XPS 1330 Wireless USB and Hub

Our Inspiron 5150 has started giving us some hardware problems and with the current XPS deals it looked like a good time to update our aging laptop. We ordered an XPS 1330 w/ the following specs:

LED screen
T7500 Processor (2.2 GHz. 4MB cache)
3 GB of ram
160 GB 7200 RPM
Dedicated graphics card
Intel Draft N wireless
Built in Bluetooth
Built in Wireless USB

The Wireless USB and hub was a spur of the moment decision. Does anyone have any experience with these devices? How do they work? Is it worth the 150 bucks in terms of convenience? We're still at the point where we could modify the order and get rid of the wireless USB option. Thanks

 

It works like this. You need the card built into your laptop (like you have) and then you need to buy a wireless usb hub (usually around 100 dollars). You plug in your devices to the wireless usb hub (ie. jump drive, printer, sound card) and your computer will communicate to that wireless hub, wirelessly.

I don't have personal experience with it as the technology is brand new, but i want to get it once its more affordable.

 

my, that's a nice setup you're getting

as nizzy said, it's all fairly new stuff

we have a wireless router connected with our laptops and a printer(wifi). I'm jealous......

 

I was asking the same thing because I ordered wirless usb on my XPS m1530. I am hoping it will be as neat as it sounds. No one really replied to my inquiry.

I would love to hear if anyone has any experience with Wireless USB. I personally cannot stand plugging anything it to my laptop and look forward to loading up the wireless usb hub. They said you can daisy chain many devices to it. Incidentally it looks like they will be sending me two of the wireless usb docks so that means I can use it at home and at work!

I also read somewhere that when you come in range of your dock your computer automatically hooks up with it.

 

Any news for this stuff available in Europe?

 

Is this what the spare blue wire is for?

(there are two for WWAN (cell) card, 2 for WLAN (wi-fi) card
Then there is this blue one....

When someone gets a unit with this in it - please pop the hatch and
take a look - and report back here please!!

 

I was actually peeved that when I first ordered my m1530 that they did not allow for wireless USB... A week later it became an option. I changed my order to include this.

I wish there were more people out there with experience. It just seems that it is so new that maybe it is too good to be true?

 

Its not too good to be true, its just very new.

You get to be our guinea pig!

 

I will for sure report on my findings! I will most likely recieve my lappy tomorrow or the next day. Only... I think the wireless USB hubs will be a bit longer in arriving. They have not even shipped yet So I cannot really test if it works without the hubs.

I am really excited to try it out though. I am always so scared to have USB things plugged into my laptop because my first laptop was rendered almost useless because all the slots became loose from use. I also contantly worry about breakage because I use my laptop on my lap.

 

I kinda wondered if that was how new it was. I guess I'll post an update as well when we get our new laptop. It's not to ship till Feb though so it'll be a bit...

 

Hmmmm.... Bummer.

I got the USB wireless hubs today... But no computer. Ha. So much for Next Day Shipping!

Tomorrow I should have the laptop (I hope anyways, stupid DHL) and I should have an idea how the wireless USB works.

 

Just curious, which hubs did they send you? Could you take a picture and post it?

I love my inner geek haha!

 

My husband has not brought them home yet. They were delivered at his place of business.

For now here is a link to the manufacturer (Belkin - F5U303):

http://belkin.com/support/product/?lid=en&pid=F5U303&scid=1

 

Actually, I think there are 3 for Wi-Fi - if you have the N card; otherwise you only need 2.

I presume the antenna for the wireless USB is, then, built-in.