I’d like some trackpoints - as found on many laptops.
Despite much googling, I can’t find any at all, anywhere.
And the PSP stick, or the thumbstick available on SFE aren’t suitable.
My understanding is that most used on laptops have a PS/2 interface. This goes for the internal trackpads as well. So it should be easy enough to interface with one stolen from a laptop.
you could use a resistive or capacitance touch panel
noptical:
you could use a resistive or capacitance touch panel
Not really - I want pretty much exactly a thumbstick. I want to try modding it into my eeepc, as I hate touchpads.
I know digikey or mouser has some small joystick type things. You’d have to add some additional electronics to interface it to your computer, however. An atmel usb micro might be a good place to start. I think the ‘teensy’ break out board has some sample fw for the hid stuff.
The actual physical trackpoint mechanism - a small immobile force-sensitive joystick does not seem to be available anywhere.
Digikey, mouser, even googling seems only to result in hits from patents.
The interfacing side isn’t so much a problem - sourcing the stick is.
From memory - it’s about 15152mm or so, with the stick coming out of the middle.
I’ve seen them at surplus places but it’s pretty much hit-or-miss. It’s such a specialized part for a very specific application, I’m pretty sure they are all custom designed for the OEM.
I checked web site of the one low-volume product I know of that incorporates one, and [their site says:
the maker of the TrackStick (CTS) used in our pointing device has gone out of business and we are unable to find a replacement that will fit in the Twiddler2 case
Buying an old laptop keyboard or mouse that uses one may be your only option. Seems like it would be really hard to get it to work well in a keyboard it wasn’t designed for even if you could find the component.](http://www.handykey.com/)