Mouse Refurbish

On Sunday, 13 October 2019 20:59:18 UTC+1, Paul in Houston TX wrote:

Ken Blake wrote:
On Sat, 12 Oct 2019 21:03:20 -0500, Paul in Houston TX
Paul@Houston.Texas> wrote:


It's easy to refurbish mice.
I refurb all my mice when they go bad because I like the ones I have.
Take it completely apart, clean the optics, remove the micro switches,
and solder in new ones. The tails break conductors near where they go
into the mouse so cut off the tail about 1" near the entry point on the
mouse and re-solder to the internal plug. Use heat shrink on the solder
joints. If the plastic tabs that push the micro switches are worn down
then use your soldering iron to add more of the same type of plastic.
It will be an ABS mix. Should take no more than 20 minutes.


Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

I like fixing things. It's sort of a hobby.
Ordering a new one for $12 is not nearly as much fun.

and a lot of the time you get it, working, there & then. That can be useful, enabling other jobs to be done. But mice I chuck.


NT

 

[Rene Lamontagne]

On 2019-10-13 4:20 p.m., Paul wrote:

Rene Lamontagne wrote:
On 2019-10-13 3:54 p.m., Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:
On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:51:24 -0000 (UTC), Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:

Do you think even for a second that the OP doesn't know that?
o If the OP was _that_ shallow - he wouldn't have asked the question.

Sorry for the hiccup. The machine crashed and the scripts must have
still
run. I don't use a newsreader... it's just vi with telnet scripts.

Mea culpa.

BTW, if the OP needs pictures, I have plenty of my IBM mouse refurbish.
https://i.postimg.cc/5tr2SxsL/mouse02.jpg


Is that one of the mice that came over on the Ark? Male or Female? 


Rene

That's a one-screw mouse, so it can't be that old.

*******

This article, has a picture of the Hawley mouse.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_mouse

And that was my first mouse. Apparently made around 1975.
Steel balls on the outside. A little small for your hand
(because it doesn't have a scroll wheel or give a rats
ass about ergonomy). And your next problem would be,
if you found an old one, the interface is neither USB
nor PS/2, and instead, gives "pulses" for +/-X and +/-Y.
So you need to whip together some counter circuits to
make something a bit better for your OS to use.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HawleyMarkIImice.jpg

But still, a nice mouse, and not surpassed until the
second generation of optical mice meant never ever
again having to worry about what the mouse was resting
on. Or how dirty the place was...

   Paul

The micro switches are quite large compared to now, Is that a Pot
sticking up where the wheel should be?
or is it an actuator for the center button?

Rene

 

[Paul]

Rene Lamontagne wrote:

On 2019-10-13 3:54 p.m., Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:
On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:51:24 -0000 (UTC), Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:

Do you think even for a second that the OP doesn't know that?
o If the OP was _that_ shallow - he wouldn't have asked the question.

Sorry for the hiccup. The machine crashed and the scripts must have still
run. I don't use a newsreader... it's just vi with telnet scripts.

Mea culpa.

BTW, if the OP needs pictures, I have plenty of my IBM mouse refurbish.
https://i.postimg.cc/5tr2SxsL/mouse02.jpg


Is that one of the mice that came over on the Ark? Male or Female?


Rene

That's a one-screw mouse, so it can't be that old.

*******

This article, has a picture of the Hawley mouse.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_mouse

And that was my first mouse. Apparently made around 1975.
Steel balls on the outside. A little small for your hand
(because it doesn't have a scroll wheel or give a rats
ass about ergonomy). And your next problem would be,
if you found an old one, the interface is neither USB
nor PS/2, and instead, gives "pulses" for +/-X and +/-Y.
So you need to whip together some counter circuits to
make something a bit better for your OS to use.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HawleyMarkIImice.jpg

But still, a nice mouse, and not surpassed until the
second generation of optical mice meant never ever
again having to worry about what the mouse was resting
on. Or how dirty the place was...

Paul

 

[Rene Lamontagne]

On 2019-10-13 3:54 p.m., Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:

On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:51:24 -0000 (UTC), Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:

Do you think even for a second that the OP doesn't know that?
o If the OP was _that_ shallow - he wouldn't have asked the question.

