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theclash
Starting Member
Argentina
17 Posts |
 Posted - 09/22/2006 : 22:29:48
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Hi!
Could anybody tell me where I can buy spare trackpoint caps for my P2120?..thanks folks! |
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heckel4565
Junior Member
154 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2006 : 18:53:48
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| If you are in the US, you can go to a MicroCenter. I bought some there a while back that fit. Should also be available through their online store. |
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theclash
Starting Member
Argentina
17 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2006 : 19:16:30
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| Despite I am in Argentina, have no problem to buy on US. Thanks for info but I am unable to locate the caps on website. Any idea to search on? Tnx. |
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NigelS
Senior Member Member
Canada
1339 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2006 : 10:57:59
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| Does anyone ever just buy caps from Fujitsu? They should supply them. I do not see an "international shipping" statement on the Microtech site - same goes for SofPoint: http://www.sofpoint.com/products.aspx but you could just email them and ask. I have never bought these but some LeoG people like them. |
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NuovoTech
Senior Member Member
USA
1312 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2006 : 15:51:33
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quote:
SofPoint...I have never bought these but some LeoG people like them.
I've been using them for years, but on their site they say SofPoint #2 does not fit Fujitsu P2k anymore???  |
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NigelS
Senior Member Member
Canada
1339 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2006 : 17:35:59
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I find it unconscionable that there is NOT an international Standard Size Regulation for pointer stick caps [or at least a concensus on what we should call them - Isn't there are UN committee looking into this? A Gates Grant? Anything?]
No matter...
Have you guys seen the spectacularly innovative track caps that go on Lenovos? (See P15 forum) I'd buy a Lenovo just for the cap options! Someone please go out and buy some IBM caps and see if they fit a P1 or P2... then report back here.
http://www.leog.net/fujp_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10582 |
Edited by - NigelS on 09/25/2006 17:36:41 |
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plwinkler
New Member
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2006 : 04:03:37
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quote:
Originally posted by NuovoTech
quote:
SofPoint...I have never bought these but some LeoG people like them.
I've been using them for years, but on their site they say SofPoint #2 does not fit Fujitsu P2k anymore???
Correct. The SofPoint Type 2 won't fit the trackpoint stick on my P2120 now.
It's weird. Three years ago, after buying my P2120, I learned about SofPoint from this site. I went to SofPoint's site, entered the make and model of my laptop and their site said Type 2 fit. I bought a set and they fit fine. I liked them so much I bough a set of Type 1s for an IMB ThinkPad 390X.
Flash forward to May of this year. I had to have my trackpoint module replaced. The SofPoint cap was so worn it was splitting. So after getting the trackpoint repaired, I went to SofPoint's site. Inputting Fujitsu 2120 into their selection menu turned up a "0."
I figured that if Type 2 fit before, it would fit now. I ordered a pack. To my surprise, they didn't.
I dug around looking for the other Type 2 cap (they used to come two to a package) from three years ago. I couldn't find it. I found an unused Type 1. I tried it and it fit perfectly.
So try a package of Type 1.
One note of caution. Sofpoint's order fulfillment has become very slow. I exchanged several emails with the company's customer service to exchange the Type 2 for Type 1 and got no response. I finally called the phone number on the receipt and emailed the owner. After telling him to send a pack of Type 1s, a package of Type 2s came after several weeks.
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oion
Advanced Member
USA
2231 Posts |
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heckel4565
Junior Member
154 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2006 : 10:12:10
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| Theclash -- If you want, I could stop by the MicroCenter and see if they still have them. Could send them to you if they will not cooperate with international shipping. Drop me a note off line if you are interested. |
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theclash
Starting Member
Argentina
17 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2006 : 00:35:06
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| Thanks for your answers...I wish I'll be able to get a couple of new caps, mine is in catastrophic condition! |
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tchernev
Starting Member
40 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2006 : 01:46:15
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A couple months ago I discovered that the caps I keep in a little plastic bag and that I thought were from my P2110 were actually from my previous laptop, a Toshiba Satellite 2515CDS. And I couldn't find the P caps. The toshiba caps have the correct size for the P, except that starting about midway down the square hole there is an edge and the hole becomes narrower, so the cap won't go all the way in without unsightly stretching. As at the time I was also working on fitting in a new dual layer DVD burner in my P, and had an X-acto blade out, I used it to cut off the offending inside edge. With this hack the cap fits perfectly, and so now I have 3 more spare caps to go to  should the need arise. Judging as to how the P never seems to let me down, I am already beginning to worry that I will run out of caps again in 3 years
Checking on eBay (search for toshiba trackpoint caps), it appears that these exact same caps are used on a ton of other toshiba laptops going as far back in time as the Portege 650 and 660. I don't know if they are the same caps as the ones oion has used, but based on the thread he quoted they are probably not. I know this is not the best option for the OP, but is definitely another possibility and quite easy to do. |
Edited by - tchernev on 09/27/2006 02:12:06 |
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oion
Advanced Member
USA
2231 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2006 : 10:04:55
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Those aren't the exact ones I and some other people use from Toshiba, but there are different part numbers that probably work with the P anyway. The actual Toshiba part I have is here:
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/adet.to?seg=HHO&poid=1073787015
(The link changed from the Leog link above.) They're for the Toshiba Portege 3010CT/3015CT/3020CT/3025CT/3110CT, apparently. As mentioned in the archived Leog thread, though, people may need to trim the outside edge if it touches the B key; however, since I physically recentered the quickpoint mechanism in the keyboard, I don't think I need to do that anymore.
