Mac Mini Questions and Problems

[TheGeek]

I have a few problems/ questionas about my new Mac Mini. iwant to start off by saying i love it, but... i have a few problems

1a) My keyboard no longer works. its the logitech wireless elite desktop kit, and it waorked at first, but all of a sudden it stoped working. the wierd thing is that the wired keys still work (volume dial, the sleep button, etc.) but the letters, numbers and F-keys dont. i pushed the connect butten on both the keyboard and reciever and the both recognized each other. i tried the keyboard on a windows PC and i had the same problem. sorry if all that makes no sense, im tired and frustrated b/c i have to use my PC with a ps/2 keyboard.

1b)Bluetooth- can it be added by an apple certified tech? this goes along with #1 because i want a apple wireless keyboard and mouse

2)The mac mini comes with an ethernet port, but I forgot that my house only has wireless. so my question is, does the mini accept a normal airport extreme card that i can self-install, or does a special one need to be installed by a certified tech. thanks

 

[halfadder]

1a) Either both the Mac Mini and your PC have the same problem or you have a hardware problem with the keyboard itself. I think you might need to RMA the keyboard.

1b) An Apple tech can install Bluetooth for you, there is a kit that includes both Airport Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth. You have to buy the two together as part of a kit.

2) It uses a normal airport extreme card, but it requires a special holder card for it. This is part of the Bluetooth + Airport Extreme kit for Mac Mini that an Apple tech can order and install for you.

Bummer about the wireless. Does your wireless access point / router have some spare ethernet ports? You could probably just plug your Mac Mini in that way with a cat5 patch cable. I have wireless at home for my laptop, but I use ethernet for all of my PCs because it is much faster than wireless. Even 802.11b is only 54 Mbps when you are close to the base station. If you're on the other side of a few walls in another room, the speed drops down. From the other side of the house I'm down to less than 10 Mbps.

 

[TheGeek]

Originally posted by: halfadder
1a) Either both the Mac Mini and your PC have the same problem or you have a hardware problem with the keyboard itself. I think you might need to RMA the keyboard.

1b) An Apple tech can install Bluetooth for you, there is a kit that includes both Airport Extreme (802.11g) and Bluetooth. You have to buy the two together as part of a kit.

2) It uses a normal airport extreme card, but it requires a special holder card for it. This is part of the Bluetooth + Airport Extreme kit for Mac Mini that an Apple tech can order and install for you.

Bummer about the wireless. Does your wireless access point / router have some spare ethernet ports? You could probably just plug your Mac Mini in that way with a cat5 patch cable. I have wireless at home for my laptop, but I use ethernet for all of my PCs because it is much faster than wireless. Even 802.11b is only 54 Mbps when you are close to the base station. If you're on the other side of a few walls in another room, the speed drops down. From the other side of the house I'm down to less than 10 Mbps.

1a) the keyvoard is 2 yrs old. i doubt i can still RMA it

1b) can i buy and install it myself? how long would it take for a certified tech to install it? im looking to have my mac back to me the same day

2)ok

i cant run a cat 5 cable because my router is too far away and its not worth it to run wire

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Do you have a local Apple Store near you? If so, stop by them and ask about the bluetooth.

 

[ultimatebob]

They make a bluetooth/wifi combo card for the Mini... That's probably what you want to get to solve both of your problems.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Internal Bluetooth-$50
Airport Extreme card-$79
Internal Bluetooth+Airport Extreme card-$99

I would also get both.

 

[kenan921]

I just had the same problem with a logitech wireless keyboard. It was also around 2 years old. called them up and they sent me a new keyboard. Most of their products come with a 5 year warranty.

 

[omissible]

Bluetooth can also be added with a certain D-Link USB dongle. (Only a particular model is officially supported.) Apple sells them in its store, or you could look up the model number there and get it elsewhere.

 

[TheGeek]

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
Internal Bluetooth-$50
Airport Extreme card-$79
Internal Bluetooth+Airport Extreme card-$99

I would also get both.

arent those the BTO options? what about add-on options?

