A500 - PSUs, Mice, Cleaning, Scart

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I've just got myself a nice old A500, but I need to add on a mouse, and I'm not too in love with the rather discoloured PSU. Luckily the battery backed clock uses a coin style battery. I suspect the miggy has had a kickstart upgrade as it came with WB2, but isn't a 500+.

Is there a way to use a more modern, smaller PSU with the A500?

Many people make upgraded PSU's for A500/A600/A1200.  You can also mod PC PSU's to work, or buy them new from AmigaKit.  Search the forums, here's a  few links for one to get you started:

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?p=775255

http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=39650&forum=25&10

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=866

Additionally, what are good mice to use with the Amiga - I would prefer not to go for a classic ball mouse, rather something optical. I saw that there are USB and PS2 mouse adaptors available - does anyone have any experience with these?

I use a Cocolino adapter and a standard PS/2 optical mouse.  You can also use a USB solution, but that's more complicated.  Cocolino is 100% compatible with everything I've thrown at it, and is in stock at AmigaKit for only $31.  To activate the scroll wheel you just stick a free program in your WBStartup directory.

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=88

http://aminet.net/package/util/mouse/FreeWheel

Also, is the amigakit SCART cable good? Even with the cut down 25-pin connector (shame we can't send them the A520 to get a 23 pin connector from)?

Not in Europe so I wouldn't know.  I only recommend Indivision's.  They work great with modern LCD monitors, TV's, etc.  $108 at AmigaKit.  Of course some people prefer using retro TV's or CRT monitors with their Amiga's for that "classic" feel, including all the "classic eye-strain" and interlace flicker.  But to each their own.  

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=918

If you get this make sure you ask them to update it to the 1.10 firmware, so you can use new video modes like 800x600x16 colors.

And finally - cleaning. Apart from retrobriting the thing, what's a good way to get discolouration off the case and the keys? Alternatively I might spray paint it... are the keys easy to remove?

Yes, they pop off with a screwdriver.  Take a picture first so you know where they go to put them back on!