Finally settled down and ordered the BT Mouse, Logitech’s MX900, and Apple’s BT Keyboard and actually got around to using them today. This is my first experience with BT, i’ve always stated that I think it was an overal waste of technology, but in my need to mod, I had to do the BT upgrade, therefore needing some BT stuff.
It took about 20-30 minutes to get both devices to be recognized, eventually I gave up on the BT software and used Windows control panel BT software, wireless link, finally, everything worked.
First, the mouse. I’ve had plenty of mice in my time, more of them logitech then any other company. Most of my mice are trackballs, so I am not used to moving a mouse. However, I still use regular mice on a daily basis, so I feel I can give an accurate evaluation. First thing I noticed is the mouse is heavy, real heavy. Its about twice the weight of my Logitech RF wirless mouse (not trackball). Its not that big of a deal, I just need to learn to use a bit more force to pull the mouse closer to me. The mouse itself felt real solid and it was gliding around without any issues. All of the buttons including the scroll wheel worked without installing any additional software from Logitech, which is a plus.
I paid $73 shipped from Buy.com ($78-$5 coupon).
As for the keyboard, its my first Apple product and it pleased me. It was very well packaged and included Titantium e2 Energizer batteries, which is unusual, most companies give you el-cheapo batteries. The keyboard itself has a nice design to it and its no bigger then it needs to be. Again, this feels very solid as well. The keyboard is angled slightly (I need to get used to that) and the keys feel ‘different’. Thats the best way I can describe the keyboard. I am not sure if all Apple keyboards feel like that, or its just this one model. Anyway, pretty much all the keys worked including the Apple button which doubled as the window button. The extra keys such as CD Eject did not function.
I typed a 5 page paper on the keyboard. I noticed a few keystrokes here and there didn’t show up. I am assuming its because I am not used to the keyboard so I am not pressing the keys hard enough…otherwise it seemed to work fine.
I paid $60 shipped from Buy.com ($65-$5 coupon).
Overall I am happy with both of my purchases, this will make my life easier when I want to use my TR at home, no cords to worry about, just sit and type (and mouse ).
BTW, in case you were wondering, I am still Anti-BT, I still think it was a waste of technology, but I am sort of glad I have it in the TR…
[quote author=“linc”]thanks for the review..can’t believe you are still anit-bt.. i can’t live without bt..it stays on 24/7 on my tr
Well, these are litterally the first 2 BT items i’ve owned. Verizon doesn’t sell any BT phones and none of my Clies have been BT enabled. So, i’ve never had a need.
Yeah, BT is much maligned…but for good reason. It’s actually decent technology/concept followed by awful execution by all parties involved. They should have been much more strict with Bluetooth implementations or at least defined a standard way of knowing what BT profiles are available and what devices talk to each other. They left it too open to interpretation and now we have the mess that is BT. When it works, it works pretty well.
I like bluetooth. There, i said it. I find it so easy to use, moreso than the wireless. No real setup required once you have the software on your machine. I could have spent hours stuffing around at work trying to get a wireless network setup but i decide to give bluetooth a whirl, and it was simple. I plugged in the usb bluetooth adapter into my desktop and installed a small app (which was quick). Turned on the tr and then all i had to do was right click on a file and say send to:. It was that easy. Then i searched and saw a couple of phone and the other two desktops in the office. I asked to be connected, the other guys clicked once to allow, and Bam, we are setup. Now we want to send files anywhere its a simple right click and plenty fast enough. I haven’t ever setup a full wireless b or g network, but i can lay odds it isn’t going to be that easy.
From my point of view, i would say that bluetooth is good on the principle, but still need a lots of improvements.
In fact, I have a TH55 which is bluetooth, and a T610 which is also bluetooth. The good point with bluetooth, is for me that you can get rid of having wires easily, but the speed of the communication can be a real problem.
In fact, when I synchronize my pda using bluetooth the speed is so slow, that i rather prefer to plug the usb sync cable than wait. It work as a serial connection, so it remember me my old palm. But the good point, is when you manage to configure the connection, it is still working all the time, which is different from the wifi hotsync, where you can configure it, it can work for sometimes, and one day didn’t work and you have no idea why.
By the way, the bluetooth connection between my pda and the phone is working really well.
At the end, one more drawbacks for me is that bluetooth doesn’t seems to work as a really universal protocol. When you look at the different problems that can occurs, between different bluetooth products, it seems that not all of them are speaking the same language. In fact, each of my peripheral are communicating well, but I think the main reason is that they are all sony branded. If my phone was a motorola or another brand than sony for instance, it could have been totally different, i could have run into a lot of problems.
The thing I am really waiting is the arrival of the wireless usb. I have heard a bit about it on sone news site. Maybe with this technology we will be able to have a real wireless desktop easily.
Just one question for you tifosi, what bluetooth software where you using for your test ? (Bluespace .... )
At that time I am using bluespace, but I am not sure it is the best bluetooth software to use ? Does anyone knows which software is really good and easy to use ?
for the apple BT keyboard, can you tell me which keys that are not functioning with your TR or regular PC in general? you mention the cd eject keys, are there any other keys?
finally got the apple bluetooth
however when i use the keyboard, it looks for authentication and the keyboard can’t authenticate with the pc. what’s wrong? also, do i need to install software or it’s plug n play?
start->settings->control panel->wireless links-> search for bt devices-> it will ask to authenticate..enter any number(s) (i use 11 for simplicity). =->when it ask for the auth. number..press enter once and type your number..then boom! you’re authenticated! make sure the box for HID device is checked and don’t know if it matters but i have the num lock enabled on the tr when i did this.
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