IBM 96F9275 rollerball mouse

[Cattus_D]

For a while now, I've been looking for a mouse that matches my Model M and Model F keyboards in both style and feel, and I think I may have found it.

Yesterday I got an IBM 96F9275 rollerball mouse. Unlike the Model 001 (the 'trapezoid' mouse that came with the PS/2) it's nice and speedy even on a 1920*1080 desktop. The buttons are very clicky, and the mouse makes a satisfying 'whirring' sound as it's moved over the surface of the desk. It looks good, too, I think - the colours match those on a 1391401 Model M keyboard.

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Now if only it also had a scroll wheel....

[Mr.Nobody]

I've just got one too...

[Engicoder]

How about these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/302168970340

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[seebart]

How about these

I own one of those, it's an impressive mouse but just impractical as a daily driver, I like the looks of it though!

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[Mr.Nobody]

I bought it for the IBM badge though, Practically wireless mouse is better, and I found the two-greyish-button model is made in Japan, the trapezoid and round-cornered ones are usually made in Taiwan or China...Maybe that's why they don't have much value in terms of both practical use or collectibility.

[Mr.Nobody]

The one I got costed me 4.5 US$, while that's the cheapiest I could get.

[micrex22]

Ah yes, the 'soap bar' mice. There are many iterations:

(full cream, grey bottom, grey buttons, black)

In my deep travels (heh) I was trying to find a specific one. So far, the best ones are the ones with the dark grey bottoms, they have the clickiest buttons. Yeah... they all feel different and have different manufacturers. The logitech-made ones have the mushiest buttons. The reason being is that they spanned over a decade (different molds, different guts, different colours etc etc etc).

EDIT: Unicomp used to sell NOS logitech made 'grey button' soap mice before they sold out.

[andrewjoy]

EDIT: Unicomp used to sell NOS logitech made 'grey button' soap mice before they sold out.

I have one of them , they sold them for 1 USD in the end.

They are quite well build , such a shame about the low dpi

[micrex22]

EDIT: Unicomp used to sell NOS logitech made 'grey button' soap mice before they sold out.

I have one of them , they sold them for 1 USD in the end.

They are quite well build , such a shame about the low dpi

One frustrating thing is that the DPI doesn't actually account for the cursor speed, it's set in the chip's firmware / because low speed was more desirable on lower resolutions, early 400 & 800 DPI mice moved slower. But when high resolutions became more of a 'thing', all of the sudden, the same 800 DPI mice moved faster. Well how convenient!

Therefore, it IS possible to increase the speed and get a 400 DPI ball mouse tracking just fine on 4K. But it all depends on the controller chip, how easy the firmware is to mod, whether NOS chips exist (if they're cypress they're 'burn once only').

*sigh*

[Mr.Nobody]

Ah yes, the 'soap bar' mice. There are many iterations:

(full cream, grey bottom, grey buttons, black)

In my deep travels (heh) I was trying to find a specific one. So far, the best ones are the ones with the dark grey bottoms, they have the clickiest buttons. Yeah... they all feel different and have different manufacturers. The logitech-made ones have the mushiest buttons. The reason being is that they spanned over a decade (different molds, different guts, different colours etc etc etc).

EDIT: Unicomp used to sell NOS logitech made 'grey button' soap mice before they sold out.

Interesting I didn't know there are so many variants.

[micrex22]

Interesting I didn't know there are so many variants.

It's only natural with a product made for so long.

Also, the trapezoid mice have two major versions too. The earlier ALPS-made ones are more desired for the solid click. They can be identified with their cord and the rear of the mouse (obviously). The great Peter Wendt actually already had a writeup about it:

Left is ALPS, right is Logicrap. The ALPS ones have a very innovative ball cover, instead of twisting you push it down to release. Logitech couldn't be bothered to incorporate such technology sadly.

[citrojohn]

I used a trapezoidal mouse (Alps-made, it would seem) when they were fairly new, and I'd actually use one now if I had more desktop space. Nice sturdy feel, and the buttons felt better than anything I've used since. The Microsoft mouse that replaced it was a noticeable step down! (besides being bent the wrong way... )

[Mr.Nobody]

So which one came earlier, the beatiful soap bar or the ugly freak?

[citrojohn]

So which one came earlier, the beatiful soap bar or the ugly freak?

The smooth, streamlined, boring one replaced the characterful, ugly one.

[Mr.Nobody]

I found another model made in Ireland

[Mr.Nobody]

And a wireless one with a huge receiver.

[andrewjoy]

I found another model made in Ireland

That looks like an acorn mouse i had , if you know RISCOS you know it uses a 3 button mouse as standard.

[citrojohn]

That looks like an acorn mouse i had , if you know RISCOS you know it uses a 3 button mouse as standard.

I think they share a manufacturer. Logitech?

[Mr.Nobody]

Logitech is located in Taiwan, I don't know whether they had any plants in Ireland back then.

