Wireless USB now an option in even more Dell laptops

Jonesing for more wireless USB options in your laptop? Dell's got you covered with extended availability of the $145 add-on in its XPS M1530 (plus its Gaming Edition), Inspiron 1525, which brings the tally to those and the 17-inch Inspiron 1720 and 13-inch M1330. Still out of the wireless USB loop: the low end 14-inch 1420, the XPS M1730, and the juggernaut M2010 (which really should have it by now).

[Via Electronista]

[Marc @ Feb 12th 2008 12:32AM]

So, does this mean that devices that are USB powered can be powered wirelessly? If so, awesome. If not, I feel like an idiot.

I just want wireless power so bad. I'm so tired of wires.

[Vesh @ Feb 12th 2008 12:37AM]

Nope you'll still need to plug them in if they draw power from the USB connection. Truly wireless power is still a dream (along with anti-gravity, faster than light travel, and the extinction of fan boys). *sigh*

[w00t @ Feb 12th 2008 12:43AM]

Wireless power is not a dream, it has been demonstrated many times even before you were born.

Practical wireless power, on the otherhand, is about as real as the extinction of fan boys... unfortunately ;)

[Ben @ Feb 12th 2008 3:50AM]

lol no way how could a device power itself wirelessly while not loosing power; but gain power

[Podaman @ Feb 12th 2008 1:08AM]

mr tesla will do that, and find a dupe bug in the universe, thus making crap loads of top hats

[Reader @ Feb 12th 2008 1:30AM]

Whoa calm down there... Wireless power is far outside the realm of anti-gravity and what not. As mentioned earlier, Tesla did it. Wireless power was around before electricity was even mainstream. Also microwaves and any other EM can transmit electricity. Efficiency is just the problem currently, and lack of anyone trying to make it more efficient until recently.

[Sam Winter @ Feb 12th 2008 5:36AM]

@Ben
"lol no way how could a device power itself wirelessly while not loosing power; but gain power"

What in the hell does that mean? lol :)

[sam @ Feb 12th 2008 1:04AM]

if bluetooth hadnt been invented i would be excited right now

[Intrepid @ Feb 12th 2008 1:14AM]

You need to understand that the speed of Bluetooth is extremely slow compared to Wireless USB.

[2Perfect @ Feb 12th 2008 1:38AM]

[confusion]Someone enlighten me. What exactly does this do? I don't have to plug in my jumpdrive to get data from it? (kidding, but wtf is wireless USB?)

You mean like wireless mice? Because last time I checked that wasn't that special anymore.[/confusion]

[storino03 @ Feb 12th 2008 2:12AM]

so how do you connect usb devices then? Are they connected to a central wireless base station? What type of card is the wireless usb. Mini-PCI-E? If so, what about the builtin wireless that most laptops have already?

--James

[Juaquin @ Feb 12th 2008 3:08AM]

Cool, but I'd prefer that we just made WiFi the standard of communications for every device. Would make life simpler and more compatible. It would require some tweaking (or maybe a new format altogether), but a single wireless transmission protocol would be a godsend. As such, every company would hate it and do their best to hamper any such technology (just look at flash memory formats).

[Ralph @ Feb 12th 2008 8:27AM]

Is this a mini PCI card? if so, can existing M1330 owners add it on later? How many spare mini PCI slots are there on the machine anyway?

For those asking if you need to plug in your memory key the answer is YES. Wireless USB works with a hub that is probably not self-powered. This is one of those new things that sounds great to have but will get very little practical use. Think about it, how often are you using more than 2 USB devices on a laptop at once?

[Richard @ Feb 12th 2008 10:30AM]

Ryan, I can't access the dell page from work for some reason but the m1730 had wireless USB last week I was customizing one. I'd assume it's still there.

[KaBaL @ Feb 12th 2008 10:58AM]

I'm not seeing the buzz here. Lenovo's T61 15" offers the same thing.. Why is Dell so special?

[Conda @ Feb 12th 2008 1:40PM]

if I recall, Dell was the first to put Wireless USB in a notebook in the first place, but only one had it. so its showing that theyre expanding to more of their line