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Do you sill use your wireless keyboard and mouse?
- Thread starter pilkenton
- Start date
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I received my iMac Christmas eve and still using the original batteries that came in the keyboard and magic mouse. I did replace the batteries in my trackpad a couple of weeks ago with Duracell alkalines. Can't imagine having to go back to a wired keyboard and mouse.
Honestly, I could go either way.
On one hand I like not having wires all over the place. Even with my PC I do what I can to reduce that. And I don't use my number-pad THAT much that I'd miss it... and use the top-rows well enough (even when programming).
BUT... I also don't like having to deal with batteries... whether it's replacing the AA's or having to dig around for my Logitech touch-pad's USB cable to start charging it.
So I tend to use keyboard through USB and touchpad as (near) wireless.
If/when I go with an iMac I imagine I'll do this same. This way the keyboard will also have a USB hub on it for when I need to plug in my rare Thumb Drive without reaching behind the screen.
On one hand I like not having wires all over the place. Even with my PC I do what I can to reduce that. And I don't use my number-pad THAT much that I'd miss it... and use the top-rows well enough (even when programming).
BUT... I also don't like having to deal with batteries... whether it's replacing the AA's or having to dig around for my Logitech touch-pad's USB cable to start charging it.
So I tend to use keyboard through USB and touchpad as (near) wireless.
If/when I go with an iMac I imagine I'll do this same. This way the keyboard will also have a USB hub on it for when I need to plug in my rare Thumb Drive without reaching behind the screen.
I have been using my wireless keyboard and MM since day one. For me, it is about aesthetics and keeping my desktop as clean as possible. Since I'm left handed and my wife is right handed, having a wireless MM is a real benefit particularly given the relatively short length of the cord on the wired mouse.
Batteries are batteries; we buy them by the case...
Batteries are batteries; we buy them by the case...
Wired - want the full keyboard. And as for the mouse, I tried wireless and a couple of times a day, every day at about the same time, the mouse would stop working for a couple of minutes. And it's not just one mouse or one Mac.
The wire on the keyboard absolutely doesn't get in my way. And as for the mouse, the way my desk is set up, I have no interference from the mouse cable at all.
And I sure don't miss having to replace batteries. Usually at a most annoying time.
The wire on the keyboard absolutely doesn't get in my way. And as for the mouse, the way my desk is set up, I have no interference from the mouse cable at all.
And I sure don't miss having to replace batteries. Usually at a most annoying time.
Batteries?
I can't for the life of me figure out what you guys do with the batteries that they only last less than 2 or 3 weeks. I am on my iMac every day for 5 - 8 hours and they last me at least a couple of months.
I use my wireless keyboard although I am debating wired or wireless for my next one (love having an extended keyboard without having to do the add-on). It is fun sometimes to control my machine from a few feet away even if not practical for most things.
My wireless mouse I gave up on. Batteries in it died WAY too often. Which makes sense because you use your mouse more than a keyboard to start. I have a wired mouse and a wired trackball on it to use the additional controls on both.
I do not have a track pad on my machine but my spouse does. Neither of us have came up with a good way to incorporate it into our workflows so it sits unused.
My wireless mouse I gave up on. Batteries in it died WAY too often. Which makes sense because you use your mouse more than a keyboard to start. I have a wired mouse and a wired trackball on it to use the additional controls on both.
I do not have a track pad on my machine but my spouse does. Neither of us have came up with a good way to incorporate it into our workflows so it sits unused.
Been using wireless keyboard and mouse since August when I purchased my first mac. Using Sanyo Eneloop rechargeables and probably replaced keyboard batteries about twice and mouse batteries last about 2-3 months.
I did buy a wacom tablet for graphic work and tried to use it as a touchpad which was perfectly ok for general surfing and emailing but a bit iffy if moving files around even sometimes with the pen. Now use the magic mouse and the tablet for graphic work only.
If anyone is considering a magic trackpad would suggest a wacom (fun) tablet as viable alternative. A bit dearer but does offer more flexibility depending upon one's application.
