Devices · 1h ago
ThinkPad designers lied to IBM to save iconic TrackPoint color
ThinkPad designers secretly changed the TrackPoint's color from IBM-mandated red to magenta to bypass strict safety guidelines. The lie persisted for years, preserving the iconic pointing stick. This anecdote reveals how design decisions can circumvent corporate bureaucracy.
Meridian48 take
A fun historical footnote, but not a major tech story—more of a quirky design trivia than a meaningful industry shift.
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'It’s not red, it’s magenta': How ThinkPad designers gaslit IBM to save the iconic TrackPoint →
TechRadar
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