WHat is Bluetooth?
 

OK, I'm not really up to speed on technology...at least not as much as I'd like to be.

That said, went looking at PDAs today and the sales guy tells me that I want to get one that has bluetooth...I say ok and that I'll be back.

What is bluetooth exactly and why would I want it? Please answer like I'm two years old--use small, easy words.

Thanks!

Think of it as short range, wireless USB. Its being used a lot in cell phones and PDA's and the like. If you get close enough to a Bluetooth equipped notebook, it will auto recognize the wireless device and do any necessary interfacing.

so ya mean, kinda like infra red connections except 360 degrees instead of line-of-sight connection?

Impressive website, but I'm still not sold on it. For something as old as Bluetooth, it sure hasn't caught on at all. I remember reading tech articles about it 5 years ago.

Right, bluetooth uses RF communications so a direct line of sight connection is not needed....though most of the bluetooth connected devices are meant to be used in close proximity to each other

thanks for explaining it...not sure it is worth the extra $$$

i personally would rather have the wireless lan capabilities...

I like bluetooth, its going to be a lot more common as usual new technology is slow to catch on in the USA, but its appearing on a lot of devices, even here, its a lot simpler than 802.xx so it can be integrated into more things cheaply.

Bluetooth is growing - its getting to be hugely popular in mobiles (which are probably the main item driving the uptake), there are a few digital cameras with it. Sony do a couple of Camcorders with B/T. Several cars are coming shipped with it for true handsfree mobile phone operation.

Okay, its taken a while to come along, but I think it is finally really starting to take off.

Odds are though that you won't need it on your PDA though (at least in this case) - it'll come with a standard USB connection for synching up to your desktop PC.