The iPad has energized the market for tablet computers, paving the way for an expected onslaught of slate-type devices.
The Dell Streak that I've been testing for a few days is a tablet, too. And that's pretty much where comparisons with the iPad cease.
Oh, sure, folks will ask the same basic question of the Streak that they asked before the iPad appeared: Is there room for a slate that's larger than a smartphone but smaller than a typical laptop? But where the iPad has a near-10-inch screen and a form that brings it into the ballpark of some notebooks, the Streak is at the other end of the spectrum. With its 5-inch, multitouch-screen, Streak resembles a smartphone that went on an eating binge, like an old-fashioned PDA. And Streak, unlike an iPad, will fit in your pants pocket, albeit with a bulge, or jut out of a shirt pocket by an inch or so.
TV: Watch Baig on ABC's 'America This Morning' Fridays 4:30 a.m. ET or check local listings
Streak actually doubles as an Android-based smartphone. But phoning is not its strength nor the reason to consider buying one. I couldn't hang up on a call when the dial pad was on the screen covering the "End Call" button. And while the Streak is petite for a tablet, it is gargantuan by modern standards for a phone — like a handset that belongs to the past century. It weighs in at 7.8 ounces. Streak isattractive and thin, though better suited for tablet duties.
Alas, I didn't love the virtual keyboard. And Dell is a generation behind when it comes to Android. It runs Android version 1.6, making it a tad listless. Dell has added its own tweaks to Google's operating system and says an over-the-air update to version 2.2, or Froyo, is in the cards.
Here's a closer look:
Availability. Dell won't say but indicates the Streak is coming very soon. This week Dell started soliciting pre-orders for Streak on its website, offering folks first crack at the device when it does go on sale, and a chance to buy a Plantronics Bluetooth headset for 99 cents.
•Price. That's also a Dell secret for now, as is the identity of Streak's official U.S. wireless carrier. All signs point to AT&T, though. Michael Dell has mentioned AT&T as a Streak partner in the past, and AT&T will be bringing out the Dell Aero smart phones in the not-too-distant future. I was able to test Streak with an AT&T sim card. (In geek terms, Streak is compatible with UMTS, GSM/Edge and HSDPA and HSUPA networks. The device is already on sale in the United Kingdom via the wireless carrier known as O2.)
Meanwhile, at the recent D technology conference, Dell executive Ron Garriques suggested that an "unlocked" Streak would cost about $500 in the U.S. If so, I'm betting on about a $300 price if you ink a two-year contract with a carrier.
Size matters. The Streak is of a size that's just not going to appeal to everybody. Whether Streak is too big or small depends on your expectations and whether you plan on mainly using it as a phone or tablet. As a tablet you'll appreciate the 5-inch screen for watching video, browsing the Web, reading e-books — I fetched the free Kindle for Android app — and viewing maps. The largest screen sizes I've come across on more traditional smartphones are the 4.3-inch displays on devices such as the Droid X and Evo 4G.
Streak's screen is about the right size for a decent portable navigation device. I used free audible turn-by-turn directions inside Google Maps. You'll probably want to use an optional car kit that mounts the device on the dash and lets you plug it into a power source. I didn't have one for testing.
Torture resistance. The device feels sturdy and durable. I mostly used it with two hands in horizontal mode, except when held up to my ear as a phone. The screen is covered by Corning's torture-resistant Gorilla Glass. I stabbed the display with a pen without causing damage.
•Memory. Streak comes with 2 gigabytes of internal memory, which should give you ample storage for apps you download from the Android Market. My test unit also was supplied with a 16-GB microSD card, expandable to 32 GB. Inside is a 1-gigahertz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that may feel zippier with a later version of Android.
•Visuals. Streak has a 5-megapixel camera on the rear that took OK pictures and videos, plus a lower-quality VGA front-facing camera you can use for video chats, as on the iPhone 4. Using Wi-Fi, I tested video chat on the Streak using the free Fring app I downloaded from Android Market. Both the audio and video quality on test calls with Fring were poor. And a separate call to a person who was using a 3G network (while I was on Wi-Fi) was unwatchable, with lousy sound to match. (To be fair, Apple's FaceTime app requires Wi-Fi.)
Streak has a removable battery. With power-saving measures turned off, the battery pooped out late in my workday. Most people should find battery life sufficient under normal conditions.
Computers near this size have never really caught on in a big way. I suspect Dell may have a hard time turning its tablet into a winning Streak.
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The Dell Streak that I've been testing for a few days is a tablet, too. And that's pretty much where comparisons with the iPad cease.
