Issue the following command from the terminal (Applications -> Accesories -> Terminals)

cd /var/lib/dpkg/info
sudo rm libxcb-shape0.list
sudo apt-get --reinstall install libxcb-shape0

Updates should now work.  Not a great out-of-the-box experience, really

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/a52dec/+bug/383735

http://darrenchapple.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/dell-mini-10-corrupt-libxcb-shape0-file/

This is the main thread reporting the issue

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1174821

The bug is raised here

https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-mini/+bug/391796

Would have thought Dell would be interested in how their laptops work out-of-the-box though

Thank you done it and I am now doing the updat so a big thums up to you

Richard