As more computer companies emerged, many of them adopted the pointing stick. Originally, the pointing stick was only found on IBM computers, but new computer manufacturers were popping up all over the place, and many of them contracted with IBM to use various designs owned by the company.īy the early 2000s, you could find the nub mouse controllers on all kinds of laptops, including those made by HP, Toshiba, Sony, Samsung, Gateway, and many more. It was deputed in the 90s, and they formally patented the TrackPoint in the late 90s after the patent is when the feature became a lot more prominent. IBM’s answer to that conundrum was the TrackPoint. Having to carry a mouse around with the laptop was annoying, but building a mouse into the device made it heavier and more complicated. When laptops were still thick and heavy, engineers were trying to find ways to reduce cumbersome design elements. The TrackPoint was originally designed by IBM in the early 90s. Where Does the Small Red Button or So-Called Trackpoint Come From? You can also control sensitivity and other features. That is where you can adjust how it functions. Under that option, you should see a listing for the TrackPoint. When you look at your computer settings, you want to look for mouse properties. For laptops that have this device installed, you can find the custom control options in your software. You can also set it to function as a zoom feature or a mouse button. This causes it to scroll screens instead of controlling the mouse cursor, and this is a popular use for the device. You can use properties to allow scrolling from the track point. Also, like other mouse interfaces, the TrackPoint can be customized to give you the control features you prefer. It takes a little practice, but the overall execution is intuitive and easy to master with little practice. We can talk about how that actually works in a bit.įor the most part, controlling a pointing stick is much like any other mouse control. Or, you can apply more pressure, and the mouse will move faster.
That means that (at least in theory) you can push it gently to barely move the mouse.
The nub is intended to be fairly responsive to the pressure you apply to it. Some people much prefer this method of control as compared to a trackpad, but plenty of others disagree. You can push it in different directions, and the cursor on your screen will respond accordingly. We’ll get into the modern versions later. Today, you see fewer TrackPoints than ever, but they do still exist. The concept is simple, and it was fairly popular on laptops for a long time. The button is designed to work as a mouse on a laptop. There are other colloquial names, but those are the main names. It is known as a pointing stick, TrackPoint, or nub. Let’s get started! Why Is There a Small Red Button in the Middle of a Laptop Keyboard?
So if you want to learn all about this tiny small red button on laptop keyboards, then you’re in the right place. It was more popular in the past, but new laptops still utilize the feature. The red button is a mouse controller that is commonly used on laptops to save space on the keyboard part of the layout.įormally called a TrackPoint, this device allows you to fully control a mouse without the need for a trackpad. Here’s what the small red button in the middle of a laptop keyboard is for:
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