Dell Adds GPS to Mini 10

Author Hugo Jobling
Published 1st Jul 2009
Dell Adds GPS to Mini 10
Bookmark and Share discuss this article  8 comments    Email  Email trustedreviews newslettersTrustedReviews Newsletters

If the lack of an optional GPS module has been putting you off buying a Dell Mini 10 (and why wouldn't it?) then you can look forward to next week when the "Dell Wireless 700 location solution" will be made available as an upgrade module, bringing A-GPS to the netbook.


The module uses a Broadcom A-GPS chip and will also provide Wi-Fi location, via Skyhook Wireless, which relies on access points offering their location information to provide a rough (10m-20m) position.

Software-wise Dell is bundling Co-Pilot making it possible to use the Mini 10 as a large, portable sat-nav; albeit a highly impractical one. Admittedly the 10in screen should best most add-in sat-navs for 2D and 3D map display, if not ease of mounting.

Dell will also be pre-installing a Web browser search plug-in called Loki, which offers location-based results as well as hooking into 'location-aware' sites such as Flikr.

Whether the Dell Wireless 700 location solution will be an upgrade option for Mini 10s outside of the US is unknown as yet. If it doesn't come in the Mini 10, though, it's not unlikely we'll see it included in a different system eventually.

Link:
Direct2Dell Blog.

discuss this article  8 comments
Email this article to a friend Email
Bookmark and Share


 

Related Articles

Newsletters

Register to receive the latest Reviews and News Headlines directly to your Inbox every day, and enter our regular competitions. More Info.

Your Name


Email Address


Latest 4 of 8 Comments

Have your say: Leave a comment below about this article.

comment purephase said on 2nd July 2009

@Will

I'm pretty sure that the A in A-GPS just stands for assisted. It just helps you lock onto satellites etc faster and with more accuracy.

I ... more

comment drdark said on 2nd July 2009

I concur with what purephrase mentioned. I don't think all networks support aGPS but I'm on '3' and it definitely works(E71). About 1-2 minutes to get a fix wit... more

comment Kanu said on 3rd July 2009

There are people who do work out of cars eg salesmen, so for such folks a light, affordable laptop that can be used to view and plan trips is quite relevant.

And no... more

comment Joe said on 4th July 2009

the assisted part of aGPS means that as well as using satellites the unit will triangulate using mobile phone cell towers, it doesn't cost anything and is useful in cities etc... more

See all 8 comments on this article.

add comment Add your comment

You must be logged in to comment. Login or register here.