Unfortunately, they don't ship outside the U.S. Having someone else mail caps or getting them off eBay seem like the only international alternatives (or maybe Portable One can mail some).
Be very careful that any non-Fujitsu replacement caps you get do NOT touch the screen. Constant pressure on the LCD will damage it.
NigelS: I've wondered about the IBM caps too. |
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theclash
Starting Member
Argentina
17 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2006 : 15:17:58
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After web research, I found the Fujitsu part number for the caps FPCPD18 ; I don't know the reason, but if you look for on the web only seems to be available in Australia (ż?)...Could anybody call Fujitsu America and ask for this spare part FPCPD18? I am in Argentina, and long distance call is very expensive  |
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NigelS
Senior Member Member
Canada
1339 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2006 : 02:00:29
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On a lark I took my own request to heart (see above) and ordered the innovative Lenovo trackpoint caps: http://www.lenovoblogs.com/design/uncategorized/2006/10/03/poll-results-trackpoint-caps/ just to see if they could work on my P. I'm really pleased.
The Dome model is my favourite - it makes tracking 100% more fun. The caps are really loose for the most part, plus they are too tall. The reason they can work on a P is that if you look inside they have four tiny re-inforcing "corners" on the internal "ceiling". When you snug the cap down it clicks into place very snug. The catch is that this only happens if you cut the too long shaft with an exacto razor or pair of sharp scizzors (I used scizzors - the cut isn't pretty but you cannot see that part!) The shaft of the cap fits easily into the P keyboard, and the "mushroom dome" rests lightly on the g/b/h keys. It works REALLY well - once in a while while typing the g/b/h keys can catch very lightly, but it is SO unnoticeable. I only mention this because I know people will be wondering. Seriously it isn't an issue.
The Bowl-topped cap is completely useless (shortened OR full-length). It just flexes and doesn't track! Too soft.
The Ordinary-shaped cap is exactly like a regular Fujitsu P Series cap. It is too tall and needs to be cut, but it is the hard cat-tongue we all know so well!
You get one pair of each of these three per pack - $12 Canadian. The Santa Red color was off-putting on a grey keyboard at first - but now I think it looks cool!
Cheers - NS |
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oion
Advanced Member
USA
2231 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2006 : 10:17:54
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| If they fit so snugly on the keys, I hope the caps aren't touching the screen at all. Can you verify? Just lifting the P and viewing through the closed crack is one way. |
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NigelS
Senior Member Member
Canada
1339 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2006 : 16:26:28
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| Hi oion - I can safely say there are no "screen marks" from my use of two different caps (over the last week or so). I tried out your idea of closing the lid and viewing through the slot - you can only really see the top of the cap if you are viewing with a very bright light at the far end, but the top of the cap is definitely visible and not touching the screen. Keep in mind the shaft of the cap has to be cut (practically in half). On these photos you can see the original intention really is "high profile": http://www.compu-lock.com/tpcap.asp That exact same "height" is how they look on the P until you cut them short. I wonder how much of a cavity exists when the lid of a Lenovo or a Thinkpad closes! Anyway - both the standard P-size cap and the mushroom cap have fairly "flat heads" so when they fit snugly on the trackpoint they are as flush as the closed P needs. After spending a few minutes comparing the caps and I must say the Fujitsu caps are too small! They are difficult and they hurt compared to the IBM caps. Side note: the full-size bowl-shaped cap does function OK but you could never close the lid on it. Shortened, it hardly works at all. Very odd. Finally - it does seem a bit of a ripoff to buy 6 caps when you only want the 2. Still - I'm happy with them. The next test is longevity - how much milage are softer caps good for - time will tell! |
Edited by - NigelS on 10/19/2006 21:48:08 |
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oion
Advanced Member
USA
2231 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2006 : 23:26:26
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So you like the "soft dome" model best? Looks spiffy. Where did you buy them for 6 pieces? On eBay, I see lots of auctions for the IBM trackpoint caps, different types. (And to theclash, you might be able to talk to sellers on eBay to ship internationally by airmail for Toshiba/IBM/etc. caps.)
One particular auction for the trackpoint caps is hilarious. Apparently, you get 2 caps (Soft Dome and Soft Rim) for the "amazing" price of $19.95, and shipping from Scotland/UK is US $51.18. Fantastic deal! (I suppose I'll look elsewhere.) |
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NigelS
Senior Member Member
Canada
1339 Posts |
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