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

[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

[aestheticfemboy@retro-gaiden.com]

@FlockOfCats
Im kinda glad that's a thing of the past

[limneticvillains@mastodon.online]

@FlockOfCats This applies to most millennials too, especially if we were online before 2002 say- when the laser mice started really taking off. I was using Windows 95 in the mid 90s when I was far too young, that Minesweeper game was far too mature for me to be playing.

I liked the weight of those mouse balls, very satisfyingly heavy.

Virtua Cop 2 with a mouse was great, that I miss.

[xerge@mastodon.nl]

@FlockOfCats no actual mice were harmed during the cleaning procedure.

[sunflowerinrain@mastodon.online]

@zillion

I've cleaned a mouseball with expensive whisky, generously offered for the purpose by a Highlander at Hogmanay.

@FlockOfCats

[collappsar@fediverse-lite.com]

@FlockOfCats I used to clean my mouse ball and put a q tip around the inside of the mouse too.

[ovrim@wien.rocks]

@FlockOfCats ... and jumpered the serial card for correct Baud rate and I/O base address ...