I like the Thinkpad series of notebooks as well. I especially like the feel of the keyboard. Keyboards are something that too many manufactures shortchange in their products. When you can type as fast as I can, keyboards really become an issue and IBM has always put the extra effort into making good keyboards on most all their products -- with the notable exception of the PC Jr.

As for the mouse stick or "eraser thingie" -- I greatly prefer using that over the touchpad. At first, it seems odd, but once you get used to it, it is again preferable over the alternative. For a touch-typist, the mouse stick means you don't need to move your hands out of the home position on the keyboard.