Posted by dhansen on February 25, 2002 at 10:31:03:
In Reply to: You'll save a lot of trouble just getting an Oscar. posted by rmfx on February 25, 2002 at 01:45:25:
Hey, don't dis the hard drive spinner... Oscar wasn't around at the time and your only choice was the twisty grip.. It's just an alternative for someone who doesn't have $60 to spend on a spinner.
It's like keyboard hacks, some folks like the challenge of making something from nothing.
Doug
: I've seen a lot of people do cheap hacks using everything from washers glued together, to busted-up hard drives, but it's all a pain in the ass. By the time you get the mouse all cut up, the shutter-blade shaft aligned, and built a flywheel with glued-together washers, you could have built an entire control panel or two.
: And unless you need the thing to keep spinning 5 minutes after you let go, ball bearings really aren't necessary. The Oscar is built with a simple sleeve bearing that is much smoother than anything you can hack together from spare parts, and much more compact. To me, the savings in time is worth the quite reasonable price (comparable with your average optical wheelmouse.) Highly recommended.