Comments on: Can YOUR Mouse Last 18 Years? http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/ Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:42:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Maria Langer http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-132748 Maria Langer Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:43:41 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-132748 Carmen: No, it did eventually die. This post is over 2 years old. The Mac IIci died about 6 months after I wrote about it and was replaced with an old iMac. Then they closed up the business. Don't know if Jo is still using a computer. Carmen: No, it did eventually die. This post is over 2 years old. The Mac IIci died about 6 months after I wrote about it and was replaced with an old iMac. Then they closed up the business. Don’t know if Jo is still using a computer.

]]> By: Carmen http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-132745 Carmen Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:09:05 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-132745 Does the Mac II still work? Does the Mac II still work?

]]> By: Sweater Meat http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-131182 Sweater Meat Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:50:17 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-131182 <blockquote cite="#commentbody-129225"> <strong><a href="#comment-129225" rel="nofollow">Warren</a> :</strong> Jo rocks. And you rock. I have an LC-575 in my closet with the ADB mouse. I use it to rescue data from old Mac floppies, such as my fiance’s college term-papers written in Claris Works, which I then copy on to 1.44 mb discs in macos format, which I can then read on my PC laptop (with a Mac floppy reader piece of software), and then I can copy the files over the network to my Mac. How silly is that, eh? Sometimes Apple really does leave users in the lurch. There’s no way to connect the pre-Ethernet classic macs to the latest model macs. I wish Apple made an ADB/localtalk-to-usb cable to allow tethering ancient macs to modern ones. If Jo keeps her eyes on Craigslist for a while, she could probably find a spare freebie macII when someone is ditching it. Warren </blockquote> Not very versed on this subject are you....trying Googling!

Warren :
Jo rocks. And you rock.
I have an LC-575 in my closet with the ADB mouse.
I use it to rescue data from old Mac floppies, such as my fiance’s college term-papers written in Claris Works, which I then copy on to 1.44 mb discs in macos format, which I can then read on my PC laptop (with a Mac floppy reader piece of software), and then I can copy the files over the network to my Mac. How silly is that, eh?
Sometimes Apple really does leave users in the lurch. There’s no way to connect the pre-Ethernet classic macs to the latest model macs. I wish Apple made an ADB/localtalk-to-usb cable to allow tethering ancient macs to modern ones.
If Jo keeps her eyes on Craigslist for a while, she could probably find a spare freebie macII when someone is ditching it.
Warren

Not very versed on this subject are you….trying Googling!

]]> By: dmmcintyre3 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-131088 dmmcintyre3 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:40:36 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-131088 Does she still use that Mac II? Does she still use that Mac II?

]]> By: Warren http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-129225 Warren Fri, 15 May 2009 02:57:48 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-129225 Jo rocks. And you rock. I have an LC-575 in my closet with the ADB mouse. I use it to rescue data from old Mac floppies, such as my fiance's college term-papers written in Claris Works, which I then copy on to 1.44 mb discs in macos format, which I can then read on my PC laptop (with a Mac floppy reader piece of software), and then I can copy the files over the network to my Mac. How silly is that, eh? Sometimes Apple really does leave users in the lurch. There's no way to connect the pre-Ethernet classic macs to the latest model macs. I wish Apple made an ADB/localtalk-to-usb cable to allow tethering ancient macs to modern ones. If Jo keeps her eyes on Craigslist for a while, she could probably find a spare freebie macII when someone is ditching it. Warren Jo rocks. And you rock.

I have an LC-575 in my closet with the ADB mouse.

I use it to rescue data from old Mac floppies, such as my fiance’s college term-papers written in Claris Works, which I then copy on to 1.44 mb discs in macos format, which I can then read on my PC laptop (with a Mac floppy reader piece of software), and then I can copy the files over the network to my Mac. How silly is that, eh?

Sometimes Apple really does leave users in the lurch. There’s no way to connect the pre-Ethernet classic macs to the latest model macs. I wish Apple made an ADB/localtalk-to-usb cable to allow tethering ancient macs to modern ones.

If Jo keeps her eyes on Craigslist for a while, she could probably find a spare freebie macII when someone is ditching it.

Warren

]]> By: xino (Joe) http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-121890 xino (Joe) Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:15:22 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-121890 http://tinyurl.com/5hunm2 Can YOUR mouse last 18 years? http://tinyurl.com/5hunm2 Can YOUR mouse last 18 years?

]]> By: Ariven http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-109146 Ariven Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:51:22 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-109146 Newegg.com carries the Kensington Mouse in a Box 64475 for about $27.00 It supports both ADB and USB. We have used these at work to resurrect a couple old macs we have. Arivens last blog post..<a href="http://www.ariven.com/node/660" rel="nofollow">RIP Robert Asprin</a> Newegg.com carries the Kensington Mouse in a Box 64475 for about $27.00

It supports both ADB and USB. We have used these at work to resurrect a couple old macs we have.

