Magic Mouse/Keyboard 2 - Likes/Dislikes / OS Question

[RedlegsFan]

I have my eye set on a 27in 5K iMac and will most likely be purchasing in the next two months (when all the funds have been saved). I'm looking at the one on B&H Photo for $1,999:

3.2 GHz Intel Core i5 (Skylake)
8GB of 1867 MHz DDR3 RAM
2TB Fusion Drive
AMD Radeon R9 M380 GPU (2GB GDDR5)

My question is about the peripherals. Do you all like the Magic Keyboard or do you prefer the larger Apple wired keyboard with the number keys to the right? Also, what are your thoughts on the Mouse vs the Trackpad? I would think your hand would be uncomfortable moving around the trackpad for hours instead of lying/resting on top of the mouse?

Finally, while I am far from computer illiterate, I am going to be moving from a Windows PC over to Mac, full time, for the first time. Can you recommend a good YouTube video on making this move, I am looking for something that shows the important ins and outs of the Mac OS.

Just trying to get everything sorted out before making the leap. It's fun learning about the Mac and I'm excited to get my hands on the iMac

 

[TheBro72]

I recently bought the late 2015 iMac and I went for the wired keyboard, i just prefer to have a numerical pad. I visited my local Apple store and tried the trackpad before purchasing but I couldn't get to grips with it! I've been using macs for over 25 years and to me the trackpad just felt a little alien so I went for the Magic Mouse 2.

Having said that, your Mac journey has just begun so you wont know the subtle differences between the trackpad and a mouse. A lot of people do prefer them so for you it might be a good time to invest in one.

Once purchased, Apple will email you and offer a "personal setup" service free of charge:-

"We can help you get the most out of your new device right in the comfort of your own home with Personal Setup. In this interactive online session*, an Apple Specialist will walk you through some key features and answer your questions. They’ll also point out some great apps, and help you personalise your device."

Might be worth you booking an appointment

 

[RedlegsFan]

Oh, wow. A virtual assistant huh? Yeah I was actually thinking of making an appointment at the Apple store, after purchase to sit and learn about the Mac OS. But, it sounds like I can do just that in the comfort of my own home? Nice.

 

[stuartak]

Oh, wow. A virtual assistant huh? Yeah I was actually thinking of making an appointment at the Apple store, after purchase to sit and learn about the Mac OS. But, it sounds like I can do just that in the comfort of my own home? Nice.

Its a personal preference really , I have both magic mouse and Trackpad and much prefer the trackpad especially for gestures , I just find the mouse too small to comfortably do gestures on , plus I think thee are a couple of gestures in El Capitan that only work on the pad.

 

[RedlegsFan]

Is it not uncomfortable for your hand to not be resting on a mouse? That's the only potential issue I can see.

When you buy an iMac, do you know if Apple will swap out the mouse for the trackpad or is that a no go, since I believe the trackpad is a bit more pricey.

 

[TheBro72]

Oh, wow. A virtual assistant huh? Yeah I was actually thinking of making an appointment at the Apple store, after purchase to sit and learn about the Mac OS. But, it sounds like I can do just that in the comfort of my own home? Nice.

Not sure how in-depth it is, but I'm pretty sure it will cover off some basic stuff and get you up and going
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Is it not uncomfortable for your hand to not be resting on a mouse? That's the only potential issue I can see.

When you buy an iMac, do you know if Apple will swap out the mouse for the trackpad or is that a no go, since I believe the trackpad is a bit more pricey.

If you buy your iMac from the Apple store, you can choose whether to purchase the mouse or the Trackpad, however the trackpad (in the UK) costs £44 more.

 

[RedlegsFan]

Thanks, now another question regarding speakers. I have the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks, does the iMac have a speaker input, or do you have to convert the input to USB or Firewire?

 

[TheBro72]

Thanks, now another question regarding speakers. I have the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks, does the iMac have a speaker input, or do you have to convert the input to USB or Firewire?

No, the iMac has a 3.5mm jack input at the back so they should work fine.

 

[vkd]

In my opinion, the trackpad is far superior to the mouse. It does not make your hand hurt whilst using it. The Apple Keyboard is fine too, yes the additional number pad is better than numbers in a row, but given the amount of time spent using it, not having one is not a great issue.

