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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Consumer Hardware & Components > Bluetooth vs USB wireless Keyboard

Bluetooth vs USB wireless Keyboard
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Douglashh
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Feb 20, 2011, 02:30 PM
 
What are the practical difference between using a Bluetooth vs USB wireless keyboards and mice? I need to get a new wireless keyboard and mouse and there seem to be more possibilities with USB wireless keyboards.

Are there some practical or technical differences between Bluetooth and USB wireless keyboards that I should consider?
     
mduell
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Feb 20, 2011, 07:10 PM
 
A lot of battery swapping if you buy the Apple wireless input devices.
     
CharlesS
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Feb 20, 2011, 08:53 PM
 
Granted, my Apple wireless keyboard is not the current generation, but with a decent set of rechargeable AAs, mine goes for quite a while before having to recharge.

Ticking sound coming from a .pkg package? Don't let the .bom go off! Inspect it first with Pacifist. Macworld - five mice!
     
tooki
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Feb 21, 2011, 06:13 AM
 
USB wireless seems to take less power, so the batteries last longer. The advantages of Bluetooth are generally (far) longer range, and that there's no receiver to lose. (Many USB wireless keyboards and mice have a range of just a few feet. Bluetooth goes 30 feet without obstructions.)
     
CharlesS
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Feb 21, 2011, 01:57 PM
 
Don't forget the fact that it's more convenient to connect, and doesn't take up one of your already scarce USB ports.

The batteries in my keyboard usually last long enough that by the time I need to charge them, I can't remember how long it's been since the last charge, but it's at least one or two months.

Ticking sound coming from a .pkg package? Don't let the .bom go off! Inspect it first with Pacifist. Macworld - five mice!
     
   
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