-
stars
"JABRA MAKES GIGANTIC MISTAKE IN THIS PRODUCT!" on by Jim McMahon
Pros: Lligh, good battery life
Cons: USES NON-STANDARD USB CONNCTION
Summary: I previously have been using a BT250 headset, and have been happy with it EXCEPT for the funky charging situation. So I was pleased when I heard that the BT500 would offer USB charging (I currently own a Motorola V3, which charges using a standard USB cable).
Jabra however, instead of using a mini USB connection on the headset has substituted a non-standard connection that only connects to Jabra's SPECIAL cable.
For those road warriors expecting to eliminate gear from their travel case with this headset, THINK AGAIN. Jabra has again made a gigantic mistake with their continued use of non-standard charging regimes.
The headset is just as comfortable as the previous BT250, however doesn't seem to play as loud.
Please note the non-standard USB charging before buying this item. I was very diappointed with this BAD engineering decision.
- 5 replies to this review
-
Come on. This is nitpicking on the charging options. Most hardware only has two ways to charge a device, AC and Car adapter. This has three and not only that the third is off the USB!!<br><br>I find this unit to be better than satisfactory and way better than the two Motorola headsets I have had in past years.
-
if you are going to take the time to make a review, at least give one that gives a general feel for the product.<br>a "2" because of the cable?<br>they give you a free cable in the box!<br>are you too lazy to pack the cable in your laptop case, it is only about 5 inches long.<br>i'm tired of people trashing products because they have a narrow version of what is "good".<br>it's like reviewing a car and saying "they don't have a standard gas cap" and the cap is permanantly affixed to the vehicle via a plastic strap.<br>who cares!<br>you get a gas cap with the car and if you don't break it off and lose it, you will have it for the life of the car.<br>does the headset work, is it easy to pair, can you hear clearly...etc.<br>that is a review in my opinion.
-
Actually the mini usb connector on the Jabra is perfectly standard. It's not the most common one but not uncommon at all. I got a totally generic after market ziplinq cable with the same connector at Radio Shack and it works fine on the Jabra. Look up Radio Shack catalog number 26-707. Works perfectly. The reason they make and sell that is because there are lots of cameras and mp3 players and other things that use it.
-
I can understand how you can see the included USB port as "non-standard;" I mean every new component using USB is using one particular kind of cable (USB Mini B 5-pin). So why would Jabra choose to buck the current and use a "non-standard" cable like this? The short answer: form factor. The connecter they chose to use (USB Mini A 4-pin) is much smaller and thinner than its 5-pin brother, and since it only is needed for the power, there was no need for the larger form factor or the extra pin.<br><br>I'm on the road a lot, so I always need some kind of funky cable which is not readily available where I am. So I got one of those retractable cable kits that allows you to change the ends on it. It happens to have a mini A 4pin adapter, so I'm all set. I know it's not the same one that your cell phone or your MP3 player probably uses, but it is still a USB cable. They also include in the package a 1-ft USB A male to USB mini A 4pin cable. I know it's an extra component to carry, but 1) it's just a cable, and 2) at least it's not a power converter...
-
It's an outstanding design and very comfortable to wear. The charging option via usb works fine and is protected against inserting a classic mini usb connector. But the poor volume level (even at highest) makes it unusable in noisy environments like a car. So it sits on my desk being beautiful and sadly stays there. Don't.
Write a Review
Online Stores
| Store | Promotions | In Stock | Price | Total Cost | Initial Sort Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | No | Yes | Tax: TBD Ship: TBD | $34.99 Shop Now | |
| See all prices | |||||
