Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

How good do macs work with usb stuff?!

XheartcoreboyX

XheartcoreboyX

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 3, 2007
753
0
*Does ANY keyboard work with the mac? -seems like everyone uses Apple's keyboard.. >_>
**Any flash disk/external HDD work with the mac?
***Any Expresscard offers more usb ports work with the mac?
****Any speakers system/mic work wit the mac?

Thanks,:D
 
XheartcoreboyX said:
*Does ANY keyboard work with the mac? -seems like everyone uses Apple's keyboard.. >_>
**Any flash disk/external HDD work with the mac?
***Any Expresscard offers more usb ports work with the mac?
****Any speakers system/mic work wit the mac?

Thanks,:D
Click to expand...

Everything you mentioned should work without a problem:)

But with the keyboards you should remember that some keys are at different places (control, alt, windows-button).
 
XheartcoreboyX said:
*Does ANY keyboard work with the mac? -seems like everyone uses Apple's keyboard.. >_>
**Any flash disk/external HDD work with the mac?
***Any Expresscard offers more usb ports work with the mac?
****Any speakers system/mic work wit the mac?

Thanks,:D
Click to expand...

1. Yes- all USB keyboards work (although it lacks a couple of auxiliary buttons)
2. Flash Drives- Yes. External HDD- depends on the formatting of the drive, but mostly- Yes.
3. I believe so, but the particular model is not coming in my mind right now.
4. Yes, all analog 2.1 speakers, or any optical speakers. Most Macintosh machines come with a built in mic as well, but an external plug and play works equally well.

edit: darh beat me to it!
 
Yep, everything should work right, although the last update for tiger has caused some problems with USB support.

If at all possible I'd look for Bluetooth compatibility and/or firewire support for any of othe items you mentioned.
 
Most ppl use apple keyboards for the dedicated volume and eject keys. You can eject with a non standard keyboard though, just hold down f12
 
XheartcoreboyX said:
**Any flash disk/external HDD work with the mac?
Click to expand...
Yes, the only problem is generally that the encryption and security software is PC only. I think certain companies are now coming out with Mac compatible encryption/security software.

XheartcoreboyX said:
****Any speakers system/mic work wit the mac?
Thanks,:D
Click to expand...

As someone stated any 2.1 speaker system should work with a Mac. 5.1 speaker systems may require a soundcard, depending on the type and Mac.
 
anirban said:
I regularly use Apple BT keyboard when my MBP acts as a desktop replacement machine, and I have no complaints... although they could have put the power switch somwhere at the top:p
Click to expand...

eh i think i will probably get that -but the mighty mouse SUCK- so i will get it another mouse..and as a result i can use the mbp as a desktop comp =D..
by the way the power switch thing would be realllyy awesome >_>
 
For 5.1 sound you can get FireWave from Griffin technology. It connects to your mac via firewire and allows you to connect 5.1 surround sound speakers. I have to give this product props because I use it all the time and love it.
 
seems like theres really no imporvements for mac the same way for pcs....you can RARELY find a keyboard/mouse work for mac -the ways its supposed to-....

and using more than 2 speakers with mac is like wow a miracle...even its very easy with pc(even laptops)...

using any kind of HDD is pretty simple for pc but on mac it must be is some format or whatever..

theres everyday new amazing usb or express card stuff to be used with laptops..that always doesnt work on a mac..

so it all says that macs dont have a good future...:p

lol just random thought but however i still love macs and will be having one very very soon (2-4 days)..
 
XheartcoreboyX said:
seems like theres really no imporvements for mac the same way for pcs....you can RARELY find a keyboard/mouse work for mac -the ways its supposed to-....

and using more than 2 speakers with mac is like wow a miracle...even its very easy with pc(even laptops)...

using any kind of HDD is pretty simple for pc but on mac it must be is some format or whatever..

theres everyday new amazing usb or express card stuff to be used with laptops..that always doesnt work on a mac..

so it all says that macs dont have a good future...:p

lol just random thought but however i still love macs and will be having one very very soon (2-4 days)..
Click to expand...

Actually the future is looking brighter for Macs as they become more and more popular. The more popular, the more products made for them. A LaCie hard drive that runs through FireWire is an amazing little thing to have around, so it wont take up a USB port.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...co=C4C97952&node=home/mac_accessories/storage

Check out these. I myself fancied the 80 GB red brick and have had no problems whatsoever.


Microsoft (ironically) makes a few Mac compatible mice, although the mighty mouse is fine for me (quick question, have you used one? just wondering)
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/&cl=us,en

the Finder icon represents which ones work with Macs, so exactly half are Mac compatible, not bad for only roughly 7% market share of all PCs ;)

cyberguys.com also has some great deals on mice, and of course, there is always ebay.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...BAB4&node=home/mac_accessories/mice_keyboards
 
I absolutely love my Mac bluetooth keyboard and mighty mouse... while the mighty mouse does seem to encounter problems I've read up some ways to fix it (and also cross my fingers that it doesn't happen to me) and I love the tiny scroll ball and ability to do a right click as well as middle click and squeeze the sides for extra buttons.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back