Same scenario for me (although 3 for 3 - 2 at home, 1 at work) - all the 3 battery keyboard and magic mouse. Noted when changed from "mighty" to "magic"...
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Magic Mouse Blamed for Draining Bluetooth Keyboard Batteries
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Same scenario for me (although 3 for 3 - 2 at home, 1 at work) - all the 3 battery keyboard and magic mouse. Noted when changed from "mighty" to "magic"...
I am not sure that rechargeable batteries are a full solution, although probably not a horrible move.
Most rechargeable cells don't have the full capacity that premium alkaline cells, or alkaline/lithium cells.
I use an electro-luminescent remote for my home theater that chews up new-generation rechargeables in less than 2 weeks, and I have two full sets of batteries, that I was swapping in and out.
A set of alkalines that aren't shelf-life depleted usually last well more than a month, to two months. the good lithium ones, rated for electronics last even a bit longer.
With the wireless keyboard issue, I wonder if the MagicMouse is not sleeping the same way, and keeping the bluetooth transceiver more active, more of the time... and thus that keeps polling the keyboard more often, keeping the keyboard's transceiver more active more of the time, as well.
Because, I doubt that the keyboard and mouse correspond with each other. they both correspond with the computer's transceiver, which may keep them all "awake" longer.
Most rechargeable cells don't have the full capacity that premium alkaline cells, or alkaline/lithium cells.
I use an electro-luminescent remote for my home theater that chews up new-generation rechargeables in less than 2 weeks, and I have two full sets of batteries, that I was swapping in and out.
A set of alkalines that aren't shelf-life depleted usually last well more than a month, to two months. the good lithium ones, rated for electronics last even a bit longer.
With the wireless keyboard issue, I wonder if the MagicMouse is not sleeping the same way, and keeping the bluetooth transceiver more active, more of the time... and thus that keeps polling the keyboard more often, keeping the keyboard's transceiver more active more of the time, as well.
Because, I doubt that the keyboard and mouse correspond with each other. they both correspond with the computer's transceiver, which may keep them all "awake" longer.
How can this be? Apple only produces 100% flawless items. At least, that's what the fanboys claim.
Thanks, Apple for your anti-"green" movement by requiring products to devour batteries. Oh, and I believe the bug involving the iPhone's battery life in firmware 3.x is still UNRESOLVED after 3+ months.
On a side note, I agree with many here about the point of wired keyboards. Keyboards are rarely moved (I'm sure some users will chime in here that they surf on the couch or whatever) doing computing tasks...hence no reason to lose the cord. Mice, on the other hand, are constantly moved and are probably in motion 80% of the time that you are performing computing tasks...so being wireless is nice so as to not run out of cable length or have limited reachability.
All my machines (pcs and macs) have wired keyboards but use wireless mice. My 2 Microsoft mice (each used about 4+ hours a day intensely while I use audio software) require new batteries (2 AA) only once a year. That is not a typo. My Mac wireless mouse (purchased late 2007) eats about 3 sets of batteries per year and I use that mouse maybe a few hours a week. Big difference. Clearly Apple doesn't fare well in the battery life department.
-Eric
Thanks, Apple for your anti-"green" movement by requiring products to devour batteries. Oh, and I believe the bug involving the iPhone's battery life in firmware 3.x is still UNRESOLVED after 3+ months.
On a side note, I agree with many here about the point of wired keyboards. Keyboards are rarely moved (I'm sure some users will chime in here that they surf on the couch or whatever) doing computing tasks...hence no reason to lose the cord. Mice, on the other hand, are constantly moved and are probably in motion 80% of the time that you are performing computing tasks...so being wireless is nice so as to not run out of cable length or have limited reachability.
All my machines (pcs and macs) have wired keyboards but use wireless mice. My 2 Microsoft mice (each used about 4+ hours a day intensely while I use audio software) require new batteries (2 AA) only once a year. That is not a typo. My Mac wireless mouse (purchased late 2007) eats about 3 sets of batteries per year and I use that mouse maybe a few hours a week. Big difference. Clearly Apple doesn't fare well in the battery life department.
