bluetooth help

[praetorian2000]

i have a printer that can allow me to print from my computer via bluetooth. my computer is not bluetooth ready. looking around the internet i see a bluetooth adapter that turns a non-bluetooth device into a bluetooth device.

will that actually work?
is there anything i need to know before i buy it or do i just go out and buy one?

 

[mretzloff]

Before you purchase the adaptor read some reviews on it and make sure it works with whatever system you have.

Can you not run your printer through your router? Is there a reason why you need bluetooth (excuse me if this is a dumb question)?

 

[praetorian2000]

i didn't know i could run it through a router. how would i do that? it might be helpful to note the router is in my mother's computer room. my printer is in my room.

using bluetooth would let me be able to put the printer anywhere in the room and how have to be limited to where the cord can and cannot go. also, it would let me be able to print directly from my laptop instead of having to save something to a flashdrive and then put the flashdrive in the desktop computer.

i guess i would like to eliminate some of these cords i have that are taking over the front and back of my computer and printer area.

 

[C Reed]

Blue tooth is a really slow and unreliable way of sending information only baby steps past infra red. I would just print wirelessly over your wireless net work or hard wire it and save your self the hassle.

 

[xillion]

What is the make and model of your printer?

 

[praetorian2000]

it's a hp photosmart.

sounds like i should just keep all the wires and forget doing it wirelessly.

 

[Razdict]

There are lots of different HP Photosmart printers. What are the numbers/letters after the name?

If the printer isn't WiFi enabled and if it isn't a network enabled printer then you could still use a wireless print server.

 

[Axel_]

Yes, bluetooth sure is quite slow compared to W-lan but it's not HQ movies you should send to the printer...

I suggest you to buy a usb bluetooth stick for i guess about 15 bucks, that will do the trick just perfect. Just tell the guy in the store what system (Windows Vista/Mac/Linux/...) your computer use and you're sure you get one that works.

To link the devices together is usually really easy, switch on the bluetooth on the printer if necessary and click for something like "search for bt devices) on the computer. Or simply search for "Bluetooth printer guide" or something like that on google.

Good luck!

/A

 

[mretzloff]

Take your printer, plug an Ethernet cable into it, and then plug the other enter of the Ethernet cable into your router. Insert your printer install disc into your computer and install the printer as being linked through a wireless network.

Unless your router is ancient or your room is a mile away, you should be able to print wirelessly from your room.

 

[praetorian2000]

it's an hp photosmart c5580 all in one.

i guess i'll look more into the usb adapter. the ethernet won't work for me. the router is upstairs in my mother's room.

and i won't be sending anything major. just regular documents and envelopes and once in a blue moon an occasional picture.

 

[iamyourfather]

I've used bluetooth before, and its not bad. It may take a little longer, but its not horrendous.

I've only used it on Mac OS X, so I don't know how difficult it would be to set up with windows, but I have a feeling there will be some hidden settings to change.

There is a little usb bluetooth dongle that meritline.com has for cheap. Check it out here: http://www.meritline.com/mini-type-...-adapter-class-1-bluetooth-v-2---p-26876.aspx