Comment by neilv

> (need to find time to buy an updated one (and a spare) w/ USB-C)

Once you find a TrackPoint keyboard model that you like, buy spares, since you might have a hard time getting a good design in the future.

For example, they went to a lot of trouble to develop TrackPoint keyboard SK-8855, with community input, and then discontinued it. To cries of anguish, scalpers and price-gouging on last remaining stock, and, years later, people selling filthy broken used ones for more than they cost new.

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/pd005137-thinkpad...

I don't think Lenovo has quite the same design sensibilities as IBM ThinkPad team had:

* "You, the user, want to throw away IBM's famed keyboards, and have a chiclet keyboard as the only option." (No.)

* "You want to remove the function keys that aren't necessary for Twitter." (No.)

* "You want to remove the tactile cues from TrackPoint buttons, so it looks more sleek, for your TikTok scrolling." (No. This is not a mindless "content consumer" device. "Think" is right there, in the name.)

* "You want to remove the TrackPoint buttons altogether, from a workstation laptop, so you can get RSI from clicking with your thumb on the touchpad below instead." (No, and now I think you are just trying to sabotage all the smart people who were using ThinkPads before.)

I'm still surprised that IBM was even allowed by the US gov't to sell ThinkPad to China. It was beloved fleet tech of US big business and government, as well beloved by techies ("innovators"). And maybe also a source of technology excellence pride, like fewer companies are now. Imagine the iPhone business being sold to China. Or Cisco being sold.