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View Full Version : Bluetooth vs(?) WiFi


Reggie
01-14-2003, 11:08 AM
I know this bluetooth has been compared with WiFi before but now that more and more devices use them, let's re-evaluate them.

As I see it, bluetooth is for interoperablity between small devices. It consumes less power, probably less secure but probably the best solution to connect devices with one another. Some bluetooth ready devices: cellphones, headsets, keyboard, mouse, print servers, modems, etc.

As for WiFi, I think of it as a fast, more secure data line. I like the idea that it is not integrated in the Clie due to power consuption, but I like the idea of having it as an ad-on or integrated on a laptop since you can connect to a wireless network if you need to. One thing I dont like is the fast introduction of standards (802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g) that are not compatible with each other.

So what do I think is in store in the future? For bluetooth, every home/office appliance should have it. Cars should have them too. Remote controls should be replaced by bluetooth, or have the Clie control the whole house, start the car heater while dressing up in the morning on a snowy day, download/upload MP3 between your car and the PC. Small personal accessories like rings can act as a small bluetooth hard drive and act as a key to your home/car or a place where you can save you powerpoint file for a meeting presentation. Well I guess you all get my point.

For WiFi, just a 'fast enough' version that will become the standard for most networks, or wireless cards that can connect to several standards, similar to the 10/100 LAN cards now.

As for Sony, I've seen a video ('FEEL') a year ago that shows exactly what I have been talking about, and reading on their new products they have announced in CES, I think they are really focused on achieving all these -- either by using bluetooth or some other new protocol that gets invented in the future.

What do you all think?

Muzikfreakah
01-15-2003, 04:35 AM
Way to go reg! No one could have said things better. In fact, there are car companies that suppurt bluetooth already like BMW and i think SAAB.

Although BT still needs some imrovements though like for example, while sending data from the clie to the laptop/pc you still need to click accept on the pc which really defeats the purpose of having the 30-100 meter distance factor. There should be an option for auto accept of something like that.

Another comment would be to have cheaper access point on both BT and WiFi, price wise, it would still be more practical to have a utp cabled network for a small home or office.

Nonetheless, we are looking at a very wireless future :)

sratner
01-15-2003, 11:43 AM
Apparently 802.11g is going to be the next update... 56mbs compared to 802.11b which is 11mbs ... and the good thing is that 802.11g is backward compatable with 802.11b... which is why it is better and more likely to be the most implemented... 802.11a dosent seem to be taking off because it is not backward compatible....

just my 2cents......

buckethead
01-16-2003, 01:17 AM
longer range for bt devices

Muzikfreakah
01-16-2003, 06:35 PM
wow! 56 mbps?? that sounds fantastic man!

windex82
01-16-2003, 07:44 PM
You forget to mention bluethooth has a range of 10m ~30ft, runs in a un-licensed un-restricted frequency

802.11b and 802.11g are interoperable, both have a range of around 150-200m, run in the 2.4ghz band so microwaves and phones are an issue

802.11a only works with 802.11a, has a range of 25-75m rance, but runs in the 3 (or was it 5?) ghz spectrum, and has a lower total user capibility.