Stas Malyarevsky/Shutterstock Since IBM launched the ThinkPad in 1992, the iconic laptop has carried a unique identity in the form of a small red “button” located between the G, H and B keys on the keyboard. But it’s not a button in the traditional sense: it’s a small joystick officially known as TrackPoint. Even under the Lenovo umbrella (IBM’s personal computing division was purchased by Lenovo in 2005), TrackPoint remained a way to offer users a more precise and easily accessible method of moving their mouse cursor. According to a comment by former Lenovo design director David Hill, the TrackPoint was intended to allow typing and moving your cursor without needing to reset your typing position. And over the years, this has persisted, despite the evolution of the laptop industry. It uses several pressure-related resistors that are directly integrated into the body of the laptop keyboard. Each time pressure is applied to the TrackPoint, the resistors sense the pressure and then translate it into mouse cursor movement on your screen. With prices of technology and gadgets expected to rise in 2026, having a way to make a product stand out could be key to keeping consumers invested in a company’s ecosystem. The decades-long legacy and overall usefulness of the TrackPoint remains a reason why consumers choose a ThinkPad over some of the best laptops on the market. Should you use TrackPoint on a standard trackpad? Hnjosh/Shutterstock Opinions on whether you should use the TrackPoint or your laptop’s trackpad vary from person to person. Some fans say it’s better than a standard trackpad, saying it offers more movement without as much effort thanks to its sensitivity. Others say sensitivity is one of the TrackPoint’s biggest weaknesses, while others say those who complain about it are using it incorrectly. The TrackPoint centers around a style of typing known as touch typing, a popular way of typing using all ten fingers without having to look at the keyboard. Touch input relies on a set of “home keys” located right where the TrackPoint rests. The position of the small red button was chosen specifically to facilitate interaction with the cursor using one of the fingers positioned near it, so that you can adjust your cursor without having to completely remove your hand. If you use touch input positioning, it could absolutely be worth experimenting with TrackPoint if you already own a ThinkPad. If you want to try the TrackPoint yourself, you may soon want to get a ThinkPad with it. Despite the iconic red joystick history, Lenovo launched the ThinkPad Many therefore wonder if the little red button will last or if it could be removed in the future. Post navigation Is it safe to use a third-party USB-C charger for your MacBook?
Stas Malyarevsky/Shutterstock Since IBM launched the ThinkPad in 1992, the iconic laptop has carried a unique identity in the form of a small red “button” located between the G, H and B keys on the keyboard. But it’s not a button in the traditional sense: it’s a small joystick officially known as TrackPoint. Even under the Lenovo umbrella (IBM’s personal computing division was purchased by Lenovo in 2005), TrackPoint remained a way to offer users a more precise and easily accessible method of moving their mouse cursor. According to a comment by former Lenovo design director David Hill, the TrackPoint was intended to allow typing and moving your cursor without needing to reset your typing position. And over the years, this has persisted, despite the evolution of the laptop industry. It uses several pressure-related resistors that are directly integrated into the body of the laptop keyboard. Each time pressure is applied to the TrackPoint, the resistors sense the pressure and then translate it into mouse cursor movement on your screen. With prices of technology and gadgets expected to rise in 2026, having a way to make a product stand out could be key to keeping consumers invested in a company’s ecosystem. The decades-long legacy and overall usefulness of the TrackPoint remains a reason why consumers choose a ThinkPad over some of the best laptops on the market. Should you use TrackPoint on a standard trackpad? Hnjosh/Shutterstock Opinions on whether you should use the TrackPoint or your laptop’s trackpad vary from person to person. Some fans say it’s better than a standard trackpad, saying it offers more movement without as much effort thanks to its sensitivity. Others say sensitivity is one of the TrackPoint’s biggest weaknesses, while others say those who complain about it are using it incorrectly. The TrackPoint centers around a style of typing known as touch typing, a popular way of typing using all ten fingers without having to look at the keyboard. Touch input relies on a set of “home keys” located right where the TrackPoint rests. The position of the small red button was chosen specifically to facilitate interaction with the cursor using one of the fingers positioned near it, so that you can adjust your cursor without having to completely remove your hand. If you use touch input positioning, it could absolutely be worth experimenting with TrackPoint if you already own a ThinkPad. If you want to try the TrackPoint yourself, you may soon want to get a ThinkPad with it. Despite the iconic red joystick history, Lenovo launched the ThinkPad Many therefore wonder if the little red button will last or if it could be removed in the future.
