'Complete IBM Installation CD in a zip package. This is known as a Micro Technologies MO27FO pn 19k2002 or the IBM Primax Mouse IBM USB / PS/2 Mouse driver. - The date comes from the filename properties for the Win2K driver - it works with XP service Pack 2.'
The original ScrollPoint mouse debuted in 1998 to combine the similar TrackPoint mechanism as found on the ThinkPads to replace a standard mouse wheel. As the ScrollPoint mechanism operates on an X/Y axis it allows 360 degree scrolling (although without drivers installed it will only operate with vertical scrolling and at rather fast rates). Speed is controlled based on the pressure applied for continuous-dynamic scrolling; this reduces the strain on the finger caused by standard scroll wheels and also allows the user to adjust the speed on a variable basis (not fixed to a set interval at any given time).
As ScrollPoints offer superior functionality to the standard 'wheel' mechanism, it's very curious why this alternative design never overtook standard mice. A few reasons may be that (1) most people don't like change, (2) the ScrollPoint performs too fast without drivers, (3) IBM didn't push marketing or continue to really develop the product into the mainstream. Regardless, it does have a following of few who like the ergonomy and enhanced scrolling ability.
The concept for the 'ScrollPoint' started in 1997 at the IBM Alamden Research Center; to determine the most efficient way to scroll through documents. The research document can be read here: Lenovo still manufactures the standard 3-button ScrollPoint III mice. Update: 5/1/2016: Lenovo no longer manufactures any ScrollPoint mice anymore so they're now officially dead. It can only be obtained used or NOS at this point going forward. They discontinued the more elaborate ScrollPoint III Pro Model 31P8700 (as pictured above) in 2009, presumably due to the cost of manufacture and little demand. Despite IBM's original Almaden page proclaiming 'After a few days with the ScrollPoint, you'll find you can't go back' most people still prefer wheels. Software and Drivers This is the latest release from Lenovo for the driver.
It works with all USB ScrollPoints and ScrollPoint Pros. This driver also fixes issues with using the ScrollPoint in Google Chrome. These drivers are for the regular ScrollPoint, with the exception of the Linux driver - These are specific ScrollPoint 'Pro' drivers which aren't meant for the other mice ScrollPoint Common Issues #1 'The rubber coating on my ScrollPoint is sticky and unpleasant' The stickiness is caused when the IBM rubber compound breaks down; generally when it comes in contact with solvents or excessive humidity. If your ScrollPoint isn't new and has a damaged rubber coating, just use a magic eraser and gently remove the rubber or let the plastic soak in water and soap for a few hours and rub it off with a coarse cloth. If you're moderately gentle the original porous texture underneath the rubber will be preserved.
#2 'The teflon pads on my ScrollPoint Pro keep coming off' This problem seems to be more specific to the ScrollPoint Pro's lower teflon pad- especially if you removed it previously to open the mouse up. Probably some gorilla glue or any polymer glue will keep it stuck on indefinitely.
#3 'My ScrollPoint sometimes doesn't power on, stops working after awhile or doesn't respond well' IBM's outsourced manufacturers (such as Goodwell) didn't bother to carry quality capacitors; therefore lower-end suscon or similar brands are used. Simply replace these capacitors with Rubycon YXF/YXJ series- the values in the ScrollPoints I looked at were all 10uF.
10uF 50v capacitors will fit without touching the top of the mouse enclosure. #4 'My ScrollPoint's cursor sometimes jumps around at random intervals / Scrolling is unreliable' Replace the resonator, they're in a resin dipped package. #5 'My ScrollPoint won't scroll in Google Chrome' Google Chrome has a very poor interpreter for scroll input devices: this has been the case even when Chrome was in its beta stages. Install the latest Lenovo driver which I think makes Chrome see it as a standard wheeled device- since that's all it has been programmed to see.
Switch to Fire Fox which has no issues with alternative input devices. #6 'My ScrollPoint Pro is getting worn out and there isn't an equivalent substitute' Unfortunately these mice are discontinued and there's no way around it. It's impossible to purchase this mouse new unless you can find new old stock. The best alternative is to gut some pieces from a ball-based ScrollPoint Pro and lend them to your Optical ScrollPoint Pro. There are also ways to revitalize the hardware and keep the mouse going with some quick refurbish work.