Sorry for the hiccup. The machine crashed and the scripts must have still
run. I don't use a newsreader... it's just vi with telnet scripts.

Mea culpa.

BTW, if the OP needs pictures, I have plenty of my IBM mouse refurbish.
https://i.postimg.cc/5tr2SxsL/mouse02.jpg

Is that one of the mice that came over on the Ark? Male or Female?


Rene

 

[Arlen _G_ Holder]

On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:51:24 -0000 (UTC), Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:

Do you think even for a second that the OP doesn't know that?
o If the OP was _that_ shallow - he wouldn't have asked the question.

Sorry for the hiccup. The machine crashed and the scripts must have still
run. I don't use a newsreader... it's just vi with telnet scripts.

Mea culpa.

BTW, if the OP needs pictures, I have plenty of my IBM mouse refurbish.
<https://i.postimg.cc/5tr2SxsL/mouse02.jpg>

 

[Arlen _G_ Holder]

On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 11:33:50 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:

> Half a day? Not me. I'd spend the $20 and just buy a new one.

A lot of people would rather make money than spend time with their kids.

Some of us enjoy fixing things for lots of reasons.
o Sometimes, it just fits right - in our hands, for example.

It's not always only about money.
o If it's only about money, it's shallow (IMHO).

For example, I enjoy fixing my car - and the cars of my kids - where I
change their oil, replace the clutch, do the brakes, overhaul the cooling
system, and even select, purchase, mount and balance their tires.

When you do stuff like that - you LEARN a lot.
o You learn a lot that others don't learn who are only out for the money.

For example, I enjoy setting up WiFi access points, for free, for my
neighbors. I learn a lot when I do that. In fact, while there's an ongoing
thread on that very topic, those who know the least seem to have infested
that thread the most in the last few hours.

The fact remains, if the OP wants to fix his mouse ... then we should try
to help him (if we can). It's not "advice" to say to pay for a new mouse.

Do you think even for a second that the OP doesn't know that?
o If the OP was _that_ shallow - he wouldn't have asked the question.

 

[Arlen _G_ Holder]

On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 11:33:50 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:

> Half a day? Not me. I'd spend the $20 and just buy a new one.

Here, in the Silicon Valley, I know guys who'd rather make money than spend
time with their kids, which I think is the wrong perspective.

Likewise, I know people who'd rather pay someone to maintain their car,
rather than maintain it themselves - again - which doesn't help them when
they actually NEED to understand how a vehicle works.

I know people who wouldn't fix a mouse - nor help a little old lady cross
the road - nor pick up a neighbor's kids from school - all because they can
make more money elsewhere.

My point is that if it's only about the money - it's generally shallow.
o It's also a waste of resources to throw out working stuff.

People are so shallow sometimes... it's irksome.

Maybe the OP likes to fix things?
I mean, there is a "repair" group on the newsgroup list, is there not?

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX
<Paul@Houston.Texas> writes:

Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he
thought it wasn't, but someone here found them.

I like fixing things. It's sort of a hobby.
Ordering a new one for $12 is not nearly as much fun.

I share that hobby: I'll certainly spend more time than a thing is worth
trying to fix it, if I think the fault is something simple: the
throwaway philosophy bugs me. I'll admit, I give up a lot sooner now
than I used to, though.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

The motto of the Royal Society is: 'Take nobody's word for it'. Scepticism has
value. - Brian Cox, RT 2015/3/14-20

 

[Paul]

Rene Lamontagne wrote:

On 2019-10-13 4:20 p.m., Paul wrote:
Rene Lamontagne wrote:
On 2019-10-13 3:54 p.m., Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:
On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:51:24 -0000 (UTC), Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:

Do you think even for a second that the OP doesn't know that?
o If the OP was _that_ shallow - he wouldn't have asked the question.

Sorry for the hiccup. The machine crashed and the scripts must have
still
run. I don't use a newsreader... it's just vi with telnet scripts.

Mea culpa.

BTW, if the OP needs pictures, I have plenty of my IBM mouse refurbish.
https://i.postimg.cc/5tr2SxsL/mouse02.jpg

The micro switches are quite large compared to now, Is that a Pot
sticking up where the wheel should be?
or is it an actuator for the center button?

