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07/06/2002 Entry: "M$ don't just make bloaty software..."
...they make bloaty hardware too.
Here's an great example: The Optical "IntelliEye" Mou$e.
Not only does it have the "real" LED which is part of the optical sensor, but it also has a "tail light" - a red led in the back "window" of the mouse, which is always on, full brightness. There is only one reason it's there - to look pretty. Oh, and help to drain your laptop batteries.
Compared to the old MS Optical Intellimouse, I've worked out that the new mouse with the extra "fluff" LED drains my laptop batteries 30 mins sooner.
So, my mouse had a little operation last week - I removed the "tail light", which hasn't affected the operation of the mouse at all. Choose "more..." to find out how to do this for yourself...
Here's how you do it (we assume the "front" of the mouse is the end with the buttons):
1) Prise off the two ptfe "glide pads", you can usually do this with your nails, if you have any. This should expose two screws.
2) Unfasten the screws.
3) Slide the top of the mouse forwards and upwards, to separate it from bottom half.
4) This will expose the innards of the mouse, including the LED "tail light", which is on it's own little sub-assembly.
5) The "tail light" assembly takes its power from the main board via the white "jumper cable".
6) Cut the white jumper cable and remove the "tail light" circuit board.
7) To re-assemble, the top of the mouse clips to the bottom at the front of the mouse, where the wire goes in. It should just "click home".
8) Replace and tighten screws.
9) Replace pfte pads. The adhesive should just re-attach.
