Not a Phone, Not a Tablet Computer, The Dell Streak is Something Else Altogether

 26 May 2010 - By Omar Mariño+
 omar@myddnetwork.com


Dell’s new 5 inch tablet-like device contains the guts of a smart phone but has the power of an iPad.  So what do you call something like that?  That depends on how you’re going to use it, I would think.  While there are angry debaters on both sides of aisle on this one, it’s clear that the streak is designed to be a direct competitor to Apple’s iPad.  Which device will come out on top?

Launching in the UK in April, the Streak will cross the pond mid-summer but what will happen when it gets here?  The first hurdle it will have to overcome is its awkward size.  At 5” diagonally, it’s just a little too large for your pocket—and looks a little bulky pressed up to the side of someone’s head—but is dwarfed by comparable tablet devices.  (Can you imagine walking around with an iPad glued to your noggin?)  It comes equipped with cell phone circuitry, a microphone, a speaker, and Blue Tooth compatibility that put it clearly in the phone category but the high-speed WiFi connectivity and enhanced functionality give it a nudge toward tablet-land.

Dell's Streak Tablet/Smart Phone

Dell's Streak Tablet/Smart Phone

The number and scale of the speculated apps the device will be able to run clearly put it in the category of a productive mobile device, but with smart phones getting smarter and computers getting smaller pretty much any device that has access to an app store of some sort falls into that grey area in between.

The deciding factor may just be where you buy the thing.  Unfortunately, in the states, the Streak will only be available from AT&T with a contract—is the mobile carrier trying to hedge its bets by hording all the super-smart crossover devices?

In the end, I don’t think the iPad really has anything to worry about, however, for those of you out there that are Anti-Apple (and there’s plenty of reason to be) this just may be your next best alternative.






Disclaimer - Category: Cell Phone, Gadget, Mobile phone