[waltonics]

First of all, can I relay my eternal thanks to the regulars of this forum. This is my first actual post as a member, but to the creator of DellEFI, the people who have taken the time to post solutions to common problems, the creators of new monitor settings to get my screen looking just right etc etc, thank you so much.

I got my Dell Mini 9 for "free" via the Vodafone Australia $59 dollars a month plan (essentially 40 dollars for 5gig a month, 20 ish for the dell). Oh yeh, extra special thanks to those posting info on the correct settings for the mobile setup...

Anyway, just wanted to add a high recommendation to anyone considering purchasing one of those new aluminum mac keyboards. I chose the USB model because I didnt want to mess around with bluetooth.. But the keyboard is gorgeous to type on, I have the proper apple keys, it comes with two usb ports to plug mouse etc into, and is actually tiny enough to shove into my bag with the dell should I want to do some serious work away from home.

So yeh, thanks thanks thanks!, my new setup ROCKS! A portable computer that I can barely feel in my daily carrybag, plus with this new keyboard a home computer that makes me not even bother to use my desktop!!

[71CH]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I have a question regarding the Apple keyboard. I had to sell my Thinkpad because of money issues and was thinking of buying an average, used, full size laptop to hold me over but realized that hooking up a full size keyboard might work. Does the Apple keyboard work well with the mini9? Any drawbacks? Also, the pictures look kinda small. It would be kinda dumb to get a external keyboard because the mini9 keyboard is so small, but then have the external keyboard also small lol.

[underwhelmed]

Well the Apple keyboard is usb and if your mini is running OS X, it should work with no problems. I looked at one at Best Buy, it is smaller than a normal keyboard, but the key lay out is normal, or seemed so to me. The reason it is smaller than a standard keyboard is because they left the number keys to the right out. Not a big deal to me, I'm not an accountant or anything.

Most any USB keyboard should work, even if it isn't labeled for OS X. The benefit of the Apple keyboard is the size and the proper Apple keys.

I have an old G4 Cube, which I hooked up via a KVM switch to share the USB Keyboard, mouse and LCD monitor with an XP desktop. This is running the older Tiger 10.4.11 OS, and it didn't know what type of keyboard I had installed, but it had me hold down the key to the right and then left of the shift key on the left hand side of the keyboard to try and figure it out. It still didn't recognize it, because it was a Labtech USB wireless keyboard, not an Apple keyboard, but it loaded a generic keyboard and works fine.

I would think using a genuine Apple keyboard would be no problem.

[71CH]

Thanks for the info. BTW, what are your opinions on the mighty mouse? I read reviews that the ball gets clogged easily. Is it worth the buy?

[CyG]

My full size mac usb keyboard works well with my mini, just like waltonics did. I really love using my wireless keyboard with the mini because it's a great, compact keyboard that travels well and the bluetooth pair quickly and effortlessly.

I'd take a pass on the mighty mouse. People have really widely varying experiences with the mighty mouse and, in my experience, having a two button mouse is nice even using OS X.

[underwhelmed]

I would pass on the Mighty Mouse also. I like a scroll wheel and two buttons. That right button comes in handy.

I like Logitech for wireless mice, good battery life. I am also partial to the optical mice over the regular mice. I have a few, and short of maybe having to remove a stray hair that it has picked up, I have never had to really clean them like you do with a standard ball type mouse.

As far as a standard mouse, my fall back, always works mouse is an old Dell wired optical mouse with a scroll wheel. I don't think you can break these, short of maybe dropping it into liquid, or running it over with a car. Not the prettiest mouse in the world, but it never disappoints in function.

[tsenecal]

I too hate the mighty mouse, after about 3 days, the miniballl stopped working, all gunked up.

I use the following mouse on all my mac laptops/netbooks, I love it.

ICEMINI Macally Peripherals

powerbook g3
ibook g4
macbook
dell mini 9

yes, I own four of these mice.

I also own one of these, and would highly recommend it:

IceKey Macally Peripherals

[71CH]

Originally Posted by waltonics

First of all, can I relay my eternal thanks to the regulars of this forum. This is my first actual post as a member, but to the creator of DellEFI, the people who have taken the time to post solutions to common problems, the creators of new monitor settings to get my screen looking just right etc etc, thank you so much.

I got my Dell Mini 9 for "free" via the Vodafone Australia $59 dollars a month plan (essentially 40 dollars for 5gig a month, 20 ish for the dell). Oh yeh, extra special thanks to those posting info on the correct settings for the mobile setup...

Anyway, just wanted to add a high recommendation to anyone considering purchasing one of those new aluminum mac keyboards. I chose the USB model because I didnt want to mess around with bluetooth.. But the keyboard is gorgeous to type on, I have the proper apple keys, it comes with two usb ports to plug mouse etc into, and is actually tiny enough to shove into my bag with the dell should I want to do some serious work away from home.

So yeh, thanks thanks thanks!, my new setup ROCKS! A portable computer that I can barely feel in my daily carrybag, plus with this new keyboard a home computer that makes me not even bother to use my desktop!!

When you take your keyboard around with you do you just throw it in your bag or do you actually use some kind of case. It looks sturdy enough but I just want to make sure. Thanks.

[emdc]

Both size Apple aluminum keyboards are the best the company has made in years & both work fine with a Dell mini.

[HotDog]

I am using the Apple Aluminum Keyboard, Bluetooth, the short one (no numbers keypad). I really like it, but can't ever seem to figure out when it is "on" or "off," so I just leave it "on" all the time once it is setup (battery life seems pretty good; it has some sort of automatic power-down when not in use). Using Bluetooth devices on more than one computer requires one, I think, to do the Bluetooth Terminal Mod so that the Mini's BT can be turned "off" when registered devices are used elsewhere, but within BT proximity. It is "stuck" in the "on" (or "off") position once the transition to OS X has been done; this fix is easy and the instructions on the forum are pretty awesome. I love my BT keyboard. I use a Logitech mouse with a USB dongle when sitting at my Aluminum keyboard; I had it around before the mini and is a snap to setup and use.