The one thing i hate about the 6100 is that it only comes with -ONE- ADB port, which is intended for the keyboard. Usually, the keyboard would then have an ADB port built right in it so as to allow an ADB mouse to then connect to that.
Chances are, you probably have the stock Apple Design Keyboard, which looks something like what i have below... (mine is custom painted black).
(model#: M2980)
Now, let's say you need to replace the Apple Desktop Mouse II that came with your 6100. Good luck!!! The best and -ONLY- replacement for that mouse TODAY (as of July 2006) would be the Kensington Mouse*in*a*Box USB/ADB (model: 64475F), which are in the series of pictures below. It roughly costs $24-$26, depending on where you buy it. I got mine from CompUSA in 2005 and i believe they still carry this model. If not, you can always get order it directly from Kensington. It comes with a "USB->to-> ADB" connector that will allow -ONLY- this particular mouse to work on virtually ANY Macintosh that uses the ADB peripheral interface.
If you wish to use this mouse with your 6100, you normally would not be able to with the Apple Design Keyboard above because the little hollowed-out niche designed for the plug for the ADB Mouse II is just too small to fit both the USB->to->ADB connector and the Kensington Mouse's plug. And as I said, there's only ONE ADB port on the back of the 6100.
What's the solution?? You would have to get an ADB Port Switch Box For Macintosh (model: MD4-103) which is available from We Love Macs (http://www.welovemacs.com/md4103.html) for about $20. This item allows you to plug the Keyboard to the back of your 6100, the ADB Port Switch Box to the keyboard, the USB->to->ADB connector to the box, and then the USB mouse to the USB2ADB connector. Below are some pictures to illustrate this setup:
The plug from the ADB Port Switch Box connects to the hollow, bottom niche of the keyboard.
The USB-to-ADB connector connects to the Box, and the Mouse connects to the USB2ADB connector.
Here's proof to show that it actually works.
WARNING: Do NOT treat this mouse like any regular USB mouse. Common sense should tell you that since Macintoshes with ADB were -NOT- designed to handle "hot-swapping" of peripherals as we do today with USB and FireWire devices, you should -NEVER- "hot-swap" this nor any device from the 6100 or any non-USB Macintosh.
I did this by accident and now -EVERY- ADB peripheral i plug into my 6100 no longer works 100% correctly. Like when i hold down a key on the keyboard to type a repeating character, sometimes the key doesn't stay down. Or sometimes, the mouse (well, rather -ANY- mouse i use now) causes the cursor to jump around the screen wildly even if i'm not touching the mouse.
