LM_NET: Library Media Networking

Previous by DateNext by Date Date Index
Previous by ThreadNext by Thread Thread Index
LM_NET Archive



HELLO EVERYONE!!
It's Friday and for that we can be glad!!!!  I want to thank everyone very much
for such instanteous and overwhelming response!!  Your immediate respones gave
me several options and back-up for a discussion.  Thanks again!!  I'm posting
this in two parts since there were so many responses.  I'm trying to proof it
for mitakes so please excuse if I made many.  This is about my third attempt at
copying/pasting and remembering where I was when interrupted.  So I'm starting
over and I hope these responses help you too.  Donna Walters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here we go:


Hi Donna,
 Every LMS goes thru the mouse ball problem.  The easiest solution is to
buy cheap mice and glue them shut.  The problem is that the balls are
the most expensive part of the mouse.  If you hear any better solutions,
please let me know!

Chuck

> Does anyone know where to order replacement balls for an IBM cloned mouse?
The
> mouse is Logitech.  Our local companies tell us we have to re-purchase the
mice-
> --that they don't know anyone who sells the balls only.  I've purchased just
the
> marbles for the Mac mice so I know you can do it for Macs.  The marbles aren't
> interchangable between a Mac mouse and an IBM mouse.
>
> Also, my principal wants me to super glue the plates on the mice--has anyone
> ever done that?  I'm worried about not being able to clean the inside rollers
> when lint collects.
>
> Thanks!
>

--
Chuck Finnigan
Central Elementary School Library
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
360 855-3560
cfinnigan@ct.swsd.wednet.edu

Hi Donna!
  I have not used super glue but I have used extra heavy duty elmer's glue.
The advantage is that it keeps kids from opening the mice easily and yet
the mouse can be opened (with a little force). I know I've tried.
  I use Macs in the LMC so I'm not sure if IBM's mice have the following
feature or not but if you have to buy replacement mice it is a good feature
to look for. Apple's mice now come with a "locking" feature that requires
that you stick a paper clip in them to "lock" them and "unlock" them. This
eliminates the need for gluing the mice balls in.
  Hope this helps.
MaryAnn


MaryAnn "the librarian" Rizzo

"We need to educate our children for their future and not for our past" A.
C. Clarke

"Keep smiling -- it keeps everyone wondering about you."  M. Rizzo

Hi Donna-
Rather than super-gluing the computer mouse backs, you might want to
purchase the seals from SecurLoc (not sure of the name).  The are adhesive
seals that fit over the back leaving a hole for the mouse ball.  I ordered
them and have been very satisfied.  It *is* still possible to remove the
seal and then the ball but it takes some doing and the students have to
have that as their goal rather than removing the balls because they are
just sitting there.  If no one else sends you this info and if you are
interested, write back to me.  The info is at school and i am not.  The
seals were *very* cheap..like 12 for $18 as I recall.  May have even been
less?  Let me know if you want more info.

Sally Lantz    sarahl@ccpl.carr.lib.md.us


Mouse part replacements can be purchased from:

Argonaut Discount Computer Supplies
1150 Harbor St.
Pittsburg, CA 94565
1-800-527-4662

On a quantity of 20, I got a discount, so they were only $4.50 each.  We
have superglued ours in (on the advice of the CIS teacher) and they are
working fine (I haven't needed to clean them!).  They do come in sizes,
but I think you are looking for the 7/8 of an inch size for the IBM's.

Karen Johnson
Davea Career Center
Addison, Illinois
karenj@daoes.tec.il.us
Visit our home page at http://daoes.tec.il.us/davea




I have used just the tiniest drop to secure Mac "mice?" It's just
enough to discourage student fingers and not enough to be there
forever. I have always been able to get in to clean them.
Mary Childs

Donna,

We have superglued the plates on our mice in the library.   So far we
haven't had a need to clean them and they are working fine (it's been
over a year) and it eliminated that frustration of missing balls.
Sorry,   I don't know where to buy them separately for PC's.
 In the computer labs, students have to ask for the balls and plates
(which are kept in a locked cabinet) and they
are collected at the end of the period.

