Don't overlook the pointing devices! (Mouse device)
Aug 29 '00
A frequently overlooked feature (or pain) of laptops is that they have integrated pointing devices, and not all of them are the same.
Touchpad: (Frequency:Common) Touchpads in my opinion are horrible input devices, and why laptop vendors still put them in laptops drive me nuts. The reason is that so many things can go wrong. Touchpads are fairly inaccurate, you don't need to touch it with your finger for the cursor to move(sometimes brushing by it with your wrist will cause it to select and delete your entire document). The other factor is that they waste too much space on laptops and should never EVER be in sub-laptop devices.
Trackball: (Frequency:Rare) Trackballs are infrequent and they have a higher chance of breaking down then touchpads (due to there being a unsealed moving part, the ball.) however they don't use as much laptop real estate and do not even have to be located in front of the keyboard (trackballs exhibit the mass-select/accidental deletion problem too)
Accupoint/Pointing stick/J-key: (Frequency: uncommon (IBM and Toshiba use them)) Usually the best choice for sub-laptop designs next to touch sensitive screens, the pointing stick type of pointing device has no mechanical parts, is inexpensive to have replaced, the surface of them can be replaced without any tools (just pull it off). The pointing stick types also occupy no extra space unlike the Touchpad and Trackball pointing devices. There are a few disadvantages though. Some prefer hooking up an external mouse or trackball over using the pointing stick since they are a fair bit more sensitive and take more time to get used to.
TouchScreen: (Frequency: Common on PDA's, less common on laptops) Touch screens have many benefits and tradeoffs, of which the fact that they are the most expensive type being the number one reason it's only on smaller screens. Touch screens are just like touch pads, but use a stylus for better accuracy, and are much more accurate since you only have to point where, instead of a lot of hand movements like that of a touchpad or mouse. Touch screens are fairly inaccurate without using a stylus, and should not be operated without one. There is also the problem of crushing the LCD panel if too much force is used (no force is necessary) while clicking on the screen.
Overall:
Get a Laptop with a "Pointing Stick" if your laptop/notebook/subnotebook/PDA has a keyboard. They are far more accurate and easy to use than a Touchpad.
Get a Touchpad if you enjoy using a Touchpad, otherwise avoid them.
See if you can get a Touch-screen instead of a Touch pad.
Note: Pointing Sticks and Touch-screens waste no more space then if they were not present, but touch-pads and trackballs waste 1" to 4" of laptop real estate.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Kisai
|
|
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Reviews written: 43
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
Computer Technician
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.