bluetooth explination?

[flycheese]

i have just read this on apple website and am confused as to wether bluetooth is a short range alternative for airport.
if so would i need anything like a base station to make this work??

i realise i am thick and apologise in advance for inducing you to read this long thread.

cheers
"Sync with Bluetooth
Bluetooth is built-in to the new 17-inch PowerBook G4 model. Like AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth connects digital devices wirelessly. Operating within a much shorter range than AirPort, it enables high-speed wireless data transfers between a rapidly growing list of Bluetooth-savvy products. Using iSync, for instance, you can use Bluetooth to synchronize your personal information between your PowerBook, your mobile phone and your Palm OS-based handheld. And Bluetooth lets you take advantage of GPRS connectivity to check your email from anywhere - a benefit that comes in handy on those occasions when a 802.11 wireless hotspot isn't available."

 

[D0ct0rteeth]

You need a bluetooth adapter in your cpu and a bluetooth device.

For example: with the T68i I plugged in the adapter... set the phone to "discover" and clicked find device...

It found the phone and yes.. it is basically a short range airport...

Hope it helps... No need to apoligize.

-Doc

 

[pepeleuepe]

The way it has been explained before, which makes perfect sense to me is like so:

Airport = Wireless Ethernet (For networking with other computers)

Bluetooth = Wireless USB (For connecting mice, printers, keyboards, or other peripherals)

Hopefully in the next year or so we can have desks without ginormous amounts of cords dangling everywhere . Hope this helps.

 

[Abstract]

I wonder what was wrong with the wireless keyboards and mice from before? I've never owned a wireless mouse or keyboard, but they have been around for a long time. and I just don't see what the big deal is with Bluetooth if the old technology worked okay for these components. The one thing bluetooth does well is allow handheld Palm and Palm-like devices to communicate wirelessly with things like mobile phones with bluetooth, where the mobile phone could act to establish an internet connection, and through bluetooth, a Palm PDA with Bluetooth could use the internet connection of the mobile phone through bluetooth.

So basically, you can keep your mobile phone in your backpack/pocket/briefcase/etc, and if you wanted to use the internet on your Palm PDA while you take the train to work, you could just go to your browser on the Palm and connect onto the web via the bluetooth connection that your Palm PDA has with your mobile phone, which must be bluetooth enabled as well. That's pretty cool, and I think its better than those mobile phone/web browser/Palm personal organizer combination devices. I don't see the need for it otherwise.

 

[scmacdaddy]

Originally posted by Abstract
So basically, you can keep your mobile phone in your backpack/pocket/briefcase/etc, and if you wanted to use the internet on your Palm PDA while you take the train to work, you could just go to your browser on the Palm and connect onto the web via the bluetooth connection that your Palm PDA has with your mobile phone, which must be bluetooth enabled as well.

I know of this, but will the phone allow for me to connect with my bluetooth enabled powerbook; when i get reception and with a nominal service fee of course. This would be a wireless revolution. Sign me up.