Re: [9fans] p9 mice

[Adrian Tritschler <ajft@ajft.org>]

kim kubik wrote:
> andrey mirtchovski <mirtchov@cpsc.ucalgary.ca> wrote in message
> news:8b896c83d31d6ce56f17a1cbf17c4dbd@plan9.ucalgary.ca...
> 
>>>Does anyone know where I can buy an optical 3
>>>button mouse? I don't mind if there's a cable.
> 
> 
>>IBM has one for $25USD:
>>
> 
> http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=-8
> 40&langId=-1&partNumber=31P7405&storeId=1
> 
> On that web page description of mouse, under "Features and Benefits"
> it reads:
> 
>     "No mechanical ball to get dusty, dirty or stolen."
> 
> Stolen? STOLEN? Is there a big market for hot mouse balls?

There is zero market for stolen mouse balls, but tons of inconvenience 
when some brilliant student decides to steal them from fifty or more PCs 
in labs.

Solution to this was to hot-glue the little ball-retainer thingy shut, 
this prevented the ball being stolen, but resulted in them being 
uncleanable and very quickly filling up with whatever grey goo mouse 
balls and rollers fill up with.

Students steal stuff because they can, not because there's any need or 
market for it.

> Guy comes home, finds window broken, laptop, printer, digital
> camera all still sitting there; tries to use computer, no response.
> Mouse ball is gone . . . a pink glove is laying by the pad.
> 
> An alley downtown, swarthy guy in black trenchcoat, "psst, kid,
> lookit here: this is from a little old lady who only used her Mac
> for email on Sunday's . . ."