Linksys USBBT100 Bluetooth USB Adapter

Manufacturer:	Linksys
List price:	~~$69.99~~
Our price:	$39.99 that is 43% off!

Linksys USBBT100 Bluetooth USB Adapter

Average rating: Stars

Not fully supported by Mac OS X

The Linksys USBBT100 does not support the headset protocol with Mac OS X. Otherwise it seems to work fine, but if you're planning on using a bluetooth headset for Skype or iChat AV, you're better off going with the D-LINK BT120 even though the D-Link has only a 10 meter range.

Linksys USBBT100 Bluetooth USB Adapter - Linksys

Frustrating device

I installed the device in two diffetrent PC's both with Windows xp sp2 and it didn't work. Then I found out that the xp sp2 installs its own Windows drivers, something that should be alerted to the consumers. After manually changed the drivers in my pc to the Linksys drivers, my Palm Zire 72 is working fine and smooth. If you want access to the Web and your Mail you will have to configure your PC to share internet connection through the network adapter that has the acsess to Internet. Someone must write a book on this issue.

Linksys - Linksys USBBT100 Bluetooth USB Adapter

Not exactly plug-and-play -- eventually decided to return mine

The compatability issues with XP Service Pack 2 are known and well documented ... what's unknown is why Linksys has chosen not to address them by updating their USBBT100 drivers and removing the hoops and hassle users of this common Windows OS must endure to install their product.

If, like me, you are considering the Linksys USBBT100 as a way to hot-synch data between your Palm or smart phone (I recently purchased a Treo 650) and you are running XP SP2, think again. It's not impossible, but the end -- hours on the phone with support, multiple installs and uninstalls -- may not justify the means. I can't tell you how long it will eventually take, nor can I confirm it is actually possible, because I never got there.

Despite the lack of any existing documentation on the Linksys site or in the product packaging providing instructions how to set up the USB adapter with a wireless device like a smart phone, I did eventually get to the point where I could do a single one-click data synch. But it was more of a try-everything, hit-or-miss path to get there ...

However, every time I booted up my PC, I had to unplug and re-plug the adapter to get my phone to recognize it -- again, a known and documented issue. When I followed the XP SP2 step-by-step instructions in the website FAQ for fixing this, it made matters worse, not better.

My first doubts were raised when I searched the Linksys site for the most recent drivers and discovered that the last update was in 2003. Not a good sign.

No one at Palm or Verizon was able to help me. Having called Linksys support in the past, I wasn't even about to go there. At one time I spoke with a second-level support technician at Palm that questioned why I would want to hot-synch via Bluetooth in the first place, because it was much slower than using the cable.

Hmmmm. Good question ... and one whose answer eventuallly led me to stop spending my time, and tolerance capital, seeking a solution to this problem instead of simply returning the Linksys adapter to Amazon and spending my money on a Treo 650 docking cradle instead.

This is not a knock against Bluetooth or Linksys. Bluetooth technology is great for wireless phone headsets, and Palm keyboards, etc., but apparently not for hot-synching data. And in spite of its challenges with end-user direct support, Linksys is a great company that I know and trust. I own about four Linksys products and they have all been rock-solid and straightforward to install and set up.

My advice is to carefully evaluate your specific requirements and decide if the USBBT100 is something that meets your needs -- or is something you need in the first place. It may be that a cable or docking cradle is cheaper, easier and provides a faster data transfer rate.

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