Notebook computer force-controlled pointing stick device

A manual control input device for use in a keyboard, comprising:

• a rigid structural support base;
• a resilient protrusion mounted to the base and having an outer surface that tapers conically to the base, and an integral circular rim circumscribing the protrusion;
• and
• a shallow concave aperture surface defined by the rim.

A computer system, comprising:

• a system unit;
• a keyboard interconnected with the system unit and having a plurality of keys, wherein upper ends of the keys define a plane;
• a saddle-shaped pointing actuator mounted to the keyboard between selected ones of the keys for manipulation by a user's finger;
• and wherein
• at least a portion of an upper surface of the actuator is concave and located beneath the plane defined by the upper ends of the keys.