Connecting a Mac to Various Brands of Hardware

[Jenny]

Hi guys!

I am going to be buying a Macintosh computer soon.

However, I have a question:
Can I connect any kind of hardware I want to my MAC?

Example:
Monitors
External Hard Drives
Keyboards
Mice


If anyone could help, that'd be great


Thanks.
Jenny

[edDV]

No. They need to be specified to work with Mac.

Hardware connections obey industry standards like DVI, USB, USB 2, etc. but a software driver is also required that is designed to work with Mac OS. Many drivers are built into the Mac OS. Check the specs.

In contrast, many hardware devices lack Mac OS drivers and/or are not supported by Apple.

[Case]

No. They need to be specified to work with Mac.

Many devices, that work great while plugged to a Mac, do not have any such specification. So looking for that won't be all that fruitful <g>. And generic drivers go a long way.
If Jenny goes to an Apple Store (the brick-and-mortar one with people), she could just ask if TFT monitor brand X model Y with DVI and VGA-HD15 connectors will work. (It will.)
The Mac Mini was even designed with swapping monitor/external hard drives/keyboard/mouse from a previous PC in mind. The modern peripherals (DVI/USB/FireWire) will "just work". The days of Apple branded peripherals only are long gone. Thankfully.
Having said that, I still recommend at least a keyboard with a Mac layout, for ease of use.

[edDV]

Start with the list Apple provides.
Call them about support for legacy devices.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/upgrade/devices.html

[lawnman]

What I have hooked to a Mini:
Monitor- ViewSonic LCD
Keyboard-Apple
Mouse-Logitech MX Laser
External Optical Drive-Pioneer DVR 110-D (Flashed) by Firewire

[Jenny]

Hi guys!

You are all great! Thanks for answering my question -- I will be buying a MAC soon, and you've started me off on the right foot to getting what I need...


Thanks!
Jenny

[lordsmurf]

I use a BTC USB Windows keyboard on a Mac.
A Logitech USB mouse meant for Windows on a Mac.
A Pioneer DVR-111 DVD burner, not official supported, on a Mac.

RAM, hard drives, monitor, etc. .... fine on a Mac.

The only thing "Mac" about a Mac is the motherboard and software. Everything else is off-the-shelf, or at least can be.

[synchro505]

I use a Dell 2000FP 20" flat panel and a Logitech MX Revolution (great mouse!) along with a plethora of firewire hard drives which are of various brands. I even use a Pioneer 710 DVD-R drive which said on the box is was not for Mac. Turns out, the Mac recognizes it as a Pioneer 111-D which works as a SuperDrive with all iLife and related software. Amazing.