Bluetooth Reviews

I'm using it regularly with my T68m for file(backgrounds) and Internet access via AT&T Wireless GPRS service.

I've used this 3Com Bluetooth PC card for about a year now to print wirelessly to my HP 995 Bluetooth printer, and I've found it to be extremely reliable. I can output up to 30 feet away. And installing the 3Com Bluetooth card was certainly easier than setting up a Wi-Fi network in my home (something I'm not keen to do, especially since high speed internet access is not yet available in my area).

The 3Com Bluetooth PC card slid easily into one of my laptop's open PC card bays. Loading the software was also very straightforward. A "Bluetooth Connections Manager" was established on my desktop, which monitors (or restores) the Bluetooth link with every available Bluetooth device in the area (whether it is on or off). And if the software ever develops a glitch, the program is easily fixed (without having to reinstall it) simply by clicking the "repair" option in the "Add or Remove Programs" section of Windows XP.

I've now inserted 3Com Bluetooth PC cards into all of my laptops which enables me to print wirelessly to the HP 995 printers I have in both my home - and in my office. The 3Com Bluetooth PC card even allows me to output wirelessly - while I'm on the road - when I use my Bluetooth enabled HP 450 cbi mobile printer, which also works extremely well.

I don't sync with my Palm 515 via Bluetooth, although I could. And I don't own any other Bluetooth devices, such as phones or headsets. Even so, the 3Com Bluetooth PC card has still proven to be invaluable since it allows me to print from across the room - while I sit in my favorite chair -- and watch TV! After all, isn't this what (in-the-home) mobile computing is all about?

If you'd like to enjoy the freedom of mobile computing - and remote printing - without having to set up a Wi-Fi network in your home, using a 3Com Bluetooth PC card might be an easier way to go. It certainly was for me. I highly recommend it!

I bought the product based on one of the reviews on amazon. I liked the product because of the following reason:
a) easy installation
b) I have t616 sony ericsson and it was able to synchronize with it without any extra software needed from sonyericsson site.
c)very lightweight and sleek.
d) great price
I did not verify the speed it's synchronizing with t616 but it seems fine.
some useful tips:
1) After installing bluetooth in your machine, it's going to show you a bluetooth icon. when you are not using your bluetooth connection, right click on the icon and stop the blutooth device to save power.
2) Right click on the icon will show you bluethooth configuration link, go and setup to communicate with your intended device only to protect your computer from unauthorized use.

Even though the price is cheap, this bluetooth adapter delivers. I bought it from Amazon.com (with free shipping, it took merely two days to be delivered!).

It comes with a free USB extension cable in case it won't fit into your hub/computer with wires next to it (it is rather wide, but the extension cable more than makes up for it). The range is good: about the standard 10 meters (it has full range over the room that it's in).

Integration with Mac OS X is superb; it's merely plug and play for Macs, though I assume it is a lot less easy/reliable with Windows computers.

The one down point of Bluetooth is its low transfer rates: with it interfacing with my Sony Ericsson T616, it has an average bandwidth of 4KB/s. I suspect that it is the phone's fault (as it's not necessary to have very high bandwidth for such small files). Bluetooth's official rate is about 90 KB/s, so this is vastly underperforming.

However, due to the cheap price, free cable, and reliability of the TRENDware Bluetooth USB adapter, I give it 5 stars and recommend it to anyone with a Mac looking for a decent, cheap way to become Bluetooth-enabled.

Wokrs great with my Nokia phone and version 6.2 of the Nokia PCSync software. Automatically detects my phone, even if it's in the other room, 25 ft. away.

My wife liked my Nokia 3650 so much that she switched chips with me and is carrying it.

My favorite features:

1. Speaker Phone. Nice when driving or multitasking. Good audible range. I slip it in my shirt pocket and speak into the air. Works great!
2. Display is very good for its size. The camera takes 640 x 480 color images. I bought a 32 meg card to increase storage. I recently used the phone as my principle camera on vacation to the Smokies. Worked great.

3. Contacts is a nice feature that can pull your chip's phone numbers and store them. Just add email addresses and you can send the camera pics to any email via the multimedia option.

Disadvantages: The blue lighted round keyboard. In low light it is hard to see. This can be a problem when text-messaging or adding contact details.

