vB Easy Archive - Digital Bluespoon -- My First Two Hours

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Digital Bluespoon -- My First Two Hours
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Posted by: LarryH

DHL finally managed to get the unit to me. (Though not integral to this review, I'd NEVER use this service, given the choice.)

It needs to be said that this is my FIRST Bluespoon unit. But it is not my first headset -- I have the HBH-30 and HBH-60. Some of my comments will therefore be those of a "first-timer."

I had no problem opening the box. I've opened a number of boxes and this one presented no particular problems. The lid flipped right up.

I flipped through the instruction manual and got the thing charging straight off. As with others here, it was fully charged (red light off) within an hour. YAY.

During that hour, I perused the enclosed CD which helped with the "how to wear" issues.

My first impression was, "OUCH!, this thing is UNCOMFORTABLE!" I've read the posts, Mark's particularly (though I have to read with a Southern accent and that slows me down some) and I read about the "learning curve." Though often it's true that one must be motivated to use a product, not everyone will be. I am, though I can't fathom how I could "put it in differently" that would make a difference.

The discomfort seems to come, not from the spring, but from the earpiece itself. It might be that, over the years, my earholes have closed down having had to listen to so many a-holes. Nonethess, first impressions are that the earpiece "hurts." This is all exacerbated by the action of pressing the buttons.

I'm not sure whether I have the hard or soft case (I requested the soft) but pressing the buttons only serves to press the thing into my ear and cause more discomfort. The two button press (to disconnect) is downright Spanish Inquisitional.

As I said, I'm going to keep with this thing to see what changes but I believe that someone's reactions, brand new to BS, do have some merit. After all, we all know what's said about "first impressions."

That HUGE negative aside -- let's move on. I had to hop into my car since I have virtually no cellular reception at home. A block and a half is all it takes to do the trick.

Initially, voice recognition was fine. That was until I tried dialing "Laine home" (pronounced Lay-nee). It kept dialing "Larry home." Now if Laine lived at home with me, that would be great -- but she doesn't. I picked up my HBH-30 (which I much prefer to the HBH-60) and tried it. No problem. It was able to discriminate between the two voice tags. I re-recorded the Laine tag and then the BS was able to make the call correctly.

After a couple of calls and intentional disconnects, I was considering ear surgery (ouch!). But I forged on.

I did find Laine and she reported a clear connection. But she is a girl and not technically critical. I phoned a guy -- he reported a clear, though somewhat slightly "tinny" sound. When I phoned back on my HBH-30, he said the timbre was better.

Sound quality was more than acceptable though reception, too, was slightly on the tinny side compared to the HBH-30.

I drove home. Hadda anesthetize my ear.

First impressions: Cool little device. Extremely uncomfortable (yes, Mark, I know

) I will continue to experiment with this fascinating puppy and continue with any upgrades that may come our way. But -- if I was an off-the-shelf consumer, I'd be seriously hanging on to my HBH-30.

As I said at the opening, this is how the Digital Bluespoon struck THIS new customer from the get go. I'm not implying that anyone's experience will be comparable. It's all here for all of us to learn.

Onward.

Posted by: Bengalboy

Well Larry, you need to learn the technique of placing your thumb behind the BlueSpoon while pressing the buttons with your forefinger, especially both buttons at the same time. This will take the pressure off your ear canal........ Keep practicing and let us know what your caller thinks about the difference between the HBH-30 and the Digital while standing next to a cement mixer.....

Glad to see you finally received it.

Posted by: Genghis Khent

LarryH, howdy neighbor. I also live in Studio City. Given your comments re lack of reception at home, we probably live next door to each other

Question: Where did you buy your Digital Bluespoon?

Posted by: LarryH

I joined up with Mark's Beta Test gang. We're mean, we're rough and we have calloused ears!

It was a "first 25 people to sign up" thing.

Posted by: vwvwvw

A very entertaining review Larry... I lol several times. :laughs:

Posted by: RandyTodd

Larry, When I first used a Bluespoon I had a very similar experience. In fact, following all guidelines it still causes some discomfort at times. But I really like the BS. And the digital seems to be better although I have not completed all my beta testing. I have tried every bluetooth headset and liked most of them, at least something about them but, I like the bluespoon most. Sometimes. like today, I wear it for hours while traveling and I find that if I take it out when it bothers me for a few minutes then all is OK when I put it back in. You can also try the softer spring and like others have said, you have to insert it carefully. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine - good luck!

Randy Todd

Posted by: LarryH

I should add (I was distracted with my ear in a bowl of ice water) that I, too, thought the volume could be louder. It was fine, turned all the way up on both BS and P800 -- but I'd like a little more "range," just in case.

Posted by: vwvwvw

Larry ur funny :laughs:
BTW does your med insurance cover Beta Testing?

Posted by: LarryH

3VW -- It might if Nextlink promises never to make a toilet seat.

Posted by: woedee

:laughs: Great review, Larry!

Posted by: jeffharris

Hi Larry,

Funny enough, I think now it really isn't so related to earhole size, as it is shape. I experienced this Danish Torture Chamber of Ear Pain when I got my analogue BS. For a week, the redness and pain experience was so bad, I couldn't even sleep on my right side. I couldn't take it, but Mark, and I think Jalal, who also got it about the same time, and experienced the same thing, kept me going. But I persisted, twisted, turned, and felt pain like the dickens (is that right, Mark ??

) and took the pain like a high tech man. After a week, it was surprisingly fine. I think my ear "shaped" to the BS.

Now, I got my digital, I gave my analogue to my wife, who had never tried the bluespoon. She has quite petite ears, and I was expecting PMS II (actually, she doesn't have PMS I, THANKFULLY). Well, she popped in that li'l Danish Platypus lookalike, had no trouble placing it correctly, after I showed her just once, and I'll be damned if I barely see her during the day without it. She has NO pain -- and she wears the battery out every day ... and this is not a tecchie girl -- as a matter of fact, if you ask her how the BS gets voice from her T610, her response would probably be "magic". She doesn't even know what bluetooth IS, and she is using it from moment one flawlessly.

Anyway, just another persons story.

Posted by: epark21

LarryH, I've had some initial discomfort as well when I got my original analog bluespoon last November. Coming off of the Jabra BT200 (with the one size fits all soft gel), it took quite some time to get used to the hard plastic. The trick I've found is to not force it into your ear canal. Only a small part (the tip with the speaker) needs to be inserted. The rest of it really sits in the "outer hole" of your ear. Anyways, hope that helps.

On a side note, I'm having a couple of minor issues with my digital bluespoon but overall, it's working great.