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Comment by sandipagr | Hacker News Reader

My thinkpad technically has 3 buttons (just for the record). I think the user experience would suck (for me at least). With mouse, I use my index finger and middle finger for left and right buttons so my thumb is free. But with laptop, I use my thumb to press both left right buttons. I don't think I would want to use my middle/index finger to press any touchpad buttons except the touchpad itself.

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And on a side note, Thinkpads are the reason I started this thread. I'd never buy another brand of PC laptop, and I realized that's entirely because of a $.10 middle buttton and a $.50 Trackpoint. Seems insane that PC laptop manufacturers aren't differentiating themselves with extra buttons, scroll wheels, etc... they all use the exact same tiny touchpads and 2 smooth, shitty buttons.

You nailed it. I always wondered how come somebody like Dell never wised up to the trackpoint and middle button. I'm wondering whether they have some sort of exclusive patent on design.

I'm more or less happy on a Mac when I use one, but the thinkpad keyboard is actually one of the biggest reasons I use linux. I can't give up the trackpoint.

I also have a Thinkpad, and I think they solve this quite nicely. You can clearly differentiate between the 3 buttons due to how '3D' and sculpted each button is. None of the buttons feel the same to the thumb. (At least for the Trackpoint buttons. The touchpad buttons are as terrible as any other laptop manufacturer).

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