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Laptop Input while on the road

I think Laptops are becoming increasingly popular workstations for running Solidworks. I've got a Dell M65 that I swear by. For the most part, I am at a desk with an external mouse plugged in, but from time to time I use it on the move and dont have a good surface to mouse with. I'm wondering what solutions others have come up wtih to effetively use solidworks while on the go.

My biggest issue is that there is no scroll wheel on the laptop and it only has two buttons. I've been able to emulate a middle button click by clicking both buttons together. I also tried to use the trackpad scroll area to emulate the mouse wheel but it only scrolls around the Solidworks window instead of zooming like my mouse does. I'm curious what other experienced mobile users have to say!

~ds

Reply to
Dave
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That70sTick

Reply to
Ray Mandeville

I have a tiny mouse that I run on my leg. :-)

WT

Reply to
Wayne Tiffany

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The produce the small BlueTooth scroll wheel-middle button mouse which you can hide in your hand.

They have just released new models that are rechargeable via a USB cable and also have higher resolution. I have the "older" BT 500 with AAA batteries, and rechargeable makes good sense.

I run it on the palm pad area to the right of the trackpad on my Dell M60, and it is perfect for work in tight places, whether in the shop, or hospital, or in flight.

Bo

Dave wrote:

Reply to
Bo

How important in your mind is the docking station to a laptop?

And.....can the M65 be used with a true docking station?

It seems most of the Insprions can not be used with a docking station and I'm not sure if that's a deal breaker in a laptop or not? Hence the question.

I'm assuming that with the Insprions you can hook up external monitors and peripherals but I guess a docking station makes this MUCH easier, correct?

I'm dumb abt docking station capabilities so can you give me a feel on whether you think it a necessary thing in a laptop..a deal breaker?

Reply to
me

I looked at docking stations, but I move around so much, that I didn't see the benefit.

When I wanted a 2nd screen, I could connect a 2nd screen if I needed it, but then I'ld rather be on a desktop if I'm going to my 23" screen. Also, what I noted on my Dell M60 is that the laptop nVIDIA graphics card only does mirroring at the same resolution as the built-in screen, which is very limiting use for an external screen.

My Apple MacBook Pro and earlier machines would take any resolution up to a certain limit, and allow 2 independent screens, which is much better.

Hence, be sure you understand what you will REALLY get with a docking station, and not what you WANT, as those two may be different. I have NOT looked at the technical video specs on the recent M65 and M90 machines.

Bo

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Reply to
Bo

I might add that the BT 500 I use did not require any software to work right on XP SP2.

Bo

Bo wrote:

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Bo

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