Arivens last blog post..RIP Robert Asprin

]]> By: Joe http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-101984 Joe Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:35:17 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-101984 I see nothing wrong with keeping old tech in service as long as it doesn't hinder my business from being competitive. For low tech jobs you don't need a new high powered computer. How many small businesses really need a new computer with a quad core CPU and 16gigs of RAM? In mission critical applications you have to keep up with the latest technology but for letter writing and simple bookkeeping tasks it isn't needed. I see nothing wrong with keeping old tech in service as long as it doesn’t hinder my business from being competitive. For low tech jobs you don’t need a new high powered computer. How many small businesses really need a new computer with a quad core CPU and 16gigs of RAM? In mission critical applications you have to keep up with the latest technology but for letter writing and simple bookkeeping tasks it isn’t needed.

]]> By: Chay http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-60052 Chay Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:46:35 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-60052 Wow, a II/Ci still in use after all these years, just goes to show that these fine machines had longevity built in. Talking of which, a few years back, I rescued an old II/Ci from a friends shed, the machine was damp from rainwater, and mice had built a nest in it (I think it had been in there at least a year). Just for a challenge I took it apart, cleaned all the boards in soapy water and then with alcohol and left to dry for a few days. Floppy and hard drives were understandably dead, so they had to go. After assembling the machine, it booted up first time! (after replacing the disks and the PRAM battery). The machine's still working as well as it did when it was new. That's what I call wel engineered! Wow, a II/Ci still in use after all these years, just goes to show that these fine machines had longevity built in. Talking of which, a few years back, I rescued an old II/Ci from a friends shed, the machine was damp from rainwater, and mice had built a nest in it (I think it had been in there at least a year). Just for a challenge I took it apart, cleaned all the boards in soapy water and then with alcohol and left to dry for a few days. Floppy and hard drives were understandably dead, so they had to go. After assembling the machine, it booted up first time! (after replacing the disks and the PRAM battery). The machine’s still working as well as it did when it was new. That’s what I call wel engineered!

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-59405 Maria Langer Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:09:02 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-59405 Joe, That was the first thing I suggested, too. But it was the clicker that was broken, not the trackball. I might be able to fix it if I open it up, find the broken plastic piece, and apply some glue. (I was successfully doing this on a very old laptop mouse button; well, it wasn't old at the time.) Joe, That was the first thing I suggested, too. But it was the clicker that was broken, not the trackball. I might be able to fix it if I open it up, find the broken plastic piece, and apply some glue. (I was successfully doing this on a very old laptop mouse button; well, it wasn’t old at the time.)

]]> By: Joe http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-59381 Joe Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:29:08 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-59381 More often than not, mouse failures are due to collected dust, muck and hair inside the mouse. Take the mouse apart and clean the trackball and rollers (you may have to do a little scraping on the rollers with a toothpick to get the gummy stuff off) and remove any other gummy, hairy crap from around the button contacts or anywhere else inside. Most likely once you get the mouse back together it will be working again. More often than not, mouse failures are due to collected dust, muck and hair inside the mouse. Take the mouse apart and clean the trackball and rollers (you may have to do a little scraping on the rollers with a toothpick to get the gummy stuff off) and remove any other gummy, hairy crap from around the button contacts or anywhere else inside. Most likely once you get the mouse back together it will be working again.

]]> By: mac IIci noch im dauereinsatz ! : iSimplyApple http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-58995 mac IIci noch im dauereinsatz ! : iSimplyApple Sun, 05 Aug 2007 12:58:58 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-58995 [...] “Arbeitet ihre Maus schon seit 18 Jahren”? fragt die Weblog-Schreiberin und Mac-Journalistin Maria Langer derzeit ihre Leser. Was bei den meisten schon längst zum alten Eisen gehört, ist bei einer Freundin von ihr noch immer im Dauereinsatz: Ein Apple Mac IIci steht bei ihr in einer Radiostation und schreibt dort durch Benutzung einer alten Apple-Maus alle Rechnungen, die auch noch auf einem alten Apple-Drucker ausgedruckt werden. Der Mac ist wie seine Peripherie Baujahr 1989 und läuft und läuft und läuft …Nur die Maus machte jetzt schlapp und ging kaputt - nach 18 Jahren hatte sich ihr Anschaffungspreis mehrfach ausgezahlt. Keine leichte Aufgabe allerdings, hierfür Ersatz zu finden, denn der alte Mac nutzt noch die gute alte ADB-Schnittstellentechnologie (ADB steht für Apple Desktop Bus). Dergleichen wird seit über 10 Jahren nicht mehr hergestellt und gehört damit eigentlich schon fast ins Museum. Maria Langer aber fand in ihrem privaten Fundus noch Ersatz. Vielleicht kann der Mac IIci also noch die kommenden 18 Jahre weiter sein Werk verrichten.Wer weiß, vielleicht sind da draußen noch mehr alte Macs im täglichen Dauereinsatz, als manch einer ahnt. Die gute Qualität und die einfache Nutzung machen es einem leicht, die Hardware - so lange sie läuft - noch weiter einzusetzen. Und wie lange ist Ihr Mac nun schon bei Ihnen im Einsatz? [...] [...] “Arbeitet ihre Maus schon seit 18 Jahren”? fragt die Weblog-Schreiberin und Mac-Journalistin Maria Langer derzeit ihre Leser. Was bei den meisten schon längst zum alten Eisen gehört, ist bei einer Freundin von ihr noch immer im Dauereinsatz: Ein Apple Mac IIci steht bei ihr in einer Radiostation und schreibt dort durch Benutzung einer alten Apple-Maus alle Rechnungen, die auch noch auf einem alten Apple-Drucker ausgedruckt werden. Der Mac ist wie seine Peripherie Baujahr 1989 und läuft und läuft und läuft …Nur die Maus machte jetzt schlapp und ging kaputt – nach 18 Jahren hatte sich ihr Anschaffungspreis mehrfach ausgezahlt. Keine leichte Aufgabe allerdings, hierfür Ersatz zu finden, denn der alte Mac nutzt noch die gute alte ADB-Schnittstellentechnologie (ADB steht für Apple Desktop Bus). Dergleichen wird seit über 10 Jahren nicht mehr hergestellt und gehört damit eigentlich schon fast ins Museum. Maria Langer aber fand in ihrem privaten Fundus noch Ersatz. Vielleicht kann der Mac IIci also noch die kommenden 18 Jahre weiter sein Werk verrichten.Wer weiß, vielleicht sind da draußen noch mehr alte Macs im täglichen Dauereinsatz, als manch einer ahnt. Die gute Qualität und die einfache Nutzung machen es einem leicht, die Hardware – so lange sie läuft – noch weiter einzusetzen. Und wie lange ist Ihr Mac nun schon bei Ihnen im Einsatz? [...]

