MS Mouse: Easy Forcing Function
By Eddie Lopez. Thursday, 29. March 2007, 01:49:48
What's the first thing you do when you unbox a USB device? I hook it up and wait for my OS to auto-detect, but then again I'm one of those guys that likes to push the envelope as far as I can without manuals or "following the rules."
That can get you in trouble as you can imagine... thankfully, the MS Intellimouse has a nice forcing function that strongly recommends you install the software before you plug it in. They wrap the USB/PS2 plug in a notice telling you to install the software first. You have to remove the tag in order to plug it in. Nice design.
WIDGETIZE
Dan Alexandru # 29. March 2007, 08:07
Anonymous # 29. March 2007, 12:47
I've just got a new Nokia mobile phone, which has got a USB socket in the bottom of it. It's not until you unpack the enclosed CD and run up the installer that it tells you that you must run it before plugging the phone in (which I'd already unsuccessfully tried).
Do these warnings only apply to pre-XP Windows or other operating systems? Doesn't seem to cause permanent damage on XP...
Omega Junior # 30. March 2007, 11:38
- I plug the device into the computer.
- Computer asks device: hey, do I need a driver?
- Device answers: yes sir, you can find it here!
- Computer checks whether it already has that driver.
- Computer sees it doesn't have the driver: (down)loads it and asks me to confirm installation.
- I confirm installation.
- Computer performs installation and remembers it for next time.
It's a mouse. It has plenty of room for a memory chip holding the driver software. There is no need for a CD, nor an internet connection.
Eddie Lopez # 30. March 2007, 12:28
Anonymous # 5. April 2007, 19:14
this is good example of poka yoke http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poka-yoke
In response to OmegaJunior, yes in an ideal world but I think there's flaws in MS's USB HID implementation that will cause the mouse to be detected as a stock mouse, thus missing some of the swanky functionality that the CD driver can add. I think onboard memory will not solve this as the OS searches itself first.
This isnt perfect but I too like the way the connector is tied up in the label.
Eddie Lopez # 5. April 2007, 21:07