Cheap OSX compatible bluetooth dongle

SouperComputer

as per subject, can anyone reccomend somewhere I can pick one up at a good price that likes OS X

case_sensitive

I bought the MSI Bluetooth dongle from Komplett.ie a while back, works a treat.

SouperComputer

super, i have an order coming soon so ill pile it with that.

Cheers!

case_sensitive

I meant this one:
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/communication/cmu/pro_cmu_detail.php?UID=326

which komplett don't seem to have at the moment. But it's not explicitly supported in OS X, so I imagine that just about any dongle will work (with the bluetooth upgrade for 10.3 ).

Works with Salling Clicker, Apple wireless keyboard, MacMice BT Mouse, Nokia 6600 sync, anything I've thrown at it. Apparently, external (non BTO) dongles don't facilitate kypresses before boot up, so you can't hold hold 'c' as you boot without wired keyboard, so don't chuck it out yet.
Personal reviews?
Buy the apple wireless keyb, it's brilliant.
Don't buy the BT mouse, it's not.

deevey

I borroed a friends one to test and it worked just fine outta the package no driver or anything needed dispite it saying windoze only ...

they had them for 29 euro a few weeks ago in maplin .. little transparent blue class 1 dongle .. unfortunalty dont remember the name but they seem to be standard stock ..i'v seen them in there since.. forever

flywheel

SouperComputer wrote:

as per subject, can anyone reccomend somewhere I can pick one up at a good price that likes OS X

while most (CSR Based) Bluetooth adapters will work and offer most profiles, Apple only provide the built-in modules and D-Link's DBT-120 USB adapter with firmware updates and support the use of headset/printer profiles - saw the DBT-120 in IT Direct on Parliament St on Sat for under Eur 40

the firmware update can be applied to the internal module or the DBT-120 USB adapter (Revision B2 or later). you can see the Revision details on the back of the box or the label of the adapter printed beside H/W, more info:
http://www.dlink.com/products/support.asp?pid=34

one thing to take note about is the Apple firmware update will render the USB adapter incompatible with Windows

Hugh_C

DubWireless wrote:

one thing to take note about is the Apple firmware update will render the USB adapter incompatible with Windows

is there an eprom in them or something? incompatible for ever?

flywheel

that's the warning given by Apple on the Firmware download pages, and it stopped my D-Link one working with Windows after I applied it

the adapter is flash-able, most CSR ones are but depends on the vendor if they supply new firmware and the flashing app to update it, not very common, i've only ever got flashes from TDK and Apple (for the D-Link one)

i've not see an flash publically available to restore the adapter to it's previous state, D-Link would likely have the definitive answer...

Ruaidhri

using a MSI BToes adaptor here..works perfectly. no problems at all. pretty cheap too..l got mine from overclockers.co.uk.

flywheel

most (CSR Based) Bluetooth adapters will work and offer most profiles

yeah the MSI ones use CSR chipsets - for anyone who wants the enhancements offered by Apple's Bluetooth updates though it's worth getting the D-Link as it's available for under Eur 40 at this stage

deevey

Oh by the way the one in maplin in this one here

Its 29 in the uk. i think its 39 here now though- and no probs in windows or "x" (needs drivers in windows though) range is the same 100m as the MSI being a class1

parsi

I use one that I bought on Boards - it is from a Microsoft Keyboard and works a treat with Salling, Romeo, normal BT etc. No drivers needed, no firmware upgraded or anything...

flywheel

The vast majority of USB adapters will work by just plugging them in, as the vast majority of USB adapters are based on the CSR chipset which Apple's built in Bluetooth system works with...

The reason anyone who is about to get a Bluetooth adapter for their Mac should at least consider the D-Link one above any others is Keyboard/Mouse compatibility and some extra profiles only available to it. Apple have developed firmware updates for that adapter (and the internal module) to offer improved compatibility with the Apple Keyboard and Mouse and to also offer some extra Bluetooth profiles (e.g. Printing and Headset).