Cell Phone Headsets? 90
stm42 asks: "I drive 45 miles to and from work each day and I have found that a great way to spend the time productively is to use it to make the phone calls I have to make to employees, co-workers, bosses, etc. I want to be safe, however, and would like to find a headset for cell phones (with a regular headphone jack) that works and is fairly comfortable. I currently use a Plantronics over the ear style and it will stay on my head but I usually have to push the earphone to my ear to hear the other person and that pretty much eliminates the usefulness of the headset. Any suggestions?"
Next up: (Score:5, Funny)
"Should I wear white or green socks with these pants?"
"Oven ranges: Olive or Off-white?"
Must be a really slow day over at Slashdot HQ...
You missed one... (Score:2)
Oh, I forgot...this is
Earbuds (not jabber eargels) (Score:4, Interesting)
(personally I like to be unproductive during my 45 min - hour drive in though. I like to take the time to relax and enjoy the drive rather than working every second of the day. but that's just me
oh yeah... FP?
Re:Earbuds (not jabber eargels) (Score:4, Interesting)
The sound quality for the listener is good, but I've had complaints about it not being as good on the other end, or being exceptionally loud.
It is impossible to drive with the windows down while using the earpiece in my left ear because of the wind noise.
However, I've killed many hr+ car rides by making phone calls and doing business on the road. It makes it hard when people want you to write something down, but that is what the recording feature on the phone is for!
Most of the time I use AM Radio to kill the car rides so that at least I'm thinking a little bit.
Re:Earbuds (not jabber eargels) (Score:2)
Re:Bad driving behavior (Score:1)
However, it is important to note that studies have shown that there's no actual added safety when using a hands-free device as opposed to holding the cellphone in your hand. It's apparently the act of talking, rather than the holding the cellphone up to one's ear, that causes the real distraction from the road.
I don't know about anybody else,
Parent is a troll (Score:1)
(That does not mean it's safe however)
Re:Parent is a troll (Score:2)
Re:Parent is a troll (Score:1)
Re:Parent is a troll (Score:2)
Actually, they're probably illegal in many more towns, I just haven't driven through them to see the signs on the side of the road.
Re:One small problem: still illegal (Score:1)
Re:One small problem: still illegal (Score:1)
Re:One small problem: still illegal (Score:1)
It's an inattentive driving ticket. I was given one in high school for lighting a cigarette while I was driving.
Re:One small problem: still illegal (Score:1)
Do you live out by St. Louis Park, Minnesota?
If so, I think I went to school with you!
Prince Wally? Can't be many of them, do you remember Jason? I was the third trouble maker -- and got kicked out/left school...
Re:One small problem: still illegal (Score:1)
I'm a sysadmin, now, but that school had nothing to do with that.
Did you here that they closed down?
Re:One small problem: still illegal (Score:1)
Re:One small problem: still illegal (Score:1)
Re:One small problem: still illegal (Score:1)
The solution is to stick the cell phone up yer back side. Then use your sphincter muscles to dial.
One suggestion (Score:5, Insightful)
I wouldn't have piped up at all had you not said "I wanted to be safe." But based on that, my best advice is to use the cell phone as little as possible while in your car.
Re:One suggestion (Score:1)
Re:One suggestion (Score:2)
If the guy is using the cell phone to deal with business stuff, then most likely the conversation will be a lot more focused than a car trip with your friend discussing the latest mo
Cellphone use worse than drunken driving (Score:3, Interesting)
ABSTRACT [nejm.org]
Background Because of a belief that the use of cellular telephones while driving may cause col
Re:One suggestion (Score:1)
try driving during rush hour in a major city and having a conversation on the phone about something serious, like a lawsuit (no, IANAL). I try to avoid answering the phone at all and only do so when traffic is clear enough. Even then I tell them I'm on the road and they can call me back in XX minutes when I can devote proper attention/thought to what they are talking about.
Re:One suggestion (Score:1)
Re:One suggestion (Score:1)
Re:One suggestion (Score:3, Insightful)
Now sometimes I do - like when my Dad visited me and I hadn't seen him in a long time. I was so excited to see him that I was just chatting away after I picked him up at the airport. I was so involved in the discussion I drove through a red light. We almost got hit by a semi.
