Review: Motorola PC850 Bluetooth Adapter

In our age of technology, gadgets have gotten smaller and faster. The real power (as far as I’m concerned anyway) is in the mobility that recent technological advances have given us.

The Bluetooth standard is one of the major stepping stones that has enabled device manufacturers to move away from the traditional wires that tether us to our desks like the proverbial ball and chain. From our mobile phones themselves, to the wireless headsets and headphones that are being forced on us from all corners, Bluetooth technology has removed the restriction of wires. Many laptop and desktop computers are coming with Bluetooth capability built in, but what is the best way to add Bluetooth without buying a brand new machine? An inexpensive Bluetooth adapter like the Motorola PC850 is just what the doctor ordered. Read on for all the details on the PC850.

With as much trouble as Motorola has been in recently (see here, and here, and here), it’s nice to know that it isn’t because their products have been suffering the last few years. Their Q handhelds (Q9, Q9h, etc.) are some of the most loved Windows Mobile Standard devices on the market, and the PC850 Bluetooth Adapter is another example of what they are capable of.

Physical Design

Yeah, I know it’s just a USB adapter, but the ability to add Bluetooth to your aging computer without cracking the case is a really good thing. The PC850 comes in the form factor that has become so familiar with everything from USB memory sticks to Wi-Fi network adapters. Anybody who has used something with that particular form factor (particularly with a laptop) can tell you that it has both and up and a down side. The good news is that installation (at least of the hardware) couldn’t be any simpler, just plug it into an empty USB port. The bad news is that if you aren’t careful when moving the computer around, you can easily bend or break the USB plug off.

Aside from the issues with the form factor, the PC850 is as good as it gets. There is a single blue (What other color would it be?) LED on the top of the adapter that gives you some feedback on what is going on.

Installation and Configuration

The product page on the WMExperts store states that this product is not compatible with Windows Vista, I found that to be half true. The software package available from the Motorola product page does install, and the product is usable, but only after no less than 10 pop-ups saying that the driver publisher couldn’t be verified…and are you very (very very) sure that you want to continue…? My test install on XP was much less exciting, and worked with less configuration.

Conclusion

The Motorola PC850 Bluetooth Adapter ($34.95 from the WMExperts Store) is a (fairly) inexpensive and (mostly) easy way to add Bluetooth capability to your computer. The problem is the install on Vista is not fully supported (which anyone running Vista should be used to anyway), and even on XP requires some mojo. However, if you want to wirelessly sync your handheld, or listen to your music through Bluetooth headphones, or just like the geek factor…I would still recommend the PC850.