I suppose I should jot down my needs for a bluetooth headset – my specifications of what I’m looking for in a new headset.

What I’m after this time around is beyond pure technology stats (that’s how I used to shop for tech), and into convienence, style, function, ease of use and appearance.  So I’m pretty much looking for something most people would be after today.  If I followed my “old” mode, I’d jump on something like the feature-laden Jabra BT800 (neat stuff), but there are several drawbacks to that device (and many pros too), so I truely have to evaluate and rate the choices available before I buy.

So here it goes “The Mobile Lifestyle – Bluetooth Headset” specifications:

1. Size – Smaller, this unit should be less obtrusive than the “Borg-like” BT200 that wrapped around your ear like some bionic implant that protrudes from the skull
2. Weight – should feel “like its not even there”
3. Style – Over the ear, the style that uses a “hanging” device that holds the unit directly in front of the ear
4. Price – I’m not too concerned with price at this point.  Honestly, I want the best device for me – if it costs too much, I just won’t be buying a new headset, its that simple.  To put a dollar amount on it, I don’t want to go beyond $100US (we’ll see)
5. Bluetooth – Version 1.2
6. Color – Black, Gray, or silver
7. Talk Time – At least 6 hours, though its not a big issue with me.  All I need is to use it for about an hour or two a day – I’ve never had more phone time than that.
8. Standby Time – Several days, though I would think I’d shut it off at night, even though I don’t shut my phone off
9. Nice to have – Would be nice to have it support more than one connection profile.  Meaning that I would like to seamlessly move the connection from my phone to my computer to use with Skype and other VoIP systems.

Well, there they are.  My needs, wants and desires in a bluetooth headset.  I’ve already started researching devices, and I think the hardest part of this is going to be obtaining test units to review.

What do you think – does this list fit your needs/wants?  What would you add or change on this list?  I’m open to adding requirements to the list while working on this project – just let me know!

Well, its time for me to purchase a new bluetooth headset.  I’ve had headsets in the past and the fact that I don’t have one at the moment is odd for me.

My last headset was the (infamous) Jabra BT200.  At the time, I enjoyed the idea of a behind-the-ear headset, and it felt quite good on my ear.  I’ve got medium-large ears and so it worked well for me.  The “earbud” that dumped the audio directly into the ear canal, provided superb sound quality for my purposes.  Of course, there was the problem with range and battery life, but that was then and this is now.

So I’m off on a journey to discover and aquire a new headset this summer.  I’m going to try and investigate the low-end to the high-end, and periodically report back here on my findings.  Will it be another Jabra?  Will it be a easily replacable affordable unit?  Will it be a high-end unit that also makes my coffee?  We’ll find out.

To start with, I’m going to try the Motorola H500 – it seems to get good reviews, and many people have purchased it and enjoy it.  So that is my starting point, and I’ll work around the interesting headsets from there.  Where possible I’ll get some photos and some mini-reviews where possible.