Apple Wireless Keyboard Eating Batteries

Update...

I put in new batteries this Monday and at the same time switched back to using my Logitech mouse instead of the Magic Mouse. The batteries in my keyboard now report 92% charge. The last time I changed the batteries with the Magic Mouse connected, after one day the keyboard's charge was down to 72% (or something like that - in the 70's). So, it is really looking like it has something to do with the Magic Mouse (not just having the latest Bluetooth, etc, updates). I won't use the computer much, if at all, over the weekend so it will be interesting to see what the battery state is on Monday.

Just wanted to add my voice to the chorus and mention (since I didn't see it specifically noted) that I have a Magic Mouse and both the old (three battery) and the new (two battery) BT Apple keyboards. BOTH keyboards exhibit this battery consumption issue when connected to my computer with the Magic Mouse. Connect either keyboard to a computer with an old BT Mighty Mouse and the keyboard batteries last the expected length of time.

I think it's fairly safe to assume that this is not a keyboard version specific issue, but is linked to the Magic Mouse.

Look, we made the news http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/12/04/batteries.running.dry.at.unusually.fast.r ates/

Add me to the ever growing list...

New iMac Core i7 with the new mouse and keyboard.

Keyboard going from 90%+ to 30% in a few days. First time i've had a wireless keyboard so wasn't sure what to expect. Mouse down to 80% after 2 weeks so that's not to bad.

Hopefully fixable via a software update?


Cheers

Installed Magic Mouse Tuesday, Dec 1st. Second set of batteries in 3 battery keyboard now at 72 percent - in less than 24 hours. Keyboard batteries had been lasting 4 months or more. This is crazy. Apple should be selling these mice with a large, red lettered BEWARE sign. (The Magic Mouse is at 95 percent, even that isn't great for less than 4 days.)

Just found this thread. Holy cow this has been happening to me like crazy since I got the Magic Mouse (on launch day). I use the 3-battery wireless keyboard in my home theater with a Mac Mini. Prior to adding Magic Mouse I got 4-6 months on keyboard batteries. Since adding it, I've just changed the keyboard batteries for the fourth time. Crazy!

So what will the fix be?

Just installed new batteries and switched back to my other wireless mouse. Let's see what that does keyboard's batteries.

Same here. Magic Mouse & 3 batt wireless keyboard, SN 10.6.2. Used to never think about batteries with the Mighty Mouse & same keyboard; now both the Magic Mouse & Keyboard chew threw them in a few weeks. Definitely a bug here.

I have the same problem as everybody else in this discussion. I have a small aluminum wireless keyboard (2007, the model with three batteries, model #A1255 I think, with firmware 320) and it started eating batteries after I purchased and installed a Magic Mouse (firmware 132). The batteries last about 5-10 days instead of a few months like it is supposed to. I have changed the batteries four time since November 1st and when I install brand new batteries the battery level is only at 70-75%.

This is an annoying problem and hopefully Apple will acknowledge it soon.

I'll use rechargeable batteries until Apple provide a fix.

NI3LS wrote:
Well, in my opinion, the keyboard won't turn off or get in sleep mode. In this case I know for sure the connection will be lost.

I tried what you said, but still have to recharge batteries too often!

The keyboard can be manually turned off. You don't need to remove the batteries. Have you forgotten that the off button is on the right side of the keyboard? To turn it off, press and HOLD the button down until the green light goes off again.

Add me to the list!
My batteries last less than a week since the Magic Mouse made an appearence. Last night I put new ones in, this AM the indicators was they are at 80%, & now after less than 2 hours of keyboard us its at 75%!

Yes! I thought I was going crazy! I guess it's good to know that I'm not the only one with this issue!

Mark

I'm another one, two weeks per set of batteries on model A1255.

Ok, one week now after stopping the use of my Magic Mouse (using my Logitech mouse instead) and my keyboard batteries are now at 88%. Much much much better than when I was using the Magic Mouse. With the Magic Mouse, my keyboard batteries would probably be dead by now.

I have had the same problem since I started using the Magic Mouse. A new set of three Energizer Lithium batteries were dead within three weeks (they usually last for about six months with my very occasional use even with the keyboard not turned off) and another new set went from 100% to 94% in six hours yesterday when the keyboard wasn't even being used! I've started turning it off but why haven't Apple got this fixed and why is there no official Apple comment on this topic?

Maybe I'll drop a line to Greenpeace.