Logitech Mobile Freedom BT Headset Reviewed

[Pat Logsdon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/tips/logitech_mobile_freedom.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/tips/...ile_freedom.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Logitech is an established brand in the mobile accessory world. Their last generation Bluetooth wireless headset had amazing battery life, beating out most all other Bluetooth headsets we’ve tested in standby time and talk time. Logitech recently released their next generation Mobile Freedom Bluetooth wireless headset that features WindStop technology, a sleek design, Bluetooth 1.2 chipset, good battery life and an affordable price."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20041109_logitechbt.jpg" /><br /><br />Tong Zhang of pdabuyersguide has written an excellent and in-depth review of Logitech's new headset. It looks like a winner, as long as you don't mind a slightly lower outgoing volume level. Anyone have this? What do you think?

[q-live]

any news of when its coming out.... they pushed it back on some sites but everybody has a different date

[Pinnacle]

Mine shipped from Compusa.com today with 2-day FexEx shipping. So, I'll have a good idea on my opinion of it by the end of the week. I believe it just came available this week for everyone.

[Sven Johannsen]

It looks like a winner, as long as you don't mind a slightly lower outgoing volume level.

Well, everyone knows you have to talk louder when you are on a cell phone. That's why I'm looking so forward to them being allowed on airlines :?

[bkerrins]

I just ordered one...but I'll never see it. My wife's Christmas present. :) I'm using a plantronics M3000. Big...too big and I'm tired of everyone giving me a Star Trek salute.

[PoweriPaq]

I had this since last week. My friend worked at Logitech and he got me one. Small enough to fit in my pocket, just like my other bluetooth headset, but with no background noise. What the review said about this headset is what made me get one and so far, the review is right. I just hope not to accidentally turned off the headset when it's in my pocket.

So now I have Sony HBH-600 on sale, it's a Bluetooth headset that could pick up any noise from a mile away. It's great if you want your caller to ease drop on someone else's conversation. :roll:

[yowzator]

Any recommendation on where to buy this at? What is the average going price?

I did a search and found it at ecost.com for $39.95. Seems like a good deal, but I'm not sure its the new model or the old one. It does say it has WindStop, however. Here's the link:

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=512156&store=ecost&source=ECOSTCNET&adcampaign=email,ECOSTCNET

[Vidge]

I ordered mine from Logitech on 10/23. Called them today & they said they were supposed to start shipping 11/24. I'm going to check CompUSA again. If they have it, I'll cancel my Logitech order. My HBH-65 died yesterday & I desperately need a headset.

edit - checked CompUSA - site still shows shipping date of 11/30 :(

[Pinnacle]

Got mine from CompUSA.com today. The sound quality is so good, coming from the Jabra BT200. Callers seem to be able to hear me very well.

I'm trying to get used to the fit, though. The earphone potion sits over the top of the ear, rather than going into the ear. That's OK; my problem lies in the part that wraps around the ear, though. It just feels like the headset is going to fall off my ear too easy.

It works great, though. Maybe it's just getting used to a new headset, though. I will say that it's a bit larger than I expected, and it does stick out from the ear a bit.

[Vidge]

Got mine from CompUSA.com today. The sound quality is so good, coming from the Jabra BT200. Callers seem to be able to hear me very well.

I'm trying to get used to the fit, though. The earphone potion sits over the top of the ear, rather than going into the ear. That's OK; my problem lies in the part that wraps around the ear, though. It just feels like the headset is going to fall off my ear too easy.

It works great, though. Maybe it's just getting used to a new headset, though. I will say that it's a bit larger than I expected, and it does stick out from the ear a bit.

Hmm - wonder if I should try ordering from them? Site still shows shp date 11/30

[q-live]

went to cnet.com trying to find the cheapest place.... the only thing is that the 2 places that have it for 39.99 (ecost &amp; onsale) is saying now that they wont get theirs untill dec 12th ( IM SICK OF FFFF WAITING) but i dont wanna spend any more for it especially since both of them have free shipping and everybody else is charging to much for shipping. Is there anyplace else thats cheap at least in the 40's with free shipping???

