New Apple keyboard, doesn't sync or charge ipod nano

[The Man]

Just got off the phone with Tier 2 Customer Support. It's true: the new keyboard's hub doesn't give power to USB devices like iPods and flash drives
WHEN CONNECTED TO iMACS OLDER THAN MID-2007.
Sux. They're gonna take mine back and refund it.

Is this different from the older white wired keyboards? Can the white wired keyboard power these devices, albeit at USB 1.1 speed? Aside from these high power USB devices, can the new keyboard power low power USB devices?

I have only been able to lend a previous white wired keyboard from a friend--right now I'm using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse--and was able to connect and power my D-Link Bluetooth dongle, connect (not charge) my white iPod shuffle, and power my Keyspan serial adapter on the keyboard's USB ports. This is on my iBook G4. If the new aluminum keyboard will be able to do the same, then I will buy one. It has to at least be able to power my low power Bluetooth dongle. I need some solid confirmation

 

[chewbee]

Is this different from the older white wired keyboards? Can the white wired keyboard power these devices, albeit at USB 1.1 speed? Aside from these high power USB devices, can the new keyboard power low power USB devices?

I have only been able to lend a previous white wired keyboard from a friend--right now I'm using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse--and was able to connect and power my D-Link Bluetooth dongle, connect (not charge) my white iPod shuffle, and power my Keyspan serial adapter on the keyboard's USB ports. This is on my iBook G4. If the new aluminum keyboard will be able to do the same, then I will buy one. It has to at least be able to power my low power Bluetooth dongle. I need some solid confirmation

Yes, my older white keyboard can power a USB flashdrive, but the new aluminum keyboard cannot. This is all with a 2.16 Core2Duo 24" iMac, not the brand new aluminum iMac.

I have no idea whether you'd be able to power the D-Link bluetooth dongle, but I do know that Tech Support said that iMacs older than the ones that came out this month cannot power iPods through the new keyboard.

 

[The Man]

Yes, my older white keyboard can power a USB flashdrive, but the new aluminum keyboard cannot. This is all with a 2.16 Core2Duo 24" iMac, not the brand new aluminum iMac.

This is nuts! If this is true, it's nuts! So not even on your pretty new Mac? What's driving me insane is that we all simply don't know how much power the USB ports of the new aluminum keyboard can provide. Also, what has Apple done that the old white keyboard can provide reasonable power, and the new one can't? If Apple just stated how much mA of current each provides. I want that new keyboard, but I need it let it power my Bluetooth dongle! Until I have solid confirmation, I'll wait, and it's driving me crazy.

 

[nuttyboy78]

I've had my new iMac and KB for a week now and have had no problems connecting my Sandisk Titanium 4GB pendrive to the keyboard usb port. I also connected a friend's iPod nano to my KB and used it in hard drive mode while it appeared to be charging. No problems there.

 

[The Man]

I've had my new iMac and KB for a week now and have had no problems connecting my Sandisk Titanium 4GB pendrive to the keyboard usb port. I also connected a friend's iPod nano to my KB and used it in hard drive mode while it appeared to be charging. No problems there.

I think we've established that the brand new iMacs don't have any problems. It's with the older Macs that seem to have problems. But even some relatively newer Macs have problems. I wish that I could get some confirmation of somebody with the new keyboard and an iBook and tell me if it will power a Bluetooth dongle. I guess, I could just order it and return it when it doesn't, but that's just such a hassle.

 

[PhilS1121]

I think we've established that the brand new iMacs don't have any problems. It's with the older Macs that seem to have problems. But even some relatively newer Macs have problems. I wish that I could get some confirmation of somebody with the new keyboard and an iBook and tell me if it will power a Bluetooth dongle. I guess, I could just order it and return it when it doesn't, but that's just such a hassle.

I have a new 24" aluminum iMac. I have had problems with the USB ports on two of the new keyboards, the original I received with the machine and the replacement I just received from Apple.

The first keyboard would read my external hardrive fine and allow me to import or export information to it for the first four or five times. Then it started losing the connection in the middle of importing some photos. Then it stopped working at all. Apple sent me a new keyboard, and this one won't read the hard drive at all. It also was having problems with a ipod shuffle, though I need to double check this. I'm going to try the keyboard with an ipod tonight, and I'll also try rebooting and hooking things up to the various USB ports on the keyboard and the back of the iMac in a different order. But from what I've experienced and read elsewhere, I don't think the USB issue is only with the pre-aluminum Macs.