I'm buying a 2nd phone which will be another Nokia 3650. (...) :)

well, I owned this phone for 10 months now and its too big.. all the features are great. really a great phone...but kinda too bulky and heavy.

also that circular dial pad isnt comofrtable. thats why they changed it for the new 3660. overall its a nice phone.

I bought it from Amazon.com with T mobile Service plan. I stay in minneapolis and T mobile service is awesome here.
Things that i like about this phone :
- Excellent color display which is reasonally big compared to cell phone standards.
- novel keypad, although it took some time to get adjusted.
The Central scroll key is really cool (esp while playing games :)
- Camera is awesome. Colors of pictures are rich, sharp. Good 640 x 480 resolution (i set image quality to highest and the pics were awesome)
- Excellent security ( Can set an optional code, so that u need to enter it when ever u switch the phone on. Also, u can set a code when ever SIM card changes. So, even if somebody steals ur piece, i guess they cant use it )
- can work even outside US ( Europe and Asia ).
- I never used SMS before, but this cell has it with predefined/customizable templates which really reduce the burden of typing and we can send text messages any where in the world. (for sending multimedia emails u need to subscribe to t zones ..which is well... hmm...pretty cheap)
- T mobile has given a default email id(yourphonenumber@tmomail.net) to every piece with which u can send text based email from your piece using SMS.
- Can link to local bluetooth, infrared enabled devices. My laptop has an infrared port and i downloaded all the pics from the camera.
- Can act as a wireless modem to connect ur laptop to internet.( I didnt test that )
- can download any J2ME based Java applications. ( i didnt test that )
- has Calendar, calculator, sound recorder(which can record conversations), ring tone composer ( u can create ur own ring tones and set them) & loud speaker.
- Handsfree is given for free.
- can add pics to every contact in the list of contacts.
- classify contacts into groups and send group SMS messages, group emails.
- can play recorded/downloaded video clips using real one player.
- Although its a PDA, camera, video camera cum cell phone, the battery lasts pretty long.

Things i didnt like :
- a bit bulky, but the good features shadow it.
- built in ring tones(except for a couple or so) are not that audible in crowded places. The ones that i created were good.
- Good cases are readily not available. I had to buy a Bodyglove's neopreme cell case from circuitcity :( )

Well, bottom line is... i feel i bought(Got) an AWESOME piece for FREE !!

I just got a new h4155 iPaq and ordered this navigation system to go with it. I was very impressed with the level of detail in the maps and have had no reliablity issues. I think the key is mounting the device somewhere in your car (not sticking it in your pocket like a previous reviewer). I have never lost bluetooth signal with the iPaq mounted using a magnetic dash mount. For the GPS I just set it on the dash. This is really a great value for a complete navigation solution!

I've been using this product for 3 months after evaluating other products such as Pharos, Navman and Socket.

The strong points are:
1) quick TTFF(Time to First Fix). A cold fix usually can be obtained in under 2 minutes. Make sure it is mounted with a clear view of the southern sky. You can use a velcro sticky from a crafts store if the rubber surface is not adequate to prevent sliding. Most peoiple mount it on the dashboard. Be careful in hot sunny climates as the black surface can cause the unit to overheat.
2) Long Battery life: you can expect up to 8 hours with the lithium ion rechargeable battery. This is pretty good for most bluetooth receivers.
3) Works well with IPAQ devices. No pairing relationship is required. This is often not the case for other bluetooth receivers.
4) The mapping software is no-frills and works vey well. You can store important locations as favorites and also use addresses from your contacts on your PDA.

Cons:
1) The Black Case can cause unit to overheat in sunny locations when placed on the dashboard.
2) Glare from the PDA screen is noticeable in sunny daylight situations. This is a problem eveident in all PDA GPS solutions. It is safer and less distracting to rely on the spoken directions as the GPS will warn you well ahead of any turns. I would recommend using a quality vehicle mount with external speaker and charging built in. The ARKON unit is a good device.
3) Low audible output. Again, an external vehicle mount is a good idea when using this in your car.

I ordered this to replace a Navman unit I used to use with my 3870, however I lost the 3870 and replaced it with a 4155 and this.

