Dell adding Mini 10 TV tuner, passion purple color options today

When Dell said its Mini 10 TV tuner was coming this summer, well, we didn't expect it to be so soon. The company's dropped us a line to say we should expect to see it as a customization option starting sometime today, presumably along with the external antenna that's needed when the signal's low. The cost is an extra $50 and it'll net you over-the-air ATSC -- that's the new HD format, for those who haven't been keeping track. Additionally, a seventh color, passion purple, is being added to the library, and if your heart's set on cherry red, you'll be happy to know they're now a part of the (PRODUCT) RED portfolio, meaning Dell will donate $5 to the Global Fund with each purchase. No pics of the new hue just yet, but if any of these new additions sound enticing, you might wanna hit cancel on that late-night order we caught you placing.

[DWells55 @ May 21st 2009 12:08AM]

How about an option to have an internal TV tuner and an antenna mounted inside the frame of the screen? Sure, it might require a specifically made and slightly bulkier shell for the LCD, but that'd be a much more elegant solution than a big tuner to carry around with your portable device.

[Invisiblemoose @ May 21st 2009 12:23AM]

There is an internal antenna. The external one is just for when you have a weak signal.

Unfortunately, you'll probably always have a weak signal, so the point's somewhat moot...

[rock99rock @ May 21st 2009 11:33AM]

@Thomas

Agreed. Don't expect to be ATSCing in your office. Unless its a corner office.

[rock99rock @ May 21st 2009 3:29PM]

errrr. @moose

[MegaBite @ May 21st 2009 12:19AM]

Do they sell mini-pcie cards so that you could install them other laptops/netbooks?
That would be way cool. I would have no problem installing an external antenna connector for it.

[Kushal @ May 21st 2009 12:23AM]

now just add the 2GB option and we are set

[Richard @ May 21st 2009 12:26AM]

Or just add your own memory for cheaper?

[Jeff @ May 21st 2009 10:36AM]

You can't add / change the RAM on these (yet), it's soldered in.

[a13xx94 @ May 21st 2009 4:21PM]

Some are upgradeable

[JohnTitor @ May 21st 2009 12:26AM]

"that's the new HD format, for those who haven't been keeping track"
it's really not that new at all, contrary to popular belief ATSC has been used for a while now, the June 11 shutdown is just to force people to finally leave NTSC for it

[Chad @ May 21st 2009 9:50AM]

Actually it's the new Digital OTA format and HD is a part of that spec but so is 480i and 480p.

[Kushal Patel @ May 21st 2009 12:28AM]

does anyone know if the ram is user upgradeable now?

[kevin @ May 21st 2009 1:08AM]

Will they be offering the crimson red option? That's all I'm worried about

[Mikey C @ May 21st 2009 1:37AM]

Been waiting for this!

[tmark rushworth @ May 21st 2009 2:08AM]

Is there anything similar for the mini 9 ?

[MikeC @ May 21st 2009 2:52AM]

I see purple

http://i.dell.com/images/global/products/314x314/laptop-inspiron-10v-purple-314.jpg

but no tuner yet.

[John @ May 21st 2009 3:06AM]

That's actually pretty cool. So you can watch basic cable anytime you want, or do you need some type of "tv hotspot" like with wi-fi?

[joshua @ May 21st 2009 6:07AM]

Its over the air TV, just like if you didn't have cable except these days its in HD. If you have a good signal it looks crystal clear because its digital. If you don't live anywhere near a major city then you might not get as many channels. If you are in the US go to a site like antennaweb.org and it will show you what stations are in your area.

[Lucas @ May 21st 2009 3:31AM]

This is part of what we were waiting for.. actually, the only thing we all want i think it's 2GB, that's it, that's the netbook i want right now, i don't care about tuner cuz i'm far away from the US

So, does anyone know when DELL will be upgrading to 2GB memory size?

Cheers!

[Jeff @ May 21st 2009 10:35AM]

The 2GB version was supposed to come out yesterday according to that leaked release roadmap that came out a month or two ago.

[Cassini @ May 21st 2009 4:04AM]

Once they actually add the TV tuner, Dell will just need to add:

- 2GB or 4GB RAM
- Integrated GPS
- AT&T WWAN option (not just Verizon, which is useless overseas)
- WiMAX would be great, but I won't hold my breath
- Maybe another OS option
- I'd like to see a fingerprint reader, too

All would be nice, but the first three have to be there along with TV. Then the Mini-10 would be good to go.

[loopyoyo @ May 21st 2009 6:14AM]

does the netbook even have the power to decode the atsc signal...if so i doubt is will display 1080i/720p at its native res...unless the tuner has a hardware decoder which i highly doubt it

[Brett @ May 21st 2009 10:05PM]

Yes, it will decode ATSC broadcasts just fine. MPEG2 does not require much power for playback. I have been doing it since I had a P4 with 256MB.

[Thomas @ May 21st 2009 6:41AM]

Hopefully this option will be available in the UK with the ability to decode DVB-T for watching Freeview (UK digital terrestrial TV).

[Rey Matt @ May 22nd 2009 8:00AM]

Can this tuner decode NTSC signals also? I've got a USB TV tuner which could decode both. If you're doing a lot of international travelling, a tuner limited to ATSC will be dead weight most of the time.

[fikhl @ May 21st 2009 1:17PM]

Might be a dump question but is Atom powerful enough for OTA TV?!

[rock99rock @ May 21st 2009 3:31PM]

You're right, it was totally dump.

[TR @ May 21st 2009 4:26PM]

Seems to be out for $20:

http://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/05/21/dell-mini-10-internal-tv-tuner-now-available-for-20/