Would these cheap track balls be mame(tm)able?

[thetered]

I just found this cheap lot of trackballs, says some may need work and some need cleaning, but would they be easy to mame? If so anyone want to go in (IE several people) on them? Because right now i cant afford a happs track ball, but under 10 bucks I can swing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=6188460389&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[AlanS17]

Yes those Imperials will work, but to make it work you'll need an additional interface like an Opti-PAC or a hacked mouse. You couldn't just use one straight into a PC. If they took a picture of their best one as an example, though, you've got your work cut out for you. You'll end up paying more to fix them than you did to buy them.

Do you need more than 1? I've got 1 I could sell you. It's PS2 compatible so it doesn't require an interface. It just plugs directly into your PC like a regular mouse would. If you absolutely need more than 1, I have a second one I could probably sell to you, too. I'd planned on using it in a machine of my own, but I could use the cash right now.

[mp2526]

I have bought about 80 or so trackballs from this guy.  In fact, he typically emails me first before he thows them up on eBay, but I didn't have the time or money to invest in cleaning up anymore trackballs.  For the most part, the trackballs I have gotten from him in the past have had very little wear and were in pretty good shape, just dirty and in need of a good cleaning.  I can't speak for the batch he has up for auction now though, he might be at the end of his supply and so they may not be in as good of shape.

[quarterback]

Do you need more than 1? I've got 1 I could sell you.

For under $10?  I'll take it!

[AlanS17]

Do you need more than 1? I've got 1 I could sell you.

For under $10?

[quarterback]

Do you need more than 1? I've got 1 I could sell you.

For under $10?

[AlanS17]

Oh I totally missed that $10 thing. I just saw him ready to spend $100 on a buttload of busted trackballs.

There's nothing readily compatible with a PC that costs under $10. It would either require hacking or an external interface.

[MrTroy]

I mean but wouldn't that end up being $5 per trackball? How much work could it possibly be to fix them up to work with a PC? I'd do it but I'm lazy.

[mp2526]

Actually it's $7.25 per trackball once you include the $45 shipping cost.  Which would be a great deal, if they were in the same condition as the ones I have previously gotten from him.  Otherwise you could end up spending well over $30-40 getting parts for them.  Still might be a deal, considering what I've seen some go for on eBay.

[AlanS17]

I mean but wouldn't that end up being $5 per trackball? How much work could it possibly be to fix them up to work with a PC? I'd do it but I'm lazy.

Unless you plan an hacking a mouse somehow, it'll cost you about $40 for an opti-pac. So it'll be a $47.50 trackball. And that's only if it's actually in a condition where it doesn't need to be repaired. Otherwise, it'll cost even more than that.

Plus then you're left with 19 trackballs you might not need.

[mp2526]

Well, it's way cheaper to to use a mouse, I have several that I'd sell for cheap to anyone who wishes to hack it.  It's not that hard, I might even be talked into at least desoldering the optical component and soldering a 3 pin connector in it's place for you, then all you would need is the female connectors and some wire to connect the mouse to the trackball. 

I believe the OP's intention was to round up enough interested buyers so as to not have 19 extra trackballs lying around.

[AlanS17]

It looks like a bulk deal me to me - all or nothing.