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chrchr 6 minutes ago [-]
Interestingly, this device uses a totally different mechanism than classic trackpoints. Where true trackpoints use a network of strain gauges on the PCB, this is a 3D hall effect sensor and a spring. A trackpoint has only an imperceptible amount of travel, and this is designed to physically move. I really wonder how it feels in practice. It might feel more like a thumb stick from a game controller than a trackpoint.
pronik 1 hours ago [-]
For such a niche area, it's astonishing how many of these projects miss some or indeed all of relevant features of the TrackPoint. In this particular case, it has already been mentioned that this doesn't make any sense outside of the keyboard. Additionally, it looks really awkward to use for someone used to the classic and there seems to be no button suitable for scrolling. It really looks like a "we heard geeks like trackpoints, let's do one" kind of project.
tra3 3 hours ago [-]
Ultimate hacking keyboard has modules that include a track point, touchpad or a trackball. I’ve been eyeing it for a while: https://uhk.io/
The UHK also supports mouse keys. I own both the 60v2 and the newer UHK 80 (I was a beta tester), these keyboards are my final destination. The only reason I would consider a change is if they released an ortholinear layout.
tra3 3 hours ago [-]
Yes, of course. I’ve accidentally fallen down the split keyboard rabbit hole and now I can’t get out. UHK seems like it’s got everything that I might ever need but I’m going to stick with my Aliexpress Corne for a bit longer before I take the plunge.
nine_k 3 hours ago [-]
Any keyboard can drive the mouse pointer. But trackpoint is an acceptable drawing device, while a keyboard is sadly not.
It was however stuck in customs for quite a while, but I guess that's what I get for ordering custom electronics from Israel right after those pagers blew up.
schmiddim 14 minutes ago [-]
Nice idea but the keyboard around the trackpoint is missing. The concept behind the trackpoint is that you can control the mouse pointer while your fingers are resting on asd and ;lkj.
Checkout Tex Shinobi or Shura if you like Keyboards with Trackpoint.
landgenoot 6 hours ago [-]
Isn't the point that it's integrated in the keyboard, so that you don't have to move your hands away to use it?
pdrayton 5 hours ago [-]
It fills the niche of "pointing device that uses a constant amount of deskspace" in the same way that a trackball does, but differently. Different strokes, different folks.
NGL I was always a fan of TrackPoints for how compact the pointing device was. Also liked the Logitech Trackman Marble for similar reasons. It's kind of cool, though unnecessary, to have a way to get a TrackPoint on a desktop now without being locked to one discontinued Lenovo keyboard.
tejohnso 5 hours ago [-]
I'm typing this on a Thinkpad Trackpoint II keyboard and have no idea why I'd want an off keyboard pointing stick. If you want to use a pointing stick why not have it right next to your index finger while you're on the home row? If you want your mouse cursor control to be off of the keyboard, why not use a regular mouse?
serf 3 hours ago [-]
the fdm prints in those demo photos have some real bad first layer extrusion multiplier/bed/meshing issues.
i'd rather there be an option to just buy the board from you for a few bucks less and get some STLs for the needed prints if you're offering prints like that.
delusional 1 hours ago [-]
I don't think it's bed adhesion or anything. Just looks like a little bit of under extrusion.
throwaway81523 59 minutes ago [-]
Slashvertisement. Though, since it's 3d printed anyway, how about shaping it properly to clip to the edge of a raspberry pi 400/500. Not including a pointing device in those was silly of the rpi foundation.
albert_e 3 hours ago [-]
I need a variation of this that can be strapped to hand and used with a couple fingers while still leaving the hand and fingers mostly free for normal natural fuction.
also integrate push-to-talk for voice inputs.
use case is to use it while standing up and moving about -- with a large display screen at a distance. Or my specific interest -- work for extended time on a treadmill.
bigyabai 3 hours ago [-]
Consider a trackball. I got a Kensington Expert Wireless a while back and really recommend it if you prefer to keep your wrists somewhere static.
ornornor 3 hours ago [-]
Ploopy does make trackballs. I have an adept and it’s great. Inexpensive too.
jb1991 2 hours ago [-]
> pointing stick mouse. It adds high-precision pointing stick functionality to any setup
I’ve never heard these terms before. What is a pointing stick on a computer?
rzzzt 1 hours ago [-]
The nub around the G-B-H keys that doesn't really move but responds to pressure and lets you fly the mouse cursor around the screen with various speeds. Lenovo, Dell, HP, Fujitsu and many others equipped their business laptops with such a pointing device.
rjh29 24 minutes ago [-]
And notably as touchpads have improved, most of the makers have stopped including TrackPoints. Lenovo is the main holdout.
