External monitor/keyboard/mouse for MacBook Air 2017

September 23, 2020 10:02 AM

I need to buy an external monitor, as well as a keyboard and mouse for my 2017 MacBook Air. I'd like to spend under $300 for all three. The keyboard is probably the most important to me in terms of quality - I type a lot for work so would like something that feels solid. What should I buy and what cords do I need?

The 2017 MacBook Air has two USB ports and a thunderbolt port. Should I try to find peripherals that work with those ports, or just buy converters?

I have also read a lot of reviews of various affordable monitors that say they don't work with macs, so I'd like recs of items that do.

As for budget, I'm not sure how much I'll actually use this setup (I'm very used to just working on my laptop) so I'd like to do this pretty cheap for now and then will upgrade later if it turns out I use it a lot.

posted by lunasol to Computers & Internet (9 answers total)

You also have a very solid bluetooth reciever in that mac for peripherals.

I am a big fan of Logitech keyboards. However, if you like the apple keyboard on your computer, consider their external keyboard and mouse.


Decent 27" 1920x1080 monitor

Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter that works nicely for me on a 2012 MBA

Note: I like trying keyboards in person. Maybe go to a retail store that has them out, and carry some sanitary wipes to get / leave no trace?
posted by nickggully at 10:38 AM on September 23, 2020

I absolutely adore Logitech's K750 keyboards, if you like lower-profile keys. If you also get a Logitech mouse, they can use the same USB receiver (I've found that Logitech's receivers work better than built-in Bluetooth).
posted by General Malaise at 10:49 AM on September 23, 2020

Oh, also should note that the Thunderbolt 2 port is also a native MiniDisplayPort port, so you shouldn't need anything fancy to connect to a monitor (I have a normal MDP-DP cable that came with the monitor [Dell]).
posted by General Malaise at 10:51 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]

Lemme chime in to say "go cordless if possible." So much better not to have cords w/keyboard and mouse/trackball/trackpad/whatever. And General Malaise is right about the K750. Except for the crummy little rubber pads on the underside, it's been nearly perfect (other than not having a Caps Lock indicator light, that is).
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 11:01 AM on September 23, 2020

Response by poster: I don't know why I didn't think about bluetooth! Just goes to show how long it's been since I used peripherals.
posted by lunasol at 11:38 AM on September 23, 2020

Logitech stuff is good. Using a G502 mouse right now. Keyboards are extremely a matter of personal preference. If MacOS's mouse behavior annoys you, I recommend SteerMouse.

I have also read a lot of reviews of various affordable monitors that say they don't work with macs

It sounds like maybe they just mean it doesn't have a Thunderbolt interface? Any monitor ought to work with a Macbook with the correct adapter, especially if it has DisplayPort. Just get a Mini DisplayPort to Regular DisplayPort cord and you're good. The difference is you'll have to plug your USB stuff in separately from the monitor.
posted by neckro23 at 11:41 AM on September 23, 2020

I am currently using the Logi MX Keys and MX Trackball and they have been great with my 2016 MBP. Wireless is so important because, with an external monitor, you are going to want to align the MB and the external screen so that the two screens are usable together, but then it will be awkward to run cables to the mouse and keyboard. The two MX device were about $100 each. I bought a so-so 27" Dell monitor for about $250. So, that's a little more than you are looking to spend, but in the ballpark.
posted by Mid at 11:59 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]

Sorry, I have the MX mouse (not trackball). It's been great.
posted by Mid at 12:04 PM on September 23, 2020

Something to consider is that your Thunderbolt port can carry a combination of different signal, including USB. So if you get a monitor with at Tbolt interface that functions as a USB hub (which many monitors do), and if you go with wired keyboards/mouse, it's easier to plug them into the monitor so you've only got one thing to plug into the laptop.

A DisplayPort monitor will also carry USB signals (probably) and would work the same way. These are more common. You might need to get a DisplayPort > Mini DisplayPort adapter or conversion cable, but that's no big deal

[Side note: The Tbolt port on your MacBook is visually indistinguishable from a Mini DisplayPort and is compatible with that standard--you can think of it as a souped-up version of Mini Displayport. Newer Macs use Thunderbolt 3, which is physically identical to USB-C, and can be thought of as a souped-up version of USB-C. It gets confusing. The only way to tell them apart is by the little lightning-bolt icon next to the port that indicates it is Thunderbolt. Supposedly USB 4 will fix all this).
posted by adamrice at 12:37 PM on September 23, 2020