Mastodon/Fedi: The social network for people who have actually cleaned mouse balls 🖱️

[artnacrea@mastodon.ie]

@FlockOfCats The first mouse balls I cleaned were on the original version of these back in the 1980s. These mice were used on the Blit terminals that originated at Bell Labs.

https://hackaday.com/tag/depraz-mouse/

[envidiaviajera@mastodon.la]

@FlockOfCats Que recuerdos! aunque nada melancólicos!!

[noxie@eldritch.cafe]

@FlockOfCats qtips Oo oh so quaint

We would go in with toothpicks, needles or anything pointy enough to scrape the wheels clean, like real little punks!

[kilroy_was_here@dobbs.town]

@cluelesstoshika @alterelefant @zillion @FlockOfCats

I always just shook it while it was still down on the desk. Seemed to work better for me than picking it up.

[rhube@wandering.shop]

@kev @FlockOfCats The mind boggles!

[torf@c.im]

@FlockOfCats You mean for us "old people"??

[mossman@social.vivaldi.net]

@FlockOfCats the ball was never very dirty, it was the crud stuck to the wheels that you had to scratch off with your fingernails...

[queenero89@tkz.one]

@FlockOfCats
Como se llenaba eso de suciedad... Los rodillos hasta arriba de mierda.

[rachelthornsub@famichiki.jp]

@sibrosan @pussreboots @jamesrg @FlockOfCats Wow!

[kaleissin@wandering.shop]

@cluelesstoshika @alterelefant @kilroy_was_here @zillion @FlockOfCats KDE on wayland has this brilliant feature where if you shake the mouse the pointer grows. Do it long enough and it covers the screen! Quite soothing. Only feature in wayland that is brilliant, though.

[landsil@infosec.exchange]

@FlockOfCats
Fineeeee,
You got me.
But it did it only once and only because it bloody stopped working completely.

Youngsters these days don't know how good they have it.

[rachelthornsub@famichiki.jp]

@wonka @Felila @FlockOfCats No, no, no DE-fragging! It's the opposite of fragging! But almost as soothing! Although it does require a *hard* disk. You can't defrag a floppy disk.

[dat@social.g33ky.de]

that reminds me!

brb… cleaning my Trackball

[beecycling@wandering.shop]

@mossman @FlockOfCats This. It was both disgusting and so very satisfying to clean those wheels. If I could get that strip of gunk to just peel off in one piece, that was a win.

[soblow@eldritch.cafe]

@FlockOfCats Do trackball mouse count?

[nazokiyoubinbou@urusai.social]

@1000millimeter @FlockOfCats A bit of isopropyl on a q-tip would always loosen it up enough to at least get unstuck for me. I did still sometimes have to use something to pull it off (needle nose pliers, hemostat, whatever.)

I don't think scratching up the rollers is a good idea.

[nazokiyoubinbou@urusai.social]

@1000millimeter @FlockOfCats Sticky mud? No? Are you confusing alcohol with water?

[tonymidtrud@mastodon.social]

@FlockOfCats It felt strange when I got a computer mouse without a ball inside.

[technicaladept@techhub.social]

@FlockOfCats There was a wry email about being circulated it back in the day -

Mouse balls are now available as FRU (FieldReplacement Unit) 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 larger and harder than foreign balls.

Ball removal procedures differ depending upon the manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop off method. Domestic balls are replaced by using the twist-off method.

Mouse balls are not usually 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. Any customer missing his balls should suspect local personnel of removing these necessary items.

[mxk@hachyderm.io]

@FlockOfCats remember to replace your mouse ball regularly