So, you want that mini-remote for your new inspiron? look no further!

Thanks to STELLA! I already +repped, and ALL who want the item and use this information should do the same!!

As per stellas post upon ordering:

"Here's what they're shipping to me--can anyone confirm that this is the correct one?

1 FW331 Kit,Remote Control,Notebook Mobile 2008,Philips $.00"

And her post AFTER she received it in the mail TODAY!:

"I've been on vacation since last week, but my remote was waiting with our apartment manager when I got back. Item #FW331--it fits perfectly in the ExpressCard slot and works via infrared. It has the little Dell logo on it."

GO STELLA! YOU ALL SEE THAT? IF YOU WANT THE MINI REMOTE THAT FITS IN THE EXPRESSCARD SLOT FOR THE NEW INSPIRONS..USE ITEM # FW331.

Thanks to stella for the information. I just placed my order with not even a single question from my dell online rep. flawless...free..next day shipping. MY day got a little better.

 

where's ur review on the 1721 dude?

 

If I had my 1721, it would be up here! lol. It's boxing, expected to ship either tomorrow or the LATEST saturday/monday. Should have it either way before wednesday of this coming week. sorry man :\

 

Don't understand ... how did you order that remote? You chated with dell after ordering the laptop and they've sent it to you for free?

 

Yes sir/ma'am.

see, I have ordered THREE remotes from them so far. All the WRONG ones. They sent Stella the right one, So I told them to cancel the current order for the remote, and send me the one stella got. Bam, free/free overnight shipping.

 

So did you just call dell, give them that number and order it!? It is totally free or did you have to pay shipping?

EDIT: You posted when I was typing and answered my question.

They included the Bluetooth remote in mine for free originally, and told me that the IR one didn't exist. I think I should call and give them that number.

 

Didn't even call. Went to live chat on dell.com. Said hey buddy, I was supposed to get a mini remote for my 1721..i didnt, I want this one, free with overnight shipping please. Ordered, end of story.

 

Damn damn damn. That is the one they had me order, and I cancelled it because the part # didn't match. I am trying to get it shipped before my laptop too right now due to this. Having trouble.

Stella::::: It does fit perfectly in the expresscard slot, and says Dell on it, and uses the IR right?

Is it the one listed on this webpage???

Dell Travel Remote

 

I just tried on chat and the lady directed me to call and either change my order or order it seperatly, I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm going to also try to see if I can buy the 6-cell battery, there wasn't an option for both when I ordered.

 

Does this remote only work with Bluetooth? I googled ExpressCard Remote and seemed like it only supported Bluetooth, which is a feature I didn't bother adding to my laptop..

Besides that, I'm confused which remote I should actually ask for, if there are three types.

 

so did you have to like prove that you owned an inspiron?
i'm getting a vostro soon and i want the remote but dont want to pay for it...

 

first off, the remote is only 10 bucks lol. I didnt prove anything..i said I ordered a 1721..didnt get my remote..please send it. that was that.

 

hmm... 10 bucks i can use elsewhere now
thanks man

 

...o well...it asks for my order number or service tag

 

They won't send the IR remote seperatly and won't add it to my order without canceling and starting over. Same goes with the battery.....

I went through 6 people. I think I'm just going to leave it how it is and buy a battery later on.

 

Thats odd..I got my rep conversation which involved me saying what i want and him doing what i said.

 

Aww maaan. I configured it with the remote right away on dell home: Cost me $15!... Grrr..

 

I got my remote after 3-4 reps. Just say you had a bad experience with previous rep (which I really did) and ask the rep if he or she can order the item for you. I told them that I called the CSR over the phone and that they told me the order number to order. At first, they'll tell you that you have to talk to a order modification speicialist and call the toll free number in order to order. But argue on, and they'll say that they'll make an exception for you, which they did.


PS oh yea, the about my bad experience, the second CSR that I met online transferred me to a Latin American CSR after I asked her to transfer me to another sales rep. She kept contradicting herself and instead kept trying to sell me a new laptop

 

How often is Customer Service Chat "busy"? I've been trying for hours and haven't gotten to speak to one CS rep yet.

 

Yes, it fits--it sticks out less than a mm, not noticeable at all. It says Dell on it, and I'm assuming it's infrared since I don't have Bluetooth and it works .

 

Do you know if you are able to turn off your laptop with this remote? Because if so, I might be interested... really interested .

 

Not as far as I've seen when you're in windows, though I suppose if someone wrote a utility...

It does have an "exit" button that works when you are in "media direct" mode, as in you are not actually in windows. And that seems to turn the computer off.

 

Well I tried hard to add that IR remote.. but had to cancel/rebuild system to add it. But thanks for confirmation that it does work in media direct mode. I am glad I am going to get it now. This remote should be included in all inspirons as a standard feature. From what I read, all the inspirions have the IR near or below the trackpad I am told. So why not just include the thing. I think Dell should advertise this feature more so people know about it. Unfortunately, they put it near the very end of the system build with all the TV-Remote stuff. I think I saw those features and did not realize what it was. But I just don't remember seeing it the first time I built it. Obviously, many people over look that from what is being said on these forums.. My order shows it costs 11 bucks. I think at that price Dell should just include it.. who would not want that? Especially if they make it nearly impossible to order after your notebook ships.

 

It may not be infrared, the only remote that my rep could find that fit in the express card slot was a bluetooth one, and one that worked off of radio frequency (RF), not IR.

 

So a bluetooth remote would work in a laptop without a bluetooth module? That doesn't seem likely.

I listed the part number for this one if you want to try running it by your rep.

 

Both devices require bluetooth inorder for them to work together.

 

Yes, that's why I assumed the remote I was sent was infrared since it functions on my laptop. I guess I didn't explain that clearly enough.

