Good Ideas In Wireless Accessories

Wireless devices have been around for a long time, but in recent years have become both more reliable and more useful. It's worth taking a look at what's out there to see how going wireless can help improve your computing and other high-tech experiences.

Bluetooth Headsets – One of the best developments in recent years have been Bluetooth headsets, mainly for use with cell phones.

A number of states are mandating that drivers must use a headset if they want to use a cell phone while driving. Having a Bluetooth headset can make a world of difference in minimizing distractions and maximizing safety when it comes to cell use at the wheel.

A Bluetooth headset allows you to accept calls automatically without having to reach for a cell phone. On many headsets audio quality is as good or better than it will be using the phone itself, and the person on the other end of the call will often notice the difference as well.

Optional voice dialing plans available with some carriers and phones also allow users to make calls without using a keypad, which can be extremely useful for those needing to make calls from their vehicles.

If the phone is used for music playback and is stereo capable, Bluetooth stereo headsets such as the Motorola HT820 provide full stereo while continuing to serve as a phone headset.

Costs of Bluetooth headsets have fallen dramatically over the last year, with discounted units selling for under $25.

Wireless Keyboard/Mouse Combos – Many PC users have gone to using Wireless keyboard and mice over the past few years. The main reason for doing so has been to eliminate the need for cords to be running across desktops and workspaces, and the optical mouse has largely eliminated the need for mouse pads.

However, a somewhat harder to find item can be even more useful – the wireless keyboard containing a built-in pointing device.

The keyboards come in three general types, those with a trackball, others with a joystick that also functions as a mouse, and a few that feature a laptop-style touchpad with mouse buttons.

The trackballs in these keyboards are optical as well, allowing for greater precision and avoiding dirt. Mouse buttons and scroll wheels are located elsewhere on the keyboard, and most normal buttons including volume control, media playback and related functions are also enabled.

On keyboards with a mini-joystick, the joystick functions as either a mouse or a game controller, which can be especially handy for PC gamers who have their PC's hooked up to large monitors in a living room-type setting.

A third style featuring a laptop-style touchpad functions much the same as a laptop keyboard, with touch tapping and mouse buttons.

Many newer HDTV monitors have PC style DVI or VGA inputs, and computers designed for gaming and HD or Blu-Ray high-definition DVD playback are becoming more common. Hooking a PC up to one of these large monitors can make a huge difference, especially for gamers.

Both laptop and desktop computers are also available with Digital TV tuners and TIVO-style capture capability, making the long-touted Media Center PC ever-closer to reality, especially when used with a wireless keyboard combo.

Tom Meek is a computer and media consultant working with businesses and individuals on high-tech needs. Another Day In Cyberville is published weekly in print and online via The Gainesville Voice, a weekly publication of The New York Times Regional Newspaper Group. You can reach Tom Meek at adayincyberville@gmail.com.