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Introduction
One of the most frustrating aspects of using a Hackintosh can be the difficulties often encountered in trying to get specific pieces of hardware to work. In most cases, the onboard WiFi or Bluetooth present on many PC motherboards simply aren’t recognised, as the drivers don’t exist for macOS.
A simple, plug and play solution is always preferable. And this, the Asus USB-BT400 is as simple as it gets.
Just plug this Bluetooth adapter into a free USB port, and it’s immediately recognised by OS X. Bluetooth appears in System Profiler, Bluetooth options appear under System Preferences, and you’re able to pair with Bluetooth devices just as if it were a native Mac Bluetooth board.
This adapter supports Bluetooth 4.0, and it’s also backwards-compatible with the older Bluetooth 3.0 and 2.0. Range is quoted as “over 10 meters” by Asus. Of course, you’re unlikely to be sitting 30 feet away from your computer while you use it, but still.
So, if you were looking for a simple, inexpensive, way to use Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse with your Hackintosh, this is it. I always recommend using an actual Apple keyboard with your Hackintosh as having the Apple function keys on the top row and the Apple-specific keys like ‘Command’ and ‘Option’ just makes everyday use simpler.
There are no kexts to install, and no configuration needed. It’s as simple as plugging it in and then pairing with your keyboard and mouse the same way you would on a real Mac. You can also wake your Hackintosh from sleep by moving the Magic Mouse or pressing a key on the Magic Keyboard, just like on a real Mac.
Another advantage of this adapter is the price – around $20 at the time or writing.
- Plug and Play solution
- No messing with plists or kexts
- Compatible with Apple peripherals
- Bluetooth peripherals can wake your Hackintosh from sleep