Help me lazyweb; you're my only hope

[caddyman]

Is there any way of getting bluetooth on a PC withouth using a USB dongle?

Frankly if it needs a dongle, we may as well get some other wireless connection (or even a cable) as the whole point is to reduce cables. Can we get a card that fits into the innards of the PC like there is on a Mac? (And no, we can't afford a Mac).

Any views?

Edited to add: It's not for networking, it's for a keyboard and mouse, telephone (and maybe the Mac laptop, so a small element of networking), I suppose.

Comments

[irdm.livejournal.com]

Presume by PC you mean fixed desktop rather than laptop?
There seem a few PCMCIA bluetooth cards but I didn't see anu PCI etc cards.

What sort of networking?
Bluetooth seems okay for little gadgets to chat but not a "cheap wireless LAN"

[irdm.livejournal.com]

Most bluetooth dongles just plug in a port with no wires (as below) and can be just poped in your USB hub as required (assuming not lost)

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Yes; we were looking for something that wouldn't use up a USB port.

The dongle is your friend

[romney.livejournal.com]

And it can be very small indeed
If you have no free USB ports at the back of the PC, a PCI card with extra ports will allow you to dongle-up out of sight.

[romney.livejournal.com]

here or here
Useful if you want to wi-fi the desktop as well. For BT only a dongle is cheaper and easier, and less likely to have driver issues than a PCI card will.