Rene

The IBM mouse above, the microswitches look "normal" sized to me.

The thing in the center, I had to use the mouse cover to
guess at the function. It looks like a rubber nubbin, and
that would make the thing on the PCB, some sort of 2D strain
gauge.

But there's also what looks like a LED next to it,
and the LED is not pointed in any specific direction.
It could be for illuminating the rubber nubbin, as I don't
see any other function it could carry out, considering the
angle it is pointed.

This isn't the same item, but it's along the same lines. "Trackpoint mouse"

https://www.microsoft.com/buxtoncollection/detail.aspx?id=121

https://www.microsoft.com/buxtoncollection/detail.aspx?id=120

Paul

 

[Rene Lamontagne]

On 2019-10-13 7:33 p.m., Paul wrote:

Rene Lamontagne wrote:
On 2019-10-13 4:20 p.m., Paul wrote:
Rene Lamontagne wrote:
On 2019-10-13 3:54 p.m., Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:
On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:51:24 -0000 (UTC), Arlen _G_ Holder wrote:

Do you think even for a second that the OP doesn't know that?
o If the OP was _that_ shallow - he wouldn't have asked the question.

Sorry for the hiccup. The machine crashed and the scripts must have
still
run. I don't use a newsreader... it's just vi with telnet scripts.

Mea culpa.

BTW, if the OP needs pictures, I have plenty of my IBM mouse
refurbish.
https://i.postimg.cc/5tr2SxsL/mouse02.jpg

The micro switches are quite large compared to now, Is that a Pot
sticking up where the wheel should be?
 or is it an actuator for the center button?

Rene

The IBM mouse above, the microswitches look "normal" sized to me.

The thing in the center, I had to use the mouse cover to
guess at the function. It looks like a rubber nubbin, and
that would make the thing on the PCB, some sort of 2D strain
gauge.

But there's also what looks like a LED next to it,
and the LED is not pointed in any specific direction.
It could be for illuminating the rubber nubbin, as I don't
see any other function it could carry out, considering the
angle it is pointed.

This isn't the same item, but it's along the same lines. "Trackpoint mouse"

https://www.microsoft.com/buxtoncollection/detail.aspx?id=121

https://www.microsoft.com/buxtoncollection/detail.aspx?id=120

   Paul

OK, that makes sense. Thanks.

Rene

 

[John Dulak]

On 10/13/2019 6:25 PM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX <Paul@Houston.Texas
writes:
Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he thought it
wasn't, but someone here found them.

I like fixing things. It's sort of a hobby.
Ordering a new one for $12 is not nearly as much fun.

I share that hobby: I'll certainly spend more time than a thing is worth trying
to fix it, if I think the fault is something simple: the throwaway philosophy
bugs me. I'll admit, I give up a lot sooner now than I used to, though.

You guys seem to be the type that would appreciate this:

https://i.postimg.cc/KjvyybrZ/Doonesbury-01.jpg

John

--

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <5DA44F3F.8090108@Booogus.com>, John Dulak
<Johnd@Booogus.com> writes:

On 10/13/2019 6:25 PM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX
Paul@Houston.Texas
writes:
Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he
thought it
wasn't, but someone here found them.

I like fixing things. It's sort of a hobby.
Ordering a new one for $12 is not nearly as much fun.

I share that hobby: I'll certainly spend more time than a thing is
worth trying
to fix it, if I think the fault is something simple: the throwaway philosophy
bugs me. I'll admit, I give up a lot sooner now than I used to, though.


You guys seem to be the type that would appreciate this:

https://i.postimg.cc/KjvyybrZ/Doonesbury-01.jpg

John

I did, sadly.

A couple of minor netiquette matters: when you send someone an email as
well as posting to a newsgroup, it's considered polite to indicate
you're doing so - usually at the top of your post/email, such as by
saying "(posted and emailed)". This is because lots of people read their
email first, and reply to emails; if they then find the same thing has
been posted, they find themselves having to say the same thing again.
The other one: if you use a fake email address, especially in a private
email, it's usually considered good form to highlight that you're doing
so (usually just above the signature separator - something like "remove
XYZ to reply"). Otherwise people might genuinely reply, possibly putting
some effort in to it, only to receive a bounce.

