Sharing Your Display, Keyboard, and Mouse

For more information on the topics in this section, see Chapter 4.

Can I use the mouse and keyboard I already own?

In a word, yes. But it's best if you already own a USB mouse and keyboard. Chapter 4 explains how to share a PS/2 mouse and keyboard as well.

What's a KVM switch?

A keyboard, video, and mouseor KVMswitch allows your Mac mini and Windows PC to share the same keyboard, video display, and mouse. KVM switches are available in models that switch from two to dozenseven hundredsof machines.

KVM switches can be expensive, especially when the necessary cables are purchased separately. Some recent KVM switches are built with the output cables attached. Although this places a limit on how far apart your Mac mini and PC can be, it also significantly reduces the total cost of a KVM switch.

KVM switches come in two varieties, based on the type of input and output connectors they offer for the keyboard and mouse. These are PS/2 and USB. PS/2 is the standard PC keyboard and mouse connector. USB switches use the universal serial bus connector common on both PCs and Macs.

Does the Mac mini accept PS/2?

No. The Mac mini has two USB jacks, however. If you want to use your existing PS/2 keyboard and mouse, buy a PS/2 KVM switch and a PS/2-to-USB adapter, which accepts the PS/2 keyboard and mouse and combines them into a single USB output that plugs into the Mac mini. The adapter costs $25.

What switch and other gear should I buy?

My recommendation is to toss the PS/2 mouse and keyboard that came with your PC and buy a wired USB keyboard and mouse. Use these with a USB KVM switch that features built-in cables. I like the IOGEAR mentioned in Chapter 4, but the Belkin with the built-in USB hub is nice, too. It requires cables, however, as does a Belkin switch that uses DVI connectors.

Should I use DVI?

DVI, for digital video interface, is the native video output used by the Mac mini. Most users will install the supplied VGA-to-DVI adapter and connect a PC VGA monitor instead.

However, if you are connecting your Mac mini to a home entertainment center, you will probably use the DVI adapter (see "How to Turn Your Mac mini into a Media Center" in Chapter 9).

Also, some PCs and LCD monitors are being delivered with DVI connections. In my testing with a Dell PC, Dell flat-panel display, and Mac mini, I didn't see a significant difference between VGA and DVI.

Do I need to buy hubs?

The Mac mini is equipped with two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port. This will be a significant limitation for some users. Fortunately, you can buy add-on hubs to expand the number of available ports.

If you add peripherals, expect to buy a USB hub, FireWire hub, or both. Or buy a combination hub, such as the one IOGEAR sent me to play with. But be aware that many hubs (including the IOGEAR) don't provide enough power to operate an Apple iSight camera or charge an iPod. These will end up plugged into the Mac mini itself.

Apple really needs to add more ports to the Mac mini.