Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for MacBook

[BA005]

I have recently purchased a MacBook and now have it doubling up as a desktop, as it is connected up to my 24 inch LCD via the mini DVI to DVI cable. I am very satisfied with it.

So now I would like to buy a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, to make it a complete desktop setup. However I am wondering if there is a decent alternative to the official apple keyboard and mighty mouse. The reason I am not too keen on the wireless apple keyboard (http://www.apple.com/keyboard/) is because it is quite narrow and I would have to sit with my knees together to use it on my lap!

The reason I dont like the wireless mighty mouse (http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/) is because of the scroll ball. I use a mighty mouse in my office and the roller ball keeps breaking and it is so unreliable!

But one thing I do like about the mighty mouse are the two squeeze buttons on the side.

So my question is, are there any good alternative bluetooth keyboards that are fully compatible with mac and are there any good alternative bluetooth mice that have reliable scrollballs and the two side squeeze buttons that are fully compatible with mac?

Many thanks in advance

 

[kwood]

Personally I like the new bluetooth keyboard, I think it is great if you have a Mac mini hooked up to your television and need to adjust some settings. That being said for your use I also find it impractical. Have you considered the old Apple Wireless Keyboard? I use the wired version with my MacBook when I use it as a desktop.

 

[John.B]

Caution: Wordy Post Ahead!

I recently got a blackbook that, like yours, is doing double duty as a sort of mini (using an external DVI monitor, keyboard and mouse) for the kids to bang on without banging on the actual MacBook.

I originally got a Bluetooth mouse (a Razer Pro|Click Mobile) because I was under the *mistaken* impression that I needed one Bluetooth device to make the MacBook run in closed-lid mode with DVI (you don't, BTW). Its a good enough two-button Bluetooth mouse and the mouse scroll wheel works up/down but that's about it. Colorwise its a very good match to the blackbook, if those sorts of things matter to you. Currently it is mostly used as a to-go mouse in the laptop case because the surface material seems like it will be a grime magnet in the kids' hands.

I also bought a Logitech V470 Bluetooth mouse that is more than just a little laggy at first when left unattended for a few minutes (thread here). It picks right up but is more than a little annoying. It is also a two-button mouse, the scroll wheel works up and down *and* left and right (where appropriate), but if I leave the mighty mouse "click scrollwheel" setting to dashboard (whether or not the mighty mouse is currently plugged in) then the left/right scrolling will sometimes inadvertently fire off dashboard when I don't mean to. After doing a search, the Logitech mouse driver software for OS X seems to have no end of problems (and is not needed IMO). You couldn't pay me to load it. YMMV (but probably not).

The Apple Bluetooth wireless keyboard is an *exact* duplicate of the newer MacBook keyboards, its not hard at all to adjust to. As I said, I'm using the wired full-sized keyboard in closed-lid mode with my blackbook, the advantage to the extra keys (esp. home/end, delete[x> and full sized arrow keys) doesn't overcome the annoyance of having the function key in exactly the opposite side of the keyboard. If you are comfortable with the MacBook keyboard the wireless Bluetooth keyboard is a no-brainer IMO.

 

[levitynyc]

I love the BT Keyboard that Apple makes (as long as you dont need a keypad)

The MM is a piece of ****.

Look at a Logitech mouse.