Bluetooth Keyboard (Microsoft)

I asked this question here eariler about which Bluetooth Keyboard to buy...

Someone replyed that the microsoft one only worked if you used its transceiver.

I did some research on this and found out that this indeed was true..

However if you have a dell truemobile internal bluetooth module you are in luck.. See the reason it needed the MS transceiver was due to MS using its own proticol stack vs the HID used in all other Bluetooth devices.. Dell has updated thir drivers and now support microsofts protocol stack.

I am buying a MS bluetooth keyboard and mouse today and will let you know how easy or difficult this was to set up and use without using their trasceiver.

Also.. i will be adding the transceiver to my desktop PC so i can use the devices on it too..

I will see whats involved in switching the keyboard and mouse between the two PCs...

Dell Inspiron 9100
P4 3.0GHZ
15.4-IN. WSXGA+
512MB DDR 400MHZ
128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700
24X CD-RW/DVD
60GB ULTRA ATA HD 72K
MODULAR FLOPPY DISK DRIVE
TM 300 BLUETOOTH CARD
DELL WIRELESS 1450,A/B/G
3YR LIMITED WARRANTY

 

ok...

I got this in yesterday and just installed the batteries.
connecting to the 9100 was a snap..
start the bluetooth discovery software and hit the connect button on both the mouse and keyboard... hit ok a few times and in the case of the keyboard type a code you see on the screen and you are all set..

couldn't have been easier.

the mouse is nice and solid.. not too heavy at all...
the keyboard is ok... but im biased.. i really like my natural keyboard and no one makes a bluetooh one yet.

I haven't even tried to plug in the microsoft transceiver to my other computer yet to see about switching..

oh... i did NOT install any software from MS.. and the buttons at the top of the keyboard still worked... is that nice or what?

Dell Inspiron 9100
P4 3.0GHZ
15.4-IN. WSXGA+
512MB DDR 400MHZ
128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700
24X CD-RW/DVD
60GB ULTRA ATA HD 72K
MODULAR FLOPPY DISK DRIVE
TM 300 BLUETOOTH CARD
DELL WIRELESS 1450,A/B/G
3YR LIMITED WARRANTY

 

So wait... Microsoft has made a Bluetooth keyboard... but it's only compatible with Microsoft's Bluetooth adapter? Wouldn't that make it a regular wireless keyboard, then? What's the point if it's not compatible with the Bluetooth standard without having to install a special protocol stack?

 

??????....

I guess you didn't understand... or maybe you don't understand bluetooth..

i guess i should have given a background of bluetooth.

Ok...

Bluetooth is a collection of drivers, protocols and devices that all use the same technology to do different things... This means that not every bluetooth device works the same way and not evey one can talk to each other..

for example... i really want a bluetooth headphones for my PC..
there are pleenty of them out there on the market.. one problem they are designed for cell phones and thus do not use the same protocols needed to talk to a PC...

Microsoft has been pushing for more bluetooth devices to support keyboards and mice.. This keyboard has been around for a while and i guess they made their own protocol while they were waiting for everyone else to jump on the bandwagon..

Luckly Dell has finally added that protocol to theie bluetooth suite of drivers and protocols..

Dell Inspiron 9100
P4 3.0GHZ
15.4-IN. WSXGA+
512MB DDR 400MHZ
128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700
24X CD-RW/DVD
60GB ULTRA ATA HD 72K
MODULAR FLOPPY DISK DRIVE
TM 300 BLUETOOTH CARD
DELL WIRELESS 1450,A/B/G
3YR LIMITED WARRANTY