 

[The Man]

But from what I've experienced and read elsewhere, I don't think the USB issue is only with the pre-aluminum Macs.

Would you recommend that I wait for revision A before buying this keyboard for my iBook? I really want this keyboard, but with so many people having problems, chances are that I will have the same problems. I simply don't have the time for sending it back and waiting for another one to arrive. I guess that I simply have to wait this one out.

 

[DaWickedBird]

If u guys chech apples site about the keyboard now, it will say that :
*Devices that draw high power from the USB connection, such as iPods, hard drives and some flash drives, can only be used with the new keyboard when it is attached to the aluminum iMac.

Thank you Apple for letting us know, before buying this keyboard, and now i can't even return it, because my two weeks of trial is up!!!!!! Just great! URGH
-DaWickedBird

 

[PhilS1121]

Would you recommend that I wait for revision A before buying this keyboard for my iBook? I really want this keyboard, but with so many people having problems, chances are that I will have the same problems. I simply don't have the time for sending it back and waiting for another one to arrive. I guess that I simply have to wait this one out.

Not sure. It's not clear to me whether Apple is going to fix this, or whether it's a hardware issue or some software fix can do the trick. If you order one now and then they come up with a fix that requires an, it's not a big deal to exchange though. They sent me a new one and I didn't have to ship the old one back until I got the new one (and they sent me a return shipping label). If they don't fix it, the issue will be whether you can live without the USB ports on the keyboard. IMO, it's really a nice keyboard, one of the nicest I've ever used. Even if I end up having to use a USB hub out of the back of the computer, I would still keep the key board, I think.

In any event, I dsconnected all of my other devices from the USB ports on the back of the Mac, except the keyboard itself, and restarted, and I still can't get the USB ports on the Mac to work with my external HD. I haven't tried an ipod or digital camera yet.

 

[lordjonny]

sorry guys but i am gobsmacked as to how so little of you read apples website i was showing a friend tonight and instantly looked at this in disbelief!!!

* Devices that draw high power from the USB connection, such as iPods, hard drives and some flash drives, can only be used with the new keyboard when it is attached to the aluminium iMac.

it quite clearly says it must be connected to the NEW iMAC!!!

look for yourselves(http://www.apple.com/uk/keyboard/) and don't underestimate apple, they do think of everything and aren't stupid enough to make claims that aint true.
although i sound a bit angry it is only that i am tired sorry
also someone touched on the subject but i am too tired to read it and am going to stop righting.......NOW!

 

[PhilS1121]

sorry guys but i am gobsmacked as to how so little of you read apples website i was showing a friend tonight and instantly looked at this in disbelief!!!

* Devices that draw high power from the USB connection, such as iPods, hard drives and some flash drives, can only be used with the new keyboard when it is attached to the aluminium iMac.

it quite clearly says it must be connected to the NEW iMAC!!!

look for yourselves(http://www.apple.com/uk/keyboard/) and don't underestimate apple, they do think of everything and aren't stupid enough to make claims that aint true.
although i sound a bit angry it is only that i am tired sorry
also someone touched on the subject but i am too tired to read it and am going to stop righting.......NOW!

Do you know when that material was added to that page?

In any event, as I noted above, I have tried two keyboards with the aluminum Mac and the USB ports on neither keyboard will work with several peripheral devices I have.

 

[The Man]

sorry guys but i am gobsmacked as to how so little of you read apples website i was showing a friend tonight and instantly looked at this in disbelief!!!

* Devices that draw high power from the USB connection, such as iPods, hard drives and some flash drives, can only be used with the new keyboard when it is attached to the aluminium iMac.

Don't assume that the text was there from the start. Don't you think we wouldn't be discussing it so heavily if it was stated right there from the start? It's because of the discussion here and everywhere that Apple apparently added that the text to clarify. It's good that Apple did. Apple even changed the text. Before it was:

"Two USB 2.0 ports provide high-speed connectivity for your iPod, Mighty Mouse, digital camera, and other USB-based electronic devices. Yes, we did think of everything."

Now, it's:

"Two USB 2.0 ports enable you to easily connect your Mighty Mouse as well as a high-speed peripheral such as a digital camera or printer.* Yes, we did think of everything."

Just look at the first entry of this thread for the original screenshot.

