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Bluetooth EquipmentBluetooth is a relatively new wireless connectivity technology. As such, most of the products we will review are relatively new and some of
the vendors are young as well. As veterans of "living on the bleeding edge", we strongly recommend that if you're not a "tech lover" that you wait on implementing a Bluetooth solution until the "second generation" of products hits the market. Often the first iteration of any technology is a little "rough around the edges" and the second generation tends to smooth out the problems experienced in the first and embrace increased implementation simplification as well. With that said, many of the products we'll review are finally in that next run so.... Bluetooth is designed for "personal area networks" - short range - think of the size of a single room. The most common devices currently implementing Bluetooth are wireless phones, "smart" wireless phones (like those from PalmOne, HP, Audiovox and others), notebooks, headsets, keyboards, printers and print servers. You've probably already seen folks wandering around airports with Bluetooth headsets, wirelessly connecting to their wireless phone. We use a Bluetooth keyboard to connect to our HP "smart phone". It was simple to install and is great to use. So, if you're ready to venture on.... Still reading? O.k. technology lovers, following is our review of companies that offer Bluetooth products! For the complete product list - see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment.
Bluetooth Equipment ReviewBluetooth Networks* (Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)
* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro
Simple Start-Up - นนนน Anycom's Bluetooth devices are simple to install and use, just plug them in. Cost - $$$$ Anycom makes a CompactFlash adapter at $99.99 and combo CompactFlash Adapter with PC Card Adapter at $99.99, two print servers priced at $99.99 each, an access point at $294.95, one USB 1.1 adapter at $23.95, a USB 2.0 adapter at $32.99, an adapter that allows A2DP capable Bluetooth devices to utilize iPod adapters for playing music at $64.07 and a TV adapter for your cell phone (photos and audio) at $106.95. They also make an adapter for iPods and one for general audio devices - pricing was unavailable. See our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment for more information. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ Most times, Bluetooth devices sync up simply and easily. Works With - YYYY Anycom's Bluetooth devices provide lots of interoperability - but it is device specific. See our matrix - Bluetooth Equipment for device specific compatibility. Support - ppp1/2+ Anycom Bluetooth devices carry a two year warranty. The tech support area of the Anycom web site includes downloads, tech notes and an online user forum. If you need more help, you can email or call the main "800" number. Features - iiii One of the more comprehensive Bluetooth product sets. Access point, print servers, CompactFlash, PC Card and USB adapters. Even an adapter for your TV to send images and audio from your cell phone for "big screen" viewing. Overall Rating - %%%% Anycom offers a comprehensive set of Bluetooth-enabled products. Definitely one of the companies you should check out if you're in the market for a Bluetooth adapter, access point or print server.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน BAFO makes two USB Bluetooth adapters. They're easy to begin using on your system - just plug them into an open USB port (plug and play). Cost - Incomplete We were unable to locate pricing for the BAFO adapters. For complete information see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ Basic devices that bring Bluetooth connectivity to a desktop or notebook system - very easy to use. Works With - YYY BAFO's adapters are designed for the Windows environment. Support - ppp BAFO's Bluetooth adapters carry a one year warranty. The web site includes a FAQ, user guides, drivers and downloads. If you need more help, email is your only option. Features - iii+ Basic USB adapters. Small form factors are the "plus". Overall Rating - Incomplete Inexpensive, small form factor USB-based Bluetooth adapters.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน Belkin's Bluetooth adaptersare designed to make it simple for you to connect your computer, phone, PDA, printer or other Bluetooth device. The adapters simply "plug in" using a USB port. Cost - $$$ Belkin makes two Bluetooth adapters at $39.99 and $49.99. For complete details, see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ The embedded web server on the access point/print server and Windows utilities making using the Bluetooth network much simpler. Works With - YYYY+ The Belkin Bluetooth networking equipment is compatible with any Bluetooth v1.1 device. The devices themselves support a variety of OS's from Windows only to Windows and Macintosh. Support - pppp1/2 Belkin provides a lifetime warranty on all of their wireless networking equipment. Their support services are 'above' the norm and their knowledge base is extensive and searchable. Their site also includes a download area and FAQ. If you need more help, you can contact them via phone ('800' number is available), fax or email. Features - iiii1/2 The Belkin Bluetooth devices all support wireless encryption and network authentication to secure your Bluetooth network. Overall Rating - %%%%+ Belkin offers standard Bluetooth adapters. Sound devices for your personal network.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน Black Box's Bluetooth adapters are simple to install using a USB port on your system. Pairing with other devices is straight forward.. Cost - $$$1/2 Black Box's Class I adapter is priced at $39.95, the Class II adapter is $36.95. For complete information see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ Simple, straight forward Bluetooth USB adapters. Pairing is straight forward. Works With - YYYY Black Box's Bluetooth adapters are designed for Windows and Macintosh. Support - ppp1/2 Black Box offers a one year warranty on their Bluetooth equipment. They have loads of interesting and informative technical documentation available on their site - lots of technical guides and white papers. If you need more help, you can email or call Black Box technical support personnel (no "800" number, you'll pay long distance charges where they apply). Features - iii1/2 Basic adapters - your choice of Class I (328 foot range) or Class II (32.8 foot range). Support for Bluetooth v 1.1, upgradeable to 1.2 via a download. Overall Rating - %%%1/2 Standard adapters for your desktop or notebook.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน CNet makes two USB adapters (both USB 2.0). They are plug and play and easy to set up for use. Cost - $$$$ CNet's Bluetooth 2.0 adapters are priced at $27.38 for the 80 meter range adapter and $28.00 for the 150 meter range adapter. For complete information see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ Just plug them in - simple and straight forward devices for accessing other Bluetooth-enabled systems, networks and devices. Works With - YYY The CNet adapters are designed for the Windows environment. Support - pppp CNet Bluetooth adapters carry a one year warranty. The tech support area on their web site includes online manuals, installation guides, drivers and firmware downloads and a FAQ. If you need more help, you can email them or call them on their "800" number. Features - iii1/2 Basic Bluetooth USB adapters - in two range choices. Overall Rating - %%%1/2+ Solid adapters - why not choose the 150 meter range adapter for just $1.00 more?
