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Questions about monitors and other peripherals with mac mini.

Reminisce32

Reminisce32

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 13, 2009
221
1
1) Do you use a mac mini with a non-apple monitor and non-apple peripherals? Do you feel like this would ruin the experience?

2) Do you know of any good, nice looking silver monitors? I saw this one on someone's facebook but I can't figure out what kind it is.

3) If not apple, what keyboard + mouse do you use or recommend?

Thanks.
 
Reminisce32 said:
1) Do you use a mac mini with a non-apple monitor and non-apple peripherals? Do you feel like this would ruin the experience?

2) Do you know of any good, nice looking silver monitors? I saw this one on someone's facebook but I can't figure out what kind it is.

3) If not apple, what keyboard + mouse do you use or recommend?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I just purchased a pair of Mac Mini's to replace an older iMac and a 3 month old MacBook Pro Retina. I literally spent days researching monitors. For my home computer I purchased a ViewSonic VX2770Smh-LED 27" IPS from NewEgg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-
It was less than $300 and had IPS, ant-glare and HDMI, also very good reviews.

For work I purchased a ViewSonic VX2460H-LED 24-Inch from Amazon. It's not IPS but its very thin and Mac-like has dual HDMi and Kensington slot, it also gets good reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RHT60Y/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

These are both 1900 resolution monitors and shouldn't ruin your experience. Anything with a 2500 resolution is going to run you a minimum of $500. Most are in the $700-$1300 price range. My needs are simple so for me these monitors will do.

The Monitor you posted from somebody's Facebook is but-ugly in my opinion.

I only buy Apple BT keyboards and pointing devices, they just work.
 
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I use a 26 inch sharp hdtv as my main monitor, and it is not incredibly dreadful after spending some time calibrating is. My keyboard is a Razer mechanical, and my mouse is also from the Razer brand. They both feel fantastic, but look pretty dumb. xD

I don't think it ruins "the experience." I don't need a super nice display though, as this is my audio production machine. My entire set up goes in a closet when I'm not using it so it doesn't really need to look cohesive.

If you're hellbent on using apple peripherals, why not go the iMac route? That machine is a sexy set up.
 
My Mini is on order so i can't answer how good it is yet but, I will use my 32" Samsung TV which is in the bedroom,
however in a previous thread someone has said anything bigger than 24 is crap

"Correct. I used the excellent 24" Apple LED Cinema Display for years and the text is actually not that sharp, so going any bigger than 23 or maybe 24" with only 1080p resolution is the worst thing you could do.

A friend of me recently purchased a cheap 27" 1080p display which I personally think is horrible in any way (colors, resolution, panel, build quality, ...) but he likes it only for its size, so maybe some people are satisfied with "bad" products.

any one share this view that bigger than 24 is a waste?
my TV is Samsung Smart series 6-3D 32"
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Digital TV Features 3D TV, Full HD, HDMI, High Definition, Widescreen
Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
Maximum Screen Resolution 1080p

http://www.myshopping.com.au/PR--386237_Samsung_UA32D6000_Series_6_32_LED_TV
 
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ianrip said:
My Mini is on order so i can't answer how good it is yet but, I will use my 32" Samsung TV which is in the bedroom,
however in a previous thread someone has said anything bigger than 24 is crap

"Correct. I used the excellent 24" Apple LED Cinema Display for years and the text is actually not that sharp, so going any bigger than 23 or maybe 24" with only 1080p resolution is the worst thing you could do.

A friend of me recently purchased a cheap 27" 1080p display which I personally think is horrible in any way (colors, resolution, panel, build quality, ...) but he likes it only for its size, so maybe some people are satisfied with "bad" products.

any one share this view that bigger than 24 is a waste?
my TV is Samsung Smart series 6-3D 32"
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Digital TV Features 3D TV, Full HD, HDMI, High Definition, Widescreen
Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
Maximum Screen Resolution 1080p

http://www.myshopping.com.au/PR--386237_Samsung_UA32D6000_Series_6_32_LED_TV
Click to expand...

There's some truth to that but many of us aren't going to spend more for the monitor than our machine. The Nixeus is the least expensive 2560 27" on the market and its $500. Everything else is $700 on up.
My guess is text won't look very good on your 32.
Here's a couple of under $500 monitors in 27" that offer 2560x1440 resolution. The Yamaski supposedly uses the same panel as Apple's TB Display.

Nixeus: http://www.amazon.com/Nixeus-Resolu...=1351488255&sr=8-1&keywords=2560x1440+monitor

Yamasaki: http://www.amazon.com/Nixeus-Resolu...=1351488255&sr=8-1&keywords=2560x1440+monitor
 
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kdoug said:
There's some truth to that but many of us aren't going to spend more for the monitor than our machine. The Nixeus is the least expensive 2560 27" on the market and its $500. Everything else is $700 on up.
My guess is text won't look very good on your 32.
Here's a couple of under $500 monitors in 27" that offer 2560x1440 resolution. The Yamaski supposedly uses the same panel as Apple's TB Display.

Nixeus: http://www.amazon.com/Nixeus-Resolu...=1351488255&sr=8-1&keywords=2560x1440+monitor

Yamasaki: http://www.amazon.com/Nixeus-Resolu...=1351488255&sr=8-1&keywords=2560x1440+monitor
Click to expand...


