Poll: Is bluetooth an important technology to you?

[MacRumors]

Vote: Poll: Is bluetooth an important technology to you? (http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=100&ref=forums.macrumors.com)

[kishba]

i don't own any bluetooth devices... yet.

if i ever get a cell phone i *will* get a bluetooth adapter just so i don't have to enter all my data with the phone's keypad... other than that application i haven't really considered bluetooth usable. the standard just seems too slow to be useful.

hopefully Apple and other companies can change my mine :)

[backspinner]

I have a T68i but no bluetooth adapter - yet.
As a powerbook user, I now have to plug in all kind of devices on my desk: mouse, tablet, printer, scanner. Ok, it is slow but if it works I think that I will use it all the time. I hate plugging (and love my Airport).

[.a]

anybody has experiences with syncing t68i and iSync? i would like to buy a t68i and a bluetooth adapter, sync all my iCal and addressBook stuff (almost 500 addresses). how long does it takes to sync with bluetooth? hours? :)
.a

[amnesiac1984]

yes i have a t68i and isync, it works like a dream

[Jaykay]

i have a nokia 7650 and i find it works perfectly with my bluetooth adaptor on my G4.

Apart from not being able to install applications, the computer can receive pictures from the phone as well as send and receive nmes and numbers. I think its great.

[OutThere]

It would be nice for certain things...but at the present time I have nothing that would be able to use it...there isnt any cellphone service where I live, I can't stand PDAs, if it is developed and becomes widespread then maybe I will decide that it is useful in my life, right now it is something that I read about in the computers section of the newspaper.

[lmalave]

Not yet, but when Bluetooth stereo headphones come out, I will consider Bluetooth a must-have. I would also be interested in using a Bluetooth cell phone as a modem. I don't have a regular land line in my apartment, so if my cable modem connection ever goes down, it would be nice to some kind of backup, even a very slow one (since I wouldn't pay for 2.5G service right now I'd be surfing along at a whopping 19.2Kbps)

[zarathustra]

Originally posted by lmalave
I would also be interested in using a Bluetooth cell phone as a modem. I don't have a regular land line in my apartment, so if my cable modem connection ever goes down, it would be nice to some kind of backup, even a very slow one (since I wouldn't pay for 2.5G service right now I'd be surfing along at a whopping 19.2Kbps)

Just from experience, TMobile (USA) does not allow for you to use your Bluetooth cell phone as a modem by default. I had to go through hours of support to find out that I need to have something enabled in my account to do this. To this day I was not able to connect to my ISP through the built in 28.8 data connection on my T68i.

Also, iSync and the T68i work flawlessly. it syncs about as fast, if not faster, than my USB Handspring. From the Address book you can dial directly using a free application (T68i dialer), also iCal works great. I do believe the phone has a 500 entry limit on addresses on the main memory, and from there it will start filling your SIM card, which slows down the search process.

[-hh]

Personally, I don't particularly care if the technology is "Bluetooth" or something else. The bottom line is if it is pragmatically useful to me.

And from a pragmatic standpoint, from a desktop perspective, I see no reason not to plug in cables once, and forget about it. For items like a wireless printer, while it improves setup convenience, it also creates headaches, like security protocols.


From a portable devices standpoint, yeah, I think wireless is useful, to a degree. But the biggest issue with all of these is the question of Hot do I recharge this device?

If I have to plug it in to recharge, then why not carry signal along at the same time (ie, FIREWIRE)?

So the key technology for me is when wireless signal gets combined with wireless power. For me, that's where the true convenience in portability kicks in.

To that end, I read in eWeek that Acer is already working with a company on what's probably going to look like a flexible mat that's at my workstation that I can just plop my laptop down onto, and it automatically sync's up and starts to recharge it.

That's a nice way to go.


-hh

[mymemory]

The Pool is very good. I eman, it shows that there is an important ammount of people that si not convenced by BlueTooth. That is the result of so many "impresive" 15 minute technologies we find in the marke.

Apple likes the BlueTooh idea but it is not yet an Apple product and Apple like to own inovative technology.

I see Aircard BlueTooth compatible transmission.

If you buy a BlueTooth antena to program your cell phone... that means that you are gonna use it once a month the most! I'm sure many of us have devices that are greate but just for one use only. I do.

Imagine, Zip drives where a hit, now you can get it for free. The disc units still a bit expensive and 100MB of information is not enough. Besides 100MB zip drives can not read 200MB zip units. That was a bit of sabotage it self.

Well, this are just my comments.

[scem0]

I don't really like Bluetooth that much. I think a BT keyboard and
mouse would be great, but not necessary. Never used it, probably
never will unless apple releases a BT device.

