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Welcome to Zoom In Online™'s Tech Friday series. This week, we'll review the Jawbone 2 from Aliph. Overview: Due to recently imposed regulatory guidelines, the wireless headset market has been flooded by numerous companies in an attempt to gain market share and to be a leader in that space. However, very few companies have introduced innovative products that deal with daily nuances, including noise-cancelation, design, and overall usability. One such company that prides itself in all three categories is Aliph, the creators of the original Jawbone headset and now, the Jawbone 2. Setup: The setup process for a majority of wireless headsets is relatively simple. Jawbone 2 further simplifies that process by spelling out the 3 important steps as soon as the user removes the initial packaging. For users that want further information, the included booklet contains various tips and techniques regarding product usage. Pros: - Packaging: Although not a functional factor of the device, the packaging of the Jawbone 2 is highly unique and simple. A user does not have to remove hard-plastic packaging, as the device is enclosed in a case, which can be opened with ease and can be re-used at anytime. - Size & weight: Compared to the original Jawbone, the Jawbone 2 is much smaller and lighter than it's predecessor. - Noise-reduction: One of the heavily marketed points regarding the Jawbone series of products is it's noise-reduction capabilities. The device certainly stands up to it's claim and refers to this feature as the Noise Assassin. In terms of usability, the Jawbone 2 automatically enables the noise-reduction capability. Learn more about the product's noise-reduction capability. Cons: - Price: Although price is a relative term, the Jawbone 2 comes in towards the higher end of the market, with a MSRP of $129. - Upgrade: Users that are upgrading from the original Jawbone will be disappointed to learn that the older power adapter is not compatible with the new device. (note: the Jawbone 2 does include it's own power adapter) Conclusion: Although priced higher than most of it's competitors, the Jawbone 2 is a fantastic product and a must have for users that have been frustrated by cheaper alternatives in the market. It's noise-reduction capabilities are superior, along with numerous other usability factors.