Different Versions of ScrollPoint Mice Model 12J3618 (ScrollPoint I) The original 1998 ScrollPoints used a 'cat's tongue' TrackPoint cap: as such they can also the other standard and dome caps. These early ScrollPoints were mistakenly reported to use pressure pads instead of the resistance measuring mechanism as found on the TrackPoint. This however is incorrect, all ScrollPoint mice use the same resistive mechanism and all cite the same patent. While not.identical. to the TrackPoint it's still very similar. These mice came in two colours, black and ivory: Model MO09K (ScrollPoint II) The first version of the standard three-button ScrollPoint mice were announced in around 2000.
The changes were a more semi-circled shaped body, a better ScrollPoint cap and a third button (right above the ScrollPoint). They came in black and ivory, with the exception that both used blue printing of the IBM logos. For some reason only the ivory version has the IBM logo printed up near the top of the mouse instead near the bottom like the other ones, AND later black ones used a silver logo. They'll have patent 5,557,450 referenced at the bottom for the optical mechanism that determines the movement of the mouse ball. The ScrollPoint does not light up for these ones.
Model MO09BO (ScrollPoint III) The second (and final) version of the standard three-button ScrollPoint mice were announced in 2003. The differences with these ones is that they now use an 800-DPI sensor instead of the optical-sensing ball; the sides are now coated with the rubber paint and the ScrollPoint mechanism now lights up! These mice came in two colours: metallic black and slate blue. The colour is actually very subtle, but the metallic black really has an edge with the glitter in the injection plastic. The slate blue mice are presumably less common and were only manufactured with IBM logos because this colour was dropped with the later models. Lenovo only manufactures the standard black issue ones.
Not all ScrollPoint IIIs behave in the same manner for optical tracking. These ScrollPoint mice are the most common, and in my opinion the nicest for overall features- they are also very easy to work on and modify. From what I can gather the slate blue ScrollPoints came out first and the metallic black ones came out after with some changes.
'Revision A' (Slate Blue ).Optical sensor IC: H2000 B0304.Soldered-down internal mouse cable.extra unused resistor pad (R5).Board model: 90-1.ScrollPoint PCB: '6'.Mouse has slower cursor sensitivity, increased ScrollPoint sensitivity.Mouse CAN track transparent surfaces! 'Revision B' (metallic black).Optical sensor IC: A2051 A0316.Detachable internal mouse cable.extra unused capacitor pad (C2).Board model: 80-0.ScrollPoint PCB: '4'.Mouse has faster cursor sensitivity, decreased ScrollPoint sensitivity.Mouse CANNOT track transparent surfaces I have a few comments about the revision differences. First and foremost, it's interesting the earlier IBM mouse lacked a detachable USB cable- and all of the sudden in the later models they implement this (which is helpful when you have to disassemble these mice en-masse). Obviously it's more expensive to include a detachable connector so. I'm not sure why IBM made these mice more expensive to manufacture as time went on (perhaps to make it easier to repair as they carried a 1 year on-site warranty; or someone internally at IBM wanted to make it easier for people to mod them- unlikely). The next important thing is that the Slate Blue ScrollPoints do have a slightly slower cursor (seems to be firmware-related) BUT they are able to work with transparent surfaces (glass, clear plastic, etc).
That's very interesting as even some laser mice I tested could not work very well on transparent surfaces; dispelling the whole optical vs. I'm not exactly sure what makes them slower (since they're both 800-DPI according to IBM), however I presume this is either the optical sensor or the microcontroller. More later on in the article about the microcontroller. I will at some point try swapping the ICs to determine which one is responsible for the behaviour change. Ideally it would be nice to have the transparency tracking features of Revision A, coupled with revision A's more sensitive ScrollPoint, and revision B's faster cursor sensitivity.
The revisions are colour specific: IBM never offered both colours for both revisions- Slate Blue colours common during the NetVista series. It appears there have been two manufacturers for the Slate Blue plastic bezels as the colour can vary from being more blue or purple. Here's a photo comparing both slate blue colours and a metallic black: Model RO070 (ScrollPoint II Wireless) Based on model MO09K, these ScrollPoint mice are slightly elongated to compensate for the wireless circuitry. They were paired with the earlier IBM wireless keyboard. Model: MO18B (ScrollPoint Pro) Part # 33L3246 Antoque Sage / Part # 33L3247 Slate Blue This ScrollPoint Pro (can also be referred to as the revision 1 'ball' styled ScrollPoint Pros) was released in 2000 of February with the retail price of $39.95. David Hill (the industrial designer of the mouse) remarked: 'The new IBM ScrollPoint Pro Mouse demonstrates design innovation and the evolution of the mouse from computer equipment to high-tech, functional art.
