Bluetooth Headset That Actually Works

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by flippyshark

Though it matters not a whit, my perception of bluetooth headsets is that they give their wearers an appearance of middle-managerial self-importance.

I would have to say that is my single biggest beef with Bluetooth headsets. But I have yet to see one that got past that and doubt I ever will.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

That makes that decision easy for me as well. Considering my plan is to purchase a bluetooth headset solely for the legal car requirement, I'd have a hard time justifying a near-$100 purchase, but since it won't work with my phone anyway...

Aside from non-compatibility issues, I think that buying a poor quality headset is not a good idea. If you can't carry on a conversation properly, then what is even the point of having the headset?

It's like getting a great deal on cell service that doesn't provide decent coverage.

[Alex]

Here's my view. For 90 we got along fine without the ability to talk on the phone while in the car. The world didn't end because we were out of reach for those minutes or even hours.

It won't end now if we go back to that.

Watching other people and myself, I feel confident saying that no matter how well you think you drive while on the phone (hands free or not) you are wrong. Do the world a favor, if you absolutely feel the need to hold a phone conversation, pull over.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

Do the world a favor, if you absolutely feel the need to hold a phone conversation, pull over.

Interestingly enough, one of the observed, unintended side effects of the hands-free laws in those places that have had them has been people doing just that...anywhere and everywhere. In the middle of the road. My brother-in-law witnessed it in Israel, and I witnessed it in NY. Cars just stopping, blocking intersections and roads simply because they didn't want to get caught driving while on the phone.

[Snowflake]

Perhaps we need phone pull out spots on freeways. Ugh, what a thought.

I have to admit, some phone calls during the 3000 mile trek west across the vast wasteland of highway 80 helped a good deal with boredom.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Perhaps we need phone pull out spots on freeways. Ugh, what a thought.

We already have them. They're called off ramps and connect to surface streets where it is safe to stop and talk. Except in the most desolate parts of the country one is never on a freeway and more than 10 minutes away from one.

My favorite observed cell phone accident was a woman in a stick shift on a hill in San Francisco. She didn't notice she was rolling backwards and front-ended the car behind her at the grand speed of about 2 miles an hour. Despite the honking of that other car.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Interestingly enough, one of the observed, unintended side effects of the hands-free laws in those places that have had them has been people doing just that...anywhere and everywhere.

Well, if they're stopping in the middle of the road, then they aren't doing "just that" since I said to pull over.

And I'm not advocating laws requiring it (I haven't yet decided if I think they are warranted and justifiable), just asking that people of their own free will stop having phone conversations while driving because despite everybody's self assurance that they are one of the people good at it, almost all of us are wrong.