macdan Apple Pro Mouse decorative 'hack' Alright, this isn't really a hack, but more of a diversion after repairing a Pro Mouse's ('PM' from now on) broken USB cord. I used this PM repair page, this PM modding page and this PM innerds page as starting points to open and repair a non-functional PM. The top outer shell comes off rather easily, I found that just pressing a thickish pocketknife blade into the seam was enough to pop the upper shell off in short order. Just be careful to not cut yourself, blood may not be the decorative element you were intending. Or maybe it is . . . :-) I noticed all the space between the outer and inner shells looked to be cool place to put 'stuff' to personalize a PM. I inserted a picture and squeezed the PM back together, viola! a customized PM! :-) I gave the PM to my 4 year old daughter for her iMac and she's thrilled making drawings to put inside. Anything on thin-enough paper is possible, so how about: patterned paper like wrapping paper, etc. your own printed images cut out magazine pics of your fave stars, sports figures, politicians, etc. (if you must) Fabric? Cut up your significant other's favorite patterned-sheer-silk scarf for kudos available nowhere else! :-) One can put anything in there that'll fit, including 3 dimensional stuff like say . . . heck, how about some coffee beans? :-) Or a bunch of tiny ball bearings? Or dried flowers? Or . . . ??? If one is taking the entire PM apart for a repair it's possible to add a decorative insert into the bottom as well. There's space between the shell bottom and the lower insert on which is printed the name, FCC info, model number, etc. This lower insert is what provides the (variable) springing so you may not want to put anything in there too thick lest it interfere with the springing function. If you do get this far into your Pro Mouse, marvel at Apple's ingenious industrial design. Do you see how it works? :-) Hmmmmm, that brings to mind the idea of increasing the spring tension by screwing with near-perfection . . . Where's the pics you ask?

One cool thing is that when the outer shell is squeezed closed over a paper insert the extra thickness of the paper between outer and inner shells tightly holds in place the outer shell. Which means it doesn't have to be glued back together and the decorative insert can be replaced at any time. I've been cutting the paper inserts a bit larger than the final size. Then I press the shell together around the paper, then pry it apart again and with a sharp scissor trim off the extra bits. It then takes a bit of extra care to put it back in so the paper fits just the way it did when first pressed. I suppose one could just use a sharp X-acto-type knife and trim it in place. Coffee beans!?!?!?

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2004.02.13 - original page