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From: mwjester@wsucsa.uucp
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: ST mice & longevity
Message-ID: <13257@wsucsa.uucp>
Date: 14 Feb 90 11:10:37 GMT
References: <90021118332736@masnet.uucp> <9002122041.AA18144@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu>
Organization: Wichita State Univ., Wichita, Ks.
Lines: 29

In article <9002122041.AA18144@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu>,
    boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu (Mickey Boyd) writes:
> 
>    1.  To my knowledge, there are three types of ST mice around.  The 
>        very first ones were marked as being from Germany.  The next 
>        batch is made in Taiwan (I think), and has a sliding mouse-ball 
>        door, and plain metal rollers which get all gummy with heavy use.
>        The new ones have a rotating ball door, and have white plastic 
>        covers on the metal rods, and do not seem to collect nearly as 
>        much gunk.  Are there any more types?
> 
>    2.  I happen to own one of the new ones (fat plastic roller covers).  It
>        has laughed at my attempts to wear it out.  It doesn't make any of 
>        the weird noises that I hear from the older types (after some use).
>        Are my Microsoft plans unfounded?  Has Atari actually produced a 
>        long lasting mouse?  Mine seems to feel smoother than the older types,
>        buttons feel the same.
> 
> Enquiring minds want to know!!

My mouse (early 86 vintage) appears to be of the second type (metal rollers,
sliding door); it is marked as made in Japan.  About 2 years ago I had to
degunk the rollers (simple operation: Qtips and rubbing alcohol), but that's
the only maintenance it ever needed. BTW, up until then I had only used the
mouse on a bare desktop; shortly after that I acquired a mouse pad and have
since had no gunk problems, although why this should be so is not entirely
clear to me.

Max J.