What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[GerryBags]

No need to bite.
Just personal interest in human machine interfacing using EMG and EOG (via EEG would be nice but a bit too complex and unreliable to my liking. Even though, I'll probably try the EEG just for fun)

I'll probably try it as a lie detector too, for fun.

There are probably all sorts of other uses to put those units to. The EMG for recording muscle twitches must be a pretty sensitive amplifier, and then you have airflow sensors and piezo ones to detect chest-wall movement. The amplifiers should all be isolated, too. Nice find! I bet some of the interiors are worth a looky.

[PA0PBZ]

There's more like teardowns of all the boxes, check the video list if interested.

[cat87]

Bendba,  that's amazing. That thing for just 10 dollars.... my god.  Do they mave more?

[Specmaster]

Back in the day most keyboards and mice come with usb adapters. we had few 100 adapters floating around the network/IT store room - iirc the most usb - PS2 adapters are not active anyway, its just a pin changer

Its not a true ps2 mouse unless it has a ball 

Constantly used to have to take them out and clean the bleeding rollers, so glad I went optical now.

[rsjsouza]

Its not a true ps2 mouse unless it has a ball 

Constantly used to have to take them out and clean the bleeding rollers, so glad I went optical now.

Haha... This mouse has a ball - to me the only drawback. Optical mice (when done right) is a huge leap forward in usability. 

[bitseeker]

A scanning electron microscope, complete with what appears to be complete schematics, for $10.
Yes, $10. Yes, I picked it up. And yes, it is the real thing, not just a picture.

Of course I'll have to do a separate thread about it, with heaps of photo, and pictures once it's set up and working.

Woah! Looking forward to that thread.

What will be the first thing you "scan" in it?

[mtdoc]

A scanning electron microscope, complete with what appears to be complete schematics, for $10.
Yes, $10. Yes, I picked it up. And yes, it is the real thing, not just a picture.

Of course I'll have to do a separate thread about it, with heaps of photo, and pictures once it's set up and working.

Yes, impressive!

Oh! And this polysomnograph, nearly forgot about it with the excitement of the microscope. Unfortunately without a chart recorder. But all the manuals for all the different amplifiers

Even more awesome!  Grass Instruments gear from that era are the physiology test equipment equivalent to Tektronix scopes from that era (1950s - 1990s). 

FWIW - Here's an interesting history of Albert Grass and the founding of Grass instruments.  The Grass fellow Ricardo Miledi mentioned and pictured in the paper was one of my Grad school mentors.

[tautech]

Its not a true ps2 mouse unless it has a ball 

Constantly used to have to take them out and clean the bleeding rollers, so glad I went optical now.

Haha... This mouse has a ball - to me the only drawback. Optical mice (when done right) is a huge leap forward in usability.

And then only so far until you discover a Trackman Wheel or wireless Trackball. 

[rsjsouza]

Its not a true ps2 mouse unless it has a ball 

Constantly used to have to take them out and clean the bleeding rollers, so glad I went optical now.

Haha... This mouse has a ball - to me the only drawback. Optical mice (when done right) is a huge leap forward in usability.

And then only so far until you discover a Trackman Wheel or wireless Trackball. 

Yeah, I should have said that I consider a drawback only when the ball is under the mouse.

I mentioned this somewhere around here; I really liked Logitech's trackball marble but I started to develop fatigue on my thumb muscles and had to stop using it. Minesweeper on Windows 3.11 was one of the reasons for this.

[tautech]

Its not a true ps2 mouse unless it has a ball 

Constantly used to have to take them out and clean the bleeding rollers, so glad I went optical now.

Haha... This mouse has a ball - to me the only drawback. Optical mice (when done right) is a huge leap forward in usability.

And then only so far until you discover a Trackman Wheel or wireless Trackball. 

Yeah, I should have said that I consider a drawback only when the ball is under the mouse.

I mentioned this somewhere around here; I really liked Logitech's trackball marble but I started to develop fatigue on my thumb muscles and had to stop using it. Minesweeper on Windows 3.11 was one of the reasons for this.

I remember you saying so.
Isn't a marble the one with the ball in the middle ?
I looked at those and immediately thought they would cause RSI whereas the ones with the ball on the side where it can only be used with your thumb and the ergonomic shape allows you to 'rest' your arm when your hand is planted on it. We really like these and would replace them in an instant should they ever stop working.
A buddy I convinced to get the wireless Trackball can't believe he got used to it so quickly and it was the perfect solution for using a mouse on the armrest of his recliner where he uses his 48" PnP TV as a monitor too.

