a holiday purchase for myself

[Blind Buzzard]

Fairly recently purchased my iBook, and yes, now I'm thinking of pushing my PC off my desk!

Any suggestions on setup for a Desk Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse? Is their a docking station for an iBook?

 

[robbieduncan]

Apple do not make docking stations for any current laptop.

There are Book Endz for some models though...

Edit to add: doesn't look like they have one for a recent iBook

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I'd recommend the Dell 2005FPW for the monitor- I have two, and they rock. For the keyboard, if your iBook has bluetooth, go for the Apple Wireless Keyboard- it rocks, too. I don't have any recommendations for the mouse, though- I have both the Apple Wireless mouse and a Logitech MX900...there are things I like and things I don't...

 

[devilot]

Any suggestions on setup for a Desk Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse?

That depends on what you are looking for. Wire-free, uncluttered set up? Or do you prefer the response of a wired mouse? Do you want to preserve Apple's 'white' image? Or does that not matter?

If you are set on getting a separate display as well as separate keyboard; than I'd also venture forth the suggestion of an iCurve which is a stand that many laptop users swear by.

As for keyboard, I'd definitely recommend a Mac oriented one simply for the sake of keyboard shortcuts. (Gotta have the 'apple' or 'command' key!)

I love the Apple keyboard because of the two USB ports on the back.

Actually... the iKeyslim combo from Macally seems awesome. Their keyboard also features the apple key and the extra USB ports in the rear. Plus, if you hunt around online, you can most definitely find it cheaper than retail suggested MSRP.

 

[Megatron]

The Dell 2005FPW won't work well with your ibook b/c ibooks only support video mirroring at 1024 x 768 out of the box.

What size ibook do you have? I have a 12 inch and found that connecting an external keyboard along with an icurve moved the screen too far away, as it is small to begin with. Now I just use the ibook and an optical mouse, works great.

 

[puckhead193]

......and the extra USB ports in the rear.

HAHA that made me laugh

 

[Blind Buzzard]

I have an iBook, G4, 12in, 1.33 ghz.

I was originally looking at this setup:
iBookEndz Docking Station for Dual USB iBook
http://www.photo-control.com/bookendz/ibook.htm

I have a standard Mac keyboard from my old G3, and the mouse that accompanied it. I'm not really bothered by the wires, but I would prefer to maybe try a mightly mouse and specifically a larger keyboard. The older G3 keyboard doesn't have the feel of a 101/standard. (Is their a difference in size?)

I've also been looking at the Apple Monitors, but they are so pricy. I have a buddy here at work that is thinking about getting rid of his Dell 24in Wide, at a very fair price! (Would their be compatibility issues with this and the iBook, if so, is their a work-around?)

The iCurve is an interesting device, would be nice if you could use the laptop display and the External Monitor at the same time, but I don't think the iBook has this capability? Am I right in assuming that only the Powerbook allows this functionality?

 

[devilot]

The iCurve is an interesting device, would be nice if you could use the laptop display and the External Monitor at the same time, but I don't think the iBook has this capability? Am I right in assuming that only the Powerbook allows this functionality?

Out of the box, the iBook is only capable of 'mirroring' the same image on its LCD onto the external display. However, there is a hack out there (do a quick search on MR for sites that have it) that will enable the iBook to span an external display.

I don't know enough about past iBooks and their keyboards to answer your other question. And I also don't know enough about the different displays and how well they 'play' w/ different machines. I know someone out there on MR land knows and can give you an answer.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

There is a simple hack that allows the iBook to span monitors. Google for Screen spanning Doctor and you should find it.

 

[dblissmn]

Still, if you span on the iBook, you're limited to a VGA output, so whatever monitor you get, it had better work with VGA, and work well. That rules out the Apple Cinema Displays, but I suspect most Dell monitors shouldn't do too badly.

 

[Blind Buzzard]

So does anyone know for sure that the Dell 24in Wide Monitor will work with the 12in iBook that I listed above?

And what kind of resolution I can expect?

 

[jazzmfk]

another vote here for the iCurve, Apple BT keyboard and mouse. My 12" iBook looks great and functions even better on the 'curve. Writing was such a (literal) pain on the iBook, what with the keys so close together and the screen way down there. Plus that noisy space bar was starting to drive me crazy. Now, the screen sits perfectly at eye level, the keyboard is comfy, quick, and quiet, and the mouse, um, works like a mouse.

I thought about a desktop monitor, too (heck, I've got a 23" ACD at home!), but this setup leaves some space for me to use my desk for some other things, too.

As a great Monday Night Football announcer once said....
"That's just my opinion. I could be wrong...".

MFK

 

[h0e0h]

mx5000

I just ordered Logitech's MX5000 from newegg for 104 + shipping, so when i get the mac mini in and my wife lets me "open" my new keyboard/mouse, i'll let ya know how i like it on christmas morning...

BTW, currently i'm using iCurve on my 12" PB with apple's bluetooth keyboard and microsoft's intellimouse explorer for bluetooth and really like the setup. I am, however, using a 17" LCD as a primary desktop with only Mail and AdiumX open on the 12" screen. You can see pics of the setup via the link in my sig...

 

[Lucky8]

So does anyone know for sure that the Dell 24in Wide Monitor will work with the 12in iBook that I listed above?

And what kind of resolution I can expect?

I know my 20" Dell work beautifully with my 12" iBook G4 1.33GHz running SSD

 

[h0e0h]

I just ordered Logitech's MX5000 from newegg for 104 + shipping, so when i get the mac mini in and my wife lets me "open" my new keyboard/mouse, i'll let ya know how i like it on christmas morning...

BTW, currently i'm using iCurve on my 12" PB with apple's bluetooth keyboard and microsoft's intellimouse explorer for bluetooth and really like the setup. I am, however, using a 17" LCD as a primary desktop with only Mail and AdiumX open on the 12" screen. You can see pics of the setup via the link in my sig...

the mx5000 was a great fit for the new mac mini, the only problem was that i couldn't get it to work with the internal bluetooth. that remedy was to turn off the internal bluetooth on the mini and use the included usb bluetooth adapter, so now it works wonderfully.