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Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

ploopy.co

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Re: Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

#71

Post by willwade »

zobzu wrote: post #54
pronik wrote: post #37

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…

it feels like someone promoted ai on what to build and kept going with that same process. the other products sre just as odd lol. fun site though!

I can promise you it isn’t. This totally predates llms. Been using them for a long time

Re: Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

#72

Post by II2II »

pronik wrote: post #37

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…

I have a tendency to tote around a trackball since I cannot stand using a trackpad for extended periods. I would imagine there are people who think similarly, but would want to use something more compact.

Re: Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

#73

Post by regularfry »

neilv wrote: post #63

1. Plea to anyone doing TrackPoint projects: consider using a 6mm TrackPoint assembly that can accommodate an off-the-shelf 6mm Soft Rim cap. See this comparison of the shortening and changing of the TrackPoint cap over time, and you can imagine how the current 3mm caps end up requiring more finger pressure than the 6mm soft rim cap, to get pressure to register: https://saoto28.wixsite.com/trackpoint4life/comparison…

That ought to be a relatively straightforward mod here, as long as the stalk is compatible. It's just clearance on the casing, right?

Re: Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

#75

Post by tra3 »

1dom wrote: post #56
jcgl wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I originally bought the touchpad for my UHK. But, much to my surprise, I have gravitated towards the keyboard's built-in mouse layer over time! Now I scarcely plug in the touchpad (or even key cluster) modules at all. As a sidenote, I love my UHK. Just a joy to use, and it's so easy to customize. I don't have any experience with competitors like the ZSA Voyager, but the UHK's configuration software and macro language…

I had a UHK for a few months before refunding it because the shielding wasn't good enough to stop it becoming unreliable when my mobile phone was within about 30cm of my keyboard. I contacted support and the solution was to move the phone away from the keyboard, which is kind of irritating for such an expensive piece of kit. But, just wanted to share that I was similarly surprised to land on mouse keys as a preferenc…

You bring up a good point -- I have the same issue with mouse keys. I wonder how the track point gets around this. Is the tracepoint "progressive" in that it allows various speeds depends on deflection from center?

Re: Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

#76

Post by vincent-manis »

schmiddim wrote: post #42

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.

I have a Shinobi, and like it, but I recently got an HHKB Studio w, and really like it too.

Re: Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

#77

Post by pronik »

dsr_ wrote: post #64
pronik wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, but which of those buttons would be suitable? Keep in mind, it will be your thumb that needs to land naturally on that button while your index finger rests on the trackpoint. And the scroll button is also usually the middle button even though there are cases where you need middle-mouse drag (looking at you, Blender) for which a fourth button might go quite nice.

I'm right handed, so I would pick the bottom left button as the scroll lock, with the top left button as 1, top right button as 2, and bottom right as 3. "scroll button is also usually the middle button" -- these functions are completely separable in libinput.

Meaning you would be pressing LMB and RMB with your index finger, moving it from the trackpoint itself? I can imagine controlling the trackpoint with the middle finger and use the index and ring finger to press the buttons, but it's far away from the "original" way to do it.

Re: Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

#79

Post by makeitdouble »

1attice wrote: post #66
makeitdouble wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it work better than a trackball (thinking of the Kensington ones) in that respect ?

Depends on the disability. Not a homogenous group. "Work better" for whom?

Yes. Then I couldn't come up with a case where the trackpoint would work great but not a trackball.

Probably my lack of imagination, the article is about desk setup, and while you can move a trackball with basically anything that has friction, a trackpoint is a lot smaller and finicky. A joystick could be a better version if we're thinking adaptive input.

Re: Ploopy Bean: a trackpoint for every computer

#80

Post by makeitdouble »

willwade wrote: post #70
makeitdouble wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it work better than a trackball (thinking of the Kensington ones) in that respect ?

Use those a lot to (always try and focus off the shelf first). But for cases where we need to position differently we often need something custom

Thanks! About off the shelf but customizable, slightly off topic, but Keychron is producing one of the smaller trackballs with full button mapping management:

https://keychron.co.jp/pages/nape-pro

Anyone wanting one that could fit anywhere on any side of a keyboard could be interested.

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