Hacker News Reader

Comment by duck | Hacker News Reader

I have an ASUS Transformer and love it, but I have used the camera just once and never have used the GPS. I would think that is pretty common usage pattern for most tablet owners as they use their phone for both of those tasks.

View on HN

I've never understood the inclusion of GPS on tablets. It's one of those features that you imagine you could use but end up not having any real world application. Most people use a tablet indoors, guess where GPS is utterly useless?

I imagine it's like people that buy an SUV for the potential off-road capabilities.

My tablet (iPad 3G first gen) makes for a great portable street directory when I'm in the car with my girlfriend. It's definitely not its primary purpose for me, but I find it much easier to use than a dead tree copy. Aside from having a really natural easy way to move around the map, you always know where you are. :)

I always take my tablet with me when traveling, and at least with that I don't think I am alone. It would make a great offline map if it had GPS. The iPhone runs out of battery so fast and has a tiny screen.

Modern GPS chipsets actually work ok in a lot of buildings. Some of it is higher sensitivity, but a lot is that they get location opportunistically (when entering/exiting) and then remember location. A-GPS helps a lot too.

I believe what most people believe is the GPS chip working is actually the location service built into the software. Unless they are transmitting in a completely different band GPS is practically useless indoors. Now with location services and AGPS you'll get a lock while indoors but the GPS chip is probably not doing much at this point.

I've got a Nook tablet without the GPS feature and I'm able to get my location from the wifi connection. It's not as accurate as a true GPS lock but good enough to get me information on the shops around me.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com