

You can just turn the trackpad off.

[@SkepticalCaveman]

@@smorrow You dont get it, the trackpad is a waste of space, by removing it the laptop can be smaller.

[@samjackson7701]

@@SkepticalCaveman Exactly this. The old IBM X-series were insanely small from this. It was really an engineering masterpiece.

[@smorrow]

@@SkepticalCaveman Smaller in the wrong dimension....

[@miatafunrun3078]

Trackpoint is the best!

[@itaamelia6715]

my e480 trackpoint move the cursor in its own, so i had to turn it off

[@inspirational_talkings2099]

Lenovo Think ... I want to use this video in my website .. Can you allow me to paste the link of your video in my website for free or want to proceed via any legal process ?

[@user-pg9fv7su8q]

Not a lawyer, but if you leave a Link to any video on KZbin that's public I don't believe you can get into any trouble. Not a lawyer, just thinking that at that point you have just cited KZbin, and all liability is on KZbin.

[@MrPruske]

i want to try a controller made with these.

[@mazzyy15]

how me color my keyboard on my thinkpad?

[@stevenlin8577]

can thinkpad please swap the fn and ctrl key for the greater goods

[@user-qj9yk2xt8n]

You can switch their inputs through the BIOS.

[@francesdorrian9326]

How do i use the @ button

[@sardarabuzar9112]

thnak you

[@robbyculous]

I thought it's an emergency button

[@alexdeclercq9881]

Hi, can someone let me know, how to disabled the eye control option? It kills my battery looking for me all the time. In ease of access, interaction, eye control it doesnt give me any option to disable it.

[@minecrafangerbirdsmovie3928]

I didn’t know it sped up if you press down more

[@-Kami-Kun-]

I have one on my hp laptop :)

[@bigsassyster]

I have always wondered why IBM/Lenovo doesn't allow the trackpoint to be installed in laptops outside of the Thinkpad line.

[@jesdadotcom]

You can find it in some Dell Latitudes and HP Elitebooks

[@bigsassyster]

@@jesdadotcom true. It is just very annoying that they don't have it on the Legion series. Legion series has good hardware, and doesn't have the +$700 price tag that the Thinkpad line has. ALso, the trackpoint on Dell and HP is not close to being as good as Thinkpads. I've own all three.

[@prabhatranjan6253]

Thinkpad = love

[@arkabratadas.1833]

Hey how about a "Thinkphone" smartphone..? 😎

[@Unirule]

They're too busy with failing to live up to Mororola's legacy

[@shahjalal0321]

How can stop this trackpoint disabled

[@brayseville8468]

yea so much more efficient when you don't have to move your hands

[@presauced]

cool thing.

[@marinettedupain-cheng9930]

My Trackpoint from My Elitebook 820 G3 is so uncomfortable

[@KJPage]

Bring out a Trackpoint III BT keyboard with num pad will ya's! 😹👍

[@yazidhamoda4079]

I don't have Lenovo, but always I am wondering what the red dot do. Conclusion : nothing!

[@LearnedB]

Anyone who does lots of typing does not like the trackpoint. It just plain gets in the way. I would love a Thinkpad without one, but it just automatically makes me not consider a Thinkpad at all when it's the only option.

[@wutzzz138]

....this is utterly bullshit. There's no way if you're competent, fast & accurate at typing that you will have typo errors or problems adjusting. That said, typing errors are more reminiscent of lack of proper training. If you pay attention the nipple is depressed-at least on newer models-when compared to the height of the each individual key. So the root cause of your problem is not "it gets in the way." Because it's not in the way. Moreover, the ThinkPad keyboard is as plush as D+ ti*&. I did the jump from mac after 13 years of cult to a ThinkPad. With this in mind, I do have confronted the usual learning curve in which I have to remember where the nipple is located and that the left click button has an angle too so that I don't confused it with the spacebar. Finally, it's of my impression that the red color of the nipple serves as an optical compass of sorts. As you keep your focus on the screen while typing/coding/redacting your peripheral vision can capture at all times where is the nipple by the color. This color processing is done by your visual cortex. Hence, it will not surprise me that the assigned color for the nipple has some rad/nerd/scientific purpose to it. Because when this was first established things were designed based on functionality and less marketing and hype. my2cents/unsolicited discourse

[@memoryfoam2285]

I've used my T430 nonstop for years and I have never used the trackpad.

[@eusouorui]

I guess once you know how to use it, you never need to take the hands off the keyboard

[@WrikBhattacharyya]

Watching this on an X200, no shitty trackpad here B)

[@lmlmd2714]

My X230 has a trackpad.... that's never been used. That's what the trackpoint is for!

[@acs_gergo_acs1473]

it gets really slippery really fast because of sweat from my finger so it becomes unusable

[@jsmith498]

That's what SHE said.

[@cyizarwanda5488]

I never liked the trackpoint until my keypad died... Now i am so used to it... I can't use anything else...

[@SamuraiNetwork]

Do people use this?

[@ohdude6643]

Using a 2016 x220 and its trackpoint to watch a video about the trackpoint.

[@jkidding386]

Once you're used to TrackPoint, you can ditch the mouse and touchpad.. It's the ONLY reason to get a ThinkPad..

[@account-pd4fi]

If they will someday remove it i'll stop buying

[@harchitb]

genius idea. just rest your hand on the keyboard and youre good. no need to switch back and forth from keyboard to trackpad

[@edoconnell8100]

Track point drift. Am I the only one with this problem? Looked everywhere for a solution but ...

[@TheBeastNL]

Nope, I disabled it in the Bios. hope it will go better now.. (shit feature)

[@wait-what-really.]

I don't have the "Keystone Key". WTF

[@themanfromiz]

How to press the middle mouse button on this?

[@baguskusumaloka]

i had the t440P the touchpad is bad, i cant feel the middle button

[@qwerthjqwerthj4416]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4DNY4psp6qKiNE

[@andhikaimawan6021]

So its a small joystick

[@josebringas8099]

I have my trackpad disabled, only trackpoint everytime.

[@SkepticalCaveman]

I only use the trackpad for two finger scrolling, everything else I use the trackpoint for. I don't use a mouse at all anymore.

[@mzamroni]

as track point user, i keep the track pad on but disable the tapping feature. hp elite book doesn't have scroll button for the track point, so i still need the track pad for scrolling

[@SkepticalCaveman]

@@mzamroni I had heard that Trackpoint clones are bad compared IBM's original, but to not have a middle button is just awful.