The good:

- Excellent battery life
- Excellent GPS, locks in within a minute with cold start
- Bluetooth works great
- The unit comes with a power adaptor using the Ipaq connector meaning you only need carry one charger around
- The maps appear upto date
- Software is intuitive
- Routing is quick and auto-rerouting works well
- Spoken instructions are particularly good. I often don't use the display
- I like the points of interest and the way you can ask for a list and be directed to the nearest gas stations, restaurants etc.
- Never locked up

The bad:

- Only thing I've found better so far on the Navman was the map display

Generally very impressed!

There are a few annoying things with this unit. It doesn't always connect when it should, but resetting the Jornada makes the connection work. It certainly isn't as fast as I would like, average speed of 14.4.
All in all, the portability and functionality makes this a great buy. If you have the bluetooth kit and a pocket PC, this is a must have; at least until the next level improved modem comes along!

As far as getting this card to work with my PDA, this card was certainly the easiest. I also bought an AmbiCom BT2000 card, and with that card I couldn't get my PDA to connect to my phone. It was very nice, just didn't work with my PDA well. After that experience, this took me 10 minutes.

Important added bonus - this is the least obnoxious card out there. It's so small that it does not stick out of the slot, which prevents it from being seen and/or damaged. Blinking lights on your card are overrated!

I'm using an Audiovox Maestro with the Socket card + an Ericsson T68 cell phone. I don't know what the complaints are about, it works like a charm. I keep the phone in my pocket and web-browse using my PDA, or I can synch them wirelessly. Setup was a complete breeze, the current Socket software for handhelds walks you through the process. I can't imagine this being any easier, and I'm shocked by the other comments. Maybe their beta software sucked, but the release versions are wizard-driven and simple.

I bought the ambicom usb adapter to transfer my pictures from my nokia 3650 cellphone. I installed it on my older pc that had windows 2000 and it works nomally on the "Bluetooth Neigbohood" software i can transfer midi files and pictures easily, but when i installed my phone's PC Suite software it couldnt detect the bluetooth connection and i cant sync my phone at all. I can only transfer files back a forth by the provided software but it does not get detected by my phone's sync software. I also tried to install it on my XP (home edition) laptop but i doesnt work at all. There is no bluetooth connecition at all and i have installed everything the way it should be. I dont think its compatible on XP at all.

This adapter works very well compared to the Sony bluetooth adapter I tried (and returned). The Ambicom has good compatability between brands, and the software enables you to link easily with different services. There is even an option in the software to set up an ActiveSync connection, and a proxy internet connection for your PPC. Now my ipaq and vaio can sync easily without wires, using ActiveSync. In the setup, getting the COMport numbers correct can be a bit tricky -- it's important to pay attention to the steps in installation, and to consult your PDA manual. Also, I find I need to connect to ActiveSync (on the ipaq) through the bluetooth manager, which is easy, no problem. Once it's set up, it connects perfectly every time. A relief, after struggling with the Sony adapter and software -- and the Ambicom is half the price -- so I give this one 5 stars.

Having read some of the reviews for other Bluetooth adapters out there, I was a bit reluctant to get a product from a relatively unknown maker. I'm glad I gave it a chance!

I installed it on my home XP Pro (SP1) system on a USB 1.1 (powered) hub! It installed in minutes, and a couple of clicks after that, I was synchronizing my iPAQ 2215 via a bluetooth connection.

This item comes with short USB extension cable. I won't use it since I think it's safer to have the adapter securely plugged into my hub, but I do understand why some people may find it helpful. The adapter itself is very compact, and it doesn't take up more than its share of space on my hub, thus allowing me to use all the plugs next to it.

There are two versions of the latest software for this model, depending on your unit's serial number... Make sure to select the correct one if you download the latest drivers.

There isn't anything special about the design or looks of this small adapter, but so far it's worked perfectly for me. I don't know the exact distances but I've been able to connect my PDA from anywhere in my apartment.

I hope you have a similar experience to mine!

I've never had a wireless headset before, so I decided to get a small one. It's really easy to work and since it is Bluetooth enabled, I can be in completely different room and it still sounds clear.

I got this device last month and connected to my Nokia 6820 and it worked fine , only some times you will have to manually reconnect the device after idle times , the headset is very light and small, be carfull if your will use it on Nokia 6600 which I tried and found that it doesn't support it.

