The Major Pointing Devices
Clockwise from the mouse at the upper left are the trackball, pointing stick (red tip) and touchpad.
Freedom of Choice
Some laptops provide a pointing stick and touchpad on the same machine, both of which are active at the same time. (Image courtesy of Winbook Computer Corporation, www.winbook.com)
![]() | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Apple Tablet - Unofficial, unannounced ... but still delayed
- You guys have been asking...You guys have been asking for a Mac tablet for years already, while we have been able to get tablet PCs for many years now, in many different form factors and from many different vendors.Yet when you close your world off by relying solely on Apple,...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Apple hints at possible pen-based tablet
- Pretty much anything that includes the words "Apple" and "tablet" in the same sentence is going to get the attention of the blognoscenti, but when it comes from Apple itself, people pay attention. Exhibit A is 9 to 5 Mac's piece today about a patent...
- Blog posts 2009-11-12
- Green building boom
- Somebody please explain something here.How can these green building--and associated manufacturing--jobs not be the same old "not green" jobs just slid into a new spot? Are these in addition to the "not green" jobs. Are the old "not green" just canned and dropped from the rolls of humanity....
- Discussion threads 2009-11-11
- Typical On-Screen Keyboard 1.2.0.15 (Windows)
- Typical On-Screen Keyboard is a utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the screen and allows users to type data using a pointing device or a touch screen. It can be used on regular PC, Ultra-Mobile PC UMPC, Tablet PC, interactive kiosk, surface computer, and multiuser touch table. Typical On-Screen...
- Software downloads 2009-10-16
- Typical Virtual Keyboard 1.2.0.15 (Windows)
- Typical Virtual Keyboard is a utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the screen and allows users to type data using a pointing device or a touch screen. It can be used on regular PC, Ultra-Mobile PC UMPC, Tablet PC, interactive kiosk. Typical Virtual Keyboard is a small tray-based program...
- Software downloads 2009-10-16
- The T-Mobile-Microsoft Sidekick data disaster: Poor IT management going mainstream
- If you're a T-Mobile Sidekick user who put data, contacts and other items in the cloud we have some bad news for you: Your data is gone...probably forever. With cloud computing increasingly reaching the masses the average consumer will soon be enmeshed in the world of poor IT management. Welcome...
- Blog posts 2009-10-11
- Sprint announces Samsung Moment Google Android device, which would you buy?
- Now I'm Torn...I was all set to pick up the HTC Hero, but now...I really like what I've seen of the Sense UI, but having a physical keyboard option and a faster processor would be nice. I wonder if the Moment will have an internal compass like I believe...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-08
- Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch CTH661
- I'll admit, I've never used a pen tablet before. I guess, in that respect, I'm Wacom's target customer. Its new line of multitouch-enabled tablets are designed and priced for budget-minded consumers, and unlike many of its more professional brethren, Wacom aims for a look that's simpler than ever before. The...
- Product reviews 2009-10-05
- Apple's tablet UI patent unearthed
- You really can't be serious...can you?From the looks of the graphic...the "touch screen" is going to be at least SIXTEEN INCHES wide.That makes it REAL convenient to carry around.That looks to beone awfully large tablet. I wonder if they will copy Microsoft's idea, and make a folding tablet?GraphicPatent application graphics...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-02
- Apple's tablet UI patent unearthed
- The good bloodhounds at AppleInsider discovered a patent application filed for Apple in June 2009, that details a new touch-sensitive, user interface designed for tablets. Signs of Apple's tablet UI first appeared Apple's tablet UI in early 2008. The document details a hand-based system that would allow "unprecedented...
- Blog posts 2009-10-02
- Happy Mac Command Line Phobia Defeater 0.0.0.0.0.0.1 (Mac)
- This program is in the early alpha stage of development and only at version 0.0.0.0.0.0.1 BUT WE HAVE GREAT HOPES FOR THIS PROGRAM WE REALLY LIKE THIS PROGRAM. Please read on. Are you tired of grappling with the unforgivable Terminal? Don't you too long for the good old beige box...
- Software downloads 2009-09-27
- Hijacking Windows System Restore for cybercrime profits
- welp.... they are finally getting a taste of their own crap.I wonder what they are doing. We use steadystate on all of our machines. Reboot the machine and everything is restored.Maybe they should move from a PC based environment to a terminal server like system. Each reboot...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-23
- The 10 biggest moments in IT history
- Missing: Tim Berners-Lee?The Mouse, and the GUI ...... without the invention of the mouse or the GUI/WYSIWYG there would not be as many users as there are today, and I would hazard a guess that it would be restricted to business applications like accounting, and Data Analysis.LudoRE: The 10...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-21
- Microsoft's Windows 7 ad campaign kicks off
- Cute. [NT]ntCute.Not sure it's effective though. It may be. But... flows like a book ad. Will probably be effective only in certain segments. So I bet we will see a couple very different ads.RE: Microsoft's Windows 7 ad campaign kicks offlooks like they brain washed her, since when 6 year...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-11
- Apple music/iPod event rumored for September
- MediaMemo citing "music industry sources" reports that Apple is planning a keynote event for the week of September 7th. Apple has held similar events in September for the past four years, so it isn't much of a surprise. MacRumors breaks it down: 2008: Apple held a...
- Blog posts 2009-08-13
- Logitech's new wireless presenters help you wrangle your next PowerPoint slides
- In addition to new gaming accessories, Logitech has also introduced two new wireless presenters, its Professional Presenter R800 and Wireless Presenter R400. Both of the contoured, plug-and-play presenters include laser pointing, wireless convenience and slideshow controls that can be found by...
- Blog posts 2009-08-06
- Visions of laser beams filling the skies to boost WiFi's strength
- Several years ago, I wrote about an outdoor wireless mesh networking project, a downtown area that would be blanketed with a WiFi signal by access points and routers scattered throughout the area - in bus shelters, on light poles and even in some trees. The problem with...
- Blog posts 2009-07-23
- The future of mobile malware - digitally signed by Symbian?
- Earlier this month, a mobile malware known as Transmitter.C, Sexy View, Sexy Space or SYMBOS_YXES.B, slipped through Symbian's mobile code signing procedure, allowing it to act as a legitimate application with access to device critical functions such as access to the mobile network, and numerous other functions of the handset....
- Blog posts 2009-07-23
- D-Link Xtreme N Storage Router DIR-685
- First announced at CES 2009, D-Link's Xtreme N Storage "all-in-one" Router DIR-685 is the first wireless router that can also work as a network storage device and as a digital photo frame. However, we wish it were a $150 cheaper stand-alone router, as its $300 asking price is too high....
- Product reviews 2009-07-17
- Analyst: Forget the Feds, Apple is 'doing just fine at wrecking the wireless business'
- Analyst: Forget the Feds, Apple is 'doing just fine at wrecking the wireless business'that's like SAP "wrecked" outsourcing...while I agree the govt inquiry may come to nothing, Moffat's argument is ingenious. By agreeing to a locked SIM, allowing AT&T to continue to play games with 3rd party apps like Skype...
- Discussion threads 2009-07-13
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