The Art of Hacking a Vintage Apple Desktop Mouse

As someone who has been computing for a long time, I've had my fair share of mice over the years. And while I've always loved collecting them, I have to admit that I'm a bargain hunter at heart. Recently, I stumbled upon an old vintage Mac mouse from the 1980s that caught my eye. It was a true classic, but it also came with a challenge: it predated Bluetooth technology by about 10 years. So, I decided to give it a try and see if I could hack it into a wireless device.

First things first, I needed to clean up the mouse. It had been used and abused over the years, so it was in dire need of some TLC. I reached for my trusty GooGAN cleaning solution and got to work, scrubbing away at the smudges and marks that had accumulated on its surface. As I cleaned, I couldn't help but think about the history behind this mouse. It was a relic from a bygone era, one that I was eager to explore.

Once the mouse was clean, it was time to start disassembling it. I carefully removed the four screws that held the two halves of the housing together, and then gently prised them apart. To my surprise, both halves came off relatively easily, revealing a treasure trove of components underneath. There were LEDs in red and white, a spring, and even more electronics that I didn't recognize. It was clear that this mouse was more than just a simple input device – it was a complex machine with its own inner workings.

As I delved deeper into the mouse's innards, I realized that I would need to sacrifice one of its most functional components in order to turn it wireless. The Bluetooth module, which allowed the mouse to connect to devices remotely, was a crucial piece of hardware that I needed to remove. But I also knew that I could replace it with something else, giving me more flexibility and control over my project.

Next, I decided to salvage some of the other components from the mouse's circuit board. These included the strong neodymium magnets that were used to hold the mouse ball in place, as well as a lens that was originally intended for the laser module. I carefully removed these parts, making sure not to damage them in the process.

Now that I had all of my components ready, it was time to start building the new mouse. I began by attaching the Bluetooth receiver to the motherboard, which would allow me to connect the mouse to a device wirelessly. But before I could do that, I needed to make some modifications to the mouse's housing. There were several plastic pieces that held the original motherboard in place, and these needed to be cut away in order to accommodate the new electronics.

Using my trusty Dremel tool, I carefully sliced away at the edges of the plastic pieces, creating a makeshift "window" for the new components to fit into. This was a delicate process, as I had to be careful not to damage the surrounding material or compromise the mouse's structural integrity.

With the modifications complete, it was time to reassemble the mouse. I carefully attached the new motherboard and Bluetooth receiver, making sure that everything was properly aligned and secured. Next came the addition of a double-A battery, which would provide power for the device.

Finally, it was time to test the new and improved mouse. I plugged it into my computer and waited anxiously for it to come online. And when it did, I couldn't believe my eyes – the mouse was working beautifully, its wireless signal strong and reliable. It was a truly satisfying moment, one that had taken hours of tinkering and experimentation.

As I sat back to admire my handiwork, I couldn't help but think about what I had learned from this project. Hacking an old device like a vintage Apple desktop mouse requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to take risks. But the end result is always worth it – a working, wireless device that can be customized and tailored to your needs.

And as I listened to my latest audiobook on my trusty new mouse, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. It had been a fun project, one that had allowed me to explore the inner workings of an old technology and bring it back into the modern era. And who knows – maybe someday I'll be hacking another vintage device, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with DIY electronics.

The Future of DIY Electronics

For those interested in pursuing this type of project further, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, it's essential to have a solid understanding of electronics and computer hardware. This may seem daunting at first, but with practice and patience, anyone can learn the basics.

Another key factor is creativity and experimentation. Don't be afraid to try new things and see what works – and what doesn't. This is where the real fun begins, as you push the boundaries of what's possible with DIY electronics.

Of course, safety should also be a top priority when working with electronics. Make sure to follow proper safety protocols, such as using protective gear and working in a well-ventilated area. And never touch electrical components with your bare hands – this can be dangerous and potentially lethal.

Finally, don't be discouraged if things don't work out at first. This is often the case when working with DIY electronics, as there are many variables to consider and not everything may go according to plan. But with persistence and determination, even the most complex projects can become a reality.

In conclusion, hacking an old device like a vintage Apple desktop mouse was a fun and rewarding project that allowed me to explore the inner workings of an old technology and bring it back into the modern era. With patience, persistence, and creativity, anyone can learn the basics of electronics and computer hardware, and create their own unique DIY projects.

Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or just starting out, there's never been a better time to get involved in this exciting field. So why not give it a try? You never know what amazing things you might create – and who knows – maybe one day I'll be hacking another vintage device, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with DIY electronics.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enI've been computing for a long time and over the years I've gathered quite a few mice but I love a bargain and at a recent garage sale I picked up his old vintage Mac mouse and decided to hack it this Apple desktop Mouse circa 1985 is a true classic but it came out about 10 years before Bluetooth was invented so this was a fun challenge now this mouse has been used and abused so I'm gonna clean it up really good using some googan to get all the smudges and marks off when it's cleaned to my liking I'm gonna remove the little plastic dial and drop that roller ball out from the bottom of the mouse now maybe Domino will like to play with this who knows and it was time to get inside this vintage Mouse I removed the four screws and both halves of the housing popped apart after a little bit of convincing I was able to get the mainboard out of the mouse now with just about every project that I do and I take something old apart I like to salvage what's left in this case there was a bunch of LEDs red ones and white ones a spring and that doesn't even clued all of the components that are on this board that I could use for a future project now I'll be sacrificing this cheapy bluetooth mouse I think this thing was under ten bucks when I bought it the battery access is under the cover which is just held on by a couple of magnets so I'll pop that off and then begin removing the three screws to get this baby open oh and a couple more things to salvage these two strong neodymium magnets inside the housing I'm keeping these first off will be popping off this scroll wheel because we're not going to be using that and I'm going to need to relocate the lens for the laser so it tracks correctly this is the lens that was inside the housing of our Bluetooth mouse and it's going to go right here over the laser so using some hot glue I'll secure the lens to the laser I'll make sure it's positioned correctly and then hold it in place and let that glue dry now this board is slightly larger than the original Apple board so I'm going to need to use my Dremel along this edge and slice off a little bit so it'll fit inside the housing okay once that's done it's time to get to the Apple Mouse housing because that needs some modifications as well there are some plastic pieces inside that hold the original motherboard in place and those need to be cut off I'll use my Dremel to do that now remember that plastic dial we removed to get to the mouse ball well that has to be modified as well to make room for the laser my Dremel comes into use one more time to cut that opening out here's what the finished plastic dial looks like and here's what it looks like back in the housing okay it's time to put everything back together and that means the motherboard has to go in place make sure that that laser is shining through our hole I'll use some hot glue and secure that board again I had to make sure it's lined up and I held it in place till the hot glue dried our double-a battery is in place and our mouse is fired up the last step is to close up the housing with the top piece and our vintage bluetooth mouse has been hacked I closed up the housing by adding the original screws and our last piece of this puzzle is the bluetooth mouse receiver which will get plugged into our computer now keep in mind this Apple Mouse only has one button which will be the left click on our mouse but their software you can get that will allow you to right-click as well there's a link for that in the description in case you try this project so that's how to hack a vintage Mouse and make it wireless making these projects for you keeps me very busy but when I'm at the gym or traveling I like to be entertained by audible the latest audiobook I'm listening to is Amy Schumer the girl with the lower back tattoo she's hilarious audible has an unmatched selection of audio books audio shows news comedy and more audible carries titles from just about every category you could think of and with audible you own your books and can listen to them anytime anywhere with the free app for your smartphone Amazon device tablet or computer it's easy to get started try audible start with a free book courtesy of me Kipkay get the free app and enjoy all the great membership benefits so get your free audiobook right now by going to audible.com K now when you do that not only do you get a free audiobook but you're helping me make more videos for you that's audible.com slash Kipkay thanks for watching we'll see you next timeI've been computing for a long time and over the years I've gathered quite a few mice but I love a bargain and at a recent garage sale I picked up his old vintage Mac mouse and decided to hack it this Apple desktop Mouse circa 1985 is a true classic but it came out about 10 years before Bluetooth was invented so this was a fun challenge now this mouse has been used and abused so I'm gonna clean it up really good using some googan to get all the smudges and marks off when it's cleaned to my liking I'm gonna remove the little plastic dial and drop that roller ball out from the bottom of the mouse now maybe Domino will like to play with this who knows and it was time to get inside this vintage Mouse I removed the four screws and both halves of the housing popped apart after a little bit of convincing I was able to get the mainboard out of the mouse now with just about every project that I do and I take something old apart I like to salvage what's left in this case there was a bunch of LEDs red ones and white ones a spring and that doesn't even clued all of the components that are on this board that I could use for a future project now I'll be sacrificing this cheapy bluetooth mouse I think this thing was under ten bucks when I bought it the battery access is under the cover which is just held on by a couple of magnets so I'll pop that off and then begin removing the three screws to get this baby open oh and a couple more things to salvage these two strong neodymium magnets inside the housing I'm keeping these first off will be popping off this scroll wheel because we're not going to be using that and I'm going to need to relocate the lens for the laser so it tracks correctly this is the lens that was inside the housing of our Bluetooth mouse and it's going to go right here over the laser so using some hot glue I'll secure the lens to the laser I'll make sure it's positioned correctly and then hold it in place and let that glue dry now this board is slightly larger than the original Apple board so I'm going to need to use my Dremel along this edge and slice off a little bit so it'll fit inside the housing okay once that's done it's time to get to the Apple Mouse housing because that needs some modifications as well there are some plastic pieces inside that hold the original motherboard in place and those need to be cut off I'll use my Dremel to do that now remember that plastic dial we removed to get to the mouse ball well that has to be modified as well to make room for the laser my Dremel comes into use one more time to cut that opening out here's what the finished plastic dial looks like and here's what it looks like back in the housing okay it's time to put everything back together and that means the motherboard has to go in place make sure that that laser is shining through our hole I'll use some hot glue and secure that board again I had to make sure it's lined up and I held it in place till the hot glue dried our double-a battery is in place and our mouse is fired up the last step is to close up the housing with the top piece and our vintage bluetooth mouse has been hacked I closed up the housing by adding the original screws and our last piece of this puzzle is the bluetooth mouse receiver which will get plugged into our computer now keep in mind this Apple Mouse only has one button which will be the left click on our mouse but their software you can get that will allow you to right-click as well there's a link for that in the description in case you try this project so that's how to hack a vintage Mouse and make it wireless making these projects for you keeps me very busy but when I'm at the gym or traveling I like to be entertained by audible the latest audiobook I'm listening to is Amy Schumer the girl with the lower back tattoo she's hilarious audible has an unmatched selection of audio books audio shows news comedy and more audible carries titles from just about every category you could think of and with audible you own your books and can listen to them anytime anywhere with the free app for your smartphone Amazon device tablet or computer it's easy to get started try audible start with a free book courtesy of me Kipkay get the free app and enjoy all the great membership benefits so get your free audiobook right now by going to audible.com K now when you do that not only do you get a free audiobook but you're helping me make more videos for you that's audible.com slash Kipkay thanks for watching we'll see you next time\n"