Is Bluetooth worth it?

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nowstime · #1 Post by **nowstime** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 3:03 am

Hello to everybody...

I can't decide whether I need a laptop with a bluetooth...I don't have any bluetooth devices but might get one in the future...(you never know)...may be a MS bluetooth mouse or cell phone...

But the problem is all the IBM bluetooth featured laptop costs much more than the others...is it worth it? or will other PCMCI cards work fine...

The cheapest bluetooth capacity laptop goes around $2200...but the same one with out the bluetooth (2378FVU) costs around $1900...

Thanks and can somebody pls tell me about bluetooth's potential...?

Best wishes,

Austin, TX

ian · #2 Post by **ian** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 6:56 am

To be honest I think you are the only one who can possibly decide this.
Think a little about prospective utilisation :-

1. Will you ever need a headset and mike ? There are some neat bluetooth headsets available.

2. Do you like the flexibility of a cordless mouse ? (no "strings" attached as it were) - again some neat cordless BT mice exist on the marketplace

3. Do you communicate/exchange data with a PDA or cellphone? Why bother with plug-in cards if the facility is built in.

I'm not an advocate for BT - I've never used it and all my accessories communicate by infra-red, but that's not to say it wouldn't be neat in the future...only you can really say.

edelrc · #3 Post by **edelrc** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 8:19 am

If the price difference is too much... today it is your lucky day. Based on G-Man's update the the 2378FVU has the BT antenna already. Therefore, you will only need the $50 bluetooh card upgrade if in the future you'll want the bluetooth.

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Models that already have BT antenna in the LCD, so upgradeable without voiding the warranty:

14" LCD:
2373-42x, 4Ax, A2x
2373-2Fx, 4Fx, 4Gx, 4Px, AFx
2373- 4Zx, 6Zx, 7Zx, AWx
2378-EMx
2378-DTx, DUx, ETx, EUx, FTx
2373-32x, 33x, 3Cx, 42x, 4Ax, 58x, 91x, 92x, 93x, 94x, 96x, 9Cx, A1x, A8x, A9x, G1x, G2x, G3x, G4x, G5x, G6x
2373-3Fx, 3Hx, 3Px, 5Qx, 5Rx, 9Ex, 9Fx, 9Gx, 9Jx, 9Hx, 9Kx, AEx, AJx, AKx, AMx, BHx, ANx, GEx, GGx, GHx, GJx, GKx, GLx, GMx
2373-3Ux, 3Zx, 9Ux, 9Vx, 9Wx, 9Yx, BTx, BVx, BXx, BYx, BZx, GRx, GSx, GTx, GVx, GXx, GYx, GZx, GWx, KTx, KUx
2374-9Cx
2374-3Hx, GGx
2374-8Wx, 9Wx, GTx
2378-DEx, EEx, EKx, ENx, EPx
2378-EVx, FVx
2379-D5U, D6U
2379-DJx, ESx

15" LCD:
2373-3Xx, 3Yx, 8Yx, AYx, BUx, CUx, Cvx, CWx, CXx, CYx, JXx
2374-3Xx
2378-DXx, EXx, EYx
2379-DXx, EYx
2373-AZx, HTx, HVx, HWx, HXx, HYx, KXx, KYx, KZx
2374-7Xx, HTx
2378-DYx, EZx
2379-DYx, EZx

List privided by G-Man in a previous posting
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nabeel · #4 Post by **Nabeel** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 12:20 pm

When you get the Bluetooth card (I have the FVU), and you put it in, doesn't that take out the wireless? Or does the Bluetooth have the wireless also built in?

Humpa · #5 Post by **Humpa** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 12:46 pm

Nabeel, the way I understand it, the Bluetooth is on the Communications Daughter Card (with the 56k modem). It is not on the wireless card.

The part number for the CDC w/Bluetooth is: 73P2818 (at least that's what it says on my order status). I have not been able to find it using the part locator on ibm.com.

