Pros: Very easy to install. Uses little or no desktop real estate.
Cons: Limited range, not for big business.
The Bottom Line: Bluetooth, at least in this 3Com version, seems to have overcome its early problems and is ready for prime time. An excellent solution for home/SOHO networking.
lucie30's Full Review: 3Com Wireless Bluetooth (3CRWB6096) Network Adapt...
My grandkids thought that their computing world was going to be much better when in order to resolve many of the household computer access problems, their parents decided to ensure that each of the kids and adults have their own PC. Prices have dropped to the point where that was feasible. Like many technological additions, they soon discovered a new set of problems/squabbles had arisen. Not the least of which are the questions of Internet access, use of the printer, scanner and other such peripherals. It is not fun to lug a heavy printer up and down the stairs, to say nothing of the effects of near continuous motion on the health of the printer. The other alternative was to set up one computer as the printer station, but whose computer should it be? This merely triggered a new set of squabbles. There is a solution! (Insert big trumpet fanfare)
The 3Com Wireless Bluetooth PC Card provides the means to link all the computers (that have PC Card Ports) and share the Bluetooth compatible peripherals without having to run new wires, drill holes in the walls and take up a great deal of otherwise precious computer time. These cards use the Bluetooth RF transmission system, so the installation task is simple. The result is a Personal Area Network that not only allows access to remote peripherals, but also permits Internet connection sharing so that one person can be e-mailing while another is surfing. Each computer can have access to the files and applications on the others on the network, so you do not need multiple copies of expensive software. The “sneaker-net” method of file sharing is eliminated; thereby engendering sufficient savings in carpet wear to pay for the product, which sells for about $150 per card. The worry about dropping the en-route printer is now also gone.
The cited price includes the wireless Bluetooth PC Card, CD-ROM with auto-installation software, online manual and Bluetooth Connection Manager and Quick Start Instructions. Each device is connected to the network via the PC card, so if you need to connect more than two computers, you may purchase additional cards.
The minimum system requirements to be attached to the network are: PC with available Type II PC Card slot, Windows 98 SE/Me/2000. I decided to run my tests in the grandkids house with their equipment.
The installation on a laptop with an 800 MHz CPU went just as advertised. I ran the 3Com Bluetooth Connections Manager software and just followed the screen prompts. There were six device drivers that loaded automatically; Dial-Up Network Client, fax Client, LAN Client, Serial Client, Serial Host and PC Card Connection manager. The Connection Manager automatically detects other Bluetooth devices within range, up to 10 meters (33 feet). The hardware installation was to merely plug in the cards.
I had two peripheral devices to test, an HP 995c DeskJet printer and a Palm Pilot. The laptop was upstairs and the printer downstairs, for a distance of about 25 feet vertically thorough the floor and some horizontal space through a wall. This arrangement worked out quite well, the printer functioned properly. The next step was to transfer files between the Palm Pilot and the laptop in both directions and at varying distances. I used a text file of about 600K as the test object. At about a 10-foot distance I was able to transfer the file in about 25 seconds. Nothing to rave about, but good enough for most purposes. I was able to transfer over various distances up to about 30 feet and though 3 walls.
It was somewhat amazing to watch the Connections Manager identify the devices with Bluetooth cards and display them as network elements with an appropriate icon; i.e., PDA, Laptop, PDA, Printer. I also tried several of the security features, passwords/authorizations and perhaps one of the more useful features, the ability to hide devices from unauthorized eyes. All worked quite well.
I did not have another manufacturers Bluetooth card to insert into a device to test recognition, so I cannot report on that capability.
In summary, while Bluetooth is has suffered from some earlier introduction problems, 3Com seems to have refined the concept into useable hardware. It is a fine solution for home or SOHO networking.
For additional information visit the 3Com web site at www.3com.com.
PCMCIA Bluetooth card for your laptop Securely share files with other Bluetooth PCs, synchronize your handheld Connect to the LAN through a Bluetooth ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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