deskthority

Are there mechanical keybs available on the market with integrated pointing stick?
I mean otherwise how to get one of those very nice ones I often se at airports check-in desks..

There's the Unicomp EnduraPro, which has a built-in mouse

aside for the aforementined endurapro, I believe desko still makes their point-of-sale keyboards, which can be had with a pointing stick (this is likely the one you see at the airport). They have cherry keyswitches. Also, There's the upcoming TEX yoda which will have a pointing stick.

There are a number of vintage keyboards with pointing sticks that are no longer made. The IBM M13 features a trackpoint, for example.

I have a general dynamics keyboard for the US military that features a very small joystick that uses 4 strain gauges and an amplifier, much like a modern pointing stick would. It was manufactured in 2004, though it is unclear if it's still being made or not.

tentator wrote:I mean otherwise how to get one of those very nice ones I often se at airports check-in desks..

This eBay seller has Desko keyboards, some of them with a trackpoint. Have a thorough look at the pics and at the description.

The EnduraPro ain't exactly what I'd consider very nice, for what it's worth.

wow the tex yoda looks wery promising: wher would I be able to buy it? (the others are far too big unluckily..)

tent:wq

Exactly. The Trackpoint was invented as a space saving device (for laptops) and yet the EnduraPro is massive. The Yoda is a very promising new keyboard but we only just heard about it. It'll take a while to be available. TEX did a good job with their previous keyboard, the Beetle, which is also their first keyboard. I like their inventiveness.

I have a Desko here with MX Black switches, however do watchout for some as the buttons for the pointing stick are on the front, which is great for standing with a keyboard in front of you but not so great for sitting.

You can see the buttons somewhat sticking out in the front in this picture:

wow Compgeke: your Desko looks really really great tough!! and indeed the mouse buttons do not really seem ergonomic for sitting..
But did you buy it used or new??

Anyway I think my best fit so far should seem really to wait then for the tex yoda.. even if I fear that it will cost just by shipping quite a lot from taipei, any idea about the cost in general.. ow much was it for the tex beetle?

tent:wq

Do you want try this one ??


Flickr 上 反光鏡的視野 的 WD7X1343

yes of course!! it really seems what I'm looking for.. maybe a bluetooth or wifi option would be a dream but ok.. but why you ask?


tent:wq

Hi guys.. bringing up this thread again to see if there are some news in buying a compact mechanical keyboard with pointing stick or trackpoint if you prefer (I mean one that I can order online assembled and is preferably some 84keys or so). The Tex Yoda would do (even if the left, middle and right click keys seem to me too high..) but I was not able to order that.. the Endura (http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/EnduraPro/UB40PGA) as said is too big.. any updates?

thanks,
tent:wq

these guys from TG3 are affordable ($29 + free ship). They are new and available with the touchpad and without. All come with Cherry MX black if I remember correctly. Lacks some esthetics, but they are built for industrial environment and possibly for emergency services (police, fire depts., etc.). There is a soft sheet over the key mounts to protect from liquids spillage and dirt -- I think the sheet can be removed to get more of a typical MX blacks feel. The bottom of the KB is rudimentary -- frequently without any pads. Very sturdy, ugly, cheap, but it does what you need.

Anyways check it out here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-USB-TG3-Ele ... 1c3c0468ce

uhm.. are you sure it has cherry mx?? really cheap I mean.. anyway even if interesting I'd like to have a pointing stick not a touchpad unfortunately

did you notice http://deskthority.net/for-sale-f55/tex ... 10875.html

wow 220 for an used one and with mx browns.. uhm..

A friend of mine pre-ordered and got one for about that. Later on, kits sold on Massdrop for self-soldering for about $200. I love trackpoints but these are a bit rich for my tastes.

Once I have to consider it on my design...
I've referenced Tex Yoda keyboard...but I droped.
Because the position of pointing is not comportable for using.
Actually I bought this one but I did got rid it away from my desk.
I'm one of the regualr Happy Hacking user, as you know most of HHK user used to direction with ghjkl or fn + [;'/.
Yoda's pointing is very deferent with IBM lenovo's.
This could not gave the same experience.
That is why I got rid it away from my desk.
This result is just depend on my individual experience not common sence.
Any way... now this time my interesting is space keycap with touch sensor.

spacebar with touch sensor?? uhm.. interesting.. but does it not interfere with when you "press" space?

btw basically no prebuilt reasonable keyboard with trackpad so far around (so excluding tex and unicomp)?

tentator wrote: ↑spacebar with touch sensor?? uhm.. interesting.. but does it not interfere with when you "press" space?

btw basically no prebuilt reasonable keyboard with trackpad so far around (so excluding tex and unicomp)?

No... just smooth gesture on space bar.
For example slide gesture left, right, up, down, two thumb pull, lean and more....

DIY, nice project.

you're right.. for 200Eur I should just rip of an existing trackpoint from an old lenovo and fit it in my existing kbd.. is it easy to reverse the pins?

the Trackpoint in my mod is from a IBM KPD8923 keyboard.
A very simple TP. Easy to use because it has a PS/2 connecter at the PCB.

So I did not reserve pins....
Maybe some other members could help.

here some more pics:
http://deskthority.net/photos-f62/mod-a ... ilit=tipro

tentator wrote: ↑you're right.. for 200Eur I should just rip of an existing trackpoint from an old lenovo and fit it in my existing kbd.. is it easy to reverse the pins?

The stick is too short for mechanical keys. You either have to make an extender or use something else like the 8923 Trackpoint.

tentator wrote: ↑uhm.. are you sure it has cherry mx?? really cheap I mean.. anyway even if interesting I'd like to have a pointing stick not a touchpad unfortunately

you made me check ... yes, cherry mx. even if you are not interested in the touchpad, people get these for switch and keycap harvest.

Remove the protective layer:

As a lover of all things Trackpoint, I would rate the ones I've tried as Modern Thinkpad (Trackpoint IV) > Yoda > IBM M13/M4-1/Old Thinkpad > Endurapro, with a big gap between the Yoda and the M13.

Both the M13 and Endurapro don't really work well on hi-res screens (i.e. anything more than 1024x768). The Endurapro is also wobbly. The Yoda is not quite the same as the "official" Trackpoint IV, but I find it a suitable subsitute. If Unicomp used the TEX pointing stick in their Endurapros, they would not be able to take my money away from me quickly enough...

Muirium wrote: ↑Exactly. The Trackpoint was invented as a space saving device (for laptops) and yet the EnduraPro is massive.

The original intention was to create a pointing device which minimized the amount of distance that the user had to move their hand when they were switching between typing and using the mouse. Of course, in practice, it mainly found use in laptops. Although they did push the M13 for a long time as an ergonomic alternative to standard keyboard + mouse.

I'm looking for something along these lines for my other half: and in her case it is the distance rather than size thing that's important. I was considering the EnduraPro, but from what I'm reading here, it seems like it might not be the best bet, especially for a modern screen res, as much as I generally like Unicomps.

Anybody have pointers to the Yoda? That looks interesting, though I'm guessing there's a risk that our interest may wane once we see the price tag! But my Google-fu is failing me today and I couldn't even find where one would buy such a thing, let alone specifications and if I'm likely to find a UK layout.

Failing that, wait to see if Lenovo actually start to make the Thinkpads again: I think that might be too long to wait, however, her now ancient R40 is on its last legs. It's done a good job though, over 10 years of extended daily use isn't bad going for a laptop, but it's under-specced, it's getting creaky, even its keytops are wearing through!