[Vidge]

I got mine today after ordering it originally from Logitech on 10/23. Five weeks of waiting and the stupid thing doesn't work properly. :( I've been used to dialing from my PDA using a T610 and having the call transfer to my HBH-65 headset. This thing maintained a persistent connection to my phone and wouldn't allow dialing from the PDA. I'm really upset. And I paid full price for it :mad: I have arranged to return it and I ordered it thru Amazon.com instead. They have it for $47.95. They also have a promotion going to get a $30 certificate if you get their credit card. Supposedly, you can apply this to any purchase over $30, so I tried to use it to get the price down to $17.95, but I couldn't get it to take. Right now, my Amazon order isn't showing up. If I can't get the certificate, I'll cancel the order &amp; try again. $17.95 plus shipping would be sweet.

[Vidge]

It pays to read the fine print of the Amazon.com promotion:
Offer may not be used in conjunction with the purchase of products sold by third parties on our site, including Babies "R" Us, Circuit City, Office Depot, Target, or Toys "R" Us, or through third-party areas such as Amazon Marketplace, :(

Oh well. Still is significantly cheaper that the one I got from Logitech

[Vidge]

Just a followup: got my replacement headset today and it exhibits the same problem. I tried to call Logitech but their tech support closes at 5pm! Anyway, I arranged to return this one, too. Guess an HBH-600 is next to try.

[Paul]

How do other normal bluetooth headsets behave differently?

[yowzator]

Vidge,

I was planning to get this headset, but your comments have me thinking twice. Could you explain in more detail why the headset won't work for you?

I have an ipaq 1945 and a T610, so it sounds like a similar setup to what you have. Is the problem that the headset will only connect to one device at a time?

I don't normally dial from my PDA, but I suppose if I had a headset, I might do that more often. Since my phone has all my contacts synced to it as well, it isn't as much of an issue for me.

Besides this one thing, what are your thoughts on the device?

Thanks!

[Jonathon Watkins]

Besides this one thing, what are your thoughts on the device?Thanks!

Agreed. Vidge, could you please give us more details about this? I am interested in this headset, but this has me concerned.

[Vidge]

First of all, I use both a Palm T3 and an hp4155. I have been using an HBH-65 headset with my T610 phone. I store all of my numbers in my PDA and dial the number from the PDA. This dials the phone and the call is then transferred to my headset. I'm no BT guru but my understanding is that in order to do this, the connections are not simultaneous ones but operate serially, ie, first the PDA connects to the phone (to dial the #) and then disconnects, then the phone connects to the headset. When the call is completed, the headset disconnects from the phone. This is could determine visually - there is a little headset icon when the headset is connected that disappears when the call is over.

What this Logitech headset did is to stay continuously connected to the phone, prohibiting anything else from connecting to the phone, EVEN WHEN NOT ON A CALL. The little headset icon never disappeared and my PDA could not connect to the phone. This was a deal breaker for me.

Other than that, the headset was fine. Lightweight and comfortable, good sound quality. I didn't keep it long enough to verify the battery life claims.

Does that answer y'all's questions?

[yowzator]

Thanks for clarifying things. I use my T610 to connect my PPC to the internet via GPRS. If I have to enable/disable the headset to do this, it would be an issue for me as well.

Furthermore, it would be nice to be able to use the headset from both the phone and the PPC so that I could listen to music from the PPC, use VOIP apps on the PPC, and so forth. I don't even know if this is possible, but I assume it is. But it would require the headset to be able to connect to multiple devices.

Does anyone have a BT headset that they can do this with? How well do you like it?

[silentmuse]

I agree, that would be a dealbreaker for me - i use my hbh-35 with my pda and T616. I wouldn't want the persistent connection either. I'd be interested to know if anyone gets this thing to work without the persistance....