Bluetooth vs USB ?

Is there any benefit between getting a Bluetooth or using a USB port for my wireless mouse and keyboard?

Surely the bluetooth module connects using USB anyway right?

 

Assuming you have bluetooth, it is wireless which some prefer. Think of Bluetooth as short range wireless USB.

 

I'm a little confused about bluetooth and wireless. I have a wireless mouse, the other day I saw a "Bluetooth" mouse being displayed on OD, are wireless the same as Bluetooth?

 

You can pick up a Bluetooth USB dongle for as low as $9. I got mine off ebay and use it with my Bluetooth mic and phone. Bluetooth has a longer range then IR. And can go through walls and objects blocking its path. Bluetooth also usually has a longer range.

 

but it still connects to the motherboard through the USB right?

So in fact apart from the improved range that I don't need to use a mouse and keyboard from a different room, the only benefit is that I would free up a USB port?

Might still be worth it if I can get the good drivers for the Bluetooth module (shows as not installed in Control-Panel, Device manager ...)

 

Bluetooth mouse are much more expensive than normal wireless mouse. Can't think of any advantage of BT mouse over normal wireless ones.

Some computers came with BT built-in. So there is no need for a BT dongle.

 

BlueTooth can be used for more than just a keyboard and mouse. for example, i have a blueTooth phone (as well as BlueTooth on my laptop) and using the phone i can sync my address book from the pc to the phone.

There are also BlueTooth stereo headseats, and my favorite, i use the bluetooth speaker/mic for my cell with my laptop as well.

USB wireless mouse requires you to insert a USB card, bluetooth (on the other hand) is built in (provided you ordered it that way) else you would need a dongle - 1 less thing to insert/remove/store.

 

The bluetooth adapter is NOT USB. The Dell TM350 bluetooth is an internal card that fits inside your notebook. It is very easy to install. The advantage, at least in my case, is that with my BT mouse, I don't need to plug in any USB receivers in order to use the mouse. Despite the minimal effort required to use a USB wireless mouse, having to reach around the back of the notebook or fumble for the side-mounted slot...it's not a big deal, but given the two choices, BT or USB wireless mice, I've chosen BT and never have to worry about anything but turning it on!

It's ALL about convenience.

 

Hi, I also have a blutooth enabled 'phone - so how can I set it up to use the Mic/speaker on the cell-phone as the speaker/mike for my laptop?

my pc can see my 'phone alright (and visa versa) but is there some advanced setup for that?

thanks...

Philip

 

Interesting topic for me. I didn't order Bluetooth on my E1505. Now, I am kind of missing it out. How simple is it to install? Snap in like RAM/Hard drive, or do I need to open the laptop and install it inside? Will this void the warranty? Any guides to how to do this? Will it be as effective as dongle?
Is this what you are reffering to as Dell TM350?
Thanks in advance.

Just answered my own question - searched on ebay and found this link. Fairly easily done on E1505. Question remains if the Dell card is better then USB 2.0 dongles. Thanks.

 

Phil

Not all BT headseats work with the PC (it's kind of hit and miss at this point in time). I have a Motorola HT850 head seat which works. the BT on the laptop saw it and was able to use it. it knew it was a headseat. i may have had to tweak it a bit. its been so long tho, i am not sure exactly what i did. Pretty much just played with the darn thing until it worked.

 

reviving an old topic ^^

I just got the usb/wireless logitech g7 mouse since it was on sale. It definitly takes all the negative quirks you hear about wireless and higher performance and tosses them out the door.

No lag at all, very very repsonsive, light. It preforms in every way just like a corded mouse... without the cord. It also has a very small usb dongle so its not too bad to use.

However I did want a BT mouse since my notebook has internal BT just for the sake of convience and not worrying about loseing/breaking the usb dongle for the mouse. I also suspect that in general you get less interferience issues with bluetooth since its short range.

So just looking for feedback with users that have BT mouse/keyboard and maybe have had the chance to use high end usb/wireless stuff like the G7 and how they compare. I so far have not found a BT mouse that really has the layout I want. (well I did see one in a picture, very very similar to the g7/mx518 but I cant seem to find it anywhere)

Also with BT I suppose if you forget to turn it off when your not using it thats killing some battery power for no reason, and if you turn it off, you have to go thru the steps to turn it on and possibly have to sync with your device again so that may be just as annoying as pluging in a usb dongle.

So any thoughts/opinions/feedback?