Above two points intended to inform, not to reprimand.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Address the chair!" "There isn't a chair, there's only a rock!" "Well, call
it a chair!" "Why not call it a rock?" (First series, fit the sixth.)

 

[Ken Blake]

On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 23:25:27 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
<G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX
Paul@Houston.Texas> writes:
Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he
thought it wasn't, but someone here found them.

No, to me, it would hardly matter whether it was still available. If
my mouse died, and was no longer available, I'd find another one that
was close enough to the old one, so I would like it just as much. I
might even find a new one I liked more.

As an example of what I mean, earlier this year I used a Logitech
M500 mouse which I liked very much. If it died, I would have replaced
it with the same model, if it was still available. But then I was at
someone's office and he was using an Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical
Ergonomic Optical Mouse. I tried it at his office and immediately
liked it better than my Logitech, so I ordered one from Amazon ($20).
It's now my favorite; I no longer use the Logitech.

Mice are no different from most other things. Newer models are usually
better than older ones.

 

[Ken Blake]

On Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:27:55 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
<G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

In message <5DA44F3F.8090108@Booogus.com>, John Dulak
Johnd@Booogus.com> writes:
On 10/13/2019 6:25 PM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX
Paul@Houston.Texas
writes:
Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he
thought it
wasn't, but someone here found them.

I like fixing things. It's sort of a hobby.
Ordering a new one for $12 is not nearly as much fun.

I share that hobby: I'll certainly spend more time than a thing is
worth trying
to fix it, if I think the fault is something simple: the throwaway philosophy
bugs me. I'll admit, I give up a lot sooner now than I used to, though.


You guys seem to be the type that would appreciate this:

https://i.postimg.cc/KjvyybrZ/Doonesbury-01.jpg

John

I did, sadly.

A couple of minor netiquette matters: when you send someone an email as
well as posting to a newsgroup, it's considered polite to indicate
you're doing so - usually at the top of your post/email, such as by
saying "(posted and emailed)". This is because lots of people read their
email first, and reply to emails; if they then find the same thing has
been posted, they find themselves having to say the same thing again.

That used to happen to me often, and it's the reason I switched from
my real return address to a fake one. Some people would have send both
an e-mail message and a newsgroup posting.

And my fake one is purposely a very obvious fake, to dissuade anyone
from e-mailing me.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <c049qetcqgv8j6ndihhd5c9ite38v60vi7@4ax.com>, Ken Blake
<Ken@invalid.news.com> writes:

On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 23:25:27 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX
Paul@Houston.Texas> writes:
Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he
thought it wasn't, but someone here found them.


No, to me, it would hardly matter whether it was still available. If
my mouse died, and was no longer available, I'd find another one that
was close enough to the old one, so I would like it just as much. I
might even find a new one I liked more.

As an example of what I mean, earlier this year I used a Logitech
M500 mouse which I liked very much. If it died, I would have replaced
it with the same model, if it was still available. But then I was at
someone's office and he was using an Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical
Ergonomic Optical Mouse. I tried it at his office and immediately
liked it better than my Logitech, so I ordered one from Amazon ($20).
It's now my favorite; I no longer use the Logitech.

(You must be right-handed.)

Mice are no different from most other things. Newer models are usually
better than older ones.

So you're a replacer. Some of us see fixing things as a challenge - and
one we enjoy, to some extent; there's great satisfaction, for us, in
returning something to working order, especially if the fix was
something trivial (especially if it wasn't obvious).

I don't deny that there comes a point where further effort is no longer
enjoyable, and I just replace; that point varies depending on lots of
things - the cost of the item, how much I like it anyway, my mood, and
my age (I'm giving up sooner, or not starting at all, more as I age). If
there's something, the use of which frustrates me, and it fails, I'll be
delighted to have an excuse to replace it.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

WANTED, Dead AND Alive: Schrodinger's Cat

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <bq49qept7bo4l2t26odapt1j2lb30d1sa7@4ax.com>, Ken Blake
<Ken@invalid.news.com> writes:

On Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:27:55 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
[]
A couple of minor netiquette matters: when you send someone an email as
well as posting to a newsgroup, it's considered polite to indicate
you're doing so - usually at the top of your post/email, such as by
saying "(posted and emailed)". This is because lots of people read their
email first, and reply to emails; if they then find the same thing has
been posted, they find themselves having to say the same thing again.


