Could anyone comment on this? I've been thinking of getting an ergonomic mouse already but this seems like an interesting option since it'll save desk space as well.
The TrackPoint-clone on the Fujitsu definitely gave me pain in my right index finger—pain that lingers, I believe, to this day. I ended up switching to an external mouse because of it. However, that pointer was small and required a lot of force (even at the highest sensitivity).
Since I still have lingering pain from the Fujitsu, I still find myself using the TrackPoint on my ThinkPad less than I otherwise probably would, and I rarely use it with my right index finger. However, I've noticed no further ill effects. The combination of touchpad and TrackPoint is actually really nice—I often find myself scrolling with the touchpad with my right hand while my left hand is moving the cursor with the TrackPoint.
I use a trackball on my desk—not only does it save space, but I've definitely noticed a reduction in wrist pain since I began using it.
Honestly, if you're a heavy programmer/writer, the TrackPoint is such a superior choice ... having to move your hand off the keyboard all the time is inefficient and kills flow!
Also, TrackPoints are fantastic for reading web pages. Scrolling is very intuitive and almost motionless - just hold the middle button with your thumb while applying a bit of down pressure on the stick.
n.b. Not all pointing stick are created equally! I've used HPs and Dells - both are inferior to TrackPoints, and I wouldn't recommend them. (kinda like how Apple trackpads are superior to the competition.)