Travel Technology - Laptop VOIP headsets and headset adapters

Can anyone recommend a) a good VOIP in-ear headset for laptops or preferably b) an iphone (3.5mm) headset to PC-VOIP adapter? I'm trying to use the provided headphone & mic jacks. I do have BT on my laptop but I am always running low on juice (for the BT) and it is already paired with 2 cell phones.


I just bought the GE VOIP earbuds (http://www.amazon.com/26695-Voip-Headset-Inline-Microphone/dp/B001DL8WIC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1256765669&sr=8-4), which is what I wanted in terms of headphones but the quality is lacking. There is limited volume control (loud, louder, loudest) and the Noise Isolating rubber ear buds are thin and flimsy, don't do their job in the passive noise-isolating department and people next to me can hear the person on the line speaking. :( On the plus side, the earbud style means I don't look like one of Madonna's backup dancers or that I'm ready to launch a spaceship. :p It also stows nicely with my netbook.

In my research, I saw the Emerg Retractable Noise Blocking Earbuds and Mic- Computer VOIP Cable (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4636384&CatId=2381) and the ZipLinq Retractable 3.5mm Stereo Earbuds with Microphone (htthttp://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=37153&CatId=2381p://) online. Does anyone have any experience with the Emerg or the Ziplinq? (I think this is the Ziplinq referred to in the 2005 thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/418480-laptop-voip-users-heres-good-travel-headset.html)).

I also found what seems to be the adapter (http://www.showmecables.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=8183) I'm looking for but have no idea whether it will actually work with my current iphone inline headset & mic. The note on the bottom says that some headphones don't have enough power to "push" the mic through. Does anyone have any experience with this?

While the $10-18 on headsets is not a lot of money, trying all this out does add up, so any help or advice would be much appreciated :)

Anyone? :confused:

Perhaps:

http://www.amazon.com/26694-Voip-Phone-Adapter-Headset/dp/B001DL4YMA/ref=pd_cp_e_2

I'm a big fan of the Plantronics iAudio 480's

http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/clearance/computer-clearance/audio-480-77267-01

I'm a big fan of the Plantronics iAudio 480's

http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/clearance/computer-clearance/audio-480-77267-01

IIRC, I got turned on to these as a courtesy of your suggestion quite some time back. I liked them then and still do (to the point that I bought multiple sets) for laptop use.

I had to do a repair job with some glue to reattach the microphone stem with the ear bud section after a year or so of excessive mishandling (such as not carrying them in a carrying case). Even after that self-done repair job they work as well as the day I got them.

I carry an Acoustic Research/ Audiovox ARWH2 2.4 GHz Mini-Bridge Stereo Headset - it's compact, provides me with wireless (Bluetooth) freedom, and decent voice quality. I've used it to make Skype calls to the US from a number of places (China, Europe, etc.) using an unlimited service to US and Canada mobile or land phone numbers program (nominally USD $9.99 monthly, but prepaid $100 for one year.)

The noise canceling and isolating features of the Plantronics looks really appealing. I currently have the Discovery 925 BT (but is already paired with 2 phones) and really love the noise canceling feature. I am however a little concerned about the boom mic attachment. How sturdy is it? Is there a protective case that comes with this? Also is the boom heavy? I also noticed that this model is unfortunately discontinued in favour of one of the larger headset models ((600s) that don't fold!) so am a little concerned about product support and warranty. Does anyone have experience with Plantronic's support on discontinued products? (i.e. their offer to replace the 480 with the current 600 series won't do me much good since the 600s are practically helmet sized!)

The BT one does look good too. But somehow I'm not having much luck with having a charge on my BT when I really need it :p So right now I'm limiting my search criteria to wired headsets, compact and 2 ears (to help with the noise blocking). I also noticed in my search that there are lots of large PC headsets available but few truly portable/foldable "travel" PC headsets.