Bluetooth Mice - What's the normal behavior?

[braytonak]

I know that Bluetooth items are supposed to see each other when in range and function without much user intervention. My notebook has Bluetooth installed and seems to be odd in the way I thought Bluetooth would work with a notebook mouse. Here's what happens:

Computer already up and running with Bluetooth active
Pick up little notebook mouse and press the Connect button to turn it on and activate it
Computer does nothing
Mouse does nothing
Use touch-pad to open Bluetooth control and tell it to connect to the Mouse
Click OK and then it works

Doesn't this seem like a big hassle when all you want to do is pick the stupid mouse up and use it? I can understand the mouse needing to have the Connect button pushed just to turn it on, but I don't get why the notebook won't just auto-connect and use it?

The notebook in question is a Dell XPS Gen 2. It uses a Toshiba Bluetooth software package, and possibly chipset (?). I have looked through all the settings that I can find and tried with both Discoverable and Non-discoverable modes. The only way to get this mini mouse from Targus to connect is by manually telling the Notebook to do so.

Am I missing something? If not, then this mouse is going back because it's a royal Painintheass.

 

[pulsedrive]

Once the mouse if paired, which is the word you a re looking for, with the mouse, any time the mouse is on when the computer comes up it should automatically reconnect. Of course this may depend on the software, but I am sure there is an option for that. I know that my MS BT mouse reconnected evertime I turned on the computer.

 

[braytonak]

Did the two reconnect for you if the mouse was ever turned off and back on if the computer was still on? Say, to change batteries or something.

The Targus mouse is probably going to go back to the store, which is no big deal. I'm still just trying to make sure that I understand the customary way of Bluetooth.

I know that Bluetooth can be a big security hole. I have turned off Discoverable mode on the notebook. Is there anything else that should be done so that when the notebook is in public there won't be any risk of virus spread or file system security?

 

[pulsedrive]

As long as you don't have it in discovery mode all the time, the security risk is minimized. As for the mouse, it shoudl automactically re ditect it when you turn it back on, unless you disconnected it with the software, or hit the connect button again, which once you have connected it will disconnect it if pressed again and then you have to go through the pairing process again. I recommend either a Logitech or MS BT mouse.

 

[Chimpie]

Originally posted by: braytonak
Doesn't this seem like a big hassle when all you want to do is pick the stupid mouse up and use it?

Do you think it would be a hassle if someone around you also had a Bluetooth mouse and connected to your computer and started moving your cursor around?

Most Bluetooth devices have to be introduced to each other when they first meet. That way other Bluetooth devices don't affect other receivers. Once they meet they become friends for life, until they are told not to talk to each other any more.

Chimp