Mac Pro Keyboard

You're... building your own Mac Pro?

Kudos? It'd be far less expensive to buy one (wait for Nehalem).

And this isn't 1994. Any USB keyboard works with a Mac, but if you're building a 2008 Mac Pro, the aluminum one came with that. 2007 had the white plastic one that doesn't match.

But it really doesn't matter...

If you'd like to sell the case and buy a Mac Pro straight off, I might be able to find you someone who wants it... *hint hint*

 

There is no specific keyboard for a specific machine, apple use generic keyboards, the only differences are language layouts, eg UK English, USA English, Int' English, French, German, etc etc

Good luck building a Mac Pro, I don't quite understand how you're going to achieve this goal, it's not like all the parts can be easily bought at a local PC World store...

 

Though it might be fun to do, I don't think you'll be able to build for less than you could buy one.

The only chance I can think of, is if you find used parts. Macpalace.com offers the parts new, but they're very expensive. The logic board ($800) and coolers ($102 each) would cost ~$1000. Then there's the cost of the E5462's, for about $823 last I looked. Not an economical way to go.

Other than that, I'd recommend looking for a refurbished model. They come with the same 1 year warranty as the new ones.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

 

I actually like the plastic white one that came with the G5s and early Pros. I switched my from 200$ Logitech that had an LCD in it to it, and never looked back.

Building one is a little crazy. You should buy a mac mini and stick it in the dvd drive.

 

That's what Apple should have done in the first place. Mac Mini Pro

 

Pre-2008 (1st Generation) Mac Pros shipped with the same clear/white Pro keyboard that shipped with PM G5s. Early 2008 models shipped with the new thin aluminum thin keyboard.

I'd say go with whatever you preference is. I personally like the old keyboards better but I will say that the new ones are a LOT easier to clean.

 

I love my wireless short apple keyboard!

 

Oh and the white keyboards are USB 1.1 while the newer aluminum has USB 2.0 hubs in them. If that really concerns you at all then.

 

Keyboards, Mice, and USB Ports

I bought my Mac Pro with the wireless keyboard and mouse. I later bought the wired versions.

I like the wired keyboard, and wireless mouse.

The wired keyboard never needs to be turned on and i love the extra keys and two USB ports.

For a while I used the wired mouse--plugged into the keyboard. That got to be a hassle as I'm a lefty on the mouse, and everyone else in my house uses it righty. So the wireless mouse works better for everyone, and it frees up a USB port.

Between my Dell monitor with 4 USB ports, the keyboard with 2 USB ports, and the front of the Mac Pro having two more, and the back having three more, I'm in pretty good shape for USB ports--I could get by with four fewer and never fill them all up.

I particularly like the two keyboard USB ports for my camera and sometimes my iPod--just to key my desktop cleaner.

I use a USB extension cord to allow the keyboard to plug into the back of the Mac Pro.