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WeeShoo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 7, 2005
194
1
North Carolina
So I have changed the batteries in it about 3 times so far, the interval inbetween changing them is about 2-3 weeks, is this normal? I use my computer just about everyday, I also put my mac to sleep 90% of the time, I shut down about once a week overnight. Is it me or is something wrong with my mouse?
 

Counterfit

macrumors G3
Aug 20, 2003
8,195
0
sitting on your shoulder
Turning the mouse off when your Mac sleeps or is shut down should greatly help battery life. I wish my mouse had an on/off switch. I think I've gotten 2 weeks max out of a pair of AAs.
 

mklos

macrumors 68000
Dec 4, 2002
1,896
0
My house!
When I had my iMac G5 with the wireless keyboard and mouse I only had to charge the batteries in my keyboard and mouse only once. I had my iMac G5 for about 3 months. I used my iMac G5 for gaming everyday so the mouse and keyboard was constantly in use. The mouse/keyboard goes to sleep while the computer is sleeping and automatically shuts off when the computer shuts off.

Maybe you need better batteries? Some are better than others. The cheap rechargeable batteries absolutely suck. I have PowerEx 2300mAh rechargeable batteries. They're the best you can buy according to many reviews.
 

Dr. Dastardly

macrumors 65816
Jun 26, 2004
1,317
1
I live in a giant bucket!
I heard that its better to use rechargable batteries when it comes to BT mice. I hear that they last longer but I highly doubt it. But I would still get them just for the fact that you don't have to keep going through batteries like they were going out of style.
 

stevep

macrumors 6502a
Oct 13, 2004
876
4
UK
Koodauw said:
Really?

I get a good two months use out of a set of batteries. And I use my computer daily.
Yep, I get 2-3months from my MS bluetooth mouse, and it doesn't even have an on/off switch!
 

neocell

macrumors 65816
May 23, 2005
1,073
2
Great White North
mklos said:
Maybe you need better batteries? Some are better than others. The cheap rechargeable batteries absolutely suck. I have PowerEx 2300mAh rechargeable batteries. They're the best you can buy according to many reviews.

I'm with mklos with the good vs bad battery hypothesis. The batteries I got with my BT mouse lasted for ~3 months, then the replacements I've used have lasted only a couple of weeks. Went back to the corded pro mouse for last little while, but had some presentations to do so got the BT mouse running again (2 days and counting for these cells....
 

devilot

Moderator emeritus
May 1, 2005
15,584
1
WeeShoo said:
Im using radioshack batteries. I think the problem is solved, your guys' help is greatly appreciated...
Moo ha ha ha, when you work at Sharper Image you can get the batteries... well, practically for free. I haven't had to swap the batteries for my BT mouse yet, but when I do, I'll see how well it can hold up. :eek:
 

ITASOR

macrumors 601
Mar 20, 2005
4,398
3
I have that MS Optical wireless notebook mouse that the receiver snaps into the bottom of the mouse. It takes 1 AA battery, and I never turn it off (I leave the receiver in the computer all the time) and it's been running for almost 3 months on the same battery. HA!
 

PlaceofDis

macrumors Core
Jan 6, 2004
19,241
6
i use enegizer rechargable batteries with my bluetooth mouse, and i get a good month and a half to two months out of them
 

IJ Reilly

macrumors P6
Jul 16, 2002
17,909
1,496
Palookaville
stevep said:
Yep, I get 2-3months from my MS bluetooth mouse, and it doesn't even have an on/off switch!

Also 2-3 months, running the Mac 10 hours a day 7 days a week on average using plain old alkaline cells from Costco. Rechargeable batteries don't last as long because they start with lower voltage output.

The BT mouse does have a shut off -- two in fact. The first is to close the slider on the bottom, the second is to shut down or sleep the Mac.
 

Snide

macrumors 6502a
Apr 12, 2005
914
756
neocell said:
I'm with mklos with the good vs bad battery hypothesis. The batteries I got with my BT mouse lasted for ~3 months, then the replacements I've used have lasted only a couple of weeks.{snip}


The batteries that came with my Apple BT mouse were lithium, which
last much, much longer than alkaline. Another plus is that lithium
batteries seem to weigh half as much, which reduces the weight-gain
of going from an Apple standard mouse to BT. I have been looking for
lithium batteries locally, but they aren't easy to find. Last time I priced
them a few years ago, they were $5.00 for a 4-pack. Maybe cheaper now?
Not bad for 6 months of use!
 

wako

macrumors 65816
Jun 6, 2005
1,404
1
Radio Shack 15 minute rechargeable batteries + BT Mouse and Keyboard = Heaven


I just simply go make something to eat, come back, and boom! Im back on :)
 

BrianKonarsMac

macrumors 65816
Apr 28, 2004
1,102
83
devilot76 said:
Moo ha ha ha, when you work at Sharper Image you can get the batteries... well, practically for free. I haven't had to swap the batteries for my BT mouse yet, but when I do, I'll see how well it can hold up. :eek:
i used to work there...what a horrible job, sell those warranties! i now work for apple, life is complete.

i get about 6-8 weeks out of my rechargeable batteries.
 
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