That said, I have the v1 Magic Trackpad and Keyboard, which run on AA batteries. I am totally happy with them and cannot for the life of me see any benefit in the v2's with built in batteries, and much more expensive Trackpad. BUT, if I did not have these items and was starting out afresh, as you are, I would go for the standard Kbd and the Trackpad.

 

[ivantwilliams]

OMGoodness! I'm not the only one that their hand hurts when using the Magic Mouse 2. YES!

I'm buying the Logitech MX Master mouse today. Seriously my right hand hurt so bad, I was close to returning the iMac. And I'm merely in the process of 'moving' from Windows to Mac. Albeit I'm more making sure I learn the Mac OS and hardware to start supporting it at work.

 

[RedlegsFan]

No, the iMac has a 3.5mm jack input at the back so they should work fine.

So, if I understand this correctly, if I plug the speakers into this jack, I will lose the ability to use headphones since this jack is now in use? Not a huge deal, just wanting to make sure I am thinking correctly.

 

[TheBro72]

So, if I understand this correctly, if I plug the speakers into this jack, I will lose the ability to use headphones since this jack is now in use? Not a huge deal, just wanting to make sure I am thinking correctly.

Yes you will.... However it depends on which Harmon Kardon SoundSticks you have. I have 2 sets, one is the original set from years ago, which has a USB connection only. The newer set are the SoundSticks II or III (not sure which one) and it has a mini jack connection. These speakers and the sub unit come through the ceiling in the bathroom so I'm not sure if they have USB compatibility as well as mini jack. To my knowledge I don't think they do.
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In my opinion, the trackpad is far superior to the mouse. It does not make your hand hurt whilst using it. The Apple Keyboard is fine too, yes the additional number pad is better than numbers in a row, but given the amount of time spent using it, not having one is not a great issue.

That said, I have the v1 Magic Trackpad and Keyboard, which run on AA batteries. I am totally happy with them and cannot for the life of me see any benefit in the v2's with built in batteries, and much more expensive Trackpad. BUT, if I did not have these items and was starting out afresh, as you are, I would go for the standard Kbd and the Trackpad.

OMGoodness! I'm not the only one that their hand hurts when using the Magic Mouse 2. YES!

I'm buying the Logitech MX Master mouse today. Seriously my right hand hurt so bad, I was close to returning the iMac. And I'm merely in the process of 'moving' from Windows to Mac. Albeit I'm more making sure I learn the Mac OS and hardware to start supporting it at work.

I use both the AA battery version all day at work and the chargeable (version 2) at home. Both are fine and neither of them make my hand hurt.

 

[dwfaust]

I have my eye set on a 27in 5K iMac and will most likely be purchasing in the next two months (when all the funds have been saved). I'm looking at the one on B&H Photo for $1,999:

3.2 GHz Intel Core i5 (Skylake)
8GB of 1867 MHz DDR3 RAM
2TB Fusion Drive
AMD Radeon R9 M380 GPU (2GB GDDR5)

My question is about the peripherals. Do you all like the Magic Keyboard or do you prefer the larger Apple wired keyboard with the number keys to the right? Also, what are your thoughts on the Mouse vs the Trackpad? I would think your hand would be uncomfortable moving around the trackpad for hours instead of lying/resting on top of the mouse?

Finally, while I am far from computer illiterate, I am going to be moving from a Windows PC over to Mac, full time, for the first time. Can you recommend a good YouTube video on making this move, I am looking for something that shows the important ins and outs of the Mac OS.

Just trying to get everything sorted out before making the leap. It's fun learning about the Mac and I'm excited to get my hands on the iMac

First of all, I bought the 5K iMac with the wireless keyboard (Magic Keyboard) and the Magic Trackpad. I love the combination... but also have a Magic Mouse (purchased earlier/separately) in case I need it for anything. For me, it works well... pretty much the same setup as I had on my rMBP.

I made the switch from Windows to OS X in 2010... and I found a book that was pretty helpful. That book, by David Pogue is called Switching to the Mac - The Missing Manual. I have the Snow Leopard edition because that's what was current when I made the switch... but there are versions for El Capitan, as well.

Here's the TOC from the Snow Leopard version for you to review...

 

[RedlegsFan]

I have the III.

Wow, I see you have killer iMac... spec'd out. I bet your system screams with the SSD and the 32GB of ram. Do you do some heavy duty work on the machine?