The tabook says this about the CDC (for the models that have the Bluetooth antenna):

CDC Modem Bluetooth:

One Communications Daughter Card (CDC) socket / customer accessible
56K6 V.90 (V.92-designed29) modem in CDC / Conexant chipset
Some: Bluetooth wireless technology / in CDC (with modem)

Gonzo · #6 Post by **Gonzo** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:21 pm

You can always buy a BT PCMCIA card or a USB BT device if in the future you decide you need BT. BT does not need to be built in.
wjs

texref · #7 Post by **texref** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:42 pm

edelrc wrote:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Models that already have BT antenna in the LCD, so upgradeable without voiding the warranty:

14" LCD:
2373-42x, 4Ax, A2x
2373-2Fx, 4Fx, 4Gx, 4Px, AFx
2373- 4Zx, 6Zx, 7Zx, AWx
2378-EMx
2378-DTx, DUx, ETx, EUx, FTx
2373-32x, 33x, 3Cx, 42x, 4Ax, 58x, 91x, 92x, 93x, 94x, 96x, 9Cx, A1x, A8x, A9x, G1x, G2x, G3x, G4x, G5x, G6x
2373-3Fx, 3Hx, 3Px, 5Qx, 5Rx, 9Ex, 9Fx, 9Gx, 9Jx, 9Hx, 9Kx, AEx, AJx, AKx, AMx, BHx, ANx, GEx, GGx, GHx, GJx, GKx, GLx, GMx
2373-3Ux, 3Zx, 9Ux, 9Vx, 9Wx, 9Yx, BTx, BVx, BXx, BYx, BZx, GRx, GSx, GTx, GVx, GXx, GYx, GZx, GWx, KTx, KUx
2374-9Cx
2374-3Hx, GGx
2374-8Wx, 9Wx, GTx
2378-DEx, EEx, EKx, ENx, EPx
2378-EVx, FVx
2379-D5U, D6U
2379-DJx, ESx

List privided by G-Man in a previous posting
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know the website (or can give the URL of G-Man's post) of where you can find this information? I'm really thinking of getting the 2373-3VU from Bill's site if it can be easily (read: not having to void the waranty by removing the LCD) upgraded with bluetooth (as of now, my phone, headset and PDA have BT).

CantStopNow · #8 Post by **CantStopNow** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 8:01 pm

It's all listed in the Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM). I don't have a URL for it, as I have a copy on my PC already. The document is 13n6243.pdf.

I have the 3VU. Nothing, anywhere, indicates that it has the bluetooth antenna (I haven't exactly cracked open the LCD to double-check). It is a little disappointing, as it's just about the only model in its price range that doesn't, but you do get a lot of other things like the DVD burner. If you really want bluetooth as a builtin, you'll have to go for a different model.

G-Man · #9 Post by **G-Man** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 8:36 pm

14" models: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... GR-46502#5

15" models: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... GR-55304#4

System FRU parts list - ThinkPad T40/p, T41/p, T42/p: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46474

Hardware Maintenance Manual (April 2004) - ThinkPad T40/p, T41/p, T42/p: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46464

Regards,
G-Man

Hangfire · #10 Post by **Hangfire** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:07 pm

nowstime wrote: The cheapest bluetooth capacity laptop goes around $2200...but the same one with out the bluetooth (2378FVU) costs around $1900...

I believe you also get the three year warranty and 256mb more memory.

darrenf · #11 Post by **darrenf** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:50 pm

FYI: I purchased the BT-modem daughter card from the IBM parts site and the cost was $85 plus shipping and tax (IIRC).

-darren

akerman · #12 Post by **akerman** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 5:07 am

I don't think it's worth it.

There are no bluetooth stereo-headsets or headphones to my knowledge - so it's no good for music. Even if they did exist, you would probably be paying 90% of its price for the bluetooth parts

Is Bluetooth worth it?

Is Bluetooth worth it?

You're lucky

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