Simple Start-Up - นนนน Digi makes two serial to Bluetooth device adapters. The adapters are easy to install and highly configurable. Cost - $$$ Digi's Wavespeed/S Class 2 device (10 meter range) is priced at $213.13, the dual port configuration is $388.88. For complete information see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Digi's serial adapters let you connect "legacy" serial interface equipment to a Bluetooth network and get rid of all the cables and wires. (i.e. an older printer, bar code scanner or point-of-sale machine). Ease of Use - @@@@ Serial connections - but you'll have to do some moderate configuration of them on the adapters. Works With - YYY The Digi Bluetooth serial adapters are designed for the Windows environment. Support - ppp Digi's Bluetooth serial adapters carry a five year warranty. The Digi web site includes software downloads, tools, a searchable knowledge base, FTP site and technical forums. If you need more help, email is your only option. Features - iii+ Serial adapters for Bluetooth networks are tough to find - Digi makes them. Overall Rating - %%%1/2 If you want to use Bluetooth technologies and get rid of all the cabling from your "legacy" serial connected devices, you don't have a lot of options. Check out the products from Digi.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน D-Link makes a Bluetooth USB adapter. The adapter is straight forward to install and begin using with your system or mobile device. Cost - $$$$ D-Link's Bluetooth USB adapter is priced at $34.99. For complete information see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ USB connectivity make connecting this device simple. Works With - YYYY D-Link's USB adapter is both Windows and Macintosh compatible. Support - ppp1/2 D-Link provides a one year warranty on their Bluetooth gear. The tech support area on the D-Link web site includes software downloads, a searchable knowledge base, training guides and a FAQ. If you need more help (unless you subscribe to a premium support plan for extra $$'s), email submission is your only recourse. Features - iii1/2 The USB adapter offers the "standard" features and functions. Overall Rating - %%%1/2+ Competitively priced USB adapter. Solid device from folks that "know" networking.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน Dynamode makes two USB-based Bluetooth adapters. Both are plug and play and install easily. Cost - Incomplete We were unable to locate pricing for any of the Dynamode devices. For complete information see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ Dynamode's devices come with setup wizards and software to help you connect to other Bluetooth devices that are in the vicinity. Works With - YYY Dynamode's adapters are designed for the Windows environment. Support - pp There isn't much in the way of support at the Dyanmode site (if you're having trouble or need help with your one year warranty). If you click on support, you just get the opportunity to send tech support an email. Features - iii+ Basic Bluetooth adapters. Overall Rating - Incomplete Hard to locate devices, the combo 802.11g WLAN and Bluetooth dongle might be worth the effort if you need both a Bluetooth and 802.11g USB adapter.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน Encore makes two USB-based Bluetooth adapters. Both are plug and play and install easily. Cost - $$$$ The ENUBT-C1E is $14.00 and the C2E is $14.49. For complete information see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ The Encore adapters are plug and play and will locate other Bluetooth devices in the vicinity. Works With - YYY Encore's adapters are designed for the Windows environment. Support - ppp1/2 Encore Bluetooth adapters carry a one year warranty. The tech support area on the web site includes manuals, drivers and a FAQ. If you need more help you can email tech support or contact them via telephone (no "800" number, you'll pay long distance charges where they apply). Features - iii+ Basic 2.0 adapters. Small form factors and choice of Class 1 and Class 2 are "plusses". Overall Rating - %%%1/2 Bluetooth adapters that deliver the features and functions you'd expect.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน Hawking Technology's Bluetooth Wireless USB Adapters are simple to install and use, just plug them in and use the connection interface software. Cost - $$$$ Hawking Technology's Bluetooth adapter HBTC1 is priced at $24.99 the Class 1 HBTC2 is $36.34. For complete information see our product matrix Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน Synching your PDA, phone, printer, modem...any Bluetooth-enabled device at home or on the road is simple and effective using Bluetooth technology. We love it for our smart phone, keyboard and GPS systems when we travel. Ease of Use - @@@@ Simple USB connectivity makes the Hawking USB adapters very simple to connect and use. Works With - YYYY The Hawking HBTC1 Bluetooth adapter is Windows and Macintosh compatible the HBTC2 is for Windows only. Support - ppp1/2 Hawking Technology wireless networking equipment carries a two year warranty. The tech support area on the web site includes a FAQ and downloads area. If you need more help you can contact tech support via email or call them (no "800" number, you'll pay long distance charges where they apply) Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific. Features - iii+ Basic Bluetooth adapter technology. Overall Rating - %%%1/2 Highly functional adapters at a competitive price.
Simple Start-Up - นนนน IO Gear's Bluetooth adapters are straight forward to install and use. Just plug them into your PDA's CompactFlash slot or USB port on your PC and use IO Gear's easy to understand software to set up your network connections. Cost - $$$$ IO Gear makes two audio transmitters at $89.95, two print adapters at $99.95 and $119.95, five USB adapters at $39.95 (three), and $49.95 (two) as well as a serial adapter at $86.71. They also make two "kits" one with a Bluetooth adapter and Bluetooth optical mini mouse at $69.95 and one with a Bluetooth adapter and Bluetooth headphones at $169.95. Product details can be found at Bluetooth Equipment. Time Savings - นนนนน |
