YIKES! Is That Guy Talking To Himself?
Written: May 02 '05 (Updated Jun 18 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: feather light, no wires, clear sound, same charger for the Treo 650, 700, 750
Cons: can become loose on the ear, doesn't turn off when not in use
The Bottom Line: Perfect headset for the Treo 650 or 700 (but will work with many other phones including my AudiovoxPPC6700) feather light and adds cool factor.
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| criteeker's Full Review: Palmone'S Treo 650 Bluetooth Headset |
I used to love making fun of people who seemed to be talking to themselves in public. Without the wires and the phone tucked into my jacket or briefcase, I'm that guy now. Unless you spot the 007-type ear piece in my ear, you'd think I was a bit loony for talking to myself. Now, I have an excuse for really talking to myself in public - Hey, I can always pretend to be on the phone.
I love gadgets. I love technology. I USED to love my new PalmOne Treo 650 smart phone. I'm NOW in love with my new Audiovox PPC 6700.
What is Bluetooth technology?
Beyond its weird name, it's a relatively new technology that enables devices to share data without wires up to 33 feet. As technology advances, I'm sure this range will increase. Much in the same way that cordless home phones behave, the Bluetooth headset and it's phone share a unique code so others can't hear your calls.
It's estimated that there will be more than 100 million Bluetooth devices worldwide by the end of the year. We can now find Bluetooth in wireless phones, PCs, cameras, GPS units, PDAs, printers and even cars (i.e. OnStar). Toyota and Lexus have this technology built into their cars - where a Bluetooth device can use the car's audio system to make and receive phone calls. Some day, I see a way for cars to have an 8-in-1 card reader in the dash and an installed hard drive to store information as either a back up or for the vehicle's in-dash LCD screen. In essence, a PC on the go.
Most products (currently available) work on Bluetooth 1.1 or 1.2 The more recent, Bluetooth 1.2, includes the addition of an "anonymity mode", which hides the hardware address and "adaptive frequency hopping", which cuts interference by avoiding crowded frequencies. I understand that there's a new version - 2.0 set to be released by the Spring of 2006. Among its enhancements will be "narrowband channels", which will enable messages to be broadcast to a high number of devices and higher connection speeds of up to TWELVE Mbps over the ONE Mbps currently.
When choosing a Bluetooth headset, you must take into consideration - the following: Is your cell phone Bluetooth compliant (that would be a huge plus) and which version of Bluetooth your phone is compatible with - either 1.1 or 1.2 or both.
Recently, Bluetooth cell phones and accessories have become all the rage. They're safer for in-car use due to the lack of wire and the driver's ability to use two hands on the wheel (yeah, right). Until recently, there weren't enough capable phones to match the plethora of headsets. As luck would have it, those numbers are beginning to even out. There are even adapters to enable most non-Bluetooth cell phones into a Bluetooth-enabled phone.
The choice of Bluetooth headsets are now narrowed down to headsets with or without boom mics. When searching for the best Bluetooth headset for me, I looked at four options. The Nokia HS-4W, the Logitech Mobile Pro, the Motorola HS850 and the PalmOne Treo.
Knowing that I have a Treo 650, the logical choice would be the Treo headset, but I wanted to be sure.
I will compare the four models in a brief comparison of the main features or specs.
Style and Weight:
Nokia HS-4W:..........Boom style OVER the ear - .74 ounces.
Logitech Mobile Pro:..Boom Style ON the ear - 1.01 ounces.
Motorola HS 850:......Boom style ON the ear - .70 ounces.
PalmOne Treo:.........NON-Boom style ON the ear - .595 ounces.
The Treo is the lightest and with its sleek two-tone silver and gun metal case, it's simply a cool-lookin' hi-tech headset.
