# Mice (the computer kind) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022 "2001-11-29T22:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Civil\_Defense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/1 "2001-11-29T22:32:35Z")
So I’m taking my mouse apart to clean it, and notice there are three wheely things inside. Turning one of them makes the pointer move up and down. Turning another makes the pointer move left and right. Turning the third one does nothing. So what is the third wheel for? ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/2 "2001-11-29T22:34:34Z")
It holds the ball against the other two. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/3 "2001-11-29T22:35:26Z")
It keeps the ball in contact with the other 2 rollers. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/4 "2001-11-29T22:35:53Z")
The third wheel keeps the ball pressed against the other two wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Defense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/5 "2001-11-29T22:36:10Z")
> [@](#): > > It keeps the ball in contact with the other 2 rollers. > [@](#): > > It holds the ball against the other two. Oh. Well… duh. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/6 "2001-11-29T22:37:39Z")
Hah! First AND most concise… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/7 "2001-11-29T22:49:55Z")
No, it is a spare roller for if the other two break. Just take it out of its holder and use the tiny wrenches that are also in the mouse. They are probably glued to that green plastic board inside. Just keep pulling, they will come off. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/8 "2001-11-30T00:33:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JRootabega \* > \*\*No, it is a spare roller for if the other two break. Just take it out of its holder and use the tiny wrenches that are also in the mouse. They are probably glued to that green plastic board inside. Just keep pulling, they will come off. \*\* OK, now what? 😃 [sub]Seriously, this really made me laugh out loud.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/9 "2001-11-30T01:23:22Z")
Uh, uh, now what you do is, uh…LOOK OVER THERE!! ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/10 "2001-11-30T02:05:32Z")
Get an optical mouse. The ball types are fast becoming obsolete. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/11 "2001-11-30T02:43:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > \*\*Get an optical mouse. The ball types are fast becoming obsolete. \*\* Hmmm… I wonder how I could replace my trackball with an optical trackball… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmonster)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/12 "2001-11-30T04:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balthisar \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > > Get an optical mouse. The ball types are fast becoming obsolete. > > Hmmm… I wonder how I could replace my trackball with an optical trackball… 😛 Go to your local computer store, walk up to an employee, and say, “Mr. Computer Store Employee, I would like to buy an optical trackball.” Or, just go here: [http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10255982&loc=439](http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10255982&loc=439) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/13 "2001-11-30T05:42:04Z")
Yep, them optical mice are gonna make the old ball type obsolete. That’s exactly what they said about them when I first saw one… attached to a brand new IBM AT 286 (somewhere around 1991). ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/14 "2001-11-30T08:41:33Z")
ACK! I hate mice with balls. You have to keep them clean. You have to keep them on a mouse pad. They ussually dont have 5 buttons. They dont go squirly on you once an hour. They dont glow a very cool red. They dont scare children. They are SO 1999. dead0man ---
**Author:** ![pincushion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d9b06d/32.png) [@pincushion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pincushion)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/15 "2001-11-30T08:58:14Z")
Besides, where else would you get the cool glow that comes with optical mice? ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/16 "2001-11-30T13:05:25Z")
- - - The problem with any regular mouse is you gotta sit at a desk to use it. That’s why trackballs _rule_. -At least until I can afford that Theremin mouse, anyway… (-I’ll put on a tight black sweatsuit and pretend I’m Deter Sprocket) - DougC ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/17 "2001-11-30T13:50:29Z")
I actually have a usb optical trackball at home–very nice, but it takes some getting used to. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/18 "2001-11-30T14:22:21Z")
I’ve got the Graphire2 pen and mouse tablet. It’s OK, but a bit weird. How does it work? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/19 "2001-12-01T00:14:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jmonster \* > \*\*Go to your local computer store, walk up to an employee, and say, “Mr. Computer Store Employee, I would like to buy an optical trackball.” Or, just go here: [http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10255982&loc=439](http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10255982&loc=439) \*\* Wow, I’ve got to be more cafeful in my facetiousness! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmonster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022/20 "2001-12-01T02:25:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balthisar \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jmonster \* > > \*\*Go to your local computer store, walk up to an employee, and say, “Mr. Computer Store Employee, I would like to buy an optical trackball.” Or, just go here: [http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10255982&loc=439](http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10255982&loc=439) \*\* > > Wow, I’ve got to be more cafeful in my facetiousness! 🙂 Yep. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mice-the-computer-kind/96022.md?page=2)