I did buy a wacom tablet for graphic work and tried to use it as a touchpad which was perfectly ok for general surfing and emailing but a bit iffy if moving files around even sometimes with the pen. Now use the magic mouse and the tablet for graphic work only.
If anyone is considering a magic trackpad would suggest a wacom (fun) tablet as viable alternative. A bit dearer but does offer more flexibility depending upon one's application.
I chose the wired keyboard for the numeric keypad and the standard delete key I'm used to from almost 30 years working on DOS and Windows machines. I also use both a wired mouse and the Magic Trackpad. Using the Trackpad alone was giving me tendinitis.
I'm still using the wireless keyboard/mouse that came with my iMac but each day I get closer to ditching the keyboard for a wired one as I'm too impatient to wait for it to wake when the iMac wakes.
This is my problem. I'm currently using the small (not full) Logitech solar keyboard, at it takes twice as long to wake up and get connected to the computer, compared to the wireless Apple keyboard. I'm really considering going back to wired soon.
Wired keyboard. And I just bite the bullet and buy battery bricks at Fry's Electronics and such. At the end of the day the convenience factor trumps.
Twice as long as the Apple wireless keyboard? Wow, you must spend the majority of your day waiting around then!
It's definitely not that much of an issue having to wait 20 seconds or something but I just don't understand why it's like that in the first place. The sleeping iMac responds to me tapping a key (or the trackpad) so there's obviously some connection. Why then does it take so long before I can actually type something? Has anyone actually looked into this a bit deeper?
Eneloops!
They power our two Magic Mice, one Mighty Mouse, and two wireless keyboards, as well as all of our remote controls and our camera gear that uses AA cells.
With a bunch of them, I always have spares for replacement, and I've basically eliminated alkaline cell purchases.
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I use a wired keyboard on my iMac. A tap of the shift key will wake it up, but it still takes time before it will respond to typing, so it isn't really a wireless issue.
They power our two Magic Mice, one Mighty Mouse, and two wireless keyboards, as well as all of our remote controls and our camera gear that uses AA cells.
With a bunch of them, I always have spares for replacement, and I've basically eliminated alkaline cell purchases.
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I use a wired keyboard on my iMac. A tap of the shift key will wake it up, but it still takes time before it will respond to typing, so it isn't really a wireless issue.
Mobee Magic Charger for the Mouse.. Problem solved. Just place the mouse on the Charger at least once a week and the batteries will never be dead on you.
Or for those that want to be able to charge the Keyboard, Track Pad and Mouse. The Mobee Magic Feet
http://www.mobeetechnology.com/
Or for those that want to be able to charge the Keyboard, Track Pad and Mouse. The Mobee Magic Feet
http://www.mobeetechnology.com/
Eneloop
Sanyo Eneloop (or Duracell "Precharged") FTW.
http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-Eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargable-Batteries/dp/B000IV0REA
These do not have the discharge problems of pure NiMH batteries. I use them at my office and they last in the keyboard and magic mouse & magic trackpad for well over a month, if not two.
Ralph
Sanyo Eneloop (or Duracell "Precharged") FTW.
http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-Eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargable-Batteries/dp/B000IV0REA
These do not have the discharge problems of pure NiMH batteries. I use them at my office and they last in the keyboard and magic mouse & magic trackpad for well over a month, if not two.
Ralph
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Wired keyboard with Magic Mouse. LOVE the Magic Mouse. Which it would work on PC's/
I can't remember how often I change batteries. It's not that often. I have the Apple rechargeable, and they seem to last months at a time. I'm not on them constantly so I imagine they Magic Mouse sleeps a lot. The original batteries lasted a long time. EverReady Advanced something or others. I was impressed with how long they lasted.
One possible dumb question: When I change batteries, my iMac never reconnects back with the mouse. I have to plug in a wired Mighty Mouse to reattach to the invigorated Magic Mouse. Is there a way to make that more 'automatic'?
