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Gadgets Dell Premium Remote Control for MCE
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - July 19, 2006 12:01 PM
Print 10 comment(s) - last by Anh Huynh.. on Jul 20 at 3:53 PM

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Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 compatible with gyration technology

Dell’s latest XPS M2010 is a stylish desktop system that walks a very thin line of being a desktop or laptop. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is the default operating system on XPS M2010 systems. A regular Microsoft Media Remote is bundled with XPS M2010 systems which doesn’t exactly match the stylish nature of the XPS M2010. Consumers seeking something more stylish and fitting for the XPS M2010 will be able to upgrade to Dell’s Premium Remote Control.

The two-way Premium Remote Control connects to the XPS M2010 using wireless USB. This allows the Premium Remote Control to communicate with the XPS M2010 and have its own user interface with a grayscale LCD display. The user interface on the Premium Remote Control allows users to access the music playback portion of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 without interrupting video playback or other tasks at hand. Music libraries and searching features are supported with the Premium Remote Control’s user interface.

Dell co-developed the Premium Remote Control with Gyration. Gyration has previously developed wireless keyboard and mice combinations equipped with motion sensors. The Premium Remote Control also makes use of motion sensing technologies. With the Premium Remote Control users can move the mouse cursor simply by holding down a button and waving the remote around. This function is similar to Nintendo’s Wiimote.

The Dell Premium Remote Control can be programmed to control a television set with limited functionality including volume and on/off functions but lacks true universal remote capabilities to control other devices such as home theater receivers. Dell claims the wireless range for the Premium Remote Control will be around 30ft and battery life for 4-6 months with four AAA batteries. The battery life is quite respectable with a backlit LCD display.

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 users interested in purchasing the remote will be disappointed as Dell only offers the Premium Remote Control as an upgrade option for its XPS M2010 system. Dell has no plans to sell the remote separately.

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Long remote is Loooooooooooong
By Uarmm on 7/19/2006 1:23:29 PM , Rating: 2
Better than a maglite for fending off intruders.




By Master Kenobi (blog) on 7/19/2006 2:11:33 PM , Rating: 4
Is that a Dell Remote in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?


RE: Long remote is Loooooooooooong
By Aquila76 on 7/19/06, Rating: 0
No light?
By Clauzii on 7/19/2006 4:23:00 PM , Rating: 2
Does this thing have backlit LC Display?? It shure don't look like that to me..




clarifications
By juliejacobson on 7/20/2006 8:44:29 AM , Rating: 2
Yes, has a backlight option on LED.
As for the writeup -- Dell told me (original author) that this is the remote that ships with the M2010. It's not an upgrade to some generic remote, unless DailyTech has learned otherwise.
The remote isn't as huge as it looks -- just slender, so it looks big.


RE: clarifications
By Anh Huynh on 7/20/2006 3:53:52 PM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure, it shows the Microsoft remote on the specs page

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetail...

Bit confusing :-\


Where are the alphabet keys?
By macademianut on 7/19/2006 12:31:38 PM , Rating: 2
What? This remote doesn't have alphabet keys?




RE: Where are the alphabet keys?
By SLCentral on 7/19/2006 12:43:53 PM , Rating: 2
Alphabet keys use the numerical keys...if you look closly above the numbers you can see letters.


Looking nice
By SLCentral on 7/19/2006 12:15:06 PM , Rating: 2
At first look, it seems like a wanna-be Harmony remote, but since this actually gets data from the PC, it's much more. I do wish two things, though:

1) It had full universal remote capabilities, like the Harmony
2) Dell sold it seperately




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