-Eric
IMHO, people who do this are no better then the fanboys saying Apple is perfect.
Apple products do have problems. No company is perfect.
Problem with *new* keyboard as well...
I can confirm that this problem is also present with the brand new wireless keyboard as well (two battery). Turning off my magic mouse, and reverting to a wired mouse, totally resolves the problem and the keyboard's battery life has returned to what is expected (months between battery replacement instead of 1 week).
And for those of you saying that we should just start using rechargeable batteries; please think about the idiocy of what you are saying. Glossing over a major hardware problem that drains batteries in one week instead of in months is *not* solved by rechargeables (which also have a finite life). This is a problem that Apple needs to fix ASAP (that is, if they want to retain their 'green' reputation.
Burning batteries at a rate of 104/year is not very green IMHO.
I can confirm that this problem is also present with the brand new wireless keyboard as well (two battery). Turning off my magic mouse, and reverting to a wired mouse, totally resolves the problem and the keyboard's battery life has returned to what is expected (months between battery replacement instead of 1 week).
And for those of you saying that we should just start using rechargeable batteries; please think about the idiocy of what you are saying. Glossing over a major hardware problem that drains batteries in one week instead of in months is *not* solved by rechargeables (which also have a finite life). This is a problem that Apple needs to fix ASAP (that is, if they want to retain their 'green' reputation.
Burning batteries at a rate of 104/year is not very green IMHO.
I've had the magic mouse and wireless keyboard about a month now on my Mac Mini. My keyboard is at 81% and my mouse is at 64%. Since I use it in my office, it's used Monday-Friday. On the evening on Fridays I turn off my computer and turn off the button on the bottom of the magic mouse. I don't do anything with the keyboard on the weekends.
I don't think this battery life is very good, particularly compared to my past logitech wireless (non blue tooth) devices, but it looks like I may get 2 months out of batteries which I can live with.
I don't think this battery life is very good, particularly compared to my past logitech wireless (non blue tooth) devices, but it looks like I may get 2 months out of batteries which I can live with.
i have the new keyboard and magic mouse. prior to that i had the wired keyboard and mighty mouse. the mouse would get me an easy 2 months on rechargable batteries.
the new BT keyboard has already gone through the set of batteries that apple provided and is almost halfway through a rechargable set. while the magic mouse still has about 60% left in the batteries apple provided.
is a month to 6 weeks the average battery life for the keyboards? i thought it was supposed to be for a few months.
the new BT keyboard has already gone through the set of batteries that apple provided and is almost halfway through a rechargable set. while the magic mouse still has about 60% left in the batteries apple provided.
is a month to 6 weeks the average battery life for the keyboards? i thought it was supposed to be for a few months.
I haven't had this problem at all with my Magic Mouse and my 3-battery aluminum BT keyboard (paired with a Mac mini running Snow Leopard). Of course, now that I mention it I'm sure I've jinxed myself and my BT keyboard batteries will die shortly.
What do you mean? If batteries are dying quicker than usual, I don't think the rechargeables are immune.
I use them since my computer also plays as an entertainment center.
I've only had to replace my batteries once though.
It's disturbingly heavy compared to other mice.
I've got the Magic Mouse *and* the new 2-battery Wireless Keyboard and they have both been burning through batteries like crazy.
I highly disagree with you about not being any better...A little sarcasm every now and then doesn't hurt anyone.
I AM an Apple fangirl 
and I have the same problem with my 3 battery wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse. And I don't want to go back to my Mighty Mouse because I actually like the Magic Mouse. Keyboard batteries go in less than a week and Mouse in about 8 or 9 days. Using rechargeable batts now, but what a PITA. I used to get months in the keyboard on one set. Now it's every few days.
and I have the same problem with my 3 battery wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse. And I don't want to go back to my Mighty Mouse because I actually like the Magic Mouse. Keyboard batteries go in less than a week and Mouse in about 8 or 9 days. Using rechargeable batts now, but what a PITA. I used to get months in the keyboard on one set. Now it's every few days.Idea:
Create a Mouse mat that comes with the magic mouse to charge the mouse whilst it's on the mat, just like say, the powermat, and the palm too i think.
