# Does your laptop have a Pointstick... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480 "2012-01-24T05:30:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/1 "2012-01-24T05:30:26Z")
If so, do you use it? I have a new Dell work laptop with the pointstick (the button in the keyboard that works as a mouse). I HATE it! I remember these damn things from the 90s and thought they went away with trackpads. So far, it is only good for accidentally hitting while I’m typing and sending the cursor off to some other place, causing me to have to retype. I can turn it off, but doing so makes my trackpad buttons stop working, also, it resets when the computer is turned off. Man, Dell really blows. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/2 "2012-01-24T05:37:28Z")
You mean the Tit Mouse? Had Ibm chosen a color other than hot pink… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/3 "2012-01-24T05:44:41Z")
Check the Dell website for the touchpad/pointing stick driver software. You don’t need it, of course, just to use the touchpad and pointing stick as mice, but installing it should allow you to turn off one or the other. You can also disable both when you have an external mouse connected. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/4 "2012-01-24T05:50:58Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Check the Dell website for the touchpad/pointing stick driver software. You don’t need it, of course, just to use the touchpad and pointing stick as mice, but installing it should allow you to turn off one or the other. You can also disable both when you have an external mouse connected. Thanks, I’ll give it a shot. The Dell program that controls the Pointstick and Trackpad is really wonky. I can’t get the trackpad scrolling to work. Normally, none of this is an issue since I usually use the computer in a dock with separate keyboard and mouse. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/5 "2012-01-24T06:12:10Z")
I have a touchpad from Dell. It’s controlled by Dell Quickset software. It does several notebook functions. Checks the battery, touchpad etc. I think the touchpad has its own driver too. It’s been awhile since I reinstalled Windows on my laptop. [http://www.direct-laptops-guide.com/dell-quickset.html](http://www.direct-laptops-guide.com/dell-quickset.html) ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/6 "2012-01-24T06:17:52Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I have a touchpad from Dell. It’s controlled by Dell Quickset software. It does several notebook functions. Checks the battery, touchpad etc. > > I think the touchpad has its own driver too. It’s been awhile since I reinstalled Windows on my laptop. > [abcdbet-Descubra a nova plataforma revolucionária de jogos no Brasil!-abcdbet.com](http://www.direct-laptops-guide.com/dell-quickset.html) I don’t have Dell Quickset, but instead have Dell Touchpad under Control Panel. This opens a program that controls (poorly) the pointing devices. For some reason, everything resets when the computer is turned off, yet opening the program shows all the settings being as I had them. Very strange/poorly written program. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/7 "2012-01-24T06:31:48Z")
Your poll has no choice for someone without a clit mouse. I like them better than trackpads, which seem to randomly work and usually not when you want them too. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/8 "2012-01-24T06:34:21Z")
Yes, I have a Lenovo. But the pointstick is quite recessed (between the G, H, and B keys) and stiff to move so it never moves accidentally and I don’t use it on purpose. I’m all trackpad, all the time. I just ignore it, doesn’t bother me. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/9 "2012-01-24T07:35:16Z")
They’re not all created equal. The TrackPoint on Thinkpads are excellent. Dell’s (whatever they call it) is awful. Fujitsu is OK. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/10 "2012-01-24T21:07:14Z")
I held on to my “Certified for Windows 2000” Thinkpad until 2010 because I am totally in love with the TrackPoint. Using the track pad or whatever it is has been an awful experience. Every time I go to use it, the icon turns into a picture of a scrollbar and nothing happens. When I want to use the scrollbar feature, it never comes up. Thank God for little wireless mice. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/11 "2012-01-24T22:54:48Z")
Is this an update of the old school erasertip “mice”? Those sucked. My current laptop (old) has a regular pad, with, thankfully, the ability to turn off clicking using the pad. I hate that feature. Way, way more than the thing mentioned in this thread. My previous one was actually okay. It was like the eraser, but larger (0.75-1 inch diameter) and plastic. And below, not in the middle of the keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/12 "2012-01-25T01:19:30Z")
The worst UI device ever created. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/13 "2012-01-25T14:23:48Z")
I kinda like them, but I haven’t seen a new computer with one in quite a while. They definitely aren’t popular on netbooks. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/14 "2012-01-25T16:00:40Z")
I could always mouse much more accurately with the clit mice or trackball vs a touchpad, so it baffles me why basically all new laptops/netbooks come with only a touchpad. That said, my newest laptop has only the touchpad and I just use a wireless mouse generally. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/15 "2012-01-25T16:06:32Z")
Another vote for “I don’t have one and I don’t feel strongly about them”. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/16 "2012-01-25T16:09:15Z")
I wanted to say “not now but my old laptop did” + “I never used it” + “I HATE them”. My dad has a Dell and he has disabled the trackpad and uses the “nipple” exclusively. I never ask to borrow it. ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/17 "2012-01-25T17:10:08Z")
I’ve never gotten along well with touchpads (except for my personal netbook, I lucked out there), so I used the ‘dot’ mouse almost exclusively when it’s available. My issue is that I use it left handed, so I have to contort my hand to click the mouse button. I much prefer a regular mouse to either. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/18 "2012-01-26T00:53:25Z")
> [@FlyByNight512](#): > > I’ve never gotten along well with touchpads (except for my personal netbook, I lucked out there), so I used the ‘dot’ mouse almost exclusively when it’s available. My issue is that I use it left handed, so I have to contort my hand to click the mouse button. I much prefer a regular mouse to either. Can’t you change the handedness of the ‘dot’ mouse? For me, my work laptop (Dell latitude) has one, but I never use it, and it doesn’t get in the way. I think I tried it once or twice, but found it awkward. My personal laptops don’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/19 "2012-01-27T00:11:14Z")
Yes, and I use it - but I also _hate_ it. It’s rough on the fingers and very fatiguing. This laptop also has a touchpad which I hate even worse. I use an external mouse whenever I cna. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480/20 "2012-01-27T04:40:50Z")
Mine does not have one, but I wish it did. I hate touchpads and almost always use a mouse, but if it had a stick I might use it occasionally. They are nowhere near as good as a mouse, but better than a pad. Your poll is messed up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-laptop-have-a-pointstick/610480.md?page=2)