Whats the Skinny on Bluetooth Headsets?
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Some of you may be slower than others for not really conforming to the fast-paced world of gadgets. We don’t hold it against you (we wouldn’t dare!) but some things don’t come as naturally as others. Bluetooth headsets are one of those things that I believe people are still weary about.
They don’t work right, its hard to understand how to sync them properly, or the device itself just isn’t reliable. All these reasons are still clouding people’s willingness to commit to this wireless technology. But, rest assured its getting much, much better. With better Bluetooth technology, and better cell phone support, now is the right time to make a commitment to buy a hands-free headset.
While, of course there will always be those doubters who say “I don’t really need this,” or “It looks stupid,” there are those who will say “I can’t live without it.” My guess is that the doubters or unbelievers haven’t really been graced with a good enough device, or simply haven’t used it enough to appreciate the convenience in having a hands free gadget.
What makes a good Bluetooth headset? Here are the most important factors:
So sleek! Plantronics Discovery 925
Comfort: Whats the point in having something danging on your ear all day if it isn’t comfortable? Buying from a store allows you to try out the headset to see if its right for you. Companies do their best to make the most comfortable device to fit your ear — lets get it straight that not everyone’s ear is ideal. My ears are slightly bigger so I need a device that either doesn’t go around it and snugly fits inside of my hearing tunnel, or I need a device that comes with adjustable or changeable earpieces. Most devices do come with such help, but its important that you can use the device and comfortable with it.
Voice Quality: This factor is just as important as comfort. The question I asked earlier applies to comfort as well: What is the point in having something dangling in your ear all day if you can’t understand the person speaking at the other end? Some products are made better than others, and some people will require more volume and clarity in their headset. If you are an audiophile and can’t stand any sort of static, you’ll have to go with the more expensive gadget that has a better quality earphone and more clarity when the person on the other end of the phone call is speaking. Or on the other hand, if you happen to be able to pick out someones voice from a little bit of static, then its not going to bother you if you don’t get something that’s as clear, you’ll settle for a less expensive device.
Miscellaneous: Most devices today have a battery life of 5 hours talk time, and 5-7 days standby time, so you’ll want to make sure you’re not getting a device that’s rated lower than this. They are more easily connected to a phone — simply turn it on, your phone will recognize the device and display it, you connect it, and you’re done. You can walk around without your phone, as long as the phone is less than about 33 feet away, the maximum range for most headsets and phones to stay connected without losing connection. Some headsets allow it to be connected to 2 devices simultaneously. If you’ve got two cell phones, lets say a regular phone and a business phone, you can use your headset for both at the same time. You’ll have to make sure the headset has this feature, however.
As I said earlier, now is the time to buy a headset. They are getting to the point where its a necessity, it gets the phone out of your hands and its so easy to maintain. Here are some popular devices:
- Plantronics Discovery 925
- Aliph Jawbone 2 Bluetooth Headset
- Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth Headset
- Amazon.com Headset Listing
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Thanks for posting this! It is difficult to know what to look for with so many different headsets out there. And everyone’s ears are different. My ears are small, including my ear canal, so it’s really hard for me to find proper fitting headsets. Ones that fit inside the ear tend to be mostly too big and really uncomfortable, and sometimes big earloops make headsets too loose on my ear. The headset I have found to be the most comfortable, once you get it on, is the Nokia BH-900. And it seems to work well for most ears as well. My coworkers all had trouble getting it on at first, but once they did, they said they didn’t even feel it anymore.
Erin
No problem. I just bought a new Plantronics Discovery, I’m still waiting for it to come. Comfort is a huge issue – if the thing is going to be on your face all day, it has to be comfortable! I’m hoping the Discovery will be as great as people say it is!