Keyboard and mouse for Mac mini

[feakbeak]

I ordered a Mac mini earlier this week (specs in my sig). I have an old keyboard and mouse at home from a PC. The mouse I have is a USB optical mouse, so that'll work. My keyboard is PS2, which I could get an adapter for it, but I was thinking for $30 I could get an Apple keyboard with all the Mac-appropriate keys labeled. Plus you have the key to open the drive and do they still have a keybaord button to turn on the machine? It's been about three years since I've really used a Mac. I know I can map specific commands to my existing keyboard, but I was wondering what the general concensus is about the Apple keyboard.

Then I thought, well if I am going to get an Apple keyboard... I have the BT module, maybe I should get the wireless keyboard, not sure it's worth the extra $30 though. However, I do have the M$ BT keyboard and mouse for my current PC and it is nice!

I can't stand the one button mouse, so the Apple mice are out of the question, but if anyone has recommendations on some good deals for a Mac compatible mouse (need at least two buttons and scroll wheel) I'd be happy to hear your suggestions be it USB or BT.

Thanks everyone.

 

[armandocerna]

I think it depends on if you want wireless or not I love not having wires on my keyboard and especially the mouse. As far as the keyboard goes you really can't go wrong with the apple keyboards. The response rate on the blutooth keyboard is wonderful and it works great not to mention I have hat it for a few months and type on it for 8 hours a day and it is still using the original batteries. I have used a wired one as well the only real difference between them is that the wired one has usb ports on the back and the wireless one doesn't. As far as mice go I originally had the apple bt mouse it was a great mouse and the battery lasted forever but I really do need a right mouse button and a scroll wheel. So I traded it in for a bt500. I think you can get it from radtech.us. I love this little mouse the tracking is flawless and the mouse is solid. It is very very small though but you get used to it and now I feel like normal sized mice are too big. The only drawback to the bt500 though is the battery life I use it for 8 hours a day and a set of batteries will last me about 3 to 4 days. I ended up getting rechargeables so it isn't a problem anymore. If you do end up getting the bt500 mouse you have to get rechargeable otherwise you will be spending a lot of money on batteries. Good luck and tell us what you end up doing.

Armando

 

[solvs]

Any USB mice will do. M$ and Logitech seem to be good, but I got a Kensington with 5 buttons that works great. It was only $20 through a CompUSA sale and Kensington is very Mac friendly. For the kb, I'd get an Apple compatible one, but if you're spending $30, you might as well get a multimedia Mac kb from Macally, or one of those. Or just get one off of eBay. They have a ton of old ones for sale that would work fine.

But they don't have the power buttons anymore.

 

[DaiKirai]

Are there any Bluetooth mice made with a recharger cradle? I've seen some but they're all USB.

 

[ravenvii]

Are there any Bluetooth mice made with a recharger cradle? I've seen some but they're all USB.

The MX900.

As for combos, the best combo (in my opinion) is:

Wired = Apple Wired Keyboard + MX510

Wireless: Apple Wireless Keyboard + MX1000 (not Bluetooth, but performs much better)

 

[Butler Trumpet]

Wireless: Apple Wireless Keyboard + MX1000 (not Bluetooth, but performs much better)

I have to agree... the Logitech MX1000 laser mouse is the very best mouse I have ever used. I saw one at my friends house and went out and got on ASAP. Its awesome, it comes with great software that works amazingly well. It has 8 buttons, but isnt overwelming at all and they are all programable which is even better. Right now mine are set to right and left click, forward and back while using safari, there is an .app switcher button, plus a scroll wheel and cruise control buttons. It plugs in usb to a little bass station, which the mouse communicates with. So even if you dont have Blue Tooth, you can have wireless. Its great, and it charges. Last about 3 days on one 3 hour charge. I highly recomend it.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2135,CONTENTID=9043

 

[chan0429]

Keyboard and Mouse solution.

I too just ordered a Mac mini and I happened to have an old Logitech MX700 laying around not being used and got an Apply USB keyboard off of eBay for a total of $25 (w/ shipping). Other than that I think the wired selection Apple has is the cheapest. I have gotten cheap MS USB mice (wired) on various websites for under $10.