[wdlove]

I would like to see Bluetooth or whatever Apple would develope. It would be great to go wireless with the printer, keyboard, & mouse!

[lmalave]

Originally posted by -hh
Personally, I don't particularly care if the technology is "Bluetooth" or something else. The bottom line is if it is pragmatically useful to me.

And from a pragmatic standpoint, from a desktop perspective, I see no reason not to plug in cables once, and forget about it. For items like a wireless printer, while it improves setup convenience, it also creates headaches, like security protocols.


From a portable devices standpoint, yeah, I think wireless is useful, to a degree. But the biggest issue with all of these is the question of Hot do I recharge this device?

If I have to plug it in to recharge, then why not carry signal along at the same time (ie, FIREWIRE)?

So the key technology for me is when wireless signal gets combined with wireless power. For me, that's where the true convenience in portability kicks in.

To that end, I read in eWeek that Acer is already working with a company on what's probably going to look like a flexible mat that's at my workstation that I can just plop my laptop down onto, and it automatically sync's up and starts to recharge it.

That's a nice way to go.


-hh

Lots of cordless keyboards and mice ALREADY exist without bluetooth and are selling quite well - look at all the models Logitech and Microsoft have. For a larger-size device like a mouse or keyboard the solution is simple: rechargeable freakin batteries! They're universal and cheap, and you can buy them and rechargers not only at Radio Shack but at any electronics store or even a lot of pharmacies.

My Logitech wireless mouse takes two AA batteries and the keyboard takes 4 AA batteries. (I also have wireless headphones that take two AAA batteries). Really, have people that think this is such a big deal even tried to use devices with regular batteries, or are they just ruling them out in their head before they even try them? Keep in mind how much longer Ni-MH rechargable batteries last. The ones I use are rated 1800 milliamp hours. I'm not exactly sure how that compares to standard lead-acid batteries but I think its something like 5 times the battery life.

And guess what? If your battery starts acting up (getting lower battery life, etc), then you just get another one!. Think if you had an easily replaceable, universally available removable battery for the iPod. Then all this talk about battery problems would just be a slight inconvenience rather than a critical issue.

[ratspg]

How can bluetooth be important if it isn't widespread? It is awfully expensive at the moment, and only a handful of devices carry it. I think it will catch on when it becomes as common as 802.11, its the same signal 2.4ghz anyways. It's nothing earth-shattering, i'll probably use it eventually, no rush though, i do hate wires though = )

thats my opinion,
dk

[lmalave]

Originally posted by ratspg
How can bluetooth be important if it isn't widespread? It is awfully expensive at the moment, and only a handful of devices carry it. I think it will catch on when it becomes as common as 802.11, its the same signal 2.4ghz anyways. It's nothing earth-shattering, i'll probably use it eventually, no rush though, i do hate wires though = )

thats my opinion,
dk

Well, Bluetooth is about to blow up BIG TIME. You're from L.A., did you watch the Rose Bowl (or any of the bowls broadcast by ABC)? There was an ad for the new Bluetooth-enabled Nokia 3650 camera phone during every commercial break. Between Nokia, SonyEricsson, and others, Bluetooth will become a standard feature in cell phones, and keep in mind that cell phones are one of the most ubiquitous digital devices.

Why does Apple need to worry about it now? Because devices like the iPod aren't upgradeable, so I would expect that the next revision of the iPod will be Bluetooth enabled. In terms of laptops, I'm really hoping Apple comes out with a Bluetooth/AirPort card, 'cuz I really don't want to use a dongle...

[Rags]

Is it possible Apple could somehow enable the Bluetooth standard into AirPort's standard? Perhaps they could sell new AirPort cards so all you would have to do is purchase a new card and stick it into your preexisting AirPort slot in your Mac and use the Mac's antennas. That's how I think Apple will do it.

If the iPod goes wireless it would have to be AirPort (802.11). Bluetooth is slower than USB 1.1 is it not? Would be... well dumb :P

[wdlove]

Is their plans in development to increase the speed of Bluetooth to the standard of Firewire or USB? How soon will Bluetooth be widespread, so that costs will decrease?

[lmalave]

Originally posted by Rags
Is it possible Apple could somehow enable the Bluetooth standard into AirPort's standard? Perhaps they could sell new AirPort cards so all you would have to do is purchase a new card and stick it into your preexisting AirPort slot in your Mac and use the Mac's antennas. That's how I think Apple will do it.

If the iPod goes wireless it would have to be AirPort (802.11). Bluetooth is slower than USB 1.1 is it not? Would be... well dumb :P

I read in another post that somehow Bluetooth and Airport could share the antenna, since they are both in the 2.4GHz range.

