Dell announces Streak tablet phone US launch on Friday
Dell's latest touchscreen tablet-cum-smartphone will take on Apple's iPhone and iPad in the US on Friday when the company launches its 5-inch Streak for $299 with contract, $549 without.
The Streak, which has been anticipated as a major competitor to both Apple's iPhone and iPad, will be available for pre-sale on Thursday and to the general public on Friday. AT&T, which also offers plans for Apple's iPhone and iPad, will serve as the US carrier for the tablet, offering a $250 subsidy on the device with a 2 year contract.
Garnering significant hype at CES in January, the Streak was officially announced by Dell in May. At the time, Lionel Menchaca, chief blogger for Dell, noted that in his 16 years at the Round rock., Tex., company, this was the most buzz around a single Dell product that he had seen.
With its 5-inch form factor, the Streak has been alternately called an over-sized iPhone and a mini iPad. Although originally slated for US release in late July, the device was pushed back several weeks to its release date on August 13. During the time between the Streak's preview at CES in January and its US launch on Friday, Apple announced, released, and had record sales of both the iPad and iPhone 4.
The Wall Street Journal has proclaimed the Dell Streak as "the first major competitor" to the iPad.
The device will ship with the older 1.6 version of Android. Over-the-air upgrades to Android 2.2 have been promised later this year. Although originally demoed in Cherry Red, Carbon Black will be the only color offered at launch.
The UK saw the Streak's initial release in early June. Despite the buzz surrounding the product, sales were underwhelming. During an analyst meeting in June, Chief Executive Michael Dell referred to the device's UK launch as "interesting, exciting, but immaterial to Dell's $60 billion in revenue."
The Streak, which has been anticipated as a major competitor to both Apple's iPhone and iPad, will be available for pre-sale on Thursday and to the general public on Friday. AT&T, which also offers plans for Apple's iPhone and iPad, will serve as the US carrier for the tablet, offering a $250 subsidy on the device with a 2 year contract.
Garnering significant hype at CES in January, the Streak was officially announced by Dell in May. At the time, Lionel Menchaca, chief blogger for Dell, noted that in his 16 years at the Round rock., Tex., company, this was the most buzz around a single Dell product that he had seen.
With its 5-inch form factor, the Streak has been alternately called an over-sized iPhone and a mini iPad. Although originally slated for US release in late July, the device was pushed back several weeks to its release date on August 13. During the time between the Streak's preview at CES in January and its US launch on Friday, Apple announced, released, and had record sales of both the iPad and iPhone 4.
The Wall Street Journal has proclaimed the Dell Streak as "the first major competitor" to the iPad.
The device will ship with the older 1.6 version of Android. Over-the-air upgrades to Android 2.2 have been promised later this year. Although originally demoed in Cherry Red, Carbon Black will be the only color offered at launch.
The UK saw the Streak's initial release in early June. Despite the buzz surrounding the product, sales were underwhelming. During an analyst meeting in June, Chief Executive Michael Dell referred to the device's UK launch as "interesting, exciting, but immaterial to Dell's $60 billion in revenue."
Comments
I don't think that's flop you smell...
I sure do see one.
I smell a flop coming on...
Yep.
I don't know what possessed them to call it "the streak" either. It just makes me think of that horrible old song by Ray Stevens, or nasty streaks like in one of your kids underwear.
Another 'iPod/iPad/iPhone killer' road-kill.
Yep.
I don't know what possessed them to call it "the streak" either. It just makes me think of that horrible old song by Ray Stevens, or nasty streaks like in one of your kids underwear.
Yep, they could have came harder with that. SMH
It really is interesting that almost every Android device released on AT&T appears to be deliberately cripple, shackled, or stifled in some way or another, almost like they're afraid of offering any viable competition to their (current) flashship device.
Blah.
Another 'iPod/iPad/iPhone killer' road-kill.
Yes sir
Blah.
Another 'iPod/iPad/iPhone killer' road-kill.
Actually No... Apple currently offers nothing in this particular category - The (5 inch) pocketable 3g slate.
Unless it's released with Android 2.2/Froyo, and a lot more than 2gb of built-in storage, I sense a Monumental Fail.
It really is interesting that almost every Android device released on AT&T appears to be deliberately cripple, shackled, or stifled in some way or another, almost like they're afraid of offering any viable competition to their (current) flashship device.
Precisely what I was thinking. Makes no sense it coming with 1.6 or any 1.x software. SMH.
Hilarious. Streak on HP's pants probably in a few months ...
Haha. This guy.
What is the point of this device exactly?!
So it is as expensive as a phone and too small to be a tablet. And it is neither a phone nor a tablet!
What is the point of this device exactly?!
As the owner/user of an Archos 5It/Android (5inch screen slate computer), there are numerous benefits to a larger (but still pocket-friendly) slate device.
01 - Videos are much more enjoyable on the larger display.
02 - Games are more 'immersive', especially driving games.
03 - Reading eBooks is much more pleasurable and easy on the eyes on a 5 inch screen than on something smaller.
04 - Web Surfing is also much more enjoyable on the larger display.
and on... and on...
As the owner/user of an Archos 5It, there are numerous benefits to a larger (but still pocket-friendly) slate device.
01 - Videos are much more enjoyable on the larger display.
02 - Games are more 'immersive', especially driving games.
03 - Reading eBooks is much more pleasurable and easy on the eyes on a 5 inch screen than on something smaller.
04 - Web Surfing is also much more enjoyable on the larger display.
and on... and on...
Why not get one of the new large screen Androids then?!
Unless it's released with Android 2.2/Froyo, and a lot more than 2gb of built-in storage, I sense a Monumental Fail.
It really is interesting that almost every Android device released on AT&T appears to be deliberately cripple, shackled, or stifled in some way or another, almost like they're afraid of offering any viable competition to their (current) flashship device.
Its released with 1.6, and upgraded to 2.1 shortly, with 2.2 later in the year.
the cost for the phone aint too bad (waaay less than I am paying for my iphone), but the on contract cost is a bit lame.
On a serious note, why are you guys so quick to call this a failure? And what version of Android was it released with in the UK?
Why not get one of the new large screen Androids then?!
The key here is having a sizable screen yet still remaining pocketable (for many).
It's an interesting niche, and as one who owns an Archos 5IT (also a 5inch Android slate computer), I can say it's very handy to have around when my phone's screen is too small, but my iPad's just to big, heavy, cumbersome to carry around.