Oh, sure, folks will ask the same basic question of the Streak that they asked before the iPad appeared: Is there room for a slate that's larger than a smartphone but smaller than a typical laptop? But where the iPad has a near-10-inch screen and a form that brings it into the ballpark of some notebooks, the Streak is at the other end of the spectrum. With its 5-inch, multitouch-screen, Streak resembles a smartphone that went on an eating binge, like an old-fashioned PDA. And Streak, unlike an iPad, will fit in your pants pocket, albeit with a bulge, or jut out of a shirt pocket by an inch or so.
TV: Watch Baig on ABC's 'America This Morning' Fridays 4:30 a.m. ET or check local listings
Streak actually doubles as an Android-based smartphone. But phoning is not its strength nor the reason to consider buying one. I couldn't hang up on a call when the dial pad was on the screen covering the "End Call" button. And while the Streak is petite for a tablet, it is gargantuan by modern standards for a phone — like a handset that belongs to the past century. It weighs in at 7.8 ounces. Streak isattractive and thin, though better suited for tablet duties.
Alas, I didn't love the virtual keyboard. And Dell is a generation behind when it comes to Android. It runs Android version 1.6, making it a tad listless. Dell has added its own tweaks to Google's operating system and says an over-the-air update to version 2.2, or Froyo, is in the cards.
Here's a closer look:
Availability. Dell won't say but indicates the Streak is coming very soon. This week Dell started soliciting pre-orders for Streak on its website, offering folks first crack at the device when it does go on sale, and a chance to buy a Plantronics Bluetooth headset for 99 cents.
•Price. That's also a Dell secret for now, as is the identity of Streak's official U.S. wireless carrier. All signs point to AT&T, though. Michael Dell has mentioned AT&T as a Streak partner in the past, and AT&T will be bringing out the Dell Aero smart phones in the not-too-distant future. I was able to test Streak with an AT&T sim card. (In geek terms, Streak is compatible with UMTS, GSM/Edge and HSDPA and HSUPA networks. The device is already on sale in the United Kingdom via the wireless carrier known as O2.)
Meanwhile, at the recent D technology conference, Dell executive Ron Garriques suggested that an "unlocked" Streak would cost about $500 in the U.S. If so, I'm betting on about a $300 price if you ink a two-year contract with a carrier.
Size matters. The Streak is of a size that's just not going to appeal to everybody. Whether Streak is too big or small depends on your expectations and whether you plan on mainly using it as a phone or tablet. As a tablet you'll appreciate the 5-inch screen for watching video, browsing the Web, reading e-books — I fetched the free Kindle for Android app — and viewing maps. The largest screen sizes I've come across on more traditional smartphones are the 4.3-inch displays on devices such as the Droid X and Evo 4G.
Streak's screen is about the right size for a decent portable navigation device. I used free audible turn-by-turn directions inside Google Maps. You'll probably want to use an optional car kit that mounts the device on the dash and lets you plug it into a power source. I didn't have one for testing.
Torture resistance. The device feels sturdy and durable. I mostly used it with two hands in horizontal mode, except when held up to my ear as a phone. The screen is covered by Corning's torture-resistant Gorilla Glass. I stabbed the display with a pen without causing damage.
•Memory. Streak comes with 2 gigabytes of internal memory, which should give you ample storage for apps you download from the Android Market. My test unit also was supplied with a 16-GB microSD card, expandable to 32 GB. Inside is a 1-gigahertz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that may feel zippier with a later version of Android.
•Visuals. Streak has a 5-megapixel camera on the rear that took OK pictures and videos, plus a lower-quality VGA front-facing camera you can use for video chats, as on the iPhone 4. Using Wi-Fi, I tested video chat on the Streak using the free Fring app I downloaded from Android Market. Both the audio and video quality on test calls with Fring were poor. And a separate call to a person who was using a 3G network (while I was on Wi-Fi) was unwatchable, with lousy sound to match. (To be fair, Apple's FaceTime app requires Wi-Fi.)
Streak has a removable battery. With power-saving measures turned off, the battery pooped out late in my workday. Most people should find battery life sufficient under normal conditions.
Computers near this size have never really caught on in a big way. I suspect Dell may have a hard time turning its tablet into a winning Streak.
ePathChina.com Legal Disclaimer:
This article is reprinted from the network, if has infringed, please contact us for removing it immediately, and the other: This article is just a personal opinion, which is in dependent of the Webmaster Network.The originality and statement, as well we the content of the site, are of no confirmation. This site makes no warranties or promises to the whole or part this article in terms of the content, text authenticity, integrity, timeliness, which is for the reader's reference only, and please self-verify the relevant information.