In terms of Bluetooth on iPod, I think it would be for wireless headphones, or even streaming audio (or video!!) to another Bluetooth-enabled device. For synching, I agree, nothing will replace FireWire. I don't think Apple should even support any efforts to sync the iPod wirelessly. Built-in 802.11g would be more interesting since that goes up to 54Mbps, but I think it would be cost-prohibitive to put in the iPods now, though I think it will eventually happen...

[LordJohnWhorfin]

Expensive, Bluetooth? I must not be living on the same planet.
You can get the SonyEricsson T68i phone for between -$25 and $25 (depending on commitment and service plan). There are at least 3 different USB dongles (Epox, D-Link, Netgear) starting at $39. Four models of cordless phone headsets, starting at $79 with the Jabra model. The only outrageously priced device I know of is the microsoft keyboard/mouse combo at $199 MSRP. Chances are it will drop to below $99 within 6 months.

No, the main obstacle to Bluetooth adoption are:
* consumer awareness. People just have no clue what it is, what it can do and why they might need it.
* lack of choices. AFAIK there are only 3 BT phones on the market today, all GSM. Great if you want a world phone, but here in the U.S. coverage is the pits. The only carriers using GSM are Cingular, T-Mobile (piggybacking off Cingular's network) and AT&T. Cingular's network is way over capacity, especially now that they're sharing it with T-Mobile. AT&T's is very new (they're in the process of switching from CDMA) and coverage is very spotty. In other words, if you want good coverage, a BT phone is not in your future.
* emergence of wireless USB. I have read surprisingly little about this new standard lately, but it appears to be almost ready. Its protocol is compatible with USB, which offers a tremendous advantage in terms of not having to write new drivers and also wider range of applications.

It's clear to me that Bluetooth has about a year to take over the market by storm. If it fails to see an explosive growth in 2003, it is likely to get pushed out of the way by wireless USB.

[solvs]

I wouldn't need it now. But in the future, who knows? I think it would be a good idea to add it. More people would use it than Gb ethernet. The Airport 802.11g/BT card might be good way to do it, but you'd probably have to spend $100. Who knows, if Apple pushes it like USB and FW, it could take off the same way.

I just wish the devices were cheaper. For what you'd spend on one Epson BT Printer, you could get 2 or 3 of the same model without BT. Something I think is funny, since it shouldn't cost them too much more to add it. Even as a dongle that connects to the USB port.

Imagine all of the offices and home networks sharing a BT/Rendevous enabled printer.

Or BT enabled iPods.

Go ahead. Imagine it. I dare you.

[Beej]

I have a t68i and a Bluetooth adapter. iSync works great and it's good to have the same info on my Mac, iPod and phone - I always have one with me.

I also have a non-Bluetooth mouse, which I bought after my Bluetooth adapter and phone. At the time (and still now) there were no Bluetooth mice on the market that I could try out. (This may be different where you are.)

I look forward to the day everything is wireless - I won't have to be teased about how neatly I run all my cables :)

[FelixDerKater]

The Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse are very nice. I only wish it would be possible to use them on my Mac. The design is wonderful. I'm sure a big reason it isn't compatible with the Mac is bceause of Apple's half-a**ed Bluetooth software. In order to get peripherals you have to get a good piece of software out of Apple. It would be nice if they would include support for Bluetooth printing as well. If Apple won't allow it, it will be impossible for manufacturers such as HP and Microsoft to make drivers to support these devices.

I actually bought one of the MS IntelliMouse Explorer for Bluetooth to see if it would be possible to get it working somehow. The Bluetooth software recognized it as the MS Intellimouse Explorer Wireless for Bluetooth, but said the services it performed were unknown. It could probably be usable on the Mac with a driver from MS, but who knows. Maybe in a future update to the IntelliPoint software.

[-hh]

Originally posted by lmalave


Lots of cordless keyboards and mice ALREADY exist without bluetooth and are selling quite well


But they're not "mainstream" by a good margin, either.



For a larger-size device like a mouse or keyboard the solution is simple: rechargeable freakin batteries! They're universal and cheap, and...


...are a pain. Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather thave a PC with an integrated Palm-like cradle that I can drop the keyboard/mouse into to recharge when I'm not using it.



Really, have people that think this is such a big deal even tried to use devices with regular batteries, or are they just ruling them out in their head before they even try them?


My old Palm used AAA's. My current one doesn't.



Then all this talk about battery problems would just be a slight inconvenience rather than a critical issue.

As soon as you have a device with a decent amount of computing performance or whatever, power management and energy density & storage become major issues. I've been told that the #1 complaint about the iPod is its battery life.


-hh