anyone got any Mac accessory recommendations?

[zerophase]

I use a macbook pro. Absolutely love it. Mac office has never been the best but it works I guess. For a cheaper alternative, the pages and keynote Apple makes are really good too and they are compatible with Microsoft Office (you can save in the same file extensions).

So you can run powerpoint, excel, and word with keynote?

Keynote is an Apple version of Powerpoint; Pages is Apple's word; and Numbers I believe in Apple's excel. They come in a packaged called iWork. I've only used pages- it works as a fine word processor. No complaints.

I would recommend you get use to keystrokes-- like cmd+space opens the spotlight which can launch programs in extreme efficiency. It'll make the experience much better. Like using spaces and expose. If you're looking for apps to do specific tasks, then I may be able to help given the task.

As for external accessories, my favorite is probably the Griffin mini-display to HMDI adapter that lets me hook up my Mac to my TV. Other than that and an Incase sleeve... sometimes a travel mouse, I don't use many other accessories.

[guava_wrench]

Regarding printers, the cost of the printer is almost irrelevant. It is all about the ink. Hopefully you also use it enough that your ink will not be wasted from just sitting there.

I do all my printing at work, which is actually very little printing. Hard copies are so old fashion.

[gar]

Have an iMac and an older MACbook Pro. Sarted using an inexpensive 19" LCD monitor with my MACbook and now use it more than the iMac. Extra real estate is nice and I can keep Celtics blog open on the montior (or Pandora) and work on the other.

[Eja117]

Regarding printers, the cost of the printer is almost irrelevant. It is all about the ink. Hopefully you also use it enough that your ink will not be wasted from just sitting there.

I do all my printing at work, which is actually very little printing. Hard copies are so old fashion.

To be fair I think part of the issue is to get a scanner/printer combo thereby eliminating some printing.

[afflatus]

Buy any reputable and cheap LASER printer you can find. You mentioned you won't be doing much printing. I don't print much myself. Anytime I buy an inkjet, by the time it runs out of ink, it will cost as much of the printer itself. I know I can buy cheaper versions of the ink cartridge, but still. At that point the printer would be a year and a half old already.

I bought a $60 laser printer. And I know that thing will take 3 years before e toner runs out. At that point, I will just buy another laser printer in that range.

As far as Mac accessories, any external hard drive that has FireWire 800 would be nice. An Elgato HD TV receiver is one of my favorites. Honestly, that's about it. That's the point of Applle products, you get pretty much everything you need on that one purchase.

On the Mac app store, you can get iWork. You can download a demo as well to see if you can get used to it. I've been using it and use my files back and forth between office and iWork with no issues.