]]> By: A Scott http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-58994 A Scott Sun, 05 Aug 2007 12:57:56 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-58994 Environmentalism. Hey - if old gear does the job why ditch it to fill some hole in the ground. Keep old kit in a job as long as you can. I still have SCSI kit attached to my G3 on a network and use them when I need them. Scanner in particular. I'm typing this via a Mac mini connected to a fourteen year old radius monitor. I know it should be useless but it's next to a two year old monitor and comparing the two - the only wear visible in the old one is the brightness is not what it should be. Colour and contrast is still good for what I do. I'm a graphic designer and have always worked to keep monitor colour and reproduction up to scratch. when it does fall below par it will go. On the note of retired kit see this: http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2007/08/01/what-happens-to-robots-when-they-retire/ Environmentalism.
Hey – if old gear does the job why ditch it to fill some hole in the ground. Keep old kit in a job as long as you can. I still have SCSI kit attached to my G3 on a network and use them when I need them. Scanner in particular.

I’m typing this via a Mac mini connected to a fourteen year old radius monitor.
I know it should be useless but it’s next to a two year old monitor and comparing the two – the only wear visible in the old one is the brightness is not what it should be. Colour and contrast is still good for what I do. I’m a graphic designer and have always worked to keep monitor colour and reproduction up to scratch. when it does fall below par it will go.

On the note of retired kit see this: http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2007/08/01/what-happens-to-robots-when-they-retire/

]]> By: Sebastian Lewis http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-58972 Sebastian Lewis Sun, 05 Aug 2007 09:28:33 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-58972 I don't think Mike was kidding. "IT Services are just like water and electricity." That pretty much explains it, he's an IT guy and the last thing I would ever do is turn my Mac over to someone in some IT department. Fortunately most of them don't seem to support Macs anyways so that won't be a problem. Or maybe he was kidding, he called her your customer because you gave her an old Apple mouse. :-D Sebastian I don’t think Mike was kidding.

“IT Services are just like water and electricity.”

That pretty much explains it, he’s an IT guy and the last thing I would ever do is turn my Mac over to someone in some IT department. Fortunately most of them don’t seem to support Macs anyways so that won’t be a problem.

Or maybe he was kidding, he called her your customer because you gave her an old Apple mouse. :-D

Sebastian

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-58923 Maria Langer Sat, 04 Aug 2007 14:27:01 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/2007/08/01/can-your-mouse-last-18-years/#comment-58923 Hey, Mike -- you're kidding, right? Didn't you ever hear the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? She loves her old Mac and it does everything she needs it to do. They run the radio station's broadcast on a PC and I can't advise them on that. The Internet simulcasting is on an eMac, which is doing the job just fine. I think I'd be doing her a disservice by recommending newer, upgraded equipment and software that she doesn't know how to use. Why waste her time and money and get her all frustrated when she's happy? So you were kidding, right? Hey, Mike — you’re kidding, right? Didn’t you ever hear the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?

She loves her old Mac and it does everything she needs it to do. They run the radio station’s broadcast on a PC and I can’t advise them on that. The Internet simulcasting is on an eMac, which is doing the job just fine.

I think I’d be doing her a disservice by recommending newer, upgraded equipment and software that she doesn’t know how to use. Why waste her time and money and get her all frustrated when she’s happy?

So you were kidding, right?

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