Does regular PC keyboard work w/Pocket PC? What hardware works w/PPC's Bluetooth?

[Typhoon]

Two questions:

1) Does a regular Bluetooth PC Keyboard work w/Bluetooth PDAs? I have a Dell X50v.

2) What Bluetooth hardware works w/PDAs? (Mouse?)

[Sven Johannsen]

At this point no. One thing missing from all PPC BT implementations at this point is an HID (Human Interface Device) profile. That means that the standard implementation of BT keyboards, mice, etc. don't work. The BT keyboards that exist today require instaling a driver for that keyboard. A couple of the keyboards such as TO and Brando, have drivers for a variety of PPCs. HP sells one that has drivers that seem to be specific to HP PPCs

For the X50, I have installed the Dell BT Keyboard with the Dell drivers and gotten it to work, though Dells site is wishy washy about it. I did find that establishing multiple connections, Keyboard and AS, or KB and GPRS, required me to connect the keyboard first, but it did work. Since that is the TO keyboard with a Dell logo on it, others have used the TO drivers with a bit better luck I believe. The TO option has the plus of also supporting their BT Mouse, but the disadvantage of lacking a dedicated number row.

Check the threads here about the Brando keyboard as far as working with the Dell. If you really like the HP keyboard, I think your only option would be to buy an HP PPC to use it with ;)

As far as other BT hardware, to PC with BT capability, BT Modems, BT GPS, to internet through BT cell phone, transfer data from BT barcode scanner, BT headset, and headphones.

[Typhoon]

cool thanks... lol I can't think of any good reason to have bluetooth. I use to use BT for wireless internet, but now I use Wi-Fi. I guess another good reason is for syncing...

[Sven Johannsen]

cool thanks... lol I can't think of any good reason to have bluetooth. I use to use BT for wireless internet, but now I use Wi-Fi. I guess another good reason is for syncing...

Unless you are fortunate enough to live somewhere that is blanketed by WiFi, there is still some use for BT to the Cell phone for GPRS data connectivity.

I think my biggest use though is the BT GPS. No cable between the PPC and the GPS. On short trips, within the battery life of the PPC, no cable at all. Up to 6-8 hours I just need to power the PPC. Beyond that i need to get juice to both devices.