Dell's 7-Inch Tablet Coming Soon, 10-Inch Model Later

[MacRumors]

Dell's 5-inch Streak tablet​

The Wall Street Journal reports on an interview it conducted with Dell executive Amit Midha, who revealed that the company plans to launch a new 7-inch tablet device within "the next few weeks", with a 10-inch model set to follow in 6-12 months. The company also plans additional devices in the 3-inch and 4-inch range, all set to join the company's recently-launched 5-inch Streak tablet.He said Dell will launch "a whole slew" of new products in the next 6-12 months, including additional three-inch, four-inch and 10-inch devices.

"In fact, very much in the near future we'll be launching the seven-inch tablet as well as the additional three-inch product," he said.According to Midha, Dell's 7-inch tablet will run Android, with other models planned to offer Microsoft Windows and the company considering whether to adopt Chrome OS as a third platform.

Coming on the heels of Research in Motion's introduction of its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet device earlier this week, Dell's plans reveal that high-profile companies are finally gearing up to compete head-to-head with Apple's iPad, which has essentially had free rein over the tablet market since its launch earlier this year. Most of the larger tablets from competitors are not set to launch, however, until sometime next year, meaning that they will be competing against the second-generation of the iPad rather than the current model, making feature comparisons somewhat difficult at this time.

With several announced tablet devices such as the BlackBerry PlayBook, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and now Dell's new offering all set to come in with 7-inch displays, Apple's iPad appears set to continue to stand out in at least the size department for the time being. Apple has been rumored, however, to be preparing a 7-inch tablet of its own.

Article Link: Dell's 7-Inch Tablet Coming Soon, 10-Inch Model Later

 

[Greydog]

Looks compelling. Will it come in multiple colors, too?

 

[NebulaClash]

Hmmm...7" screens seem to be the new black. Or more likely, Apple has so bought up the 9.7" screens, other companies by default are making 7" screens now and then 9 or 10" screens next year when they can finally get supplies.

So another tablet that runs Android on a screen that is not the right size for Android apps. Yeah, this'll be a big seller . . .

 

[LAS.mac]

Who does need a 3, 4, 5 and 7 inches tablet? That's crazy...
I could barely understand two sizes, say 5-7 and 10", but four...

Will they come, at least, in different colors?

 

[parapup]

Are they going to reveal that they are going to make it "run" with Android 1.5 with an update to 2.1 in 2015? Idiots.

 

[NightFlight]

Competition is a very good thing.

Glad to see some big name companies stepping into the arena.

 

[Small White Car]

Who does need a 3, 4, 5 and 7 inches tablet? That's crazy...
I could barely understand two sizes, say 5-7 and 10", but four...

Will they come, at least, in different colors?

Apple laptops come in 5 different bodies types and people think that's normal. I think it's odd that with iPad people complained that 2 was too many ("Why do we need an iPad when it's just a big iPod Touch!?") and now the possibility of 3 types (9", 7", and iPod) is bringing out the same types of comments again.

What is it about laptops that makes 5 types ok when (apparently) 3 sizes of iPad/iPods is "crazy?"

 

[dpruitt]

hahahahahahahaha.. ah.. hahahahahah

Yeah, Apple, you better start shaking in your boots. This thing looks real cool.. hahahahahaha.. man, it cracks me up that when Apple does something everyone fires up the copy machines. Good stuff, but I don't know if I would call all these guys, "competition".

 

[zyzays]

It looks like an oversized blackberry.

 

[*LTD*]

Does Michael dell have a failure/embarrassment fetish?

fugly, to say the least.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

Who does need a 3, 4, 5 and 7 inches tablet? That's crazy...

It's like they can't be bothered to work out which size is best so they're going to chuck a whole load out there and see which one proves most popular.

 

[Mac21ND]

I needed a good laugh. Dell, ha! I'll take mine in lime green.

 

[addicted44]

Why do I have the feeling that most of the customers who buy this thing are going to be the same people who were complaining that the iPad was just an oversized iPod Touch?

 

[kas23]

All these new 7 inch tablets coming out support the need for an 7 inch iPad. I bet Apple caught-on that this was going to be happening and decided they better close the hole. Apple knows they need to diversify. Its a basic business principle.

 

[AdeFowler]

Competition is a very good thing.

Let this be the last time that's said on the thread

 

[giosaccone]

Dell needed was.......

 

[kas23]

Why do I have the feeling that most of the customers who buy this thing are going to be the same people who were complaining that the iPad was just an oversized iPod Touch?

It is, is it not? In terms of function (not viewing pleasure/ease) what does the iPad do that the iPod can't? However, ironically, this is no longer a valid argument since the iPod can do a bunch more than the iPad now. That said, I don't really think it is complaining per se, just pointing out a fact.

 

[Analog Kid]

3", 5", 7", 10" x Windows, Android, Chrome... Just keep throwing sh** against the wall until something sticks!

 

[carmenodie]

Hmmm...7" screens seem to be the new black. Or more likely, Apple has so bought up the 9.7" screens, other companies by default are making 7" screens now and then 9 or 10" screens next year when they can finally get supplies.

So another tablet that runs Android on a screen that is not the right size for Android apps. Yeah, this'll be a big seller . . .

Wrong! the ipad screens are made to order. If they were off the shelf then you could have a valid point.
Sorry kiddo.
Fail!!!

 

[linux2mac]

Great Morning Laugh

This is about as funny as the Microsoft store employees' dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAXEVXvNz8

Gee I wonder where MS got the idea to open stores. Apple should be flattered that everyone tries so desperately to copy them.

 

[SinatraLennon]

Uggghh...and I'm commenting on the design alone. It's so...1990's. Chunky black plastic housing. Hope the stuff inside and onscreen is better than the crap look of the exterior. Looks like a cheapo Garmin from here.

 

[Xian Zhu Xuande]

It is so... Dell.

Just in time to show up Steve Jobs again!

Oh, wait.

But as someone said, competition is a good thing.

 

[addicted44]

There are a few reasons I think the competitors are going for the 7" screen size:

1) They are not competing directly with the iPad anymore. So essentially, they have the market of folks who think 9" is too big and 5" too small completely cornered.

2) They can price it reasonably. Don't forget that the display is the largest cost on these devices. The 7" galaxy tab without carrier subsidy is MORE expensive than the iPad. There is no way these companies can make a device even close to being reasonably priced vis-a-vis the iPad if the display is 9".

 

[hexhead]

Any kind of real typing on these smaller units will be a chore at best.

 

[irun5k]

3", 5", 7", 10" x Windows, Android, Chrome... Just keep throwing sh** against the wall until something sticks!

Ha, pretty accurate I think. Makes it look like they don't have a good idea of what will make an effective and useful product.

IMHO the tablet (iPad, for this discussion) is already stretching things about as far as they'll go. It fits between an iPhone and a MacBook. If the iPad were any smaller, I'd probably just defer to an iPhone. Yes, I know a smaller iPad would still be a good bit larger than an iPhone... but the current iPad is just at the size where I decide to use it for browsing instead of my macbook. Apple seemed to know this, which is why the iPad is the current size that it is. I would actually be somewhat surprised if they introduce a smaller one as the rumors suggest.

I was hopeful that the iPad would replace my personal macbook at home. It probably would for me, but unfortunately it doesn't for my wife. She writes more emails and chats much more than I do, and the iPad just isn't an efficient typing tool. Nothing can compare to proper typing skills on a full QUERTY keyboard (~100 wpm).... pecking with two fingers on an on screen keyboard isn't even a distant second.