[citrojohn]

I think they were Swiss originally. At any rate some Acorns seem to have had Logitech mice of this shape - http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org ... A3020.html has a review of the A3010/3020/4000 with a photo of a similar mouse, which mentions the mouse being Logitech.

[micrex22]

And a wireless one with a huge receiver.

Yes, there were three versions of the IBM wireless mouse ignoring the wireless ScrollPoint models. Slate blue, silver and grey and completely coated in rubber; earlier ones are ball based. You can also swap the wheels, so the silver one could have a red wheel put in it:


Since they're PS/2, you could also incorporate a wireless mouse on something super old.

Receivers don't have much to them despite the large enclosure:


But I find that they chew batteries down pretty fast (the ball ones iirc may not drain as quickly but don't quote me on that). So.... there's really no point.

I found another model made in Ireland

That looks like an acorn mouse i had , if you know RISCOS you know it uses a 3 button mouse as standard.

Those three button ones are most definitely Logitech. IBM had the Logitech Chroma (which I am fairly certain came out after than the Irish three button one with the 'circle' on the centre button) stuck on with an IBM logo in both beige and black. I happen to have a black IBM-rebadged Logitech Chroma paired to the right of the ThinkPad:


There are late 3-button IBM styled mice (89P5069) which actually upright state "manufactured by Logitech for IBM". What's unusual about that is the fact it actually states who manufactured it and it's always these darned 3-button mice. I'm not a fan of them myself... and the Logitech Chroma really isn't my cup of tea; I'm just keeping it for collecting purposes to ultimately sell some day.

[andrewjoy]

I am pretty sure the acorn one was a logitech yes.

It was 232 tho not PS/2

[Mr.Nobody]

it reminds me:

[gogusrl]

I wanna build a soarer's in one of those and have the buttons switch inputs or profiles or something.

[Cattus_D]

EDIT: Unicomp used to sell NOS logitech made 'grey button' soap mice before they sold out.

I have one of them , they sold them for 1 USD in the end.

They are quite well build , such a shame about the low dpi

One frustrating thing is that the DPI doesn't actually account for the cursor speed, it's set in the chip's firmware / because low speed was more desirable on lower resolutions, early 400 & 800 DPI mice moved slower. But when high resolutions became more of a 'thing', all of the sudden, the same 800 DPI mice moved faster. Well how convenient!

Therefore, it IS possible to increase the speed and get a 400 DPI ball mouse tracking just fine on 4K. But it all depends on the controller chip, how easy the firmware is to mod, whether NOS chips exist (if they're cypress they're 'burn once only').

*sigh*

Hey guys -

I was away from the forums for a while, hence the late response.

I have the trapezoid mouse, and it's much too slow for my 1080p desktop. The 96F9275, though, is nice and speedy, albeit somewhat lacking in precision. I find the speed is even acceptable at 4K.

[randomist]

These old rollerball mice are all very interesting, but are there any modern mice with optical tracking and maybe better ergonomics than these frankly awful ball options that have this aesthetic? I just remember sitting down and having to clean the bloody things out pretty much constantly to make them work, and when they did work they were uncomfortable and vague.

[daedalus]

Logitech is located in Taiwan, I don't know whether they had any plants in Ireland back then.

Alps had a plant in Ireland, so that would be my bet

[micrex22]

but are there any modern mice with optical tracking and maybe better ergonomics than these frankly awful ball options that have this aesthetic?

Probably only the aforementioned Navigator and ScrollPoints:

They're kind of "boxy" but ergonomic at the same time. Keep in mind the blue and silver ones are ball based too--but you can swap the colours with the later optical ones so it's moot.

I just remember sitting down and having to clean the bloody things out pretty much constantly to make them work, and when they did work they were uncomfortable and vague.

I've never really had that problem with my ball mice. Some crud can gather on the axles over time but only needs cleaning once per a year at tops; I guess it helps I never eat at any of my computers with ball mice. If a mouse pad isn't used they will probably gather "mouse chow" quicker, too.

MOUSE CHOW!!!!!

[Cattus_D]

but are there any modern mice with optical tracking and maybe better ergonomics than these frankly awful ball options that have this aesthetic?

Probably only the aforementioned Navigator and ScrollPoints:

They're kind of "boxy" but ergonomic at the same time. Keep in mind the blue and silver ones are ball based too--but you can swap the colours with the later optical ones so it's moot.

The Scrollpoint Pro is a fantastic mouse - very comfortable to use, and it looks good, too. It's what I'm using ATM - the black, ball-based version.

[Cattus_D]

but are there any modern mice with optical tracking and maybe better ergonomics than these frankly awful ball options that have this aesthetic?

Probably only the aforementioned Navigator and ScrollPoints:

They're kind of "boxy" but ergonomic at the same time. Keep in mind the blue and silver ones are ball based too--but you can swap the colours with the later optical ones so it's moot.

The Scrollpoint Pro is a fantastic mouse - very comfortable to use, and it's got a nice aesthetic. It's what I'm using ATM - the black, ball-based version.