Wear out the USB port with USB mouse?

Hey everyone,

I travel literally every day with my heavy ass Z61. Therefore, I must connect and disconnect my USB mouse every day. Will that wear out the USB port on the computer?

Is that reason enough to get a Bluetooth mouse, since my Z61m is Bluetooth ready?

Thanks!

 

It won't wear it out, or at least it shouldn't...
Bluetooth is nice because it means no wires.

 

Don't worry about it.

I too use a USB devices on my computers -- removed and used everyday.

I have never worn out any USB port.

 

Ok, so you guys are saying that 5 times a week, x 52 weeks a year, x 3 years, it won't wear out? That's 780 times, plus the random times I will use my computer. That's over 800 times.

I hope they are designed to hold up...

 

if you can "wear out" a USB port after 800 "plugins", you bought a crappy computer; maybe after 8 million times?

 

If your so worried about it then perhaps a blue tooth, or just a plain wireless mouse would give you some piece of mind, but I don't think it will wear it out. I've got an old dektop that has 6 USB ports but there's one port that I used religiously for over 7 years now and it still works just as good as when it was brand new.

 

I'm sure that the number of insert/removal cycles is specified somewhere in the USB spec, and it's probably something crazy like 10,000 cycles.

Edit: From the USB 2.0 Spec "Durability: 1,500 insertion/extraction cycles at a maximum rate of 200 cycles per hour."

However, that's a minimum value only.

 

That seems awfully low to me. Here's hoping usb ports are overengineered, as compared to the official spec e_e;

 

WD-40 to reduce friction

 

If you just plug it in or out it should last awhile. However the problem is that when it is plugged in and you accidentally bump it. This will twist the socket a bit and if done enough times with cause the socket to die. Iv had the only USB port on my old Dell Latitude C400 (great laptop still though, it runs amazingly fast for some reason lol) die. Unless you are a very careful person I would suggest a bluetooth mice.

 

Cool, it is unlikely that I will bump it while it's in, since the laptop will be on the desk/table.

My mind is at east, thanks!

I'm using this regular USB mouse that I found left over at my office when I started. I figure, why spend $70 for a bluetooth mouse when I can use this one for free...

 

Um.. no? WD-40 I don't think will help something that might link to delicate electrical components such as a notebook computer.

To answer your question, I work with my laptop around 300 days a year with me removing USB Flash drives probably 3-4 times a day. If it's a simple plug in and pull out it should be okay in my opinion - try to avoid the USB end moving around too much while plugged into your computer because it could cause the hole to be slightly 'opened' which causes the connection to feel more loose when removing and inserting but besides for that I've never really heard of a USB port really wearing out.

 

You might actually wear out the USB male plug on your mouse. I'm really not sure. I know everyone is saying you wouldn't but I'm in pretty much the same situation and I really would like to know a decent asnwer from someone with experience. Thanks.

 

And please don't be silly and recomend using WD-40!!!

 

Mattireland you do know there is an edit button, don't you?

 

WD-40 isn't a lubricant, its just a cleaner, so it wont actually reduce the friction, now lithium grease would.. /hmm
The only time I've seen USB ports fail is when they were broken off or shocked. Other than that I've never heard of them 'wearing out'

 

I do this as well, including the printer cable. I've never had a USB port go bad, but I worry more about the power jack (as that gets unplugged just as much).

 

Momentary contact keyboard triggers dont even reach 8 million cycles

The average lifespan of a USB port not counting bent thing from wacky angles or outside stress is between 10,000-100,000 insertion cycles.

Personally, I would rather use a bluetooth mouse if I had to use something. I have broken many external laptop ports off in the past, mostly modem related, and try to keep things as cordless as possible whenever I can.

 

Hmm you would think you can order replacments??

I guess in a worst case scenario if you killed one and needed it, just a generic female plug and some handy solder work and you can have a ghetto plug

 

All depends on the laptop. I have seen quite a few laptops stick the speaker/mic and the 3 USB ports on their own daughter card, which can be *easily* replaced if you know how to crack open the laptop. I have also seen just as many that have headers soldered directly to the board. For those, unless you have a really nice desoldering station, you aren't removing anything without damage. Thats even if you can find the correct size USB header.

I think it would be a safe bet that if you want to use USB ports on your laptop, stick to the set that are clumped together, and hope they are replaceable. Most probably wont wear out from insertion cycles, but tripping on a cord and bending or ripping out solder points. Until I find a nice bluetooth mouse, I am sticking to my trusty touchpad and trackpoint for laptop use.

 

I may be strange but I plan to use my wacom as my external mouse. I use the pen almost always but sometimes I use the mouse if im doing extensively web surfing.

I bought the usb version since it was cheaper and it was my first wacom, but they have the same one as bluetooth. If I ever work up the funds I may want to invest in one for my notebook.

 

That's not strange at all, my friend's been trying to sell me her VX Revolution ever since she started using her Wacom tablet. I tried it myself and I can see why, those things are amazing!

 

sitting at desk level with my arm straight a mouse gives me no problems, but say standing at the front desk at work and using a mouse it gives me horrible wrist pains, thats a big plus to a wacom, the pen is more ergonomic and causes no stress to your wrist. Its also a good way to use a wirless mouse with no batteries in it (it still amazes all the new people at work when they see me use a pen to work the computer or a wirless mouse with no batteries)

The graphire mouse is pretty basic but the intuios mouse is got all the buttons on it for extra features.

Always use the pen in pen mode not mouse mode so that you click on the pad with it and it represents that part of your screen, once you get used to it your proficancy goes way up, no more scrolling across the screen you just instantly go where you want to be.

 

Holy thread necrosis, batman! I remember this from like 8 months ago!

 

haha, I just noticed the date of the post I replied to. Whoops

 

Its ok, we still had a little convo going on about the wacom. Made me plug mine in. I bring it to work to photoshop on and to keep my skills sharp. I havent used it in months so im abit shaky with it.

Once your used to it tho its faster than a mouse.

Here my first project with it in awhile a quick touch up to your avatar