Dirty Mouse Balls

victant · 03-30-02, 02:47 AM

Don't you hate it when your mouse becomes difficult to use after using it for a while? That's why I switched over to an Intellimouse Explorer....

efanning · 03-30-02, 02:51 AM

I've heard of dirty mouse balls from a bunch of other people but personally my balls have never been dirty enough to cause a problem. Although I do like the new "balless" mouse that they are coming out with...it seems to move smoother.

jumbojp · 03-30-02, 02:53 AM

You may want to post this in the computer section or you may never get help cleaning you balls!

victant · 03-30-02, 02:56 AM

One of my pet peeves is having to pluck the hair off dirty mouse balls....

Trigger · 03-30-02, 03:50 AM

It's not the ball that gets dirty, it's the wheels - scrape the crud off once every few weeks (depending on usage) to keep your mouse ball tracking good.

agent2099 · 03-30-02, 03:58 AM

I went from a mouseball to an ergonomic optical (MS) and will NEVER go back.

OldDude · 03-30-02, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trigger
It's not the ball that gets dirty, it's the wheels - scrape the crud off once every few weeks (depending on usage) to keep your mouse ball tracking good.

Exactly. And the rocket scientists who design these make it easy to remove and clean the ball which never gets dirty, but the rollers are a major pain to get at and clean. Go optical, never go back is the best answer. Best $20 I ever spent on my computer.

Tandem · 03-30-02, 07:46 AM

This is an actual alert to IBM Field Engineers
that went out to all IBM Branch Offices. The
person who wrote it was very serious. The rest
of us may find it rather humorous.

Abstract: Mouse Balls Available as FRU (Field
Replacement Unit)

Mouse Balls are now available as FRU.
Therefore, if a mouse fails to operate
or should it perform erratically, it
may need a ball replacement. Because of
the delicate nature of this procedure,
replacement of mouse balls should only be
attempted by properly trained personnel.

Before proceeding, determine the type of
mouse balls by examining the underside
of the mouse. Domestic balls will be harder
and larger than foreign balls. Ball
removal procedures differ depending on the
manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls
can be replaced using the pop-off method.
Domestic balls are replaced using the twist
off method. Mouse Balls are usually not
static sensitive. However, excessive
handling can result in sudden discharge.
Upon completion of ball replacement, the
mouse may be used immediately.
It is recommended that each replacer have
a pair of spare balls for maintaining
optimum customer satisfaction, and that any
customer missing his balls should suspect
local personnel of removing these
necessary items.

{from an IBM employee}

namja · 03-30-02, 12:19 PM

at this thread.

yeah, optical rocks.

victant · 03-30-02, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tandem
This is an actual alert to IBM Field Engineers
that went out to all IBM Branch Offices. The
person who wrote it was very serious. The rest
of us may find it rather humorous.

Nice find....

MichaelBlanton · 03-31-02, 09:41 AM

It's always good to keep lots of spare mouse balls handy for when yours get dirty.

You can buy 50 of them for only $45 here .

And I'd suggest storing them in the freezer (I learned that tip the hard way).

PunkYou · 03-31-02, 12:35 PM

No need for mouse balls....the industry standard should be opitcal by now.

monkeyboy · 03-31-02, 05:44 PM

i prefer my logitech trackball over optical mice. the 3 sensors accumulate grime over long periods of time, but it takes about 2 seconds to pop the ball out and flick the little dust bunnies off. i'll never go back to a mouse.

victant · 03-31-02, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MichaelBlanton
It's always good to keep lots of spare mouse balls handy for when yours get dirty.

You can buy 50 of them for only $45 here .

And I'd suggest storing them in the freezer (I learned that tip the hard way).

Thanks for the tip! There's nothing worse than dust bunnies on your mouse balls....

Aghama · 03-31-02, 10:46 PM

True story from my mom: she knew a guy at work who actually wound some sort of string around the rollers of a mouse because he didn't realize the gray stuff he'd always seen was dirt and wasn't supposed to be on them.

D.Pham4GLTE (>60GB) · 04-01-02, 04:03 AM

@ IBM

victant · 04-01-02, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aghama
True story from my mom: she knew a guy at work who actually wound some sort of string around the rollers of a mouse because he didn't realize the gray stuff he'd always seen was dirt and wasn't supposed to be on them.

Can you believe that actually let these people around computers...? Much less messing with mouse balls....

crankyman · 04-01-02, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tandem
This is an actual alert to IBM Field Engineers
that went out to all IBM Branch Offices. The
person who wrote it was very serious. The rest
of us may find it rather humorous.

Abstract: Mouse Balls Available as FRU (Field
Replacement Unit)

Mouse Balls are now available as FRU.
Therefore, if a mouse fails to operate
or should it perform erratically, it
may need a ball replacement. Because of
the delicate nature of this procedure,
replacement of mouse balls should only be
attempted by properly trained personnel.