 

[TheGeek]

damn it!!!!! i just called my local mac service provider and asked if i could install airport by myself and they said yes, all i need is an airport extreme card. so i bought one, but then i downloaded the mac mini service manual and noticed that i done fvcked up. i need the kit with bluetooth and the mezzanine board. i called every nearby mac service place and none of them have it, or have a clue what their talking about. is there anyway i can buy the kit without being a resaller? otherwise it'll take 2+ weeks to get it. does anyone with a mac mini want to let my buy theirs? please? you have no idea the frustration i'm feeling now. i want to take both my mac and my PC and throw them out my window, run over them, shoot them and blow them up...

 

[halfadder]

Originally posted by: TheGeek
damn it!!!!! i just called my local mac service provider and asked if i could install airport by myself and they said yes, all i need is an airport extreme card. so i bought one, but then i downloaded the mac mini service manual and noticed that i done fvcked up. i need the kit with bluetooth and the mezzanine board. i called every nearby mac service place and none of them have it, or have a clue what their talking about. is there anyway i can buy the kit without being a resaller? otherwise it'll take 2+ weeks to get it. does anyone with a mac mini want to let my buy theirs? please? you have no idea the frustration i'm feeling now. i want to take both my mac and my PC and throw them out my window, run over them, shoot them and blow them up...

That's exactly what I told you above, the first reply to your post. You need that carrier card.

To install both bluetooth and airport you need:

AirPort Extreme Card (Retail)
922-6671 Board, Mezzanine
922-6530 Card, Bluetooth
922-6673 Antenna, AirPort
922-6674 Antenna, Bluetooth
922-6680 Screw, M2x3, Package of 5

 

[TheGeek]

Originally posted by: halfadder

Originally posted by: TheGeek
damn it!!!!! i just called my local mac service provider and asked if i could install airport by myself and they said yes, all i need is an airport extreme card. so i bought one, but then i downloaded the mac mini service manual and noticed that i done fvcked up. i need the kit with bluetooth and the mezzanine board. i called every nearby mac service place and none of them have it, or have a clue what their talking about. is there anyway i can buy the kit without being a resaller? otherwise it'll take 2+ weeks to get it. does anyone with a mac mini want to let my buy theirs? please? you have no idea the frustration i'm feeling now. i want to take both my mac and my PC and throw them out my window, run over them, shoot them and blow them up...

That's exactly what I told you above, the first reply to your post. You need that carrier card.

To install both bluetooth and airport you need:

AirPort Extreme Card (Retail)
922-6671 Board, Mezzanine
922-6530 Card, Bluetooth
922-6673 Antenna, AirPort
922-6674 Antenna, Bluetooth
922-6680 Screw, M2x3, Package of 5

i know. but i figured that the apple person knew what they were talking about. from now on, halfadder is my source for info i found everything but the screws at cgnusa.com. where can i get those?

 

[halfadder]

Originally posted by: TheGeek

Originally posted by: halfadder
922-6680 Screw, M2x3, Package of 5

i know. but i figured that the apple person knew what they were talking about. from now on, halfadder is my source for info i found everything but the screws at cgnusa.com. where can i get those?

M2x3 are a standard size screw. You should be able to find a package of that size at a local hobby store (the type that sells parts to build RC airplanes and RC cars) or maybe a hardware store (if it's the type that has bin and bins and drawers and drawers of screws, o-rings, etc of various sizes).

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Originally posted by: TheGeek

Originally posted by: Thin Lizzy
Internal Bluetooth-$50
Airport Extreme card-$79
Internal Bluetooth+Airport Extreme card-$99

I would also get both.

arent those the BTO options? what about add-on options?

Yes, those are BTO options. Sorry about that.

 

[TheGeek]

thanks

 

[Wuzup101]

All I have to say is good luck. It seems like there's the proper info up here on this board, just use a little bit of patients and you'll be fine!