iPad Competitors: Kindle to Remain Focused on Reading While Dell Announces Streak Mini-Tablet

[quantum003]

I actually had a Kindle 2 in my hands for the first time over the weekend. It's a much better-looking device when you see it in person, and it really is much lighter and easier to hold than the iPad... that said, I have no intention of ever buying one, just giving credit where credit is due.

 

[Lesser Evets]

Streak? More like Skid Mark.

It's a weird kind of device, but I guess the PC crowd wants the typically inferior copy-product to make them feel like they own an Apple product or something emulating an Apple product but doing it worse.

 

[wackymacky]

........ Meanwhile, Dell today officially announced the Streak, a 5-inch mini-tablet running Google's Android operating system. A prototype of the Dell Streak was shown off at CES back in January, with the company now revealing that the device will initially launch in the United Kingdom early next month

Well the sucess of this will come down to prive point. If they can ship it for a lot less that a iPad they may sell a few. Though I'm not sure I see that happening.

 

[Horus]

Streak? More like Skid Mark.

It's a weird kind of device, but I guess the PC crowd wants the typically inferior copy-product to make them feel like they own an Apple product or something emulating an Apple product but doing it worse.

Oh no you didn't...

 

[Gotta Hankerin]

Dell's Product

I have doubts about the market acceptance of this awkward size device. Has anyone watched the video with Dell spokesman Kevin Andrew showing off the Streak device? He puts the thing up to his ear and the device just looks huge.

My objection to Dell's product is it's size. With a 5" screen it's really destined for the hip holster which is a no-go for many people. Also, it's size may deter folks with smaller hands from using it: I'm looking at you female consumers.

Also, for a device coming out this summer against a new iPhone and other Android phones all promising Wireless N capability, why wouldn't Dell include that feature?

I'm not saying sell Dell stock, but I wouldn't be gobbling it up either.

 

[mac jones]

This is very good news about the Kindle. I use my DX constantly and I wouldn't want them to change it except perhaps to improve the contrast a bit

 

[Phil A.]

I can't see this succeeding - it's too small to be significantly easier to use than my phone, and too big to easily carry around in your pocket.

It's cool that it's Android, and it does have built in 3G data.

Ultimately, though it's got a very similar spec to the HTC Desire (same screen resolution, same camera resolution, same processor and speed) with lower specs in some areas (less RAM - 256MB vs 576MB and Android 1.6 rather than 2.1) in a package with a slightly bigger screen that weighs 4 times as much!

Hmm, O2 will have to give these away to shift any, I think!

 

[paul4339]

Different Sizes

from CNET
...By that time, it appears Dell will be readying a second tablet. Earlier reports indicated that Dell is working on a larger version of the Streak, a 7-inch touch screen tablet to be called Looking Glass. ...

P.

 

[Ted13]

The Streak is DOA: the new iPhone will have a higher resolution screen and lower price price point, be thinner/lighter and oh...make phone calls.

The Kindle will survive in its niche, but in the long term Kindle will mostly live on as eBook reader software on the iPad/iPhone.

Apple does need to come out with a glare free screen version of the iPad for a better reading experience.

 

[Mirice]

It's a weird kind of device, but I guess the PC crowd wants the typically inferior copy-product to make them feel like they own an Apple product or something emulating an Apple product but doing it worse.

Some people want a device that they can decide what to do with and how to use in instead of the apple devices where someone else chooses what you can and can't do with it. Maybe people want a device that can use multiple video formats?

 

[JAT]

There is perhaps a vast number of people who aren't yet initiated as followers of the sect called Apple (pun intended). Common folk, like 95% of my colleagues, who vaguely heard of the name Apple but nothing more. Let them be. As the rest of the world produces cr@p, how could that be of any thread to Apple? Huh?

Pun?

 

[Black Macbook]

Does that Dell thing even qualify to be called a tablet?

It looks like it's almost the same size as any smart phone.

 

[paul4339]

It's a weird kind of device, but I guess the PC crowd wants the typically inferior copy-product to make them feel like they own an Apple product or something emulating an Apple product but doing it worse.

Some people want choice. The market will decide which will be successful.

Some companies release many devices and keep the ones that sell, and discontinue the rest.

P.

 

[thecartoonguy]

Seriously a mini-tablet.. That is just an oversized phone. (In this case it is actually true). They called it a tablet to soak up some iPad hype.

Good Luck with that Dell...

Well said. It reminds me of the Sony psp.

 

[chugg]

Streak? More like Skid Mark.

It's a weird kind of device, but I guess the PC crowd wants the typically inferior copy-product to make them feel like they own an Apple product or something emulating an Apple product but doing it worse.

Sigh. I wonder if people who post garbage like this even believe what they, themselves, are saying.

 

[gwangung]

Some people want a device that they can decide what to do with and how to use in instead of the apple devices where someone else chooses what you can and can't do with it.

Sure, but not many. Apple's good at figuring out what large segments of the population want, and doing that well.

 

[cr2sh]

Dell is releasing this in the UK first because Apple hasn't launched the iPad there yet. They're on more even footing.. so there's no head start by Apple.

If they launched in the US first (where they're already behind) and then in UK in a few months.. they'd be behind there also then.

I am very excited about this device, I think it's going to be fantastic. The camera, the GPS.. really exciting.

 

[cr2sh]

Sure, but not many. Apple's good at figuring out what large segments of the population want, and doing that well.

As opposed to Google? Or Dell?

 

[Berio]

Dell is definately American, but i dont understand why they would launch in the UK first - maybe trying to beat the iPad just before it becomes availiable to everyone in the UK.

possibly to test it and to test advertising campaigns before launching it in the US at much greater cost.

remember those boy bands from the 80s and 90s like "new kids on the block" etc? they were in the charts and on tv all over europe years before they were unleashed on US audiences. gave them and their agents / stylists a chance to polish their image before spending lots of money on launching them in the US, (not to mention payola )

similarly cars, tobacco, chocolate bars and soft drinks are often launched outside their main target market for testing purposes.

 

[baleensavage]

I think there is a market with kids for this size device. I would not be surprised to see a 5 - 7 inch iPod touch introduced this fall when the iPods are typically refreshed. If so, it will have the higher screen resolution, iPhone OS 4.x, have access to over 200,000 Apps, be thinner, and look one heck of a lot better than the Streak.

I too would like a larger iPod touch, more like PSP size. The screen on the iPod touch is just too small to comfortably browse the internet and the iPad is too big to carry around with you. That doesn't mean I'm buying a Dell streaker that looks like an old Palm pilot lol.

 

[gwangung]

As opposed to Google? Or Dell?

Google remains to be seen, particularly in hardware. Dell can figure out what people want and get them what they want, more or less, cheaply, but it's not necessarily done well or fine-tuned.

 

[paul4339]

Google remains to be seen, particularly in hardware. Dell can figure out what people want and get them what they want, more or less, cheaply, but it's not necessarily done well or fine-tuned.

good points, but I wouldn't under estimate the "want it cheap" market.
It's not that profitable (per unit) but it could be big... look at the PC market.

 

[starnyc]

android beats windows mobile

Microsoft is in BIG trouble with Dell launching an Android consumer product. The streak will not compete with the iPad, but it will take marketshare from PC loyalists.

 

[JMax1]

Dell-Breaker!

That's a Dell-Breaker, Ladies!

 

[MacFly123]

Fail and fail!