Does Microsoft Surface have GPS?

Anonymous
2012-10-16T16:40:26+00:00

Simple question, cannot find the answer.  A couple of websites states that GPS is there, however I find nothing on www.surface.com.  The website that state that GPS is there have said that since june and I don't know how they would know?

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Anonymous
2012-12-12T16:23:17+00:00

There is no GPS on the Surface. It uses location services based on the internet connection.

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btbt 11,841 Reputation points
2012-10-16T18:47:26+00:00

As it's a WiFi only device, there is no GPS, but it does have location services as part of the operating system.

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Anonymous
2012-12-26T22:54:36+00:00

Hi,

Surface for Windows RT does not support an external GPS device such as the one you refer to.

Surface for Windows RT can look up your location based on WiFi signals in your vicinity, as long as the Surface is also Internet-connected.  Apps such as Maps or Weather, or web sites through Internet Explorer, can use this information.

Hope this helps

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Anonymous
2013-04-02T19:11:00+00:00

Hello Myron,

Surface RT does not have GPS, however it does have Location Services which allows certain programs to know your location based on IP address.

Was there a specific app you needed to use with GPS?

Best regards.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-01-01T19:46:00+00:00

    My wonderful wife bought me a Surface RT as a Christmas present - she's not real tech savy. I'd seen the Surface advertised on TV, and thought it looked interesting - especially since the whole add was OUTDOORS . When I got it out of the box, it looked pretty cool - very slick looking device. I played around with it, but couldn't find any GPS or Mobile Broadband facility on it. Time is scarce so I set it aside for later to fiddle around with. Now I realise why neither of these things are on board.

    THIS IS A MAJOR DISAPOINTMENT. I don't have the heart to tell my wife - the main reason she got it for was to read online newspapers while on the train.

    This is a major oversight on MS's behalf. A tablet that size would be a beautiful navigation device. As it is stands it's just a $600+ toy for the home to play solitaire on (that's all my wife's interested in).

    I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought the outdoors setting of the TV adds suggested it would work separate to your home WiFi. The US and Europe might have WiFi "everywhere", but in many areas of Australia it's a case of "in your dreams".

    I wish I could swap it for something else, which is a shame because it looks and works great.

    I REALLY HOPE somone makes an RT driver/app combo for a USB GPS dongle (SOON!!!!). I really hope somone makes an RT driver for my Mobile Broadband dongle. At least my Surface will be usable, but will be ugly with all the stuff dangling off it.

    As people realise  the machine's limitations, I predict the price will drop - to a hundred bucks.

    No mobile braodband, no GPS = big mistake.

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