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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Desktops > iMac w/ Magic Mouse and wireless keyboard = battery drain

iMac w/ Magic Mouse and wireless keyboard = battery drain
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miacomet
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Jan 31, 2010, 02:41 AM
 
How do I find a battery that last's longer than a month? Any advice?
     
Simon
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Jan 31, 2010, 03:47 AM
 
Aluminum Keyboard Firmware Update 1.1

And rechargeable batteries.
     
miacomet  (op)
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Jan 31, 2010, 11:32 AM
 
Is there a good set of rechargable batteries to use? Everything I have read on the internet, says don't use rechargable batteries with wireless keyboard and magic mouse for various reasons... any good brands?
     
0157988944
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Jan 31, 2010, 01:31 PM
 
Rechargeable batteries just don't work with the keyboard, though they have worked fine with the Mighty Mouse (I have yet to run down the packaged batteries in the Magic Mouse.) I think it's something about the keyboard being too low-power.
     
Thorzdad
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Jan 31, 2010, 01:32 PM
 
I have no issues with battery life on the keyboard. I'm about 3 months on, and I haven't changed the keyboard's batteries yet. The MagicMouse, on the other hand, is a horrible battery hog. I don't think I've gotten a full month out of a pair yet. The only thing rechargables solve is having to buy a lot of batteries. They certainly don't solve having to replace them a lot. My experience with rechargables, too, is that they don't have lifespan a normal battery does, so I suspect I would find myself swapping-out rechargables much more frequently.
     
miacomet  (op)
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Jan 31, 2010, 05:17 PM
 
Does it help if you turn the Magic Mouse on and off on the bottom at the beginning and the end of the day?

I heard that it turns itself on and off, but I'm not 100% sure.

If they sold these with a wire, I'd buy it in 1 second. I see zero advantage for myself to having a wireless keyboard and mouse. On the other hand, it is a great boon for the battery companies...
     
Thorzdad
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Jan 31, 2010, 05:52 PM
 
I haven't tried turning the thing off at the end of the day, primarily because re-syncing it with the iMac (like when I change batteries) can sometimes be a bit of a pain. As in, connect my old wired mouse to the iMac to open the Mouse control panel and re-connect the MM.
It's a great mouse. It's just a bit buggy still.
     
ghporter
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Jan 31, 2010, 06:39 PM
 
I got about 2 1/2 months out of the batteries that came with my Magic Mouse. Not shabby, I think. I am planning to use rechargeable batteries when I have to change them next time-which I figure will be at least late March.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Thorzdad
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Jan 31, 2010, 07:06 PM
 
Wow. That's amazing battery life! As I said, I've never gotten more than a month out of the batteries. Usually a little less.
     
miacomet  (op)
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Jan 31, 2010, 08:24 PM
 
My Magic Mouse batteries don't last very long either.
     
QuadG5Man
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Jan 31, 2010, 09:01 PM
 
I'd like to know if turning off the MaM saves battery life.

I agree, a corded one would be very nice. In fact, when I bought mine I thought it was corded and 39.99, for some reason. Happy w/ Bluetooth version but would prefer corded.
2002 Mac Mini i5 8GB 256GB SSD
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Sage
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Jan 31, 2010, 09:29 PM
 
I tried several sets of rechargeables with my old wireless keyboard and mouse, and they all started to fail at holding any charge after about a year.

Anyway, I also get about a month out of my Magic Mouse, although I also use a lot of gestures (BTT). I just went and bought the 48 battery set from CostCo.
     
miacomet  (op)
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Feb 1, 2010, 11:13 AM
 
A year is plenty of time for one set of constantly used rechargables, for me at least.
     
   
 
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