That used to happen to me often, and it's the reason I switched from
my real return address to a fake one. Some people would have send both
an e-mail message and a newsgroup posting.

I don't mind them doing so - as long as they _say_ they are doing so,
ideally as the first line!

And my fake one is purposely a very obvious fake, to dissuade anyone
from e-mailing me.

Yours more than the one that provoked me into writing the above,
certainly. Though sometimes I just hit reply without seeing where it's
going, which is why I like a warning just above the .sig line; one I
quite liked was someone who inserted dragon into the email address, and
ended with "emulate St. George to reply", or something like that.

And I suspect you don't use the fudged one for private emails.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

WANTED, Dead AND Alive: Schrodinger's Cat

 

[Rene Lamontagne]

On 2019-10-14 10:33 a.m., J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

In message <c049qetcqgv8j6ndihhd5c9ite38v60vi7@4ax.com>, Ken Blake
Ken@invalid.news.com> writes:
On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 23:25:27 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX
Paul@Houston.Texas> writes:
Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he
thought it wasn't, but someone here found them.


No, to me, it would hardly matter whether it was still available. If
my mouse died, and was no longer available, I'd find another one that
was close enough to the old one, so I would like it just as much. I
might even find a new one I liked more.

As an example of what I mean, earlier this year I used a  Logitech
M500 mouse which I liked very much. If it died, I would have replaced
it with the same model, if it was still available. But then I was at
someone's office and he was using an Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical
Ergonomic Optical Mouse. I tried it at his office and immediately
liked it better than my Logitech, so I ordered one from Amazon ($20).
It's now my favorite; I no longer use the Logitech.

(You must be right-handed.)

Mice are no different from most other things. Newer models are usually
better than older ones.

So you're a replacer. Some of us see fixing things as a challenge - and
one we enjoy, to some extent; there's great satisfaction, for us, in
returning something to working order, especially if the fix was
something trivial (especially if it wasn't obvious).

I don't deny that there comes a point where further effort is no longer
enjoyable, and I just replace; that point varies depending on lots of
things - the cost of the item, how much I like it anyway, my mood, and
my age (I'm giving up sooner, or not starting at all, more as I age). If
there's something, the use of which frustrates me, and it fails, I'll be
delighted to have an excuse to replace it.

My whole life has been spent fixing things, 17 years as an Auto
mechanic, 30 years as a Power engineer, Boilers, air handlers, pumps and
fans plus many years concurrently as a sideline Doing radio, TV,
computer and all other electronic repairs.
So, Yeah, you might say I enjoy fixing things.
Coincidentally a couple days ago my son complained that his Logitech
M510 mouse was getting very stiff to turn the scroll wheel, naturally
out came the screwdriver set and 2 screws under the AA cells had it apart.
Well what I found was a pile of accumulated lint wrapped around the
shaft of the wheel, Cleanded it all out and added a small shot of
contact cleaner to the bearings and reassembled it and now it works like
new again.

Rene

 

[Fox's Mercantile]

On 10/14/19 11:24 AM, Rene Lamontagne wrote:

Well what I found was a pile of accumulated lint wrapped
around the shaft of the wheel

That's normal maintenance.
Just like cleaning the gunk off the three bearing points on
a trackball.


--
"I am a river to my people."
Jeff-1.0
WA6FWi
http:foxsmercantile.com

 

[Ken Blake]

On Mon, 14 Oct 2019 11:24:38 -0500, Rene Lamontagne <rlamont@shaw.ca>
wrote:

On 2019-10-14 10:33 a.m., J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message <c049qetcqgv8j6ndihhd5c9ite38v60vi7@4ax.com>, Ken Blake
Ken@invalid.news.com> writes:
On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 23:25:27 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX
Paul@Houston.Texas> writes:
Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he
thought it wasn't, but someone here found them.


No, to me, it would hardly matter whether it was still available. If
my mouse died, and was no longer available, I'd find another one that
was close enough to the old one, so I would like it just as much. I
might even find a new one I liked more.

