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Best Laptop with a Trackball (Find Out Here!)

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Laptops have come a long way today; they have been through several cycles of change since their invention. At one point or the other, laptops have had different components in their make-up that have gradually been modified.

These devices were invented based on the idea of the portable computer, having all the components of the computer in a compact form, including a case, motherboard, monitor, central processing unit, volatile memory, internal storage, and input devices like a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, and a trackball.

A trackball, an input device similar to the mouse, can be described as an upside-down mouse. However, Trackball existed long before the advent of a mouse; hence, a mouse is an upside trackball. Thus, they are closely related to the mouse.

In addition, they are arguably better than mouse in that they can be built into a computer or laptop. Users who at one time or the other ever used trackballs may have noticed that they have become a comparatively rare device on consumer laptop hardware as laptops no longer have them attached to their keyboards. 

This article will answer your questions about the best laptops with trackballs and tell you how to get the best trackball experience.


Best Laptop with a Trackball

Laptop with a Trackball
Laptops with trackballs are no longer manufactured. The reason is because of the construction of the trackball itself. The technology used in trackballs, however, has been integrated into other types of input devices.

There are no longer laptops with trackballs; however, some laptops have track points similar to trackballs. The best laptops with track points are the Lenovo Thinkpad P53, Toshiba Dynabook Tecra, and Dell Latitude 5400. In addition, one can connect an external mouse or a touchpad using a touch screen-compatible laptop. 

These input devices function in the same manner. The reason laptops with trackballs no longer exist because of their construction. The Trackball is an input control device used in computers and laptops that is shaped like a ball that can be rotated and held firmly within a socket with one or two clickable buttons. 

The socket has sensors that interpret the ball’s movements to control the on-screen cursor. Finally, a trackball is located on the keyboard, usually in front of the keyboard within the keys. All these components and placement make trackballs much larger and impractical compared to alternative input devices. Hence, laptops with trackballs have faded out of existence. Instead, they have been replaced by other preferred input devices like the touchpad and track point. 

The cost of Trackball is another primary reason why they are no longer preferred. Track balls have moveable parts, the ball, and the socket. This costs more money than the mouse and even the touchpad. This is because its components have to be designed to be easily removed, replaced, and cleaned.

Also, laptops are getting increasingly thinner; this progression has made Trackball outdated. The dimensions of the ball, especially its height, make it difficult for laptops to reduce their thickness. 

If the balls are made to be smaller to fit, they will be unable to perform their function of moving the cursor; they need space to be able to work properly. The use of trackballs also requires some level of training, unlike some other input devices. 

Hence, trackballs have been replaced by track points very similar to trackballs. Track points are located within the keys of the keyboard and are of different colors (usually red, blue, or black.


1) Lenovo Thinkpad P53

Lenovo ThinkPad P53 Workstation Laptop (Intel i7-9750H 6-Core, 32GB RAM, 1TB SATA SSD, Quadro T1000, 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080), Fingerprint, Bluetooth, Webcam, 2xUSB 3.1, 1xHDMI, SD Card, Win 10 Pro)

This is the best laptop with a track point on this list. The Lenovo brand has created a niche with its Trackpoint under the Thinkpad series.

  • Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is known for its portability because of its build. It is ultralight and thin, weighing about 2.49 pounds. With this design, it can easily be put in its bag and carried everywhere; this advantage is sought after by most day-to-day users.
  • Also, the Carbon in its name indicates that the body is assembled with carbon fiber to give a durable build and lessen its weight as carbon fiber is very light and strong.
  • It is a 14-inch laptop with a FULL HD display (1920 x 108O) IPS resolution. It also comes with the multiprocessor Intel Core i7 processor and 32 GB DDRAM. With this, the laptop can run all programs smoothly and at a fast speed. 
  • It bags a 512 GB storage capacity with enough ports, including two thunderbolts 4, two USB 3.2, 1 HDMI, and 1 3.5mm audio port. With these, it can connect to multiple external devices like monitors, mice, and printers.


2) Toshiba Dynabook Tecra A50-F

Dynabook Toshiba Tecra A50 15.6" Business Laptop Computer_ Intel Celeron 4205U 1.8GHz_ 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD_ WiFi 6_ Bluetooth 5.0_ Remote Work_ Windows 10 Pro Education

This laptop has a track point. The pointing device in Toshiba laptops is usually colored blue.

  • The Toshiba Dynabook Terra A50 has high-end specs; these specifications include the Windows 10 operating system running on the modern Intel core i7 processor with Intel’s turbo boost technology.
  • It supports a RAM of 32 GB and a reliable Solid-state drive (SSD) of 1 Terabyte capacity as a storage device. The screen size is 15.6 inches with 1920 x 1080 full HD display resolution.
  • It has enough ports for external devices, including 3 USB 3.0, 1 USB type C, 1 HDMI, and 1 VGA port; the VGA ports are useful for older projectors that are not compatible with HDMI.
  • The laptop lacks portability as it weighs about 4.7 pounds which is heavy for users; however, this also makes it more resistant to pressure damage.


3) Dell Latitude 5400  

Dell Latitude 5000 Series, 5400 14-inch, Core i5-8265U (1.60Ghz-3.90Ghz), 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Full HD (1920X1080) WiFi AC Backlit Keyboard HD Webcam Windows 10 Pro (Renewed)

Dell Latitude laptops are designed for business settings. The Dell Latitude 5400 offers myriad choices that boost productivity and make it reliable.

It supports two operating systems; users can use Windows 10 pro or Ubuntu Linux. It also comes with an Intel Core i-7 processor that can run many intensive processes, such as 3D rendering software. 

It also has 32GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB hard drive storage which can be expanded to 1TB. This allows users to store lots of information without worrying about space. Other features include one thunderbolt three port, three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, and 1 HDMI port.

It weighs about 3.2 pounds which is lightly weighted compared to other laptops. This makes it easy to carry about. In terms of battery function, it has ExpressCharge, a form of fast charging that allows it to charge to 100% within 60minutes.


Alternative to Laptop with Trackball


1) An external Trackball

Although laptops are no longer made with trackballs, an external trackball can be purchased and connected to your laptop. The wireless and rechargeable ones can be purchased on Amazon for $40 – $86, and the wired ones can be gotten for $36 on Amazon.

Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse (K72359WW) Black, 3.5" x 6.1" x 8"


2) Mouse

An external mouse can also be connected. They work like a trackball, although trackballs have an advantage over them. Trackballs can be used in small desk spaces because they don’t have to be moved about like the mouse.


3) TouchPad

Touchpads have dominated trackballs as an input device. They differ but perform the same function. They can be an external device or in-built into the laptop. They give the same function as the mouse, though they are flat pads sensitive to finger movements. 


Conclusion 

There are no longer laptops with trackballs; however, some laptops have track points similar to trackballs. The best laptops with track points are the Lenovo Thinkpad P53, Toshiba Dynabook Tecra, and Dell Latitude 5400. In addition, one can connect an external mouse or a touchpad using a touch screen-compatible laptop. 

Laptops with trackballs are no longer commonly available. Instead, they have been replaced with another input device, although they can still be used with laptops when connected to external ports.

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Pigtou Editorial Team

A group of tech enthusiasts who find pleasure in troubleshooting and resolving various issues. When we're not engaged in writing, we typically enjoy playing table football or spending time with our office dog.
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