Go wireless or stay wired

[gollum84]

For a while now I have been thinking about buying the wireless keyboard and mouse from apple. My computer desk is sorta small and the mouse wire for my apple optical mouse gets in the way. But in order to do anything wireless I need a bluetooth card. I don't know anything about bluetooth so I hope someone could help. I know there are usb bluetooth adapters, but is that what I need or something else? And also, is there really any advantage to going wireless or should I just stick with the keyboard and mouse that came with my G4?

 

[evildan]

I would buy a wireless keyboard / mouse, but I like using my two-button Logitech mouse over the Apple single-button. I find I'm a more productive clicker with that other option. I also like to use my center button for Expose.

Also consider power... The keyboard uses AA batteries. So you'll have to buy new batteries depending on usage. There is an on/off switch on the keyboard (I believe) that will help prolong battery life.... but still that kind of thing annoys me. I don't use my wireless mouse for that very reason. I tend to forget I even have it.

I suppose you could get yourself a recharger for those devices... but I'm waiting for the keyboard to have a charging station, much like my cell phone.

 

[Randman]

I agree with Dan, though I prefer my Logitech wireless trackball. If you really need bluetooth, there are plenty of add-on adapters available and they don't take up much space. I have a KeySpan adapter that goes in one of my USB ports on my iBook and it is barely noticeable when I use it.

 

[Arden]

Just read this. You don't necessarily have to get an Apple solution, since the Belkin mouse at least comes with a universal Bluetooth transmitter.

 

[ora]

I'd go for wired keyboard with a wireless mouse (like me ). I can't really see the point of wireless keyboards since the cable is normally well away from where your hands are, and they consume lotsa batteries. I have a logitch mx700 mouse, which i think is a good compromise. It is radio not bluetooth, so no need for any extra card. Its transmitter is also a charger, so you don't have to buy batteries. It does run out sometimes at awkward moments, but the same is true of all wireless mice be they bluetooth or radio. It stays charged for a good few days before starting to blink at you, and even then you can use it for a fair bit before it actually dies. The recharge time is only a few hours, and it has a pretty good range so you can easily put the transmitter under you desk, saving yourself space.

It also has 7 buttons, so in combination with usb overdrive, you can have all the expose functions tied to buttons, plus some left forlaunching programs or application specific commands (i have "open in a new tab" and "next tab" as buttons in safari).

I don't think i could go back to a wired mouse now, or one with less buttons.

 

[jeepster485]

I use a Logitech wireless mouse and keyboard and I love it - you can do so much more than with the wired devices that come with your computer. I have all the "hot keys" at the top set to open the programs I use most - Mail, Safari, iTunes, and iChat. All I have to do is hit the four bottoms for those programs and they open right up. Not to mention the fact there's no wires so I can store the thing in a drawer without any wires hanging out. Add to that the fact that (since my desk is small) if it falls off the desk it won't try to pull my laptop off with it, makes me love it that much more.....after all, accidents happen; the fewer cables you have, the less of a chance of an accident resulting from pulling on one. Both use 2 AA batteries (each). The keyboard lasts a long time - like at least four months on one set. The mouse only gets one to two months since I use it so much. But wireless is definitely the way to go - you'll never go back to a wired keyboard once you find out how nice it is to have wireless.

 

[gollum84]

I think I'll go out and get a wireless mouse that has multiple buttons. I'm getting tired of holding down "control" and clicking on an icon in order to bring up the pop-up menu. Plus, it will help when I play Unreal Tournament 2003, so that all my primary and secondary fire buttons are all on the mouse.