I had to register to comment. It is my duty to comment and protect society from irresponsible people that somehow manage to get a position that can influence and affect other people without having proper knowledge and quality of thinking.
I am surprised to see someone who does not want to use a tool to consider that he or she represents the whole group of users and suggest simply based on his personal experience and taste what a company should do. The view that one can represent others, simply because one has the power to write and publish one's opinion and broadcast it to many people, is at least unethical. There is a large number of people who use the trackpoint, and their work and efficiency depends on it. Yet, the author thinks that simply because he has the power to affect and influence the company and its decisions, he has the right to do so. I am deeply disappointed and i consider this the most irresponsible attitude for a journalist. A responsible journalist first needs to research and analyse and then present his findings. Expressing one's opinion on these matters should not be done with the cover of an expert. First, the trackpoint is a marvel of ergonomics, and the comparison with the touchpad is irrelevant. It is a different tool and for those that prefer it it is obviously better than the touchpad. For me, trackpoint is essential and it is the reason I buy Thinkpads. Are you suggesting that this company should lose me as a customer and produce laptops that are essentially the same as the ones of all other companies? Additionally, touchpad and trackpoint my supplement each other. For those who have spent time to customize it and learn how to use it, it is much more efficient than the touchpad. Second, even if the trackpoint is not useful to some, it does not cause any issue for the ones who do not choose not to use it and they can simply neglect it, or choose models which do not offer it. Third, how one works and uses a tool is a very personal thing, and since there are not many options and other companies offering the trackpoint, the author should respect the need of these people to work as they choose. Fourth, it is only because of ignorance that someone can reject the trackpoint; one can type on the keyboard and without any effort and long movement of the hand also control the mouse pointer. These small differences is what defines ergonomics. Manufacturers know and respect that they cannot make radical changes to things such as keyboards, because people build their habits over the years and their productivity depends on that. Manufacturers do not change where the keys on the keyboard are every year, can you imagine how much inconvenience this would bring to the users? The same holds for the trackpoint. Is it ethical to do that simply because one person does not use it, or because we think people using it are not worth it? What kind of racism is this? ThinkPad users have tried very hard to convince how crucial the trackpoint and the physical buttons are for them, and the company has listened, and realized this feature is one of the few features left that separate the Thinkpad line from the competitors and give a crucial advantage to the company. However, once the decision to remove it is made, there is no turning back. Some times, managers in new positions are not aware and do not have enough time to appreciate the unique features of their products. This article attempts to take advantage of any such weakness that exists now or appears in the future about the gaps in the management line. This article attempts to deceive people who lack knowledge about the trackpoint history and utility, and tries to convince them to bring a change simply because one cannot understand and somehow hates a unique feature.
"But it's just not necessary anymore. " your article is full of unsupported sentences.
"How is this experience remotely better than just using the excellent trackpad with the gestures and taps you would use on any modern laptop?" It is better in the way that you do not know how to use it. It is better in the way that you fully and perfectly control the mouse pointer without having to remove your fingers from the keys and you increase your productivity. These changes multiply productivity. The increase is the same as going from one finger typing to both hands typing.
You took the risk of not sounding unpopular (by this you recognize that popular is the desire and need of people to use the trackpoint and thus you reveal that you are trying to enforce your opinion to many other people who think and believe differently) but you sound something else, totally irresponsible and uneducated.
Why do you say "Who still uses this thing in 2023"? Since when is ergonomics and useful design a thing of the past? Have you seen the video of Rossmann? This is a guy to have as an example, a guy that offers to society in contrast to you.
People are happy to use middle button and trackpoint and scroll. Still you want to take useful features away.
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