I don't doubt there are people out there who are better at focusing on 2 things at once - but I think a lot of accidents happen because
+1 (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:One suggestion (Score:2)
Really though, if I get a call while driving, I check the caller ID first.. if it's one of my friends, then I'll usually answer and have a quick (fairly) mindless conversation ("Whats going on tonig
Warning: Don't touch the link! (Score:3)
I clicked on it expecting to be taken to something germaine to this discussion, and ended up wanting to throw up at what came across my screen.
If I still had my mod points from this morning, I would mod this down by -2 for disgusting and unhelpful and troll.
The real problem (Score:2, Insightful)
Yes, move closer to work or work closer to home.
Suggestions (Score:2, Insightful)
I drive 45 miles to and from work each day and I have found that a great way to spend the time productively is to use it to make the phone calls I have to make to employees, co-workers, bosses, etc.
I hate you.
I want to be safe, however, and would like to find a headset for cell phones (with a regular headphone jack) that works and is fairly comfortable.
So you're one of those people who think that the problems with cell-phone driving are solely because of not having both hands on the wheel, eh? Or ma
Re:Suggestions (Score:2)
Because when someone is sitting next to you and sees the traffic up ahead start to get dangerous, he/she will probably shut up and let you concentrate. Dude on the other end of the cellphone, however, will keep yacking on and expecting answers. "Bob? Did you hear me Bob? Damn-it, I want an answer!"...
Re:Suggestions (Score:2, Funny)
No way. Then I would be dangerous and still only have one hand on the wheel...
wurst sig evr
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
What do you mean? I was talking about holding the barf-bag. What did you *think* I meant? Get your mind out of the gutter, boy!
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
I'm fully aware that part of the danger of talking on a cell phone while driving lies is the conversation itself. I believe I'm capable of multi-tasking. Maybe you aren't
Oh and for those who say move closer - I have trouble giving up a good job with the job market the way it is know.
Please people, if you don't have a legitimate response for an askslashdot question and are just going to flame the poster, stay the hell off the board.
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
2. If my boss isn't happy I lose my job which is very bad for my health
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
Re:Suggestions (Score:2)
How do you know? Maybe you don't notice, but the guy behind you may beg to differ.
And accidents (you're 4x more likely to be involved in one, regardless of whether it's hands-free or not) are bad for your health too.
Solution: Tell the boss that if he wants you on the cell phone, you'll be quite happy to pull over to the side of the road and do any talking he wants, but you
Re:Suggestions (Score:1)
How is having a conversation with someone in the car any safer than talking on a headset?? Especially since the person in the car also adds the temptation to look over at them occasionally to see the expression on their face.
This is the argument I always pull out when people suggest cellphone-while-driving bans.
Cellphones aren't the problem. Distraction is. And you can't outlaw everything that might distract you.
(Now besides that part, I ag
Bluetooth (Score:2)
-
Re:Bluetooth (Score:2)
It has bluetooth and the phone pairs with the car, synchronizing phonebooks as well.
This allows you to make calls from the cars system instead of the phone, as well as use the stereo speakers for the phone. I'm not sure where the microphone is located but i'd assume somewhere near the drivers head/face.
Re:Bluetooth (Score:1)
It's not the phone, it's the conversation. (Score:3, Insightful)
Let's be clear. Part of the danger of using a cell phone while driving is the distraction caused by having to juggle the phone, having to look down at it to dial, and having to take at least one hand off the steering wheel to hold it.
Getting a hands-free headset will mostly remove these distractions.
But the majority of the distraction is caused by having the conversation in the first place. That the degree of distraction is similar to that caused by talking to someone physically in the car is often offered as a justification of using the phone while driving, but even if both equal distractions, the cell phone conversation is an additional and unnecessary distraction.
So don't fool yourself: headset or not, you'll be distracted, and you'll be driving less safely. Drive this way once or twice, and your number probably won't come up. Do it every morning, five mornings a week, 50 weeks a years, and eventually your number -- or the number of some kid darting across the road on his way to school -- will come up.
When you talk to a passenger.... (Score:2)
Cell phones should be banned on cars, Period.
Re:When you talk to a passenger.... (Score:1)
Another example is cars that reduce the amount of distractions when you appear to be in a attentive situation. (Turning, breaking those things.)