Oh, and get a wired keyboard, can anybody tell me why you chose to get the bluetooth version?
-Sam
Create a Mouse mat that comes with the magic mouse to charge the mouse whilst it's on the mat, just like say, the powermat, and the palm too i think.
Oh, and get a wired keyboard, can anybody tell me why you chose to get the bluetooth version?
-Sam
Apple should tell future complainers to calm down. We know there's an issue and it's being worked.
iDisk
Actually, not all of us knew that, fanboy.
Hopefully this can be fixed with an update, in which case it's no big deal. Lets just hope it gets fixed fast, and not in 3 months.
However, I really don't see the point in using a wireless keyboard and mouse for a desktop computer. I think that one little wire is still better than having to buy batteries all the time. I think it's really stupid that Apple didn't make a wired version of the Magic Mouse, some people hate batteries more than wires. Especially that an iMac doesn't need many wires in the first place (for the display and ethernet and all that usual PC stuff), one wire isn't going to kill you. Not to mention that batteries cause lots of pollution when thrown in the trash (because no one wants to go around the city looking for those very rare battery disposal bins).
And at least wired keyboards had 2 USB ports, that's also an advantage, you never have enough USB ports. Having a stupid USB hub just looks lamer than a wired keyboard. Sure you can't type a love letter from the other room, but then you can't see the screen either can you?
I'm not saying they shouldn't make wireless peripherals, I'm just saying that they should make them optional, and wired components should be there by default. Just the way that Mighty Mouse used to be! Even if that was a poor quality product... Hopefully the Magic Mouse doesn't fall apart, now that it has no moving parts (except that it still clicks, so that might have some problem with it).
However, I really don't see the point in using a wireless keyboard and mouse for a desktop computer. I think that one little wire is still better than having to buy batteries all the time. I think it's really stupid that Apple didn't make a wired version of the Magic Mouse, some people hate batteries more than wires. Especially that an iMac doesn't need many wires in the first place (for the display and ethernet and all that usual PC stuff), one wire isn't going to kill you. Not to mention that batteries cause lots of pollution when thrown in the trash (because no one wants to go around the city looking for those very rare battery disposal bins).
And at least wired keyboards had 2 USB ports, that's also an advantage, you never have enough USB ports. Having a stupid USB hub just looks lamer than a wired keyboard. Sure you can't type a love letter from the other room, but then you can't see the screen either can you?
I'm not saying they shouldn't make wireless peripherals, I'm just saying that they should make them optional, and wired components should be there by default. Just the way that Mighty Mouse used to be! Even if that was a poor quality product... Hopefully the Magic Mouse doesn't fall apart, now that it has no moving parts (except that it still clicks, so that might have some problem with it).
Not happy to hear this. I got a new wireless keyboard for xmas. The magic mouse was ordered, but has not yet arrived. I love the keyboard, but one of the selling points was it's battery-life.
Steve aware and promises software fix "coming soon"
In typical verbose fashion, Mr. Jobs responded to an email I sent pointing to the sites reporting the problem (before Macrumors had, or I would have included Arn also).
It said:
"We know. A software fix is coming soon. Sorry for the problem. Steve"
So at least we can quell the "Apple doesn't even acknowledge the problem" complaints.
As far as what "soon" mean though...When people reported the DRM issues with content moving to a new Xbox 360 we were told that a fix was coming soon...2+ years before it actually happened. I have more faith in Apple though. We'll see.
In typical verbose fashion, Mr. Jobs responded to an email I sent pointing to the sites reporting the problem (before Macrumors had, or I would have included Arn also).
It said:
"We know. A software fix is coming soon. Sorry for the problem. Steve"
So at least we can quell the "Apple doesn't even acknowledge the problem" complaints.
As far as what "soon" mean though...When people reported the DRM issues with content moving to a new Xbox 360 we were told that a fix was coming soon...2+ years before it actually happened. I have more faith in Apple though. We'll see.