Still waiting for Framework to introduce a keyboard with a trackpoint included, but apparently the room allocated for the keyboard is too thin for it to be possible.
nine_k 3 hours ago [-]
I wonder what part are they using for that tiny joystick. The only sources I found for purchase online are salvaged parts from thinkpad keyboards.
drum55 3 hours ago [-]
3D printed spring, magnet, hall effect sensor by the looks of it.
lagrange77 55 minutes ago [-]
Is this your website OP?
mattas 6 hours ago [-]
I'm on the lookout for a wireless ball mouse. I want to relive the glory days of cleaning out the little cylinders on the inside of the mouse without being constrained by wires.
toast0 3 hours ago [-]
They do make wireless (optical) trackballs. I don't think they attract grunge anywhere near as fast as a real ball mouse though.
jbaiter 3 hours ago [-]
I've been using a Logitech trackball for two years now and they're incredibly easy to clean and don't accumulate much dirt on the surface (since they're very smooth), just a little bit on the ceramic balls that they rest on in the case. You just pop out the ball every few weeks, remove the dirt with a cloth and that's it, doesn't take more than a minute.
hakfoo 3 hours ago [-]
Tne trackball rides a couple of bearings and they do pick up scrunge. It doesn't affect tracking unless it gets to the sensor window, but you'll feel it getting progressively stiffer.
jibal 2 hours ago [-]
My Logitech MX Ergo S is resting on my thigh.
jauntywundrkind 3 hours ago [-]
Ploopy is killing it. The trackpad and knob are also both very very high quality. The open firmware is just so ace, makes these devices so so so much better than everything commercial. The future is open source. Why make life bad for your customers? Why spend so much effort to do so so so much worse than high feature + freedom? QMK or bust.
https://ploopy.co/knob/https://ploopy.co/trackpad/
Keychron and System76 are also on the QMK train with their recent keyboards too. (I'm not 100%, would love to know if each of these can be flashed by users.)
I am not sure whether I will order one yet (who am I kidding I probably will) but the products I have ordered, the ploopy knob and the trackball have both been great quality and very usable. The knob in particular is very handy size to use alongside a small computer like a Pocket Reform. As others have said, the track point is less useful off the keyboard although it still requires less hand gestures to move like a trackball so I believe for comfort, there is still value. Track points coming back into vogue would be fantastic though, so anything to support that. There is currently someone trying to install a track point into a Pocket Reform. I am surprised no one has tried similar in a framework laptop
tybstar 4 days ago [-]
This is made for me.
kristianp 3 days ago [-]
This gives me an idea, does anyone sell these?:
HEU N
DIN U
^ M
<⌄> 0.,E
With all full-sized keys? i.e. Numpad, arrows and home-end-insert-delete-pgup-pgdn? i.e. all the keys that Apple's laptops fucked plus numpad.
arcanemachiner 6 hours ago [-]
You can all kinds of keypads on AliExpress that are programmable. Some of them even use QMK.
jrgd 6 hours ago [-]
I’m using the caps unlocked CU7 every day; that’s how i discovered it : same frustration as yours!
( then i jumped onto otholinear keeb and now I’m not even bothered by apple anymore and run omarchy on a second hand thinkpad. Same excitement as when i got my first powerbook in the early 2000s…)
dokyun 3 hours ago [-]
These startup names are starting to get real fuckin' stupid.
Kanata has mouse emulation so you can drive a mouse using arrow keys: https://github.com/jtroo/kanata/blob/main/docs/config.adoc#m...
It was however stuck in customs for quite a while, but I guess that's what I get for ordering custom electronics from Israel right after those pagers blew up.
Checkout Tex Shinobi or Shura if you like Keyboards with Trackpoint.
NGL I was always a fan of TrackPoints for how compact the pointing device was. Also liked the Logitech Trackman Marble for similar reasons. It's kind of cool, though unnecessary, to have a way to get a TrackPoint on a desktop now without being locked to one discontinued Lenovo keyboard.
i'd rather there be an option to just buy the board from you for a few bucks less and get some STLs for the needed prints if you're offering prints like that.
also integrate push-to-talk for voice inputs.
use case is to use it while standing up and moving about -- with a large display screen at a distance. Or my specific interest -- work for extended time on a treadmill.
I’ve never heard these terms before. What is a pointing stick on a computer?
Still waiting for Framework to introduce a keyboard with a trackpoint included, but apparently the room allocated for the keyboard is too thin for it to be possible.
Keychron and System76 are also on the QMK train with their recent keyboards too. (I'm not 100%, would love to know if each of these can be flashed by users.)
Framework is also on the QMK open-source firmware train, for their keyboard + trackpad combo. Also not a new trend for them: their newer laptops I believe all run Zephyr OS for the embedded controller (EC), & are themselves open source too. Before that, the open-source Chromebook EC. I believe it's possible to compile - flash your own. https://frame.work/blog/previewing-the-framework-wireless-to... https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/EmbeddedController/tree...
These companies are both loved, in ways very very few companies are. It's obvious why.
( then i jumped onto otholinear keeb and now I’m not even bothered by apple anymore and run omarchy on a second hand thinkpad. Same excitement as when i got my first powerbook in the early 2000s…)