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Voyager PRO: Weighing the Trade-offs for Superb Sound
Fri Aug 21, 2009 - 3:07 PM EDT By Annie Latham Name Company Compatible with Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, or XP Disk space 10 MB Also works with VisorPhone CDMA digital talk time 2.25 hours CDMA digital standby time 5 Days CDMA digital standby time 5 Days CDMA digital talk time 2.25 hours Case included CDMA digital talk time 2.25 hours CDMA digital standby time 5 hours Carrying Case Included CDMA digital standby time 5 Days CDMA digital talk time 2.25 Hours Carrying Case included Minimum Requirements PalmOS 3.5 or later Palm OS Required PalmOS 3.5 or later Palm OS Required Palm OS 3.5 or above Palm OS Required 3.5 or later File Formats supported JPG, and Palm Photos File Format Share Photos by IR,Bluetooth or Email Resolutions supported 160x160,320x320 and 320x480 Email Programs Supported Snappermail and Versamail Optimized for Palm OS 5.0 and ARM processors File Formats supported JPG, and Palm Photos File Format Share Photos by IR,Bluetooth or Email Resolutions supported 160x160,320x320 and 320x480 Email Programs Supported Snappermail and Versamail Optimized for Palm OS 5.0 and ARM processors File Formats supported JPG, and Palm Photos File Format Share Photos by IR,Bluetooth or Email Resolutions supported 160x160,320x320 and 320x480 Email Programs Supported Snappermail and Versamail Optimized for Palm OS 5.0 and ARM processors File Formats supported JPG, and Palm Photos File Format Share Photos by IR,Bluetooth or Email Resolutions supported 160x160,320x320 and 320x480 Email Programs Supported Snappermail and Versamail Optimized for Palm OS 5.0 and ARM processors Battery Life 5 (CDMA) or 6 (GSM) hour Talk Time Other Features Volume buttons,5 way navigator, Ringer switch with vibrate option, dual speaker system, microphone, backlit keyboard, built in camera Camera Details 640x480 VGA, can also take smaller photos OS Palm OS 5.1.2h Screen Color 160x160 Memory 32 MB Weight ~6 oz, depending on model Size 4.41 inches x 2.26 inches x 0.87 (LxWxD Color Silver (GSM), Black (CDMA) Camera Can be used in case with fold down flap Belt Clip Removable Palm OS required 4.1 and higher Supports Pop, IMAP, Works with Treo 600 Auto Fetch Can program, days, time and frequency Can view Attachments with optional download Works with Imap, Pop Services Auto Alert Yes Access to Files on your Computer Yes Supports Imap and POP Servers Can view attachments with optional download Auto Fetch Yes Alerts to new messages Can customize alerts Supports Imap and POP Auto Fetch Yes Alerts to new messages Customizable on Treo View Attachments with optional download Supports Imap and POP Auto Fetch Yes Alerts to new messages Customizable on Treo View Attachments with optional download Supports Imap and POP Auto Fetch Yes Alerts to new messages Customizable on Treo View Attachments with optional download Availability $24.95 The Plantronics Voyager PRO is one of the best selling Bluetooth headsets for the Palm Centro and Treo Pro. I was curious to try it out because of the claims that it is "the most advanced noise-canceling Bluetooth headset available." I wanted to see how well it did up against the family of Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headsets with NoiseAssassin. The Plantronics fancy name for noise canceling is "AudioIQ2" (probably pronounced AudioIQ-squared). One look at this headset and you can tell the emphasis was on technology, not design. The boom features two noise-canceling mics on its boom. Plus, it has three layers of "WindSmart technology" consisting of the stainless steel mic screens, acoustic fabrics, and an electronic filter, for blocking out intrusive wind noise. Add in the AudioIQ-squared software with its adaptive 20-band equalizer and you are pretty much set. Under normal conditions, windy outdoors, city streets, etc., the Voyager PRO has you "unwired" for sound. All that tech does its job well too. For the most part, the Voyager PRO was outstanding on both ends of the conversation. That's the good news. The bad news is... well... it sure is ugly. Okay, maybe that's a little harsh. It definitely takes the whole cyborg thing to a new level. For sure, it won't win any beauty contests next to the Jawbone or any of the other svelte Bluetooth headsets. Understandable since all that noise-canceling tech has to reside somewhere. In this case, it's in a lump behind your ear that looks a lot like grandpa's old school hearing aide. Like I said, that may sound harsh, but you ought to know what you're up against. What the Voyager PRO Does Well... So let's talk about some of the things Plantronics does right with the Voyager PRO. Pairing: First of all, pairing was a snap. Seriously! Getting it to talk to the Palm Centro was extremely simple and quick. I also tried it with the Palm Pre and was equally impressed. Battery Status Warnings: Next, and Plantronics deserves big points for this, they designed-in a way so you can easily tell how much juice is left in the headset. The spec says its Talk Time is up to 6 hours and Standby Time is up to 5 days/120 hours. But how the heck do you know when it needs a recharge besides that awkward moment when you go to jump on your wireless (perhaps to comply with the law) and find it non-responsive? So here’s the deal... The Voyager PRO uses a combination of LED and Tone to keep you in the know. Wallet-size "Reminder" Card: The Voyager PRO has this really cool information card that fits nicely in your wallet. One side guides you through pairing. The other side reminds you of what the buttons do (Mute On/Off on the top, LED on the side and Power indicator). It also covers what the battery status flashes mean. This is awesome and something that would have been really helpful with the Jawbone. So far, so good, right? The Weigh-in: The Plantronics marketing materials claim the Voyager PRO is comfortable. Many reviewers, like CNET's Nicole Lee , have also said it is comfortable. That may be true, but not for someone with small ears. Packing that much technology into the Voyager PRO adds a whopping 8 grams compared to the Aliph Jawbone 2: 18 grams (17.5 rounded up) vs. 10 grams. The difference is HUGE! When I tested it, I was so uncomfortable that I wasn’t able to fully enjoy all that sound/wind engineering. Word to the wise... keep weight in mind when you shop for a Bluetooth headset. Jeep Test: Using the Voyager PRO in the harshest of conditions (65 mph over the San Rafael Bridge with the top down), I found that it was adequate but not outstanding. Conclusion: The Voyager PRO does a lot of things right and is a truly a competitive offering. Just make sure weigh your options carefully. Cost/Benefit - 5 Protection - 4 Usability - 4 Design - 4 Final - 4 Pros Cons |
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