Bluetooth headsets

February 23, 2006 6:59 AM

Will either of these Bluetooth headsets (#1, #2) work with my Bluetooth enabled Powerbook for things like Skype, etc.?
posted by suchatreat to Technology (8 answers total)

Using the Bluetooth Setup Assistant on my 1.0GHz G4 powerbook, I get the message: "Failed to set up the headset. Headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware."

This is before I'm even given the option to discover any bluetooth headset / earpiece. I'd imagine that if you don't get this message from your Bluetooth Setup Assistant, then any Bluetooth headset will work. You don't need a Bluetooth headset to get to the message I get. Good Luck. I wish I could use my Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset with my powerbook.
posted by u2604ab at 7:25 AM on February 23, 2006

I don't know if it'll work with your Powerbook (I use Windows and Linux, and they'd work on both), but the HS805 should give you better sound quality if you have Bluetooth 1.2. I've talked to someone on Skype who had a Bluetooth 1.1 headset and he sounded pretty bad (telephone quality, rather than the high-fidelity usual with Skype-to-Skype calls). I just ordered the HS805 last night; I hope it fixes the quality problem. These are great deals on these headsets!
posted by zsazsa at 7:41 AM on February 23, 2006

zsazsa, you can thank Consumerist. My wife asked this question by proxy for me. Thanks for the info.
posted by yerfatma at 7:43 AM on February 23, 2006

Turning on the Bluetooth Assistant, I see the option to configure a headset. Sorry if this question was obvious, I'm just totally new to the topic and assumed these headsets were only for use by rich old guys on planes who need to bother me as soon as wheels touch tarmac.
posted by yerfatma at 7:45 AM on February 23, 2006

So, did it work?
posted by bshort at 7:59 AM on February 23, 2006

I won't know until the headset arrives. Sorry for giving the wrong impression there. The ordering worked (other than the fact Motorolla saw fit to disable copy-and-paste to make very, very sure I confirmed my email address).
posted by yerfatma at 8:38 AM on February 23, 2006

They should work fine. When you get the headset it'll include instructions for 'pairing' it with your Powerbook, and then they can play nicely together. In my experience setting up bluetooth devices to work with my Powerbook has been pretty painless.
posted by BorgLove at 8:59 AM on February 23, 2006

u2604ab, Your problem may be the Bluetooth module inside your Powerbook needs to have its firmware update. Apple offers a Bluetooth firmware updater that you may've received via System Update. But if not, you can download it from the link above. I had to do this on my Powerbook.
posted by todbot at 9:27 AM on February 23, 2006