Talk and stand by time:
Nokia HS-4W:..........up to 6 hours / up to 160 hours
Logitech Mobile Pro:..up to 7 hours / up to 300 hours
Motorola HS 850:......up to 8 hours / up to 200 hours
PalmOne Treo:.........up to 7 hours / up to 170 hours
This is really a toss-up. I believe the stronger the unit, the more energy it uses (no wise-cracks, Doc). I'd have to say that the Motorola edges out the pack here. The unique feature is that when the headset is not on a call, it shuts off. When the phone rings, the headset springs to life again. So, unless you need to blink a colored LED to the world, the Motorola wins with the best longevity per charge.
Battery type
Nokia:.......120 mAh Lithium Polymer; up to 3 hour to charge
Logitech:....140 mAh - Lithium Ion
Motorola:....Lithium Polymer
PalmOne:.....Lithium Polymer Ion; up to 2 hours to charge
I couldn't find the mAh ratings for the Motorola or PalmOne units on their respective websites.
Price and what you get in the box:
Nokia: $119.99 - headset, battery and manual.
Logitech: $99.99 - headset, case/charging station, manual.
Motorola: $99.99 - headset, charger, manual.
PalmOne: $79.99 - headset, case, charger with 5 international plugs, manual.
The first 3 models claim to work within 30 feet of the phone. The PalmOne touts 33 feet of radius.
The clear winner here (for me) is the PalmOne. The included travel charger and adapters cost $29.99 alone, so this is very cost effective... Especially for later model Treo users. There is no need to bring along another charger since it will charge both the smart phone and headset.
Before buying a headset, I repeat...make SURE that the phone and headset are compatible. My PalmOne Treo headset happens to be made for the newer Treo models and MANY other types of cell phones. Yes, it worked with my Audiovox 6600 and 6700.
PalmOne's features:
First off, this headset is feather light at a mere .595 ounces. I sometimes forget it's even there. In some workplace instances, I use a braided whistle lanyard (with the clip on the end) to hang the headset from.
There is a center button to answer and end calls with. There are also two smaller button on the edge to raise and lower the volume. The headset attaches to either ear with the use of a standard around-the-ear hook ring while the small speaker sits on the ear opening. Since the headset is fairly small, it's not obtrusive to my peripheral vision at all.
The center button also allows the user to redial the last call, mute the current call or put a call on hold.
Please note: The Treo headset is NOT compatible with Treo models 600, 300, 270, 180 or 90.
With a full charge, the blue LED will blink quickly, When it starts to lose its charge, two things will happen. The blue flashing LED will start to stay solid blue for a longer period of time and the reception will get weaker making your call a nightmare due to both sides of the conversation will break up. This is the same result if you should start walking too far away from the phone's location. It's good to keep a spare wired headset with you if you talk for long periods of time - especially in the car.
Another thing I love... if you turn OFF the phone's sound, your headset will still emit a non-obtrusive ring tone in your ear so others will not be bothered. While some headsets have selectable ringtones for just the headset, this one has only ONE.
One thing I don't like is that while charging, you can't use the headset. When the charging cycle is complete, the solid blue LED will turn off.
Some Bluetooth headsets claim to use "noise canceling" technology. This is handy for when on a call at an airport or place where there is a lot of extra noise. While my Treo headset doesn't mention this one way or another, I do find that it becomes difficult to hear my caller when in loud places. I usually switch to putting the phone to my ear.
I'm also not too sure about the battery replacement factor. Some headsets state that there is a certain number of charges that you can expect before it expires. The Treo makes no mention of it. So I would be curious about when and if the battery dies, can I replace it or do I need to toss the whole headset?
All in all, I love this gadget. It adds to my James Bond factor.
I hear that they may or may not be shipping just yet. If you live in a larger city, odds are better to find them at your local PalmOne Store or call (800) 881- 7256 or visit them at www.palmone.com. In Los Angeles, there is a PalmOne Store in the Century City Mall.
PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE www.BurnLoungeTreasures.com
UPDATE: This headset worked very well for about two years. That is until I accidentally left it in my center console's cup holder. That wouldn't have been so bad but I left my SUV's sunroof open just enough that when a light rain past through my area, it left my Treo headset in a mini pool of water. It never worked again. Yes, we had a burial ceremony for it too. I miss that lil' guy.
Recommended:
Yes
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