Technophobe needs Tech Help - Bluetooth

Nov. 29, 2015 | Vanity

[PROCON]

I'd like to get wireless speakers to enjoy MP3 music I've downloaded on my ASUS laptop but have found out I don't have Bluetooth capability.

My tech savvy nephew verified no Bluetooth on my laptop and recommended I get a Bluetooth dongle.

'A what, I said?'

So, I looked at the Bluetooth dongles on Amazon, priced from $2.00 - $30.00+.

What's a good, quality dongle to buy?

And wireless speaker recommendations would also be appreciated.

[PROCON]

I have a one year old ASUS laptop with Win 8.1.

Thanks in advance FReepers!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-USB-Bluetooth-Wireless-Adapter-Dongle-for-Windows-XP-WIn-7-8-Laptop-PC-/271218460978?hash=item3f25e14932:g:TCQAAOSwBahVUVcq

[smokingfrog]

http://www.tomsguide.com/faq/id-2343157/connect-bluetooth-speakers-windows-laptop.html

[DennisR]

I use a Belkin brand. Works fine.

[Vendome]

Belkin....

[ETL]

And wireless speaker recommendations would also be appreciated.

The JBL Xtreme is a fantastic outdoor speaker. And it's just dropped in price to $250! Trust me, you will not be sorry. I've been through several of them, and researched a ton, and the JBL Xtreme is hands down the best deal around.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I’ve got the original Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker and have been pretty happy with it. Good sound (not great due to small size), reasonable price, good Bluetooth reliability ( although it seems to forget pairing if left off too long), and small size. I may upgrade to a larger unit to get better sound quality. Rather than sending music from my computer to the speaker, I wirelessly sync my phone and have it send the music to the speaker. Works like a champ!

CNet says it is still a “standout” in 2015...

http://www.cnet.com/topics/speakers/best-speakers/bluetooth/

[Scutter]

Just look at the reviews in Amazon. There are many good and cheap ones. If you want a brand, Belkin is good.

[Scutter]

Also, make sure you get one of the tiny ones; you don’t want some big thing sticking out of the side of your laptop.

[ETL]

Check out the reviews for the JBL Xtreme at YouTube. Trust me, it blows all of those in the $250-350 price range away. Booming clear bass, excellent all around. Battery life good too.

JBL Xtreme:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jbl+xtreme

[Darth Reardon]

Did your nephew reboot the laptop and go into a strange configuration menu (called the BIOS) before returning to Windows? If not, it is entirely possible that you have Bluetooth, but it is disabled in the BIOS — which you would not be able to tell just looking at things in Windows.

[Cyman]

A one-year-old Asus laptop and no Bluetooth? I think not ,have someone else check once more

[Varda]

Maybe you have bluetooth if you can do this -
“Under Windows 8.1, the Bluetooth option has been moved to a new section:
Here are the steps which you can follow:
a. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
Note: If you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.
b. Tap or click PC and devices, and tap or click Bluetooth.
c. Turn Bluetooth on”

[prisoner6]

I got Mrs p6 a Jams Bluetooth speaker a few months ago. It was intended mostly for her to use at work with her Android phone to stream Pandora and the like. At $25+ I thought it was expensive but if it kept mama happy...so be it!

Great investment! Easy to use, works with
her phone ...Tracfone Samsung from QVC...plus it works with her Android tablet as well as her HP Laptop with Windows 10.

It is so good we are getting a couple more!

[PROCON]

I appreciate the help but I did as you said and no Bluetooth selection :-(

[ETL]

I just did some more checking and found that there’s a new portable bluetooth speaker that apparently makes mince meat out all of the others in the $250-350 price range, including the one I recommended, the JBL Xtreme. Problem is, the sucker is BIG (for a portable) and weighs more than twice as much as the JBL X.

Aiwa Exos-9 Bluetooth Speaker: $300.
http://www.amazon.com/Aiwa-Aiwa-9001-Exos-9-Bluetooth-Speaker/dp/B00WF78GS4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448851808&sr=8-1&keywords=Aiwa+Exos-9

JBL Xtreme Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Black)
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Portable-Wireless-Bluetooth-Speaker/dp/B014QQAM8I/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1448852609&sr=1-1&keywords=jbl+xtreme

[ConstantSkeptic]

My two year old Toshiba had a lot of features but did not have bluetooth. I got a Kinivo bluetooth adapter and it’s worked very well - http://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-Btd-400-Bluetooth-4-0-USB/dp/B007Q45EF4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

[Michigan Bowhunter]

Home Depot. $10 SHOWER speaker. just got one for myself and it rocks

[Varda]

Sorry it didn’t work. I love your tagline, I need a bumper sticker that says that!

[PROCON]

Quick question. I just remembered that I have a wireless printer that takes commands from my computer, is that Bluetooth technology or something else? Thanks.