E-Blue Mini Nova USB Bluetooth Adapter

Reviews: Networking

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Max Slowik
Beth
N/A
Sep. 30, 2008

Specifications

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Specifications

Features:

- Connects most Bluetooth devices. Supports A2DP up to 30Meter
- Enables wireless connectivity between computers and devices
- Enables connectivity to 7 Bluetooth devices at once
- Enables Wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) connectivity
- Bluetooth 1.1 compliant
- Bluetooth class 2, compatible with Bluetooth class 1
- USB 1.1 compliant
- More than 33 feet wireless networking range
- Up to 723 Kbps data rate
- Super mini size, easy to carry
- Easy to install and use
- Dimension: 14 x 19 x 6mm (approx.)
- Weight: 2g

Requirements:

- Notebook or desktop computers, with 500 MHz CPU or higher, 256 MB RAM or higher, 50 MB of free hard disk space, and one free USB port
- Mac OS 10.1.4 or later
- Windows ME, 2000, XP, Vista

Package contents:

- Tiny USB Bluetooth V2.0+EDR Adapter
- Driver CD
- User Guide

Testing

It's just perfect that the driver disk is one of those cut-down CDs. I remember when the little CDRs were a threat to flash-based media players... (And yet, I think the UMD is lame--but I digress.)

I had also hoped that Vista would automagically have all the drivers for the adapter, mainly because I've been abused by so much third-party networking software (weird little applications that they can be). And this was no exception: it tried to install some alien software when the CD loaded. Fortunately, it wasn't necessary. The drivers aren't packaged in with the software and it's possible to install only the drivers and use Windows' included manager instead.

It's worth saying that I did install the software anyway, and it's harmless. I couldn't find anything inherently objectionable about it, but it also didn't do anything special, so I just uninstalled it. The adapter doesn't mandate any Nova-specific software, but it does require a heaping pile of drivers. The install process took a (relatively) long time, because Windows requires sub-drivers for all the potentially-supported Bluetooth devices. This is normal, FYI.

Besides XP, Vista and OS X 10.1.4 and greater are supported.

Once installed, I paired up the handful of devices I had laying around. Each worked flawlessly, and at long range. It maintained the connection well over thirty feet, and speaking and listening weren't interrupted, even when I left my laptop inside while I walked around outside.

Quality, on the other hand, was definitely worse than using the same Bluetooth devices with my cell phone. Signal noise, either ambient or from my laptop, filtered into the connection both ways. Devices that work impeccably with my cell phone were comparatively scratchy, soft, or distant. The difference was what you'd expect between your average .mp3 and FM radio, which admittedly isn't shameful, but would absolutely prevent me from using it for, say, music.

That said, the connections didn't drop or freak out, they just sounded low-quality. It's good enough for Skype, that's for sure.

I also have a wireless Apple Ultra-Thin keyboard, so that had to get the Bluetooth test, too. And it worked. Can't beat that.

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Page 1: Introduction, First Impressions
Page 2: Specifications, Testing
Page 3: Conclusion

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Headphones December 22, 2004

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2 User Comments

1 - Posted by GaryJohnson on October 1, 2008 - 12:12 pm

$30 and a month and a day? You can get one of these things from NewEgg for $20 in 3 days.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...

2 - Posted by Kurtis on October 1, 2008 - 5:07 pm

Gary: Thanks for the link. I wouldn't be surprised if it's got the same guts with a slightly revised body. This review was written a while back and was just sitting in our posting queue, for what it's worth. :)

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