After-sale Bluetooth for Mini?

[lieb39]

Hello everyone,

I have a mac mini that doesn't have Bluetooth installed (Before it became standard) and I want to add Bluetooth functionality to it. What's the cheapest way to do with and still have all the native Bluetooth controls and whatnot in mac os X?

Thanks,

lieb39

 

[shadowmoses]

You will need to go to an authorized apple service centre and they can install the part for you, it comes with airport as well though you cannot but one or the other they come in a package,

SHadow

 

[Jaffa Cake]

The other option is to go for an external Bluetooth dongle – that would be the simplest solution, but of course you'll lose a USB port...

 

[lieb39]

The other option is to go for an external Bluetooth dongle – that would be the simplest solution, but of course you'll lose a USB port...

That's what I'm thinking but will Mac OS support this as an offical device - meaning, will I have all the mac OS functions on it, e.g. settings bluetooth up and whatnot.

Thanks,

lieb39

 

[Roy Hobbs]

That's what I'm thinking but will Mac OS support this as an offical device - meaning, will I have all the mac OS functions on it, e.g. settings bluetooth up and whatnot.

Thanks,

lieb39

OSX doesnt care if its an internal or external bluetooth module, it all works the same. I have a external on the back of my Power Mac and it works just as good as my Power Book with the built-in bluetooth.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

That's what I'm thinking but will Mac OS support this as an offical device - meaning, will I have all the mac OS functions on it, e.g. settings bluetooth up and whatnot.

Well, I've got a Belkin dongle which allows me access to the Bluetooth panel in System Preferences, which has worked flawlessly for me – I've used it to pair my Mac up with various mobiles with no problems whatsoever. However, I should say that I've never used it with keyboards or mice so I can't personally advise you if you're looking to use one of those. I see no reason why it wouldn't, but I wouldn't be able to say so with 100% certainty.

 

[Sedulous]

I agree, the USB dongle has been functioning flawlessly for me as well (D-link). Then again, it might be nice to have fewer things hanging out of your USB ports. What harm is there in going to an Apple Store and saying "hey, bloooootoot me"?

 

[RGunner]

Just to confirm...

As the other folks have suggested some third party bluetooth dongles do work.

And the D-Link DBT120 is an official supported device, even sold by Apple at their stores and Online. Am presently using two of them...

That's what I'm thinking but will Mac OS support this as an offical device - meaning, will I have all the mac OS functions on it, e.g. settings bluetooth up and whatnot.

Thanks,

lieb39

 

[mduser63]

The D-Link dongle mentioned above works great. FWIW, at CompUSA the other day, I was surprised to see that they had boxed Mac mini Bluetooth/modem modules out on the shelves for sale. I think they were $99, but I can't remember the price. Anyway, that suggests that they're not particularly hard to add after the fact. These were Apple parts packaged in the same plain boxes that things like Airport extreme cards come in.

 

[QCassidy352]

the d-link external adapter does NOT work the same as internal bluetooth in my experience. The connection is dropped more frequently, I can't use my BT mouse and keyboard to wake from sleep (if the box is checked the computer just keeps waking up from sleep), and I'm constantly having to repair my MS mouse with the computer. All of these things work flawlessly with internal bluetooth modules.

 

[PlaceofDis]

i've used a Belkin BT adapter with absolutely no problems at all.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Run Firmware Update

the d-link external adapter does NOT work the same as internal bluetooth in my experience. The connection is dropped more frequently, I can't use my BT mouse and keyboard to wake from sleep (if the box is checked the computer just keeps waking up from sleep), and I'm constantly having to repair my MS mouse with the computer. All of these things work flawlessly with internal bluetooth modules.

You need to run the Apple Bluetooth Firmware update. That will improve connection reliability, and will make wake from sleep work correctly. I use it with the D-Link adapter and an Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse to wake my eMac. (From what I understand, the internal BT adapters are the exact same hardware as the D-Link adapter. Just inside the computer. They even use the USB bus. (Take a look at Apple System Profiler, and you'll see it on the USB bus, even when it's an internal device.)

Here's a link to the firmware update: link Please note that this is *NOT* the same as the Bluetooth Software update that will come via Software Update. You have to manually download and run this.