I can't remember how often I change batteries. It's not that often. I have the Apple rechargeable, and they seem to last months at a time. I'm not on them constantly so I imagine they Magic Mouse sleeps a lot. The original batteries lasted a long time. EverReady Advanced something or others. I was impressed with how long they lasted.
One possible dumb question: When I change batteries, my iMac never reconnects back with the mouse. I have to plug in a wired Mighty Mouse to reattach to the invigorated Magic Mouse. Is there a way to make that more 'automatic'?
The Apple rechargeable batteries sold with the little charger are Eneloops as I recall ... they perform exactly the same in my keyboards, trackpads, and Magic Mice.
The wireless devices should reconnect automatically after a battery change. You might try just clicking the mouse ... or worst case slide the power switch off and on again. I would go to BlueTooth Preferences and remove, then reconnect the mouse in the list and see if that fixes the problem. Remove any other devices which are listed but no longer used as well.
-howard
I've had the best luck with those. I ended up buying three sets for all of the battery hungry stuff I have (home/office/travel). I just wish they sold more batteries without the charger for a lower price, or higher count. I'll bookmark the Amazon link from farther up to order more in the future.
Well, not the last time that I swapped batteries. I clicked, I switched off/on, I prayed to Sheba... Ended up looking for the Mighty Mouse and reconnected manually. I thought that having to turn your iMac off/on whenever batteries are changed in the mouse sounds a little extreme... I've gotten used to it. Keep the tailed rodent around 'just in case'. I'll look for other devices, but one only has the one mouse I know. I get the same thing for both iMac's so I figured it was a 'feature'...
I have 6 or 7 of these Magic Mouse critters in use, and they all reconnect after a battery change, although I have put the MoBee battery/charger in 3 of the most used ones now, and they work fine.
If you want more batteries, just get some Eneloops from Amazon or Costco and you can charge them in your Apple charger just fine.
-howard
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One problem with the keyboard and trackpad MoBee charger system, is that they extend out from the side and won't allow use of a mounting frame to consolidate the keyboard and trackpad into one unit. I use the Henge Dock "Clique" frames, and wish there was an inductive charging system which would work with that setup.
http://hengedocks.com/order_clique.php
-howard
And those knobs that stick out of the sides of the keyboard/trackpad... Kinda like Frankenstein neck bolts? Do they plug into the charger somehow? Will they react to anything else in the vicinity of the charger pad? And, as if I have that kind of desk landscape to donate to something that big... Now, building it into the desk would work...
Batteries Vs. USB - Hmm - for me it is USB
I love the full size USB keyboard, plugged in and use it without having to worry about batteries, turning it on or off. And the number pad is handy. Is a wonder they don't make a full size wireless for those who need the number pad.
Mouse, well I had a Mighty Mouse to start with, because I preferred USB over batteries, for one its lighter, and second more comfortable to hold.
Downside to the mighty mouse was the stupid scroll ball, what were they thinking, be better with a standard wheel like other mice.
So, switched to Magic Mouse, well, I hate changing batteries, so much a nuisance. It is heavy for prolonged use. And its too flat and not comfortable to use, squared off edges isn't a nice feeling.
If magic mouse was redesigned to be more shaped like the mighty mouse, and available in USB form, I would be straight there and purchasing one.
I love the full size USB keyboard, plugged in and use it without having to worry about batteries, turning it on or off. And the number pad is handy. Is a wonder they don't make a full size wireless for those who need the number pad.
Mouse, well I had a Mighty Mouse to start with, because I preferred USB over batteries, for one its lighter, and second more comfortable to hold.
Downside to the mighty mouse was the stupid scroll ball, what were they thinking, be better with a standard wheel like other mice.
So, switched to Magic Mouse, well, I hate changing batteries, so much a nuisance. It is heavy for prolonged use. And its too flat and not comfortable to use, squared off edges isn't a nice feeling.
If magic mouse was redesigned to be more shaped like the mighty mouse, and available in USB form, I would be straight there and purchasing one.