[rsjsouza]

Logitech called their first thumb operated trackball as "marble" - something shown at the following link:
http://xahlee.info/kbd/logitech_trackman_marble_wheel_trackball.html

I had the first version without the scroll button and a serial port. More modern versions with USB and wireless, but still with the same basic shape are still sold new today.
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-910-001799-Wireless-Trackball-M570/dp/B0043T7FXE/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_147_bs_t_1

[nanofrog]

FWIW, I own both the version that doesn't have a scroll wheel, and one that does (c. 1994 for both), and still use the latter one to this day. 

[tautech]

FWIW, I own both the version that doesn't have a scroll wheel, and one that does (c. 1994 for both), and still use the latter one to this day. 

With the Setpoint driver package you can reassign the buttons and a fav configuration we have is to set the scroll wheel button to Alt+Left which is Back in browsers and many other Window programs.
Man, does it speed up browser work.  No need to keep chasing up to the top left for that bl**dy back arrow. 

[bitseeker]

FWIW, I own both the version that doesn't have a scroll wheel, and one that does (c. 1994 for both), and still use the latter one to this day. 

Likewise! My non-wheel version is an old RS-232 variety. The one with the wheel is USB and I wouldn't give it up — no way, no how. The only thing I find more convenient with a mouse is drawing. Otherwise, I like my Trackman.

[nanofrog]

With the Setpoint driver package you can reassign the buttons and a fav configuration we have is to set the scroll wheel button to Alt+Left which is Back in browsers and many other Window programs.
Man, does it speed up browser work.  No need to keep chasing up to the top left for that bl**dy back arrow. 

I use a different cheat for that in the form of a Microsoft 4000 keyboard (dedicated Forward and Back buttons). 

Any trick helps, especially with an ultra wide monitor. 

Likewise! My non-wheel version is an old RS-232 variety. The one with the wheel is USB and I wouldn't give it up — no way, no how. The only thing I find more convenient with a mouse is drawing. Otherwise, I like my Trackman.

Both of mine are RS-232 over a PS/2 connector.

My current main board has PS/2 connectors for keyboard and mouse, but I also have the right USB adapters as well.

[tautech]

FWIW, I own both the version that doesn't have a scroll wheel, and one that does (c. 1994 for both), and still use the latter one to this day. 

Likewise! My non-wheel version is an old RS-232 variety. The one with the wheel is USB and I wouldn't give it up — no way, no how. The only thing I find more convenient with a mouse is drawing. Otherwise, I like my Trackman.

It surprises me not more people have taken to them like we have. 
We've got a couple of these:

[bitseeker]

That's the one I'm using right now.

Correction: Mine has goofy red lights beside the trackball. But, close enough.

[Specmaster]

That's the one I'm using right now.

Correction: Mine has goofy red lights beside the trackball. But, close enough.

I've had that kind of trackball mouse before and also the torpedo type with the ball on top. Beautifully made and feels nice to touch. I got because desk space was tight for conventional mouse, but found them pigs to work with so went back to to standard mouse again.

From mobile device so predictive text might have struck again [emoji83]

[Terry01]

A scanning electron microscope, complete with what appears to be complete schematics, for $10.
Yes, $10. Yes, I picked it up. And yes, it is the real thing, not just a picture.

Of course I'll have to do a separate thread about it, with heaps of photo, and pictures once it's set up and working.

Woah! Looking forward to that thread.

What will be the first thing you "scan" in it?

Can't wait to see that thing being kindled up and working! Awesome find buddy!

[MattSR]

Dug up a box of 25 Hirose connectors I got on eBay about 10 years ago.

The connectors retail for $45 or so at Element 14, but I found 25 of them for about $50 for the lot.

Finally got around to soldering one up to my prototype last night.

[Terry01]

So this arrived yesterday and today....

[frozenfrogz]

Bought two and a half Herman Miller "Aeron" chairs today

They need some love, but I am very excited!

[kripton2035]

one fluke 867B for ... 100€ ! fully functionnal. needs a battery now.

[Specmaster]

Strictly it was brought yesterday in an on-line auction from what was, prior to Philips pulling out of the UK, a fully functioning research lab so it should be ok and calibrated but time will tell on that one when I get the OK to drive to Cambridge and pick it from the lab. Chomping at the bit to go and collect it now and find out all about it 

[bitseeker]

Looks to be in great condition, Spec. I look forward to hearing all about what you find out about it.