V600 is the best, most expensive cell phones I have ever had.
Here are the pros and cons I have experienced so far.
PROS:
1) Pictures taken from its camera are decent when you see them on the large phone display.
2) Plays very clear sounds and videos
3) Free Voice dialling feature is a real cool feature.
4) Datebook, calculators and capability to receive free text messages (on AT&T) can make you much more organized
5) mMode subscription (AT&T) to surf the web can make you very productive.
6) Free earpeice was delivered with my item
7) Calls can be answered without have to open the phone!

CONS:
1) For AT&T customers, having the mMode key same as the general select key is a major problem. If you accidentally press the mMode key, the browser will launch and you will be charged for the data transfer. This is ABOMINABLE! Almost feels like a trap to make customers pay for web access even if they don't want to.
2) The user guide is 250 pages long! It takes time to understand all the phone features.
3) I had a little difficulty in putting my SIM card in.
4) The top display is very small and has blue background which makes it difficult to read.

Overall, a very good buy. It is almost a PDA at the cost of a cell phone.
CONCLUSION: If you are looking for a new gadget to play with, this is a good one as long as you get it for under $100.

I had Nokia 6610 for 6 months, and have been very happy with it. But wanted to buy a camera phone phone with bluetooth, so here in my opinion is one of the best choices. After using it for 2 weeks, this is what I think:

Pros:
- Decent camera with 4X zoom.
- Loaded with features
- Lots of "normal" ring tones
- Bluetooth (although haven't tried it yet)
- Keys nicely displayed, big screen
- Good battery life

Cons:
- The "on" and "off" keys are reversed, compared to Nokia and Samsung phones...A big nuisance.
- The antenna, although improves signal quality, is a pain in the a**.
- AT&T has the worst service, no fault of motorola.
- Usual problems with clamshell phones, like having to answer a call while driving is much easier if you have a "candy bar" Nokia phone.
- The phone is a little heavier than the new samsung and nokia phones, and is not as small as some pictures suggest.
- Some of the menu features are hidden way deep. Nokia, in my opinion, has the most user friendly menu display.

Overall an excellent phone, but seriously consider Nokia 6600.

A

V600 is the best, most expensive cell phones I have ever had and I soon realized that both men and women like it. Before I give the reason, here are the pros and cons I have experienced so far.

PROS:
1) Free, nice looking ear piece was delivered with my item.
2) With headset plugged in, calls can be answered without having to open (or even touch) the phone !
3) You can use it as a modem and for faxes!
4) Pictures taken from its camera are decent when you see them on the large phone display.
5) Plays very clear sounds and videos
6) Built in Voice dialling feature is a real cool feature.
7) Datebook, calculators and capability to receive free text messages (on AT&T) can make you much more organized
8) mMode subscription (AT&T) to surf the web can make you very productive.

CONS:
1) For AT&T customers, having the mMode key same as the general select key is a major problem. If you accidentally press the mMode key, the browser will launch and you will be charged for the data transfer. This is ABOMINABLE! Almost feels like a trap to make customers pay for web access even if they don't want to.
2) The user guide is 250 pages long! It takes time to understand all the phone features.
3) I had a little difficulty in putting my SIM card in.
4) The top display is very small and has blue background which makes it difficult to read.

Overall, a very good buy. It is almost a PDA at the cost of a cell phone.

CONCLUSION: A great gift for your significant other. While the men will love it for all the cool features and a chance to use some real complex ones like faxes, women will love it for its smooth top and chic look.

Unfortunately, this device will not work with the palmOne Treo 600, despite the Product Specification sheet for the Treo 600's specific claim that its SDIO port could be used to support a bluetooth card... This is apparently because of an incompatibility between the Palm OS5 operating system used on the Treo600 and the palmOne bluetooth card.

Beyond that, the form factor is "problematic" at best, as the "antenna" on the bluetooth card sticks out quite a bit from the edge of the phone.

When I first was introduced to bluetooth I found myself looking for bluetooth devices. The first one that came to mind was the Palm handheld. I decided to fork out the [money] and buy one of these cards for my Palm m505, and I don't regret it. The card is extremely small, and fits in my Palm carrying case.

