STEVE HARVEY ON HAVING BIG IDEAS
The Dell Community has contributed: 9422 ideas | promoted 644173 times | 72148 comments

How IdeaStorm Works:

Post Promote Discuss See
510

Built in/ Express card GPS

510 points posted to Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), New Product Ideas by visiocloud 10/07/07

I love having GPS on my computer but it would be nice not to have to deal with all the wire, I think an express card or an internal gps option would be awesome.

undead999
10/07/07
I like your idea but wonder if GPS signal might be too weak inside a car. A typical GPS unit is mounted on or next to a windshield, I don’t think many people will try mounting the laptops on the dash.

heres one (same company pushes external GPS antenna's) http://www.mightygps.com/pccard.htm
visiocloud
10/07/07
Yes, that is a concern, however, other companies already offer pci card gps systems as well as gps sd cards, and from my experience with my usb gps device, it works fairly well inside the car as well as out.
visiocloud
10/07/07
Maybe even built in GPS, they satrted with express cards for mobile broadband, now they're built in, why not with GPS
millhauz
10/07/07
i believe asus has some notebook with built-in GPS, so it should work and be implementable either way...
visiocloud
10/07/07
I agree, I have seen it out there and cell phones can do it so why not a much more sophisticated machine?
millhauz
10/07/07
there really should be somemodule to handle it all, not Wifi + bluetooth + wwan...just an all-in solution
visiocloud
10/07/07
Agreed, the Wireless Ultimo: GPS, EDVO, EDGE, WLAN, 3G, Bluetooth, WAN everything, I like that idea millhauz this alone should be a post, all Dell needs is a catchy name for it.
millhauz
10/07/07
i think the new chip from intel that should come out with the montevina platform is going to be Wifi a,g,n + HSDPA + Wimax ...that would be pretty good
petzymathuram
10/08/07
Perhaps as a Dell Globe Trotter?
mkmaster78
10/08/07
visiocloud, can't have an all in one, especially not with Bluetooth and WLAN, they work in the same frequency range and can jam each other. That's I always have one disabled when I'm using the other. Sometimes they're smart enough not to interfere, sometimes not, not worth the headache having them on one chip.
visiocloud
10/08/07
Well they're all offered in one computer already so why not just make them on the same chip? My computer has WIFI and bluetooth running at all times as do most people's.
anuj
Apr 2
Merged Idea originally posted Mar 31
Laptop with build-in GPS

Provide an option to select embedded GPS for Laptops. SiRF Star III chipset is inexpensive and can even get better deal while buying in bulk. Additionally laptop can have an external antenna for better receptions or probably small detachable antenna.
Today external GPS Device options are available but need to carry it separately, I guess problem is as same as PCI WI-FI card and embedded WI-FI, the usage of wireless network really expanded or became popular after embedded WI-FI.

Embedded GPS will provide ability to seamlessly integrate location based applications. This has got huge potential as laptop will know where it is and so do the customer, provide option to customer for selecting location based application (Example Maps, etc) that will be preinstalled by Dell. Can also provide GPS (Location /Area) as trigger for Task Execution this will help customers to do custom activity.

If GPS is pushed in mobile why cant in Laptop, which has got better processing, bigger screen and huge storage
jervis961
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 31
This is rumored to be included in the Latitude E-series that is due out in September.
aikiwolfie
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 31
I swear I've seen an idea like this before. GPS is due to hit every smart phone on the market. So there will be very limited market space for GPS in laptops. I see it more as an after market add-in option at the moment.
sugarbear
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 31
You are right aikiwolfie, it`s on here someplace.
undead999
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 31
louietammaro
Apr 2
Merged Idea originally posted Mar 10
Laptop GPS Navigation

Have you ever thought of offering a GPS navigation system on your laptops? I think it would be very handy…..
stormrider451
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 10
That would be a very cool addon for the rugged PC's at least, these are always being taken all over the place due to their ruggedness. Say for someone who works on the road all the time with his rugged PC. It would be cool if he could find his way if he doesnt find a house or something. Or for a researcher on the field who takes his rugged PC for data input. What if he gets a bit lost in the woods? That would be great.
******* EDIT*********

Nevermind.. The rugged dell laptop HAS GPS integrated haha.. Heres a link, see for yourself: http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/products/latit/topics/en...
undead999
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 10
this has been suggested before. http://ideastorm.com/article/show/64246/Add_GPS_to_Notebooks< dont think it would work very well in a car unless the antenna was placed on the dash, so a built in option would require an external antenna. M$ already includes GPS on a version of streets and trips, i think the total cost is about $100.00 including the external USB antenna and streets and trips software.
undead999
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 10
stormrider451 ,

the integrated GPS uses cell towers, would probably require data services from VZW, at&t or whatever card dell is offering (Integrated GPS capability (with mobile broadband card)).
stormrider451
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 10
Yea probably so. But it would be a bit unrealistic to think that it wouldnt need some kind of data service that would cost you. Unless DELL put up its own satellite, which I dont think is probably what DELL is into. heh But who knows.. :| But anyways, I am sure that even if DELL was the one offering the satellite service, they would charge you too hah... Satellites are EXPENSIVE :P
undead999
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 10
Just pointing out the additional cost, while many will opt for this others wont. GPS options shouldnt be limited to people who want mobile boradband.
aikiwolfie
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 10
In the next year or so GPS will be common place in all smart phones. Including the cheap ones.
sugarbear
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 10
There is one small drawback. If you are in an area with no cell signal, then you have no GPS.
aikiwolfie
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 11
If I found a place with no signal I don't think I'd leave!
sugarbear
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 11
There are a lot of places in Arkansas that dosen`t have signal. It`s hilly and forested. Come on over aikiwolfie.
aikiwolfie
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 11
LOL are you flirting with me SB? You'll get me in trouble :op
sugarbear
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 11
The towns, cities and main area`s have signal. I have three dead spots between my home and town. That`s a 15 mile drive, and those spots are very short also. If you go up towards the mountains in NY state you will find the same thing.
sugarbear
Apr 2
Merged Comment originally posted Mar 11
With all the tecnology at our fingertips, we still have deadspots. Maybe we should come up with an idea to fix this. Think of all the the different industries that benefit from Gps, as well as the general public.
Please log in to post a comment