A must have for active mobile users.
Written: Dec 09 '02 (Updated Apr 22 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Comfortable, convenient, easy setup, same ac adapter jack as the phone.
Cons: Loses connection with the phone on some occasions and a minor design flaw.
The Bottom Line: Perfect for active users who need the use of both hands to work, play or drive. Works great with the T68i and the P800 phones.
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| aashok's Full Review: Ericsson Hbh-30 Wireless Bluetooth Headset |
My Buying Decision
I purchased this item along with my Sony Ericsson T68i Mobile Phone. My regular wired headset was working just fine, but I couldn't resist the cool factor when I first saw someone using a Bluetooth headset.
Out of the box, it came with an instruction booklet, ac adapter and a little piece of plastic with an adhesive backing, called a car holder. This headset also works great with the new Sony Ericsson P800 Mobile Camera Phone & PDA.
The Layout:
Very simple. It has three buttons. The two buttons on the side are for volume adjustment. When worn on the left year, bottom button is vol-up and top button is vol-down. The button facing the outside is for Power on/off, Call answer/hangup. Below that is an LED that blinks green when fully charged and in standby, and blinks red when battery is low and while charging. On the inside is the speaker, a standard Ericsson charging connector, and microphone at the end of the boom.
The Good:
The batteries are built into the part that goes over and behind the ear (the ear hook). This part is hinged at the boom and can be flipped over for use on either ear. It also has a light rubber coating. This along with the even weight distribution, makes the unit very comfortable to wear even for long durations. I use it at work, while driving and even on the treadmill. I don't have to physically hold the phone to receive or make calls. It also has voice dialing capability from the headset. This feature is really a part of the phone. I have found this feature to work only sporadically. (maybe it's my Indian accent) The best part of this headset is that it uses the same ac adapter as the phone. This allows you to take only one ac adapter along when traveling or at the office. It does not need a cradle. It can be charged using any Sony Ericsson charger (AC/DC)that has the standard charger plug. The boom microphone is great for most situations. No one has ever complained of sound quality except when I was outdoors on a windy day. The sound quality from the speaker is very clear. When you use this headset it feels very natural, like the phone is a part of your head and ear....
The Bad:
Sometimes when you answer the phone by pressing the Yes button on the phone, the call is answered thru the phone instead of the headset. This happens because there is a small delay in Bluetooth connection, before you hear the ringing in the headset. This only happens when the Bluetooth operation mode on the phone is set to AUTO. To overcome this problem, wait to answer the phone until you hear the ringing in the headset, or set the phone Bluetooth operation mode to ON.
When not on the ear, the speaker tends to rub against the rubber coating of the ear hook and leaves a mark. However, so far in the last 3 months of aggressive use, it has not worn out.
THE BOTTOMLINE:
The advantages of this truly hands free headset, far outweigh any minor design problems. Sony Ericsson has really set the standard for other manufacturers like Nokia and Motorola who have or will soon release comparable products. Increased competition will eventually bring prices down. But until then, few will spend $160 for a Bluetooth headset over a $20 wired headset.
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Recommended:
Yes
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