Tech Review 2011 Part 2

Every now and then, I like to point out products and services that either really stink on ice, or perform really well and deserve praise.  I am happy to say this post revolves around the latter.  (Click here and here to read about other product and service reviews).  This post is Part 2 from my Tech Review 2011Part 1 post.

So, with every good phone, you need a good Bluetooth.  I am a very particular Bluetooth type of guy, meaning, I am weird.  I do not like things sticking in my ear; it irritates the hell out of me.  Everyone at my gym uses ear buds, and I get the chills – my ears actually hurt for them.  I am the only guy in there using full sized studio headphones while working out – I like the speakers the cup over my ears.  So, like my old phone, I held on to my old Bluetooth because it met my weirdness criteria.  It was a Motorola H350 with a partially open arm that went over the ear. 

My original Motorola H350

The speaker was relatively flat, so it did not protrude into the ear canal.  The only problem was the arm of the unit wasn’t very stiff, so if I leaned to the side that it was on, it would pull away from my ear or fall off entirely.  However, it had good sound quality, and a decent range, plus I didn’t use it that often given that when I was on the phone, I really wasn’t doing anything else, e.g., texting or web surfing, in other words, I didn’t need my hands free.  However, it finally died soon after I got my new phone.  No really, it did – I started using it everyday, and the speaker just gave out.  After 4 good years of service, it was time to replace it.  However, just like with ear buds for MP3 players, everyone loves the kind that sticks in your ear.  So, the hunt was on.  First, I tried the Motorola HK200. 

The Motorola HK200

Similar in design to the H350, this unit was lighter, and a bit more snug to the ear, however, the quality just wasn’t there.  The sound quality and volume was poor, and the person on the other end had a hard time hearing me. On top of that, there was a small ear bud type projection on the unit.  So, the thin plastic arm went around your ear, and then, through the course of the day, the ear bud piece would work its way into my ear.  This was a no go.  Unfortunately, Best Buy, Radio Shack, Target, Wal-Mart and others all carry the same basic Bluetooth headsets, and none of them were what I wanted.  It was time to hit the web (and that will be discussed next).  So, I started the hunt, just using broad search terms, which would lead me to the big outlets in the beginning – Best Buy, Wal-Mart, etc.  Then I started digging deeper and deeper until I ended up on some random site at the end of the Internet universe.  But, there it was – the perfect Bluetooth headset.  It was unique looking.  It went over the ear.  The speaker was completely flat.  I must have it.  It is called the Maverick Lifestyle Nica Sunrise Bluetooth headset.  The what? 

The Maverick Lifestyle Nica Sunrise Bluetooth available in black and red.

I started looking for reviews and doing my research, and about 90% of what I read was positive.  So, I found it on Amazon.com and placed my order.

So, here is where I am an old fashioned kind of guy.  I love walking into a store, trying out an item, playing with it, asking the clerk about it, and walking out with it that very day.  I am not a fan of online ordering for several reasons.  What if they ship me the wrong thing?  What if I get double charged?  What if my credit card info is stolen?  What do you mean the shipping and handling is more then the item itself?  What if it’s defective, where is customer service so I can return it?   All of these issues and more often kept me from ordering anything off the Internet, but this Bluetooth was exactly what I was looking for and it was not available in any physical store – believe me, I looked.  So, after much assurance from Allie, I placed my order through Amazon.  After 4 days, it arrived in the mail.  I turned it on, paired it with my phone with no issues. However, some sort of weird echo type reverb could be heard during calls.  Plus, the range from my phone was about 8 inches and would randomly disconnect from the phone.  So I tried re-pairing the phone, recharging the unit, restarting my phone – nothing worked.  So, since the reviews were good, I figured it must be defective. 

Here we go – the fight to get this thing replaced.  So, I was actually pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to replace it. I went to Amazon.com, filled out the replacement request, printed out my documentation and within 4 days, my new unit arrived with 30 days to return the defective one. 

The new unit works awesome.  I leave the phone in my office, and walk to the other end of the house without an issue, the call quality is clear and it is extremely comfortable. The Sunrise also comes with arms for both the left and right ears, as well as a basic recharging cable.  You can also order custom skins for your unit, as well as an upgraded desk dock and a car charger. I highly recommend this unit and Amazon.com for a hassle free shopping experience.

The car charger.

The upgraded desk dock.

An example of available skins, or create your own!

Do you have a favorite phone?  How about a Bluetooth (or other hands free) headset that you would recommend?  What online shopping experiences have you had and with what companies?

Hope to hear from you, and thanks for reading!