You assuming that we didn't read the website and that the text was there from the start is just gobsmacking to me.

 

[lordjonny]

TBH i can't see how you thought it would work as it has never worked before for devices connected to the keyboard, regardless of the apple saying so if it could;ve worked before it would have been so, it came out with the new mac and therefore there would have to have been adjustments made in the first place. rightly so apple should have said so on the website to inform newbies such as yourselves but it doesn't make that much difference anyway

 

[PhilS1121]

Now, it's:

"Two USB 2.0 ports enable you to easily connect your Mighty Mouse as well as a high-speed peripheral such as a digital camera or printer.* Yes, we did think of everything."

It seems odd that they removed the reference to the ipod. Why would it work with a printer, but not an ipod?

 

[DaWickedBird]

the part about it needing a new iMac just got added yesterday, been checking the site every single day since i bought my keyboard, so dude before u tell us we aren't reading a site probably, get ur info right.. *sigh*

 

[mahonmeister]

Sorry I didn't reply back to report my progress, the AppleCare guy never got back to me and I was gone on vacation until yesterday.

Seeing that they updated their site new info (as a few of you have noted), I guess my issue is somewhat resolved. I can't decided if I'll take it back or not, I really like the new design. *long sigh*

Here is the new info for those that are curious:

 

[phytonix]

Oh this is so sad. I have an older iMac and now my Keyboard is useless, besides I can type on it.

 

[koobcamuk]

Oh this is so sad. I have an older iMac and now my Keyboard is useless, besides I can type on it.

I'm debating returning it (online though, so that's a pain in the ass) just so that I can free up a USB port on my damn MacBook.

Apple, you did not think of everything, as you so boldly stated.

Even my old keyboard could power a damn Flash Drive. Now I am thinking about getting a wireless keyboard instead. This is a shocking piece of news Apple.

 

[Maccleduff]

It seems odd that they removed the reference to the ipod. Why would it work with a printer, but not an ipod?

Because printers usually have their own power supply to the mains, as opposed to an iPod which draws its power from the USB port directly.

 

[mahonmeister]

Oh this is so sad. I have an older iMac and now my Keyboard is useless, besides I can type on it.

It was advertised as having capabilities that it did not truly have. Simple. I don't appreciate your sarcasm. I realize you may not see much significance in this issue, but when I buy a product (especially one from Apple) I expect it to be fully functional.

 

[koobcamuk]

It was advertised as having capabilities that it did not truly have. Simple. I don't appreciate your sarcasm. I realize you may not see much significance in this issue, but when I buy a product (especially one from Apple) I expect it to be fully functional.

I really like this keyboard - and actually want the USB ports to work! They are totally useless to me if I can't put in a pen drive.

What am I to do? What are you all doing? Are you exchanging or getting a BT one?

 

[The Man]

It really sucks that certain pendrives won't mount. But will the keyboard power a low power Bluetooth dongle (D-Link) on my iBook G4? When the simple answer is yes, then I will buy the keyboard. Is there no one who can answer this simple question?

 

[mahonmeister]

I really like this keyboard - and actually want the USB ports to work! They are totally useless to me if I can't put in a pen drive.

What am I to do? What are you all doing? Are you exchanging or getting a BT one?

Not sure yet. It's such a sexy keyboard, but the keys take some getting used to and my spacebar isn't quite working properly.

I don't have a BT dongle to try for you The Man, sorry. Bring your dongle to the store and try it out, assuming you are close to one.

 

[PhilS1121]

I really like this keyboard - and actually want the USB ports to work! They are totally useless to me if I can't put in a pen drive.

What am I to do? What are you all doing? Are you exchanging or getting a BT one?

I may try bringing mine to the Apple Store and see what devices they can get it to work with, and see whether my hard drive works on another keyboard. I read on another web site that someone was having no problems with his keyboard working with a hard drive, so I'm still not convinced that there is a defect in some of the keyboards included with the new aluminum macs.

 

[quigleybc]

i'll just add my name to this list.

just got the keyboard, brought it home, super pumped...of course one of the first things I did was plug in my Nano.

Low power....WTF

on the old keyboard I could at least plug the Nano in and charge it.....even if syncing was slow as s**t....

this one i can't even plug into..However as I'm typing this, i'm loving the action of this keyboard....

sigh,

I really like this keyboard, guess I just can't use it with my iPod...

kinda weak, but Oh well....

for the price though........typical Apple...