They tried that a few generations ago with the X240 etc. It was a complete disaster. The buttons are critical. Many people, myself included, find every aspect of the Mac poor ergonomics, including the touchpad. The trackpoint buttons work great along the top. Especially to easily hit middle button. I'd have to see someone in action to understand why they need even more space.

Same issue here. I had a generation of the X1 Carbon where they had removed the physical mouse buttons, and it's the only laptop I've ever had to return.

You'll have to take the trackpoint from my cold dead hands... I find it superior to a trackpad, as I don't have to take my hands off the keyboard.

Haven't had a Thinkpad in over a decade and I'm still mourning the loss of the trackpoint.

Lol. I know people like you in real life. They're on old thinkpad but dread buying new one.

Ha - I'd prefer the opposite! - get rid of the trackpad :)

Some old models (X201 or X201s iirc, so around 2011) could be configured without a trackpad. A 12-inch notebook with a 7-row keyboard and trackpoint is fantastic!

It wasn't even an option on the older ones like my 2005 X41. But indeed the keyboard/trackpoint combination on the X201 was perfect.

I love the trackpoint as well - when I'm on my own system I have configured hotkeys, a launcher, and qutebrowser, so I can do almost anything without needing a mouse.

Unfortunately, the company I work at is a huge MS fan, and I've found it very hard to use a workflow that does not depend on fast and precise movements with the cursor - so I switched back to the mouse, unfortunately.

Have you tried a trackball? I use a Kensington Slimblade with my multi-monitor setup at work and I find it far superior to a mouse.

The one thing I like about the trackpoint is that I don't really have to move my hands to use it.

I agree, but a trackball will give you the fast and precise movements you say a trackpoint doesn't give you. You'll also be able to move your hands less compared to using a mouse.

The only reason why I just bought a (used) Thinkpad instead of another manufacturer is the Trackpoint. I find it so much easier to use while typing, especially when sitting with the laptop on your lap.

I'm sitting at an 11e right now. Maybe I'm odd, but I miss the physical buttons. Other than that, it's a great little machine to keep in the family room (armored against my 3 year old's attacks ;-) ) And the trackpad's certainly better than the one on the more powerful HP I've got in the other room.