 

no i meant that one of the remotes that the found was bluetooth, and the other was radio frequency. He couldn't find the infrared one. That tells me that yours could be either the RF or the IR one, because you dont have bluetooth.

 

It is the SAME exact remote as the one in Andrew's review. It is not RF. Keep in mind that your rep probably didn't even know what he was talking about (like most on the issue with the remote) and just told you whatever to get you off the phone or chat.

I doubt it's radio frequency..InfraRed is superior, and your not going to find an RF transceiver in a 2007 Dell. I doubt it.

 

doesn't work...dell site cant find it.

 

its a tiny remote.. .works via infrared

 

There is two remotes. The IR which is made dell. And the blue tooth which is a third party remote. The blue tooth runs media center and power point.. I think it does all the MS stuff. It has a li-on battery and can recharge in the express slot. The dell IR has a small battery and can operate dell media direct. It has no express card functions but stores in the express card slot. If you get anything else then these two, it probably won't work.

 

Hmm, I just called today and they said my 412-0961 should ship out, no problem.

Warning guys, they are now questioning where we're getting our part numbers from. Be careful...

 

when you guys go to chat, what department do you click on? or who do you go to? i went to customer care and had them tell me that they can add orders and to call sales. and when i call sales they want me to reorder my system? are you going threw technical support chat?

 

come on guys no response^^^

 

I just called to order by phone, i am supposed to get a coupon or something, but i called to see if i could get it without having a coupon number. I ended up just buying it, it was like $3.99. I called and gave them the fw331 part number and just ordered it.

Edit: I called 1-800-357-3355

 

thanks buckeye, im just going to write that down and call them when i get my PC that way i dont have to worry about them wanting to redo my order and stuff.

 

Are people still getting this remote for free?

 

Can you find it on Dell's website? Will it work with a Vostro 1400? Thanks.

 

Good question. I don't see the remote offered when you build and configure Vostro 1400. However, the tech specs says the Vostro has Consumer IR (infrared sensor) which is needed for the remote. Now the differences I see is the info on Inspiron media direct: From website 1420 under design: Easy media access With Dell MediaDirect, you can have fast, easy one-button access to movies, music, photos, & Microsoft Office content without starting Microsoft Windows!

Now under Vostro web site its media direct functions are more business like: One-touch access to calendar, contacts and files in seconds with Dell MediaDirectTM technology

From what I read, it sounds like the IR remote can control media direct features. Not sure it can run the same features however. From what Dell says, media direct supports different features from the 1400 and 1420. I can't see how one can build a Vostro with the remote.. at least I can't see where to add it in.. Usually its in the TV-remote tab on the config build. But I don't see those options. However, Dell does mention the Vostro having a built in IR support.. that is what you need for this remote. So I am assuming the remote may work.. whether it will play DVD's etc.. is another question. Getting Dell to sell you one for a Vostro when it is not set up in the business line is really going to be a challenge I would think. The buisness and home lines are really far apart. So if the business line won't sell it to you, then call the home support. Don't worry to much if it will work.. just try to get it since its pretty cheap. I think you will get some function from it.

 

i complained to them over case problems and they gave me the bluetooth remote for free instead. they're customer care is actually really really bad so i kept complaining for an extra 60 dolalr credit for shipping and he finally said we'll just give you the darn bluetooth remote. i guess complaining does kind of win

 

I ordered the bluetooth one as well.. should be hear tomorrow. But I think I will send it back. That was before I was able to get the IR remote. I don't think the bluetooth one can operate dell media direct. Its a third party remote that runs MS stuff from media center and powerpoint. Its nicer though with build in rechargeable li-on battery (recharges in express slot). So it does actually run in the express slot whereas the IR remote merely stores in the express slot.

 

But its a really bad idea to store the BT remote in the express card slot seeing how it will drain the battery.

 

I did some more research on this remote here: http://www.amazon.com/Interlink-Electronics-VP6600-ExpressCard-Bluetooth/dp/B000JF1YQK
And others do claim it does work with dell media direct.. my bad. Amazon says this Supported entertainment software includes Windows Media Center, Dell Media Experience, Windows Media Player, iTunes, RealPlayer and more. Requires a personal computer with Windows XP (Professional, Home, or Media Center Edition), with an ExpressCard slot and Bluetooth wireless capability.

Users say it only takes a few hours to charge and will last 1 to 3 weeks on a charge. So yes, just charge it and do not store in express slot. Somebody did mention that it will noticeably drain the battery. I may keep this now the more I read about it.. Sounds like a good accessory and usually given a 4 out of 5 star user rating.

There is a patch on dell if all the features don't work: The link is on the bottom of this interlink page http://www.interlinkelectronics.com/store/store/?action=dsp_faq&productID=8587

Also on the bottom of interlink link they claim its safe to leave it in the expresscard slot and it won't over charge.. It has a safety circuit.

 

I have just spoken with dell and they sent me a free remote part number FW331 (Kit,Remote Control,Notebook Mobile 2008,Philips)..is this the correct one?

 

I just spoke to them and they wanted to charge me 20.00 for the remoe, I told them that I wold think about it. I mean 20 bucks is not a lot of money..

 

I received my 1420 and so far I'm satisfied with it.
Could anyone please help out how to figure out that my lappie has a IR receiver in it??

Because I saw all types of hardwares in the device manager, but didnt find any IR device. Btw I have bluetooth module on my laptop. Do they exclude IR if bluetooth is included?? Then I would really be sad!!

Please help by checking on your machine where are you seeing the IR reciever in hardare. Also, as a user said there's a red light near headphone port, I dont see any light there.

Thanks a bunch in advance. I thought to confirm whether i have IR reciever and then order a remote.

 

What sort of reasoning are you guys giving the sales rep that makes them give this to you for free?