Internet surfers using this contoured mouse will enjoy increased comfortable and pressure-sensitive scrolling in any direction.' .quote obtained from the IBM press release of February 28, 2000. The first foray of the IBM ScrollPoint Pro series. These mice featured an ergonomic curve while retaining sharp angles, and the third button has been moved near the thumb area. This being part of the ScrollPoint II series; they were released with a ball instead of an optical sensor.
The ScrollPoint cap was black instead of 'IBM blue' like the regular MO09K. They came in two colours: Antique Sage and Slate Blue.
The models for both mice are the same, however the part number varies depending on which colour you get. These are probably the harder ScrollPoint Pros to find, but also some of the least desirable due to their 400 DPI ball mechanism. The antique sage ones are prized for their unique look, however. Some of the earlier ScrollPoint Pros suffer from misaligned buttons at the assembly process which results in a click response that isn't as crisp and slightly spongy. Here's a comparison between an earlier sage SP Pro with the later revision where they corrected this with an updated injection mold, you'll see how the older revision has both of the buttons veering to the right causing an uneven gap (and this isn't just the photo angle): Fortunately you can remove the button assembly (albeit it's not easy) and correct the problem on earlier mice. Another difference is that the bottom covers are different between the two as well: Model MO18BO (ScrollPoint Pro Optical) (Optical ScrollPoint Pro on the far right compared against the two ball-based Pros on the left) The last ScrollPoint Pro to be released which came out in January of 2003 and retailed for $29.00 (on IBM's web price).
These ones featured an optical sensor and a glowing ScrollPoint mechanism. The only colour they were ever released in was metallic black (but as mentioned before you can mod them to being Ancient Sage or Slate Blue). They are considerably lighter than the ScrollPoint II Pro mice lacking the heavy rubberized ball bearing. It's worth noting that the internal assembly of the ScrollPoint Pro uses a two-PCB construction, not too unlike the.original. Personal System/2 mouse. These mice are no longer manufactured as previously mentioned (to be fair, 9 years is a rather long manufacturing period for a computer peripheral).
Here is the original product page for the mouse from IBM's website in 2003: Bring more accurate maneuvering and control to your desktop with the Optical 3-Button ScrollPoint Mouse PS/2 & USB 800 dpi sensor. The 800dpi optical sensor is more accurate and faster than before. The ScrollPoint pointing stick is ideal for both horizontal and vertical scrolling, unlike standard wheel mice. Optical technology provides precision control and has no mechanical ball, thus there is no need for a mouse pad. Features and Benefits:.
Allows your fingers to rest easily and naturally on the mouse buttons. No mouse pad required! Works on many types of surfaces. No mechanical ball to get dusty, dirty or stolen.
Integrated ScrollPoint pointing device provides excellent horizontal and vertical scrolling.
Note: When you replace the keyboard, please only follow the instructions for “How To Pair the Keyboard”. When you replace the mouse, please follow the instructions for “How to Pair the Mouse” and “How to Pair the Keyboard” to pair the mouse and keyboard respectively.
How To Pair the Mouse Before pairing the mouse with the computer, please make sure the battery is inserted. Take the dongle out of the mouse battery compartment, remove the old dongle in the PC USB port, and insert the new dongle in the PC USB port. Press the right, middle and left buttons simultaneously, then switch on the mouse. The mouse will switch to pairing mode when the LED blinks slowly (around 2 times/second). Put the mouse close to the dongle (within 30 cm) for pairing. Attention The whole process must be completed within 30 seconds, otherwise the mouse will switch back to normal mode. If the mouse pairs successfully, the mouse LED will blink quickly 10 times (around 5 times/second).
If not, please repeat steps 1 to 3. How To Pair the Keyboard 1. Pull out the dongle from the PC USB port, wait, then plug it in again. Put the batteries into the battery compartment, but do not close the compartment yet. Press the F2, F3 and F4 keys simultaneously, then close the battery compartment. The keyboard will switch to pairing mode when the LED blinks slowly (around 2 times/second).
Put the keyboard close to the dongle (within 30 cm) for pairing. Attention: The whole process must be completed within 30 seconds, otherwise the keyboard will switch back to normal mode.
If the keyboard pairs successfully, the keyboard LED will blink quicky 10 times (around 5 times/second). If not, please repeat steps 1 to 3.