Re: something weird on Linux 2.4.17 on an IBM Thinkpad T20

[Adrian V. Bono]

Andreas Dilger wrote:
> On Apr 19, 2002  09:17 +0900, Adrian V. Bono wrote:
> 
>>While working in X on kernel 2.4.17 on an IBM Thinkpad T20, sometimes 
>>the mouse pointer would just gravitate all by itself, without my moving 
>>the mouse or pointing stick, upwards. The first time that happened, i 
>>was coding in an xterm when suddenly, window focus shifted to another 
>>window and i noticed the mouse pointer was moving upwards by itself. 
>>Anyone else notice this?
> 
> 
> This is common to all thinkpads (or other laptops which have trackpoint
> devices) and also happens under Windows.  The cause is related to
> automatic compensation for the centering of the trackpoint.  Early
> trackpoint devices didn't have automatic centering and I remember
> replacing more than a few keyboards because the mouse would start
> drifting by itself.  Later trackpoints have automatic centering, but
> if you hold onto the trackpoint for a long time (causing the "center"
> to be offset by some amount) and then let go, it will settle back to
> the "old center" and the cursor will drift for a few seconds until
> the automatic centering kicks in again.
> 
> Moral of the story - don't touch the trackpoint when you aren't doing
> anything with it.
> 

Yes, i've replied two replies similar to yours. But it happens to my 
desktop, too.