Short vs long ADB plug connectors?

[Johnnya101]

Was just cleaning one of my ADB mice (the first style, rectangular) and noticed that the plug is pretty darn long... Maybe a little more than an inch long? I grabbed another mouse I have and the plug is half it's length.

What's going on here? Never really noticed this before although I'm sure you all know the answer.

Also noticed some of my ADB cables have the longer plus while some have shorter ones.

 

[Cory5412]

As far as I know, there's no functional difference. I believe it's just a cosmetic thing, and I think it was changed in either the super late '80s or the early '90s. Though it might have been a market/product-specific thing, too.

Interesting though, I've never seen a mouse with one of the long plugs, just the removable keyboard cables. Do you have a photo of it?

 

[Johnnya101]

Yup I can get one. not home at the moment but will get a photo soon.

 

[Johnnya101]

Longer connector on the right (lighter color one) and short on the left. Same looking mouse. Connectors have different numbers on them. Labels slightly different. Cable length same size.

 

[BadGoldEagle]

The mouse my old broken Portable came with has the long connector. I always thought this was a Portable specific thing, plus they do seem to be somewhat rarer than the ones with the short connector.

 

[Johnnya101]

That could be it! That would also explain why it is so white still--it came with my old portable. The portable was the same shade from being kept in the case.

But still, the question is why? I always thought the portables had shorter cable mice...?

 

[BadGoldEagle]

No idea. Also, what’s with the sticker on the ball “cover”? Some mice have it, some don’t... and it doesn’t seem to serve any purpose...

 

[Scott Baret]

Based on experience with tons of these...for both keyboards and mice..

KEYBOARDS

1. The short connector is far more common for keyboard cables. It was generally used with the short keyboards (IIGS, Apple Keyboard, Apple Keyboard II).

2. I have seen the long connector used mostly with the extended keyboards. Most AEK IIs I've come across have it. 

3. There are exceptions. I have an LC 550 with its original keyboard (one owner before me so I have proof), which was the short AK II. It has a long cable.

MICE

1. The only mice I have seen with long connectors are those which came with portables. I have exactly one, and it was included with a PowerBook 170 I picked up years ago (and no longer have). I kept the mouse since it is in immaculate condition and has the long connector. Just a guess, but maybe the mice purchased as accessories also had this? Its serial number indicated 1989 for a manufacture date, so it could have been at a dealer as a spare part and was purchased by a trackball-averse PowerBook customer.

2. Based on the mice I have seen with those connectors, all are the black ball model made in Taiwan. All US and Malaysia models I have encountered are the short connectors, as are most from Taiwan. (Did Ireland also make this style?)

3. The ADB Mouse II (round mouse) only seems to have the short connector.

4. The sticker was included on these mice but fell off easily. I've been using the same mouse for nearly 27 years on my LC. It fell off after about 6 years. That mouse was used heavily and was almost always on a pad. Chances are good your mouse without a sticker suffered the same fate as my LC's. It was a protective measure for the Teflon underneath.

Random question for Johnny, the OP--what kind of keyboard is that next to your mouse? It doesn't look like an original Apple one based on the font used on the keys. Curious as to what make it is.

 

[Johnnya101]

That keyboard is my trusty Datadesk MAC 101E connected to a Drakware ADB2USB adapter. Use it daily on my modern PC. Has ADB and the earlier telephone style jack. Really super clicky ALPS switches. Nice feel. Came with my older Quadra 700 and Ive kept it since.