Well, billford, whether or not Apple's very latest mice are problematic, there'd be nothing to stop me, I suppose, from getting the latest Apple wireless mouse at a later date, if I so desired.

I would hazard a guess that if you did a survey on what sort of mouse graphics and photo professionals use, irrespective of either Windows or Mac platform, the majority answer would be 'wired'. And I think also that specific models would come up. Even a lot of gamers swear by wired ones.

As for battery life, well photo-editing often requires endless hours of work each day on the computer, and I think photographers would quickly get frustrated at having to regularly replace the battery(s).

Or when you are re-installing the OS. That's the only time I need a wired keyboard/mouse. That's when I wish that Apple would lighten up a little and put at least one USB port on the front of the Mac Mini.

I've used all sorts of mice from original Microsoft and Apple (ugh) ones, through Sun and Silicon Graphics ones, to Logitech and modern Apple ones. The latestbApple mouse rates amongst the best of these. But I'm not trying to persuade you of anything; just be aware that you will be missing out on a deal of functionality.

As for batteries, haven't you heard of rechargeables? Last about a month in my mouse and are changed in a matter of seconds for another ready charged set.

It was the wireless one with the curvy top contours

No, that's the Magic Mouse - a great piece of kit.

I never had any trouble with mice, keyboards or trackpads on macs.
You can install the os and even win 7 on bootcamp using bluetooth mice and keyboards, I just did it.
I can echo the recommendation of the magic trackpad, once you have used it for a week and got used to it it feels very natural and it's a joy to use.
I found the batteries last quite long, I play for hours on online games on the windows partition and I don't think they go through them particularly quickly.
Give the mouse and keyboard a chance if you don't like them then put your own on but I think you will.

If you use a third party mouse, such as a Logitech USB mouse it is probably worth installing USB Overdrive rather than the manufacturers software. USBOD is a fine piece of software that just works.

I have been using an i-mac for just over a year, also using the supplied mouse, and after a few "I fear change" moments, I have found it to be absolutely fine.

I had problems with top roller ball on the supplied mouse and I bought a Macally Pebble mouse, very accurate to use and the laser area does not clog up. It is connected directly to the USB port on the keyboard.
I also have the trackpad device and in-spite of being trained on a Macbook Pro track pad I do not use the standalone one with the Mac Pro - perhaps it is a matter of physical work space for keyboard and mouse.

If you getting a custom iMac then opt for the Magic Trackpad instead. I had the Magic mouse before getting the trackpad, it was fine - but I like the multitouch support that the trackpad gives you - for my photowork I mostly use the trackpad, but for more precise editing I have my old Wacom Tablet.