 

[TheBro72]

I work for a design/reprographics house and when we are really busy, I bring my work home at the weekends. I use the 3 main apps on Adobe Creative Cloud which are Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign. We are now in the Go-Pro era and I've found I'm doing more and more video editing / encoding at home which I'm really getting into. Basically I wanted a machine which could handle anything I threw at it easily whilst I'm browsing the web or watching youtube videos etc. The reason I went for the SSD is that the machine I use at work has a 512GB SSD so there was no going back to a standard HD like i use to have prior to this machine nor did I want a fusion drive. 512GB wasnt enough so I went for the 1TB. The machine is fast anyway with it having the 4.0ghz i7 CPU, but having the SSD is what makes the machine super quick. The 32GB RAM was bought purely so I could have every app open at once.

I only buy a new Mac every 8-10 years, so when I'm in the market, I tend to purchase the best spec I can afford to future proof my investment. This time I was lucky enough to be able to afford the 5k iMac and spec it to the max, I'm really happy with it and hopefully it will stand the test of time.

It also looks good on a Quirky!!

 

[ivantwilliams]

Yes you will.... However it depends on which Harmon Kardon SoundSticks you have. I have 2 sets, one is the original set from years ago, which has a USB connection only. The newer set are the SoundSticks II or III (not sure which one) and it has a mini jack connection. These speakers and the sub unit come through the ceiling in the bathroom so I'm not sure if they have USB compatibility as well as mini jack. To my knowledge I don't think they do.
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I use both the AA battery version all day at work and the chargeable (version 2) at home. Both are fine and neither of them make my hand hurt.

Put it this way, in two weeks I can tell the difference in my hand\wrist. I think the arch\hump on the likes of Logitech and Microsoft mouse, I'm just used to that support. The Apple Magic Mouse is just so 'low'...

 

[TheBro72]

Put it this way, in two weeks I can tell the difference in my hand\wrist. I think the arch\hump on the likes of Logitech and Microsoft mouse, I'm just used to that support. The Apple Magic Mouse is just so 'low'...

Yeah it is down to what the individual is used to. I've used both PC's and Apple mac mouses over the years and I don't feel any difference. A mouse is just a mouse to me i'm afraid!

 

[RedlegsFan]

I work for a design/reprographics house and when we are really busy, I bring my work home at the weekends. I use the 3 main apps on Adobe Creative Cloud which are Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign. We are now in the Go-Pro era and I've found I'm doing more and more video editing / encoding at home which I'm really getting into. Basically I wanted a machine which could handle anything I threw at it easily whilst I'm browsing the web or watching youtube videos etc. The reason I went for the SSD is that the machine I use at work has a 512GB SSD so there was no going back to a standard HD like i use to have prior to this machine nor did I want a fusion drive. 512GB wasnt enough so I went for the 1TB. The machine is fast anyway with it having the 4.0ghz i7 CPU, but having the SSD is what makes the machine super quick. The 32GB RAM was bought purely so I could have every app open at once.

I only buy a new Mac every 8-10 years, so when I'm in the market, I tend to purchase the best spec I can afford to future proof my investment. This time I was lucky enough to be able to afford the 5k iMac and spec it to the max, I'm really happy with it and hopefully it will stand the test of time.

It also looks good on a Quirky!!

Budget wise I will be tapped out at the spec'd machine above. I am used to HDD's so hopefully since I can't really afford a SSD (unless I wait longer), the machine should seem a bit faster for me and I wont be doing anything real complex outside of some photo editing and I might edit video more with this machine, but just home/recreational type stuff. I agree with your thought of building it up as much as you can, especially since these machines tend to last a good while.

Did maxing the ram out speed the machine up in other ways, minus multi tasking?

That stand looks like... oh my, being an Apple fan sure is an expensive habit!!

I almost bit the bullet and purchased a rMBP, but figured it would be smarter to grab an good iMac since my desktop is dying and the new MBP's are due to be released soon. I don't really need the portability due to my iPad.

 

[bent christian]

That said, I have the v1 Magic Trackpad and Keyboard, which run on AA batteries. I am totally happy with them and cannot for the life of me see any benefit in the v2's with built in batteries, and much more expensive Trackpad.

I use v1 at work, have v2 at home.

I use a set of rechargeable AAs for v1 at work. They run out every two weeks or so and take 18 hours before they can be used again.