As an example of what I mean, earlier this year I used a  Logitech
M500 mouse which I liked very much. If it died, I would have replaced
it with the same model, if it was still available. But then I was at
someone's office and he was using an Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical
Ergonomic Optical Mouse. I tried it at his office and immediately
liked it better than my Logitech, so I ordered one from Amazon ($20).
It's now my favorite; I no longer use the Logitech.

(You must be right-handed.)

Mice are no different from most other things. Newer models are usually
better than older ones.

So you're a replacer. Some of us see fixing things as a challenge - and
one we enjoy, to some extent; there's great satisfaction, for us, in
returning something to working order, especially if the fix was
something trivial (especially if it wasn't obvious).

I don't deny that there comes a point where further effort is no longer
enjoyable, and I just replace; that point varies depending on lots of
things - the cost of the item, how much I like it anyway, my mood, and
my age (I'm giving up sooner, or not starting at all, more as I age). If
there's something, the use of which frustrates me, and it fails, I'll be
delighted to have an excuse to replace it.

My whole life has been spent fixing things, 17 years as an Auto
mechanic, 30 years as a Power engineer, Boilers, air handlers, pumps and
fans plus many years concurrently as a sideline Doing radio, TV,
computer and all other electronic repairs.
So, Yeah, you might say I enjoy fixing things.

Leaving aside the enjoying fixing things, I envy your ability to do.
Sometimes fixing is the only choice, and I've never been good at it.

Coincidentally a couple days ago my son complained that his Logitech
M510 mouse was getting very stiff to turn the scroll wheel, naturally
out came the screwdriver set and 2 screws under the AA cells had it apart.
Well what I found was a pile of accumulated lint wrapped around the
shaft of the wheel, Cleanded it all out and added a small shot of
contact cleaner to the bearings and reassembled it and now it works like
new again.

I might not have succeeded, but that's the kind of thing I might have
tried to fix. I would have suspected lint, and if my suspicion was
right, fixing it would probably have been easy. And worst case, if I
failed, I'd just buy him a new one.

 

[Ken Blake]

On Mon, 14 Oct 2019 16:33:57 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
<G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

In message <c049qetcqgv8j6ndihhd5c9ite38v60vi7@4ax.com>, Ken Blake
Ken@invalid.news.com> writes:
On Sun, 13 Oct 2019 23:25:27 +0100, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

In message <qnvvmj$kqe$1@dont-email.me>, Paul in Houston TX
Paul@Houston.Texas> writes:
Ken Blake wrote:
[]
Each to his own. Mice are very cheap these days. I wouldn't dream of
spending 20 minutes, the cost of new microswitches, soldering iron,
and solder to save $20 or so for a new mouse.

That's assuming the model the OP likes is still available; I think he
thought it wasn't, but someone here found them.


No, to me, it would hardly matter whether it was still available. If
my mouse died, and was no longer available, I'd find another one that
was close enough to the old one, so I would like it just as much. I
might even find a new one I liked more.

As an example of what I mean, earlier this year I used a Logitech
M500 mouse which I liked very much. If it died, I would have replaced
it with the same model, if it was still available. But then I was at
someone's office and he was using an Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical
Ergonomic Optical Mouse. I tried it at his office and immediately
liked it better than my Logitech, so I ordered one from Amazon ($20).
It's now my favorite; I no longer use the Logitech.

(You must be right-handed.)

Yes. It wouldn't work for a left-handed person. I don't know if
there's a left-handed equivalent available.

Mice are no different from most other things. Newer models are usually
better than older ones.

So you're a replacer. Some of us see fixing things as a challenge - and
one we enjoy, to some extent; there's great satisfaction, for us, in
returning something to working order, especially if the fix was
something trivial (especially if it wasn't obvious).

I'm almost 82. When I was a lot younger, I used to like to repair some
things, if I could. But I was generally poor at fixing most things.

I don't deny that there comes a point where further effort is no longer
enjoyable, and I just replace; that point varies depending on lots of
things - the cost of the item, how much I like it anyway, my mood, and
my age (I'm giving up sooner, or not starting at all, more as I age).

I strongly agree with all of that.

If
there's something, the use of which frustrates me, and it fails, I'll be
delighted to have an excuse to replace it.