Re:It's not the phone, it's the conversation. (Score:2)
If you're down the BT (Score:2, Informative)
Hang Up and Drive (Score:2)
Speakerphone (Score:5, Informative)
Studies also indicate that cell-phone use is unfairly singled out as it is generally less of a safety factor than other things drivers are known to do. (IIRC, adjusting the radio/changing tapes or CDs was #1. Others included eating, checking maps, shaving, getting distracted by kids or pets.) Cell phones aren't worse, just more visible.
Having said that, my sister has a very nice speakerphone that attaches to the rods on the headrest. It is a horizontal rod with a speaker on each end and a flexible microphone holder. I generally can't tell that she is in the car (well, except for the squealing tires, screaming passengers, shattering glass and other side-effects of Cell Phone While Driving Syndrome). I don't know if this is the exact model but it looks similar:
http://www.herringtoncatalog.com/m112.h
Re:Speakerphone (Score:2)
Studies also indicate that cell-phone use is unfairly singled out as it is generally less of a safety factor than other things drivers are known to do. (IIRC, adjusting the radio/changing tapes or CDs was #1. Others included eating, checking maps, shaving, getting distracted by kids or pets.) Cell phones aren't worse, just more visible.
Nobody spends 45 minutes adjusting the radio. Cellphones cause a problem because they distract the driver for an extended period of time.
GMD
Re:Speakerphone (Score:2)
Re:Speakerphone (Score:2)
Yacking on the cellphone for forty-five fucking minutes makes you a hazard several orders of magnitude longer than the radio-changing dude.
Cell-phone use is not unfairly singled out.
the talking is the distraction, not the device (Score:2)
Even worse, wearing a headset will probably make you feel like you have to be talking on the phone.
Honestly, have you ever noticed what happens
Doable? (Score:1, Troll)
But seriously, try listening to a book, the news, learning a language on disc, using public transportation, riding a bike (45 miles a day is totally doable)...
When referring to "doable" athletic feats, please keep in mind this *is* slashdot we're talking about.
Re:Doable? (Score:2)
Re:the talking is the distraction, not the device (Score:1)
I don't know, what we get? Four car lengths is a good thing. And, if we're following you're argument, if everyone talked on their cell phone, everyone would drive four car lengths apart, which again is a good thing.
Traffic may be composed of "mostly the space between cars" but accidents happen because we don't leave enoug
Re:the talking is the distraction, not the device (Score:2)
I ride a bike too, but 45 miles each way, every day, is a bit much.
5 centuries a week?
Re:the talking is the distraction, not the device (Score:2)
Scapegoat (Score:1)
Re:Scapegoat (Score:2)
Maybe you should reasess your driving skills.
No, real culprit. (Score:2)
Well, let me brake these news to you, your car is a lethal weapon that can cause death and destruction for many people in one go (actually it can be far more devastating than a regular gun).
I don't want you or anybody else using a potentially dangerous contraption while distracted discussing why your marketing department screwed up.
There is a point where you have to draw a line, a line that your job responsibilities should not cro
2004 Acura TL (Score:1)
I just purchased an 2004 Acura TL [acura.com]. It's the first car that has internal Bluetooth... which means I can use voice activated dialing (available on the TL w/Navi model) to call people while my SonyEricsson T616 [sonyericsson.com] stays in my briefcase.
Once the pairing is done it's simple to use and the sound quality is exceptional.
Any suggestions? (Score:2)
The rest of us sharing the public roads with you do not care about your 'increased productivity', or multitasking.
cell phone headset (Score:1)
Install handsfree kit instead of handset (Score:2)
I suggest installing a real handsfree kit.
It typically includes a dedicated speaker aimed directly at you (not going through your car radio), and a handsfree microphone near your head. The microphone should have a built-in echo canceler, tuned to match the speaker, so you can talk without the "
Plantronics Headsets and Annoying People (Score:1)
As for the actual question at hand, I've had great luck with Plantronics headsets. Unfortunately, a decent one (that isn't cheaply made and won't fall apart) will run you at least $40. The cheap ones are quiet, and don't work well in noisy environments. I bought mine at Radio Shack, and spent $50 on the headset, plus $15 on the extended warranty. This was absolutely worth the added cost. Over the course of the three years covered by the warranty, I replaced that headset about 15 times.
In my experienc
cellphone headset (Score:1)
Becoming Illegal in the UK (Score:1)
What you really want.. (Score:1)