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Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

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Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#61

Post by daurnimator »

sleepybrett wrote: post #56

There are a couple of off the shelf mechanicals I've seen over the years that include a trackpoint. I think these are the two I'm aware of presently: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_det... (built in) https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/ (as a module) I have used neither. But i've considered trying to hack a trackpoint into one of my modded Kinesis Advantages ( I'm thinking at the intersection…

I've got a tex yoda 2 which has one. Not available any more, but see https://www.tomshardware.com/news/tex-yoda-ii-mechanical-key...

Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#62

Post by Eldandan »

daurnimator wrote: post #61
sleepybrett wrote: post #56

There are a couple of off the shelf mechanicals I've seen over the years that include a trackpoint. I think these are the two I'm aware of presently: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_det... (built in) https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/ (as a module) I have used neither. But i've considered trying to hack a trackpoint into one of my modded Kinesis Advantages ( I'm thinking at the intersection…

I've got a tex yoda 2 which has one. Not available any more, but see https://www.tomshardware.com/news/tex-yoda-ii-mechanical-key...

The first link is to purchase a TEX Yoda II. They're now regularly stocked at mechanicalkeyboards.com, which is awesome.

Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#64

Post by ElijahLynn »

ElijahLynn wrote: post #63

OH MY GOODNESS, I WANT THIS! I have toyed with ditching my MS Natural 4000 for a real ThinkPad Keyboard because I want the TrackPoint! This should allow me to keep the MS Natural 4000 and mod it with the TrackPoint! LOVE THIS!

Actually, the "back|forward" buttons on the 4000 could be used as the primary/secondary input devices too. Put the TrackPoint just below the "Zoom" switch.

Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#65

Post by ElijahLynn »

splatt wrote: post #31

The idea of a trackpoint on my desktop keyboard is what led me to pull the trigger on one of these: https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/

Nice recommendation. For those who want to see it, watch the video at https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/ and at 0:55 you can see the TrackPoint modular add-on.

edit: lol, or just scroll down, it is on the main page.

Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#66

Post by ElijahLynn »

ElijahLynn wrote: post #65
splatt wrote: post #31

The idea of a trackpoint on my desktop keyboard is what led me to pull the trigger on one of these: https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/

Nice recommendation. For those who want to see it, watch the video at https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/ and at 0:55 you can see the TrackPoint modular add-on. edit: lol, or just scroll down, it is on the main page.

The ultimate iteration of this will include programmable OLED keys.

Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#67

Post by Stratoscope »

earthicus wrote: post #52

Does anybody know if there's been a keyboard with dual trackpoints, analogous to dual joysticks on game controllers? I'm almost certain this is whats required for precision mousing. A software controller might look like this: one nub would move a modest sized circle (playing the roll of the hand) quickly around the screen, while the other would make precision movements within that region (playing the roll of fingers)…

If you run Windows, you might enjoy my JKLmouse utility. I designed it for exactly the purpose you're talking about. You can use the TrackPoint for fast movement and seamlessly follow up with pixel-by-pixel movement using either IJKL (and neighboring keys for diagonals), HJKL, or the cursor keys. Also WASD or ESDF for the left hand.

This is similar to the MouseKeys built into Windows, but it's designed for laptop keyboards and does not require a 10-key pad.

Basically, whenever any mouse button is down, all the keys mentioned above become active as mouse movement keys. So just keep the button down and you can use TrackPoint/touchpad or the keyboard interchangeably.

To move the pointer without any mouse button down, you can hold down the Caps Lock key which also activates keyboard mouse control.

There's an installer, or you may prefer getting JKLmouse.ahk and launching it under AutoHotkey.

https://www.jklmouse.com/

Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#68

Post by SuperPaintMan »

rjplatte wrote: post #57
jazzabeanie wrote: post #15

I’d love for someone to build a track pad into the J key, and maybe a high sensitivity trackpad into the K key.

Interesting idea. How would you click?

Remap a button. I have the keys to the right of t,g,b mapped to right, middle, left respectively! Really cozy with a trackball for finicky CAD work

Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#69

Post by devereaux »

acomjean wrote: post #30
lhball wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"When I was a[t] IBM I had a mouse with a nub.." I'ver never wanted anything so badly! Link to Alibaba?

The mouse doesn’t exist sadly. I mentioned alibaba because have trackpoint keyboards though (seemingly in lots of 5). my reply wasn’t clear and lamentably too late to edit.

The mouse does exist, I had one.

Bing IBM SCROLLPOINT 12J3618

Re: Adding a Trackpoint to an Inexpensive Mechanical Keyboard

#70

Post by acomjean »

devereaux wrote: post #69
acomjean wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The mouse doesn’t exist sadly. I mentioned alibaba because have trackpoint keyboards though (seemingly in lots of 5). my reply wasn’t clear and lamentably too late to edit.

The mouse does exist, I had one. Bing IBM SCROLLPOINT 12J3618

Thanks for the model number. I wonder how the driver support is.

I had one at a job too. I remember really liking it. So much better than the wheel. When I said they didn't exist, I meant I couldn't find one on alibaba.. I should reread my posts so they are clearer...

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