no built in mic in notebook

Tens or hunderds of thousands of others face the same shock--myself included with my brand new, extremely high-end Inspiron 9300.

Given this truly nasty trick on Dell's part (they save maybe 25-50 cents without telling you, you face years of unacceptable voice performance as a result of trusting Dell), you have only two choices:

(1) Buy, pack, and carry with the notebook at all times an external microphone. This is extremely clumsy and often impractical for light to moderate voice-over-Internet use (because any time there's an incoming call, you need to unpack and install the microphone, which will usually take more time than the caller has), but Dell has inexcusably and deceptively left tens or hundreds of thousands of users no choice.

(2) Return the unit, though this is expensive in time and money. If you're originally a US customer, you have 30 days to return the unit, though it's expensive ($100 or so). It's possible, though unlikely, that Dell will let you return the unit even after 30 days, given this de facto deception on their part, particularly if legal threats are involved. (They should have made it abundantly clear to users that these computers were crippled so far as voice tech goes--they didn't, to their shame and the users' severe, permanent loss.).

Either way, you lose--thanks to Dell.

Message Edited by AT_Wolfgang on 09-09-2005 09:36 AM

"Anyway, what's the workaround for this problem?"

A mono, not stereo (won't work in an Inspiron), external notebook computer mic. It's a compact L shaped mic that plugs into the side of the computer.

Sound Professionals Mini Mic

Scroll down and have a look at the SP-MMM-4 for example.

Jim

Jimco,

This may be helpful information, mitigating somewhat the stunning lack of native voice capability in the machine. Thank you.

(Potential customers should be reassured, however, that, despite not commenting either way on the website, Dell notebook displays ARE in color, not black-and-white, as one might naturally suspect given the lack of microphone. And they DO run on battery power, another plus that's again perhaps surprising given the absence of "microphone technology" in the various putatively new Dell notebooks. I must grant the wizards at Dell this much: they've chosen an, uh, _interesting_ mix of technologies to include and omit. I'm still trying to determine, e.g., if my 9300 is backlit using pine torches--I don't smell smoke, but since the notebooks are not up to the level of "microphonic technology" and I'm in a well ventilated room....)

Do you know if any of these microphones work with the Dell, given their bias voltage requirements (1.5V to 10V)?

And do you have any inside scoop as to when Dell might start including microphone technology in their notebooks? 1987, maybe '88? I suppose Mr. Bell is still finalizing it.

I too was outstounded to discover that my "top of the line" Dell Inspiron 9300 had no microphone.  Needless to say I am VERY DISAPPOINTED :smileysad: in Dell's decision to omit such an inexpensive yet useful item which is standard on most other notebooks.  Other than cracking open the case, drilling a few holes, and doing a bit of soldering does anyone know of a way to install an internal microphone in a notebook?  Thanks for the suggestion of the small external mic.  It's a bit pricey though.  Anyone know of a cheaper model? 

Here's to hoping Dell learns from this mistake.

Kevin

"Do you know if any of these microphones work with the Dell, given their bias voltage requirements (1.5V to 10V)?"

As long as it is one of the mono models it will work. The Inspirons supply the voltage at the mic jack.

Of course there are plenty of cheaper mics but I don't know of one in this compact form. These are electret mics and the advantage of using this type is that they are very sensitive and will easily pick up sound. The disadvantage is that they will pick up the fan noise also. One could use an unpowered 'dynamic' mic also but you have to speak right into it to get a good signal.

As far as anything re Dell, I'm just a music teacher who has no contact with them whatsoever.

Jim

Jim,

Thanks for your help--you've been a lot more helpful (so far, anyway) than Dell Support.

Though, to be fair, Dell Support has _promised_ more help. For example, a tech support rep I e-chatted with last week asked me to close the chat so he could give me a call _right_away_--but I'm still waiting. They may yet deliver, but it doesn't look good right now.

And the original decision--let's save 25 or 50c by not including a microphone--is still simply too bizarre for words.

(I could _easily_ see offering no microphone as an _option_--some security-conscious organizations are concerned about microphones, especially if they're set up so they cannot be turned off decisively. But making this mandatory--simply unbelievable.)

Message Edited by St. John 15.13 on 09-12-2005 05:20 PM

Thanks for the help Jim. 

Wolfgang, Let us know if you get anything back from Dell support.  I'll try e-chatting with them as well.

 

Kevin

St. John,

It has to be a mono mic so there is no ring ... so it must be the tip. It would only be a few volts, probably less than 6. I have a couple of this type mic in stereo form that I use with my mini disc recorder which records in stereo. The recorder runs off one AA battery and supplies only a couple of volts, but the mics can also run off a 9 volt battery pack. The stereo mics will work with the computer if plugged halfway into the mic jack.

Jim

Kevin,

I talked with Dell hardware support today, and to summarize: we've all taken it in the hiney. The earlier rep who talked about an upgrade or exchange apparently was engaging in wishful thinking, since apparently NO new Dell notebooks are shipping with microphones now, except some of the leftover low-end ones. Even the XPS Gens 2, 3, and 4 lack them, the support guy said.

Unbelievable, and when combined with not telling customers, probably legally actionable. I'm checking that out.

What got under my skin today: I only today found out (and this is my fault) that Dell last year changed their return policy to 21 days, so barring the lawyers twisting their arms due to deception, I'm stuck with this "new, high-end Dell" computer that's substantively technically inferior to my 4.5 year old ThinkPad in major respects (though the ThinkPad is much slower, of course).

Again, simply unbelievable.

Check with Dell sales, and they confirm: no microphones with ANY Dell notebooks now.

And it's still pointed out to consumers.... nowhere?

They're begging for trouble, and they'll get it.....