Before proceeding, determine the type of
mouse balls by examining the underside
of the mouse. Domestic balls will be harder
and larger than foreign balls. Ball
removal procedures differ depending on the
manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls
can be replaced using the pop-off method.
Domestic balls are replaced using the twist
off method. Mouse Balls are usually not
static sensitive. However, excessive
handling can result in sudden discharge.
Upon completion of ball replacement, the
mouse may be used immediately.
It is recommended that each replacer have
a pair of spare balls for maintaining
optimum customer satisfaction, and that any
customer missing his balls should suspect
local personnel of removing these
necessary items.

{from an IBM employee}

it was written by an ibm'er as a joke. they managed to sneak it into retain tips that were then viewable by every ibm'er. the guy who wrote it is still an ibm employee, btw.

cranky.

BT · 04-01-02, 01:13 PM

I've been (mouse) ball-less for quite some time now. Picked up an MS Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 and haven't looked back.

-BT

BTW, I remember getting that IBM joke in the mail a while back. I can't believe someone was able to dig it up.

victant · 04-01-02, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tandem
However, excessive
handling can result in sudden discharge.

I can't believe I missed this the first time through! I must've been

at the rest of the stuff that it probably didn't even register....

03-30-02, 02:47 AM	#1
victant DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Hughson, CA Posts: 5,160	Dirty Mouse Balls Don't you hate it when your mouse becomes difficult to use after using it for a while? That's why I switched over to an Intellimouse Explorer.... __________________ "The desire to take Medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals." --Sir William Osler

03-30-02, 02:56 AM	#4
victant DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Hughson, CA Posts: 5,160	One of my pet peeves is having to pluck the hair off dirty mouse balls.... __________________ "The desire to take Medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals." --Sir William Osler

03-30-02, 03:50 AM	#5
Trigger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 23,458	It's not the ball that gets dirty, it's the wheels - scrape the crud off once every few weeks (depending on usage) to keep your mouse ball tracking good. __________________ theomnom.com Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence? Sai Baba

03-30-02, 12:19 PM	#9
namja Stealth Moderator Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: High Definition Posts: 24,791	at this thread. yeah, optical rocks. __________________ life in high definition

03-31-02, 05:44 PM	#13
monkeyboy DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: looking for mangos in the jungle Posts: 4,065	i prefer my logitech trackball over optical mice. the 3 sensors accumulate grime over long periods of time, but it takes about 2 seconds to pop the ball out and flick the little dust bunnies off. i'll never go back to a mouse. __________________ you can turn your back on a person, but never turn your back on a drug; especially when it's holding a razor sharp hunting knife in your eye.

03-30-02, 02:51 AM	#2
efanning Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 111	I've heard of dirty mouse balls from a bunch of other people but personally my balls have never been dirty enough to cause a problem. Although I do like the new "balless" mouse that they are coming out with...it seems to move smoother.

03-30-02, 02:53 AM	#3
jumbojp DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Dingleberry Posts: 1,662	You may want to post this in the computer section or you may never get help cleaning you balls!

03-30-02, 03:58 AM	#6
agent2099 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: CA Posts: 718	I went from a mouseball to an ergonomic optical (MS) and will NEVER go back.

03-30-02, 07:46 AM	#8
Tandem DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,226	This is an actual alert to IBM Field Engineers that went out to all IBM Branch Offices. The person who wrote it was very serious. The rest of us may find it rather humorous. Abstract: Mouse Balls Available as FRU (Field Replacement Unit) Mouse Balls are now available as FRU. Therefore, if a mouse fails to operate or should it perform erratically, it may need a ball replacement. Because of the delicate nature of this procedure, replacement of mouse balls should only be attempted by properly trained personnel. Before proceeding, determine the type of mouse balls by examining the underside of the mouse. Domestic balls will be harder and larger than foreign balls. Ball removal procedures differ depending on the manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop-off method. Domestic balls are replaced using the twist off method. Mouse Balls are usually not static sensitive. However, excessive handling can result in sudden discharge. Upon completion of ball replacement, the mouse may be used immediately. It is recommended that each replacer have a pair of spare balls for maintaining optimum customer satisfaction, and that any customer missing his balls should suspect local personnel of removing these necessary items. {from an IBM employee}

03-31-02, 09:41 AM	#11
MichaelBlanton Senior Member Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 654	It's always good to keep lots of spare mouse balls handy for when yours get dirty. You can buy 50 of them for only $45 here . And I'd suggest storing them in the freezer (I learned that tip the hard way).

03-31-02, 12:35 PM	#12
PunkYou DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pasadena Posts: 2,575	No need for mouse balls....the industry standard should be opitcal by now.

03-31-02, 10:46 PM	#15
Aghama DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: A suburb² of Miami Posts: 5,944	True story from my mom: she knew a guy at work who actually wound some sort of string around the rollers of a mouse because he didn't realize the gray stuff he'd always seen was dirt and wasn't supposed to be on them.

04-01-02, 04:03 AM	#16
D.Pham4GLTE (>60GB) DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Stick out your tongue! Posts: 36,605	@ IBM __________________ abrg: *whine whine* suprmallet: *why so serious?*

04-01-02, 01:13 PM	#19
BT DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Sunny San Diego Posts: 1,293	No balls here I've been (mouse) ball-less for quite some time now. Picked up an MS Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 and haven't looked back. -BT BTW, I remember getting that IBM joke in the mail a while back. I can't believe someone was able to dig it up. __________________ -BT