My Bluetooth Headset Reference

Because of California's lovely little law taking effect on July 1, 2008, it'll be a crime to talk on a phone while driving, without a hands-free set. I personally strongly disagree with this law, because frankly not everyone who gets on a cellphone while driving is doing so erratically. I wouldn't object to a law mandating that being on a cellphone in the fast lane should be a crime, but talking on a cellphone while stuck in stop-and-go traffic, or when driving at 2am with no one else on the road? Please.

Nevertheless, I make an effort not to leave the house without a bluetooth headset anymore. It's become yet another irritating thing I must carry with me in order to function as expected in modern society.

Jabra BT150

One of the first bluetooth headsets I acquired was the Jabra BT150. Frankly, it sucks. It's got a little charger that wants to be USB but isn't, and the pairing method isn't anything approaching normal. Furthermore, it uses a little connector that really looks like a mini-USB port, but isn't. Lastly, it's ridiculously quiet. When cranked up to its maximum volume, I'm fairly confident that it will still be practically impossible to hear anything over road noise or moderately loud background music. If anyone is talking in the room, forget it. That having been said, I can find this headset when I'm looking for it, because it's so annoying that I won't use it unless I absolutely have to, so it tends to stay in one place. For reference, you pair the BT150 by holding down the power button (the silver bit where the blue light flashes) until it turns on. Then, while it's on, you press the power button and the volume up button (the + key) at the same time, and thus place it into discoverable mode. The blue light turns on solidly, and life is good.

Jabra BT125

I have a hunch that this will be even worse than the BT150, but I'll have to find out first. The only way to charge it is with a USB cable, but it doesn't use a standard mini USB connector, nor does it use the same connector as the BT150. In short, it sucks a lot, and I haven't even gotten to power it on yet. Incidentally, when you buy Warhawk, it comes with what looks like a very short USB cable. Don't get it into your head that you can just use the much longer USB cable which you use to charge the PS3 controller - it's not the same thing by a long shot.

-- SeanNewton - 17 Jan 2008