"Docking" the MBP Into A Killer Desktop Rig

As I push myself to use my MBP more and more over my desktop windows box, i'm looking to setup my MBP as a sort-of detachable desktop while i'm at home. Instead of doing the simple thing of hooking it to a normal monitor, i'm looking to go a big step further. Here's the idea.

Current Goods ::
MacBook Pro
Olevia 27" LCD HDTV
Creative Labs 5.1 Surround Sound
XtremeMac DVI-to-HDMI cable
Seagate FreeAgent 320gb External (FAT32 Format)

What I Think I Need ::
Bluetooth Mouse/Keyboard (or standard 2.4 wireless?)
Sound cable of some sort (Going from optical minjack to standard optical?)

So in the end you get a MBP, hooked up to a HDTV & surround sound, being used wireless across the room as I set in my bed surfing Mac-Forums!

Does this sound like a working idea? I've already tested the video portion, and the MBP picked up my TV's native resolution like a champ. The only things I'm unsure on is what audio cable i need, and a good reccomendation for wireless mouse/keyboard solution. Once this is all set (hopefully before Saturday), I'll post pics and my thoughts here.

Anyone care to assist and answering my questions?

 

Sound cable of some sort (Going from optical minjack to standard optical?)

you just need a TOSLINK cable with mini-TOSLINK Adapter (into the audio out port) assuming your 5.1 setup has a optical cable input, which it seems it does.

something of this nature

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=6C04E07A&nplm=TL955LL/A

could probably even pick one up at the Apple store.

good luck on choosing a mouse/keyboard.

Apple bluetooth keyboard works perfectly well, my roomate has used one for years, a little heavy but not too bad.

not many people like the mighty mice (?) haha, but I know quite a few people that have used them for quite awhile with no problems, bluetooth would be the way to go i think, so you can keep the usb ports free.

good luck.

 

The bluetooth mouse and keyboard that Apple has is outstanding. Connect them once with your Mac and it will recognize them every time you turn them on and auto connect with them.

And you know that if you use the Mighty Mouse and have your Mac connected to an external LCD, you don't have to open it to resume from suspend mode. Just click the Mighty Mouse twice and your MBP will wake up and auto connect to everything. And you wonder why Apple never came out with a docking station... It's almost built in.

 

Doesn't that work with *any* bluetooth mouse, not only the MM? BTW, the Mighty Mouse has had a great deal of criticism goin on. If you game, be aware that you can't simultaneously right-click and left-click, and you must take the finger off the left-button spot to right-click. That's a showstopper to me.

 

I use the Apple BT keyboard and Mighty Mouse and I love them. Don't game, so this is not a factor. Trouble is with no mouse cord to support, I have knocked it on the floor twice. Mouse stunned both times, but MB reconnected fairly quickly without any long-term effects.

I also have Apple Extreme AirPort Basestation so there is no physical connection to the MB (except when I use monitor), and I can use it anywhere on my property.

 

A bluetooth mouse in Windows has to be manually connected each time. So you have to go into the connection wizard to re-connect with the mouse and keyboard. It's a real PIA.

Apple implementation of bluetooth devices is much slicker.

Don't game so left and right click while gaming are not issues for me. Left and right clicking in Windows via Parallels IS an issue and the mighty mouse works great. I don't know where all the criticism is coming from but I have no issues with any of mine.

 

Are you sure about that?

I used a bluetooth mouse for a short period of time and don't remember ever having to re-pair it.

 

I use a USB hub as a docking station. That gives me connections for two disks, keyboard, mouse and my ipod. I don't use an external display; the lappy sits on an iCurve stand.

Come home, plug in power and one USB cable and I'm ready to roll.