New iMac - choice of keyboard, mouse v. trackpad

[Rich Jacobson]

I'm going to be ordering a new iMac, and need to decide on wired vs wireless keyboard, mouse vs trackpad.

1) Keyboard - if the full size one was wireless, I would not even give it a second thought, except perhaps the size - more on that below

2) Mouse vs Trackpad - leaning towards the mouse, but not 100% sure

Combinations - with the wireless keyboard I could fit a trackpad on the left and mouse on the right in the keyboard drawer under my desk. I actually had this setup for a while and it was pretty nice.

Combination of wired keyboard plus trackpad on the right would fit, but ergonomically I think a mouse might be better - no place to rest my wrist with a trackpad, always have to keep wrist elevated and fingers get cramped after extended use.

I'd like to hear opinions on which combination of input devices people find best for Lightroom.

 

[johnbandry]

Mouse vs. trackpad is a lot to do with personal preference. Can't really comment on your personal preference - mine is for mouse.

The only reason I see for the wired keyboard (unless you want the wire/usb attachment) is to have the numeric keypad. Do you want the numeric keypad?

 

[Rich Jacobson]

For work (Spreadsheets) I always use a mouse rather than the laptop trackpad (Dell) and I prefer a full size keyboard, for the navigation keys as well as the number pad. I don't do many spreadsheets at home, so this may be less of an issue. I'm trying to optimize this system for use with Lightroom.

 

[graybalanced]

I prefer using a mouse with Lightroom, I think it's more precise control over the tiny little buttons and sliders they have in Lightroom. And less fatiguing. Even though I really like Apple trackpads, but for other uses.

If it was Photoshop I would go for unmentioned option C, a Wacom tablet. But I don't think a tablet is as helpful with Lightroom, a mouse seems better for a lot of what Lightroom is about.

 

[Corkcampbell]

I vote for the wired, extended keyboard; I just keypad and some of the other keys a lot. In fact, I have two of those keyboards.

Remember that the longer keyboard has USB ports on each end; I don't know if the wireless ones do. I use them a lot, too.

When I bought the last iMac, I knew that Apple would just throw in an extended keyboard if you asked, so, somewhere, I have a new, unused regular, wired keyboard. I also have an Apple wireless keyboard but don't know where that is either.

Mouse is too personable a preference; on a desktop I would take one over a trackpad. Usually logictech.

 

[Ellis Vener]

I'm going to be ordering a new iMac, and need to decide on wired vs wireless keyboard, mouse vs trackpad.

1) Keyboard - if the full size one was wireless, I would not even give it a second thought, except perhaps the size - more on that below.

i have used about a half dozen corded and wireless keyboards and have settled on a Matias Quiet Pro. Very solid feel and excellent key spacing for my hands.

2) Mouse vs Trackpad - leaning towards the mouse, but not 100% sure

i am now using a very high dpi gaming mouse Ithink it is a Logitec G502. For Photoshop and Lightroom work it is great and very responsive. ((I am not a gamer but a friend who is recommended it. I also have Wacom tablet but rarely use it because I haven't trained myself to use it.

Combinations - with the wireless keyboard I could fit a trackpad on the left and mouse on the right in the keyboard drawer under my desk. I actually had this setup for a while and it was pretty nice.

Combination of wired keyboard plus trackpad on the right would fit, but ergonomically I think a mouse might be better - no place to rest my wrist with a trackpad, always have to keep wrist elevated and fingers get cramped after extended use.

I'd like to hear opinions on which combination of input devices people find best for Lightroom.

 

[Koban]

Its all a personal decision.

For my self I do not use my mouse that much. I use my Wacom intuos pro pen and touch medium 90% of the time. I use it also for day work on my Mac.

 

[graybalanced]

I vote for the wired, extended keyboard; I just keypad and some of the other keys a lot. In fact, I have two of those keyboards.

I prefer that one too. The numeric keypad has some functions in Lightroom that I use a lot, like star ratings or picking from the Recent keyword set.

Remember that the longer keyboard has USB ports on each end; I don't know if the wireless ones do. I use them a lot, too.

The Apple Bluetooth keyboard that I also have does not have USB ports. I don't think any Apple wireless keyboards have USB ports, for logistical reasons. You wouldn't want to power anything through those ports because all that would do is drain the keyboard batteries, and I do not think there is any provision for moving data wirelessly to or from the computer and any USB devices that would be plugged into the keyboard if it did have ports.

 

[M Colyer]

Tried wireless keyboard and wireless mouse when I first bought a Mac and quickly fell out of love with them and went back to traditional wired keyboard and mouse. Reliability was the main issue. One set of leakproof batteries in the wireless keyboard actually leaked so that I had to replace the keyboard, but with a wired one. However I do use a wireless trackpad - this I find useful when scrolling through pages etc. My current wired Mac mouse has a very small scroll wheel which simply fails to work after a while. Logitech mice I find are much more reliable and have a larger scroll wheel.

 

[Rich Jacobson]

I generally dislike Bluetooth keyboards and mice for that reason, but I'll give Apple's versions a try... I trust they will connect reliably. I ordered the iMac with the standard wireless keyboard and mouse. If I can get used to the lack of nav keys and half size cursor keys then I may add a trackpad. If not, I'll get a full keyboard

 

[johnbandry]

The new wireless mouse and keyboard both now have built-in rechargeable batteries, which solves the leaky battery problem. They are paired by connecting with the charging cable, which is quick and foolproof. The mouse is also more robust that its predecessors; I found the battery cover always fell off after a while.

A point to note for new MacBook Pro users is that the charging cable is lightning to USB-B.