Wizard 520 dpi Mouse dead!

[AmiNTT]

All bow your heads in memory of a great mouse.  My Wizard 520, passed away today.   :-(

It was suffering - the MMB had been working intermittently, the diagonal movement sensor was a bit off, and today, finally, the LMB gave up the ghost.

Fortunately, I have a back-up Wizard which is now in use.  I hope I get 8 years out of this mouse, like I did the last.

So I have a question; has anyone taken a Wizard apart?  I got the back end open, but I can't seem to get the front off without risking damaging it.  

As well, if anyone has  a *working* Wizard lying around, I'll be happy to take it off your hands.  

Rest in piece, Wizard 520.  You have earned your rest.
 :-(

[KennyR]

I still use a Wizard mouse. I've had it since '95 and it still works as well as the day I got it after every day use. Brilliant piece of hardware. But I'm looking at it now and it doesn't seem to have any way to open it. I don't see any screw holes. Maybe the screw heads are under the teflon pads, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I tried to get another one as a potential replacement some years ago. Apparently Wizard Developments changed their name to Compute!, so that's a clue if you want to go looking for a replacement, but they seem to have gone. :-(

[Stedy]

AmiNTT:

Remove the 2 teflon sticky pads from the front of the mouse, there are 2 philips screws underneath. Once done, carefully lever the back apart and the top comes off.

The wizard mouse is simple to maintain, standard microswitches, opto-coupler and a 7414 hex schmitt inverter, all replaceable parts.

To KennyR:

Wizard/Compute! disappeared about 2 years ago from their shop. About 6 months prior to disappearing they stopped Amiga support/products.

[Brian]

These Wizard mice are great.. got two of them and they've never given me any problems apart from the usual "gue on wheel" cyndrome of all "ball mice".

As said before it's easy to repair them, standard microswiches. Done a few mice repairs and a good place to find those small microswiches is in a VCR frontpannel. :-)

[Staticman]

My sincere condolensces.  :-(

[bloodline]

My Original A1200 mouse... now that is a beast... 10 years and no problems... despite being mistreated in the most horrible way (including total coffee immersion).

 :-P

[Roj]

Wizards are fantastic; as close to an optical mouse as you can get without... well, having an optical mouse! I had two of them before a very close friend of mine got a look at mine and had to have my backup.

To answer Im>bE's somewhat odd question, yes, and it's only this type of close personal friend that could wedge my backup Wizard out of my hands! :-D