Both your links goto the same place. The Yamasaki is - http://www.amazon.com/2560x1440-S-I...32&sr=1-1&keywords=Yamasaki+2560x1440+monitor
 
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Reminisce32 said:
1) Do you use a mac mini with a non-apple monitor and non-apple peripherals? Do you feel like this would ruin the experience?
Click to expand...
No the opposite: it enhances the experience!
- The average 4€ Logitech wired mouse beats the crap out of any Apple mouse ever made.
- The average 20€ PC black keyboard types better than any Apple keyboard ever made
- The NEC PA271W beats the crap out of any Apple Display ever made.
- The Mini SCREAMS for black peripherals with its black åss, so I stay away from all fancy white Apple cables for the best looking desktop.
- My office does not scream "Apple" if you peak through the window. They don't grab the value of my black tank monitor. So the burglars enter next door at those iMac DTP companies.
 
blanka said:
- The NEC PA271W beats the crap out of any Apple Display ever made.
Click to expand...

Sorry to highjack the thread for a second but following your advice to my post on Mac Pro forum, I looked into Mac mini as an alternative to Mac Pro.
I'm going to get same display and I was wondering if mini can handle it but it seems from your post that you have no issues with display slagging that some people noted?
Also - how did you connect the display to the mini? Using HDMI adapter? There is a note on Nec webpage about some display cables causing problems. See: http://www.necdisplay.com/documents/Miscellaneous/DisplayPort_Notice.pdf
Perhaps you could share what brand you're using?

Thanks in advance.
 
blanka said:
No the opposite: it enhances the experience!
- The average 4€ Logitech wired mouse beats the crap out of any Apple mouse ever made.
- The average 20€ PC black keyboard types better than any Apple keyboard ever made
- The NEC PA271W beats the crap out of any Apple Display ever made.
- The Mini SCREAMS for black peripherals with its black åss, so I stay away from all fancy white Apple cables for the best looking desktop.
- My office does not scream "Apple" if you peak through the window. They don't grab the value of my black tank monitor. So the burglars enter next door at those iMac DTP companies.
Click to expand...

I dispute the comment on keyboards, apple have done some decent keyboards. The mac plus keyboard was alps. I quite like the old white apple pro keyboards that came with the G4 era machines. They aren't perfect but they are a hell of a lot better than the cheap, creaky crap that dell and Lenovo bundle with their machines. I really dislike the new generation though. I have a mac ally ALPs keyboard too which is excellent.

I would love the NEC monitor though!
 
Over the years I've used Samsung & Dell monitors and still use an enormous Microsoft keyboard on my mini & a Logitech wireless mouse~like the other poster nothing screams "Apple" at my desk~I even have some odd brand optical drive sitting on top of my mini so you can't see the Apple logo :rolleyes: and everything works nicely.
 
Apple had some nice keyboards, I agree. I quite liked the one with my LC475 back then, and the Pro Keyboard II if i'm correct on my SE/30. But those were the heavy-pressure long throw ones. The newer lighter ones are easier on the fingers. But if you like the heavy duty ones, get a nice black DAS keyboard, especially the unprinted one is nice for blind typers!
 
blanka said:
Apple had some nice keyboards, I agree. I quite liked the one with my LC475 back then, and the Pro Keyboard II if i'm correct on my SE/30. But those were the heavy-pressure long throw ones. The newer lighter ones are easier on the fingers. But if you like the heavy duty ones, get a nice black DAS keyboard, especially the unprinted one is nice for blind typers!
Click to expand...

Honestly, I can type faster and longer without pain on the new keyboards, which are great. Writing a 40k word text, for example, makes a day and night difference wheter the keys are short or long.
 
Poki said:
Honestly, I can type faster and longer without pain on the new keyboards, which are great. Writing a 40k word text, for example, makes a day and night difference wheter the keys are short or long.
Click to expand...

I agree on that if you read well, but what I mean is that a modern short-throw PC keyboard is even more comfortable. I like the smaller-top knotted piramid shape of normal buttons compared to the all flat not very tactile Apple ones.
 
"3) If not apple, what keyboard + mouse do you use or recommend?"

I've never liked Apple's mice or keyboards since the original iMac years ago.

For pointing and clicking, I -highly- recommend Logitech.
If you already have a USB-compatible mouse, use that for now -- it should work just fine.

For typing, it depends on whether or not you prefer a "traditional" feel under your fingers. By that, I mean a slightly upward-tilted keyboard with well-defined (i.e., "dished") keys. If that's what you're used to, you're probably NOT going to like Apple's keyboard with its flat keys.

Almost any USB keyboard will work. If you already have a USB keyboard, you might be able to use that while you shop for something else that you like.

I learned to type on manual typewriters 45 years ago, so I prefer the "old-style" of keyboard. My fingers "get lost" on the Apple aluminum keyboard -- one of the worst peripherals I've ever used.

Shop around -- you DO NOT have to use Apple peripherals with the Mac.
Use what you like and what works best for you!
 
Reminisce32 said:
1) Do you use a mac mini with a non-apple monitor and non-apple peripherals? Do you feel like this would ruin the experience?

2) Do you know of any good, nice looking silver monitors? I saw this one on someone's facebook but I can't figure out what kind it is.

3) If not apple, what keyboard + mouse do you use or recommend?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

1) The joy of the Mini is that you can use whatever peripherals you feel comfortable with.

I am using a 7-year old ViewSonic monitor, which I like for my situation because it is matt, not glossy. It should have a few years left in it yet, but when it does give up I will replace it with whatever is on the market that suits me at the time.

I liked the small Apple wired keyboard, so got one three years ago and remain happy with it.

I have the basic wired Logitech mouse, which suits me. I bought it a couple of years ago. There are some things I like about the Apple Magic Mouse, but not enough to make me want to go and buy one.

2) Just shop around till you find what you are after.

3) "Needs" is what it comes down to, and what I have is fine for me. The "Apple experience" is nothing to do with it. Making any recommendation would be futile. Just stick with what you are used to, or get what seems like would suit you.
 
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