[ALUG] Laptop pointing devices, only those horrible pads nowadays?

I'm considering a new laptop/netbook and, having a selection around belonging to other members of the family, I'm still convinced that the standard traackpad is a truly awful pointing device. Are there really *no* laptops/netbooks available with other pointing devices? I have a very nice little wireless keyboard that we use with one of our computers that has a trackball in the keyboard and that works beautifully, can't manufacturers put one in a laptop? I guess I'll have to buy a laptop and add a trackbll of some sort but even then there seem very few which are aimed at the portable market. This isn't *just* a rant, any pointers to useful devices would be very welcome. (Linux friendly of course) -- Chris Green