The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Bluetooth or not?

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by radha, Jan 9, 2006.

  1. radha

    radha Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    159
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    HI - id like to know whats the advantage of getting an internal bluetooth upgrade. Is it better to have a bluetooth mouse versus a regular wireless mouse? Is there no dondle usb thing for bluetooth? Is there better connectivity?
    Also what else could i use the internal bluetooth upgrade for? wireless earbud headphones?
    Also is bluetooth mouses alot more pricier than regular wireless mouses?

    thanks.
     
  2. tullnd

    tullnd Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    83
    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You can use blue tooth to connect to a bluetooth enabled phone, PDA, mouse, headset, etc...

    If you don't plan on using those...it's not much of a benefit. As for the dongle for a USB mouse...you can get ones that are a plug then cable to a receiver(best if you want to leave an adjacent USB slot easily accessible) or a notebook style with a small transmitter that is part of the USB plug(probably won't block an adjacent slot, but might make it difficult to access).
     
  3. Jason

    Jason Overclocker NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    908
    Messages:
    5,056
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    If your going to use it and its a cheap upgarde... no more than $25 then go for it. You can hook up so many things to it now days... There is wireless headphones that I have and use with it, also my Phone and notebook have bluetooth. Its nice to have it sometimes, but I don't use it all that much. And bluetooth mice are more then regular wireless (RF) mice. If you want a blutooth one plan on paying $50+ compared to $25-30 for a normal one. The range is 30ft and (RF) is only about 6ft. there is also the 2.4 ghz mice that also get 30ft but are about the same price as bluetooth.

    EDIT: And there are also small bluetooth dongels that you can get for $10-20. Got mine for $9 shipped though for my desktop. The range is about the same although the USB one claims 100 feet. but really only goes 30 max.
     
  4. ccbr01

    ccbr01 Matlab powerhouse! NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    448
    Messages:
    1,700
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    jasonck08 is talking about class 1 bluetooth (100m). there is also class 2 (10m). I love my HT-820 headset (review in sig) and I also use my Motorola E815 phone with it. Bluetooth is great!!!
     
  5. meatyocre

    meatyocre Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    46
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Bluetooth is a great upgrade, almost essential with todays laptops. I use a BT mouse and it works great, no more tangling etc...
     
  6. ikovac

    ikovac Cooler and faster... NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    872
    Messages:
    1,637
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Pocket pc without wi-fi? And has Bluetooth? I'm talking about xda2, Mda2 etc... Just go in activesync over bluetooth and surf on your little PPC in bed. Better than my 3 kg 15,4 widescreen if you ask me. BT can be useful and it is not expensive. And yes I agree with all stated above!

    Cheers,
     
  7. alexjl

    alexjl Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    205
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    my laptop doesnt have BT because I got a cheap $600 laptop. But if I had the option to add it in I would!