I have needed to recharge my v2 mouse twice in the last six months. Went for a run, came back and it was done. I think it finished within an hour from being at 20%. I recently charged the keyboard for the very first time (not including initial charging).

I am very happy with the new peripherals.

 

[GlenK]

I had hand issues but learned to use my magic mouse left handed and my force touch track pad right handed. Going back and forth between the two have taken the pressure off both hands. No more issues.

I actually love both and splitting up usage seems to be the best option for me.

 

[RedlegsFan]

I just realized I can get the same machine from B&H for $100 less, so $1,899 (no sales tax!) if I bump it down to a 1TB Fusion Drive instead of 2TB, which I really don't need. I am using about 650GB on my current machine.

I also asked B&H if they offer and discounts/coupons, they are sending me a quote for the machine I am going to order soon, with hopefully a small discount (they said they would request it with my quote). So, crossing my fingers.

EDIT - They provided $30 off, which I am not complaining about.

EDIT 2 - Wait, I forgot, the 2TB drive has the 128GB SSD, compared to 24 on the 1TB drive. Well, back to saving a little while longer! Hah!

 

[TheBro72]

Budget wise I will be tapped out at the spec'd machine above. I am used to HDD's so hopefully since I can't really afford a SSD (unless I wait longer), the machine should seem a bit faster for me and I wont be doing anything real complex outside of some photo editing and I might edit video more with this machine, but just home/recreational type stuff. I agree with your thought of building it up as much as you can, especially since these machines tend to last a good while.

Did maxing the ram out speed the machine up in other ways, minus multi tasking?

That stand looks like... oh my, being an Apple fan sure is an expensive habit!!

I almost bit the bullet and purchased a rMBP, but figured it would be smarter to grab an good iMac since my desktop is dying and the new MBP's are due to be released soon. I don't really need the portability due to my iPad.

I just realized I can get the same machine from B&H for $100 less, so $1,899 (no sales tax!) if I bump it down to a 1TB Fusion Drive instead of 2TB, which I really don't need. I am using about 650GB on my current machine.

I also asked B&H if they offer and discounts/coupons, they are sending me a quote for the machine I am going to order soon, with hopefully a small discount (they said they would request it with my quote). So, crossing my fingers.

EDIT - They provided $30 off, which I am not complaining about.

EDIT 2 - Wait, I forgot, the 2TB drive has the 128GB SSD, compared to 24 on the 1TB drive. Well, back to saving a little while longer! Hah!

Apart from being able to open up all apps and use them, I wouldn't say the RAM speeds up the machine as such, the biggest factor on speed is the SSD, that makes the machine really quick. It takes about the same amount of time to boot up (approx 16 secs) with or with the additional RAM.

I'll admit that the RAM I have is probably overkill at the moment, but like I said I intend to keep this machine for a long time. As apps like photoshop etc and OS develop even further and become more memory intensive in years to come, the RAM will come into it's own.

If speed is a buying factor for you, then you are right to save up a bit longer for the 2TB fusion drive, because as you quite rightly stated, it has a bigger SSD partition than the 1TB fusion drive.

Going back to what I said earlier in relation to the personal setup assistant from Apple:-
This may only be offered to you if you actually buy the machine direct from Apple like I did. So if you are buying your machine from a 3rd party (which it looks like you may be doing), you should deffo ask them prior to buying if you would get the same offer from Apple.

 

[RedlegsFan]

Yeah that would be nice to sit at home and have someone walk me through some of the differences w/ Windows. I doubt I would be lugging in a 27in iMac into the Apple store! We shall see!

That's a damn shame they downgraded the SSD portion on the 1TB drive as that would be perfect for my use.

 

[dwfaust]

I use v1 at work, have v2 at home.

I use a set of rechargeable AAs for v1 at work. They run out every two weeks or so and take 18 hours before they can be used again.

I have needed to recharge my v2 mouse twice in the last six months. Went for a run, came back and it was done. I think it finished within an hour from being at 20%. I recently charged the keyboard for the very first time (not including initial charging).

I am very happy with the new peripherals.

The best part about the keyboard and trackpad is that you can continue using them while they charge. Not so with the MM2, but as I said, I don't use it much anyway.

 

[bent christian]

The best part about the keyboard and trackpad is that you can continue using them while they charge. Not so with the MM2, but as I said, I don't use it much anyway.

The mouse charges so fast and works for so long between charges it's a non-issue for me.