Thinkpad eraserhead for one very important ergonomic reason:

You can move easily between the eraserhead and typing as it is located in the keyboard itself. With a touchpad, I feel like I have to move my hands back and forth too much.

I can't use those stick pointer things at all, despite several tries at various times. Perhaps I've just used the trackpad for so long that it has never bothered me. I don't even remember needing a long adjustment period for the trackpad, so it certainly wins given that I haven't found the sticks to be as easy to just sit down and use.

I will qualify my trackpad preference by saying I don't allow any clicking or dragging on it. I have nothing but trouble when they do that. I've also found most drivers under Windows are pretty lame with trackpads, so perhaps this is why there's more bias towards the stick. I dunno. I use PowerBooks, so I don't have a choice beyond mouse or trackpad anyway.

As for needing two hands instead of one, I've never found that to be the case at all. I can't see how the pointing stick would free you from using two hands or the trackpad would cause you to need the other hand where the stick wouldn't. Unless it's just bad design, of course. Trackpads should ideally be set up to point with the index finger and click the button(s) with the thumb. And again, no clicking or dragging on the pad.

I'm a trackpad girl. Both my Powerbook and ThinkPad have one and I can't imagine a better pointing device for on the go. Of course, I prefer a high resolution mouse when tethered at a desk. I've never liked the kitten nose (love that description, btw!) as after several hours of use, my fingertips are in agony. I guess I don't have callouss' in the right places.

My wife has a much more amusing word for them. It starts with "Cl..."

Get Soft Dome replacement trackpoint caps. They are much gentler on your figure tips. And they dont become slippery with wear or dirt like the standard ones either.

You can order them here

You need to adjust the trackpoint sensitivity/acceleration settings. You can set so that when you are not pushing hard it goes really slowly and as you push harder it will accelerate so you have both fine control and the ability to zip around the screen at the same time.

I prefer the trackpoint and that is why I stick with IBM, makers of the best laptops on the market today.

Dan

Has anyone else had trouble with a slippery nipple on Dell laptops? Just had the keyboard replaced on my Latitude, again, since even with the nipple disabled the pointer moved in completely random patterns. A serious pain when attempting PPT presentations.

I can't stand them. I strongly prefer using a pointer stick or trackball.

Unfortunately, my new laptop has only a touchpad. Other than that, its a great machine - Toshiba Portege M200 Tablet PC.

I guess it's what you get used to...
I always adjust the settings in control panel to get the right feel.
I have a dell with both the eraser and the pad, I always end up using the pad.
I still prefer to use a mouse when convenient, but I already carry too much other crap to haul a mouse with me on the road.

Yeah, I've got a D600 with a slippery nipple. It frequently decides to just head north and east of it's own accord. I guess the Dell folks figured this would happen, because after 3/4 of a trip across the screen, it "recalibrates" and stops again.

Always hated the touch pads...love the "nipple".

Recently I picked up one of these and love it. It's smaller than a normal mouse, and fit's easily in my bag. Great in hotels.

Trackball �ber alles. But I don't think they're offered by any major manufacturer any more.

Tons of people make trackballs, tons.
You just need to look around they are all over the place.

Yes, I know, I have one at home and one at work. I meant trackballs built into the laptop as the "native" pointing device. At least, it doesn't seem to be an option with any Dell, HP, IBM, Toshiba, Fujitsu, or Sony.