Lois Parker Hennion
Tappan Zee High School Library
Orangeburg, NY

Sphere Tech, Inc.
1202 Brigadoon Drive
Clearwater, FL 34619
1(800)329-9193

Has Mouse balls in  all sizes for $6.00 ea. and shipping and handling is
included.  They also have tech ties which are velcro ties in bright colors
for securing cables in place.


___________________________________________
Linda Morrell, Media Specialist
Lassiter High School
2601 Shallowford Rd.
Marietta, GA 30066
(770)591-6819

Yes, I have superglued the mouse plates to the case.  It works very well.  We
have not had one person try to take the plate off!!!!!  If you want to remove
the plate, just get a sharp knife of pointed object.  Run it around the
plate.  It should cut the glue and it should come free.  We have done it many
times.

Barbara Slane
Rocky River Middle School
Rocky River, OH 44116
concurcat@aol.com


I've seen mouse balls at computer shows.  I need some, too.  I just
tried super gluing the plates in. Yes, it means that we won't be able to
clean them.  A solution to this whole thing (though kinda expensive)
would be to replace the standard mouse with glide pads.  There's no ball
for the students to steal, and no parts to clean.  I have one at home
and love it, but most of my friends hate it.
Linda

      ((.)   (.))              Linda Strauss      lstrauss@monmouth.com
 ---oOo-----(_)-----oOo--      Tottenville H.S. Library
  peeking over the edge        100 Luten Ave, Staten Island, NY 10312
      of technology                (718) 356-2220 ext 452


I don't know about glueing the balls into the mouse, but one of the things
that I did was to write identification on each of the balls before
allowing students to use the computers.  Rather annoying but necessary.  I
understand they, the balls, are about $2.50 each but I don't remember
where to purchase them.

Jackie Norris
South Kitsap High School
Port Orchard, WA
jnorris@linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us



Donna:
     I superglued all the mouse ball rings three years ago.  They are
still working, have never been cleaned, and I haven't lost a mouse ball
since.  You could probably hold a vacuum cleaner hose to the underside of
the mouse and suck any lint out.  General grime is something else, but the
balls don't seem to get dirty.  Besides there is a lot of satisfaction in
thwarting the little creeps.  Last year sometime there were several
messages on LMNET about where to order mouse balls--try the archives.
     Janice Weihs, PHS Library, Gig Harbor, WA


You can order mouse balls directly from logitech.  Price is $3.00 shipping
included.  Phone # is 1-800-231-7717 or 510-795-8500.  Good luck

Address is Attn: Customer Sales
                 6505 Kaiser Drive
                 Fremont, CA  04555

FAX 1-800-732-3102
Maurice Farrell                            yvw001@mail.connect.more.net
Library Media Specialist                   Voice Mail 816-646-0700
Chillicothe High School                    Fax: (816) 646-7106
1535 Calhoun St., Chillicothe, MO 6460


 Dear Donna,
     When I returned to school last fall, my MAC mouse and my IBM-
compatible mouse were both missing. (We have summer workers whom we
blame for everything every year.)I ordered a MAC mouse replacement
from MacWarehouse for around $40 - $45. I went to Wal-Mart (do you
have this store around you?) and had the choice of buying one for $10
or for $60, so I went with the $10 one, and so far it has worked
fine.  One of our computer teachers told me that it was about as
inexpensive to buy the $10 one and use the ball out of it as
replacement.





Judy Stewman,Librarian
De Queen High School
De Queen, Arkansas 71832

stewmanj@dqhs.dmsc.k12.ar.us

Mouse balls? That sounds indecent.

I had an instructor in Grad school last semester who said she super glued
her mouse ball plates after she saw a couple of the balls bouncing down the
aisle at an assembly.  She never did say how she cleaned them though.
Jim


LM_NET Archive Home