The card works well with MacOS X and my D-Link Bluetooth USB Adaptor. I can sync my m505 wireless using this bluetooth card, and better yet, I can be 30 feet away from my computer, I can sit on the couch and sync my m505.

The card should also work with bluetooth compliant phones, this is another nice touch.

I use this card w/ my m505 to interact with my Sony Ericsson T68i. Works real well to provide GPRS data access to the Palm, also for SMS and phone dialing. I have also printed to a Bluetooth-enabled HP printer which was pretty cool. I plan to Bluetooth-ify my laptop and printer at home and have Bluetooth talking between Palm / Phone / Laptop / Computer - cool!

Just a quick report on my experience with this mouse. I'll start off by mentioning that perhaps I had unrealistically high expectations...
First off I should mention that I already own it's sister mouse, the MX700, which I use with windows XP, using the standard generic drivers - i.e. I didn't install the Logitech drivers. It works great!

I recently got an iBook with built in Bluetooth. It seemed that the MX900 would be perfect - A great mouse, no wires, and also a bluetooth hub which I could plug into the winXP box and use for wireless internet between the two computers (Yes it CAN be done).

Well the MX900 connected to the iBook easily enough. I got the 4th & 5th buttons working with Expose, but the mouse doesn't move right. When plugged into Apple's bluetooth it develops really horrible acceleration, which make it a real pain to use :(

Anyway I though so long as I can get the wireless internet to work then I won't mind so much. After a lot of messing around I got a bluetooth network set up on the winXP desktop machine. After even more messing around I got as close as it seems possible to get to getting Bluetooth networks set up on OS-X. Basically OS-X doesn't really support them I found out :(

So I'm going to return the mouse. Hopefully I can swap it for a normal wifi router - I just won't have a cool mouse to go with it :(

Oh one weird thing I noticed - the build quality of the MX900 (bought in the US) isn't as good as my MX700 (bought in the UK). Bizzare seeing as they look essentially identical. The MX900 just feels cheaper, the buttons rattle etc.

However I should add that if you intend to use the mouse for a normal destop PC then it's still a great purchase, and probably the best mouse you can buy - I think the extra $40 (over the MX700) is worth it for the bluetooth - if you need it.

I got this mouse with the Logitech diNovo Media Desktop which came with the bluetooth hub and a keyboard and media pad. The only problem with the mouse is that the software that lets u assign keystrokes to the buttons on the mouse actually disables the middle mouse button (mmb). I use programs that require the mmb and was wondering why this didnt work until i shut down the program SetPoint from my system tray. Doing so will render the quick switch button inactive but i find it faster to switch programs by pointing and clicking then by pressing a button then pointing and clicking. Without the program all other buttons work as normal. I dont need to assign special tasks anyway.

Another point of interest is the battery life. I have the hub which recharges the mouse which is a must because if u dont keep it charging when not in use it will run out. U can check ur batteries by running the SetPoint software and it allows u to check batteries for the mouse as well as the keyboard and media pad if u have diNovo.

All in all, its a great device if you use bluetooth, but if u dont need or use bluetooth you are probably better off with a regular cordless.

I love this mouse. I use it with my laptop everyday. My Dell laptop has an internal bluetooth receiver thus making this small and easy to use. I have to charge the mouse on the hub once a week, however I really don't mind too much (I keep two extra dbl-A batteries in my laptop case). I do have to make sure to remove the batteries when I'm on the go (or the batteries will drain from detecting movement). This mouse is not suitable for left-handed people. I like the weight it has (not lightweight, but not too heavy). Its range is great (thats bluetooth for you).

One mistake I made once was that I tried to install the Logitech software in my WindowsXP (If you just use the bluetooth software that comes with your laptop, it will find the mouse just fine). The software disabled my internal bluetooth device in the laptop and I had to use the hub in order for the mouse to work (not acceptable - otherwise I would have purchased the mx700). It took me a while to figure out that it wasn't just the Logitech software I needed to uninstall, rather I needed to remove the bluetooth hub software as well (very misleading by Logitech).

I only rated this 4/5 stars due to the short battery life. Still, don't let that deter you if you don't mind working around that (I don't mind - I was well aware of it from reading posts on here).